Page 117 of Enchanted Crown
Kian toldus to head to a portion of the shore around the cliffs,the same area we had Jorah and Owen arrive at months ago, a more discreet portion of the shore than the docks of Keld.
Kian disappeared to grab my board while the rest of us headed that way.
I took my jacket and shirt off and left them on the sand, opting to keep my pants on because of the cold water. I sent magic to heat my shirtless upper back and rolled my shoulders back to let my wings out. I had been letting them out often, but since we’d returned from Corsha, I hadn’t flown much.
I rolled my neck. Even just stretching my wings felt damn good.
My eyes went to Kian as he came clomping over in his dragon form, my wave board hanging out of his mouth like a dog with a stick. He was thinner. In both forms. I felt a pang of guilt wash over me as I knew I hadn’t made it a point to check in with him more often. “We do not have to do this today, old friend,” I told him. “If it is too painful.”
He exhaled briefly, set the board at my feet, and directed his eyes toward the setting sun. It was a gorgeous sunset, the clouds going a deep purple while the rest of the sky burned bright pink.I know exactly what she’d say,he told me.She’d tell us to quit being silly and seize the day.
I smirked. “Well, shall we then? Wouldn’t want to disappoint.”
His response was to head into the water.Don’t think for a minute that just because you have wings now doesn’t mean that I will go easy on you.
I grinned as I picked up the board and headed into the water. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
“I saw a vision of this yesterday,” Avril laughed from where she and Esta sat in the sand at the shore. “I am so glad I get to witness this in person.”
Dex let out a derisive snort. “So of all the visions you could have today, this was it?”
Before I could turn and say a word, Esta snapped, “Donot. You don’t get to be a prick to her just because you don’t understand her Enchantment.” A pause and then, “Learn from what happened in Dra Skor. All that you had a front seat for, Dex. Do not make my mistake.”
I paused and turned back to them to see Dex looking good and scolded. “Dex?”
“My bad,” he admitted as he gestured me on. “Go. Before you run out of light.”
It took me two rides with my wings out and my previous muscle memory to figure out how to balance on the board properly with wings, and then I was reaching out a hand to the cold water, gliding along it while I could see Kian swimming alongside me, trying to throw me off with his tail.
On the third such ride, Kian threw me off, but not wanting to land in the cold water, I flew into the air, hovering above the water.
Seeing Kian in pursuit of the board, I used my magic to bring it toward me.
But before it got to me, he breached out of the water with all the grace of a great whale and snatched it out of the air. It was a wonder he didn’t snap the thing in half with the teeth I knew the dragons held.
“Show off,” I laughed. But as he landed, he whipped his tail down on top of the water, spraying me with cold water.
Malachi, Dex, and Miles cheered for Kian, having wanted me to get drenched since we began. Someone hollered out, “Nine points!”
By the time he came up for air, we were both laughing.
I looked to the setting sun, “We only have time for a few more.” The waves were already calming, unfortunately.
On the last run, Kian flopped into the wave, helping it to get large enough that I could ride along it. As he got close to me, I usedmy wings to lift both the board and myself to avoid getting wet. As we came back down, I was too busy looking around on top of the water for Kian that I realized too late a dragon snout was under the water where the board sat.
Kian spit us into the air like a geyser, the board going end over end in the air while I had to veer away with my wings to avoid getting wet again.
Kian again caught the board, this time far less of a graceful smash into the water on his way down.
His cheering section erupted in applause for him.
“Ten points, if only for the look on Keir’s face,” Miles called.
Next time,I sent Esta as I flew for the shore,You are doing this also.
I’m going to need it to be a lot warmer before I try this,she argued.
You can both breathe fire and warm your skin.
