Page 43 of To Sway a Prince
Zephyrus corkscrewed through the air, wings tucked tight. My blood thundered in my ears. The world blurred into streaks of blue and purple and green.
We shot upward, climbing so fast my vision darkened at the edges. Then—nothing beneath us as we stalled at the peak.
"Zeph—"
We dropped backward, freefalling in a move that squeezed the breath from my lungs. Oh, polph, I hated this one! But nothing beat the way my blood roared when it finished.
Thalorion appeared directly below us. Zephyrus threaded between his wings, missing by inches. I could have sworn that when we flipped upside down that my hair brushed over Ramiel's head.
The dragons wove around each other in an aerial dance, so close I could see the individual scales on Thalorion's hide. My heart hammered against my ribs. Sweat slicked my palms.
Another dive. Another roll. Another impossible twist that should have thrown me clear.
But my magic held, golden threads binding us together as we carved patterns across the sky.
Then I heard the most wonderful sound of all echoing in my head: Ramiel laughing. Not just some mild laugh or light chuckle. Full abandoned belly laughs. The most delightful sound I'd ever heard.
"By all the runes that fall and rise, you are a true dragon rider," he said.
I loosed my grip on Zephyrus's horn enough to tap my hand to my temple and sketch a bow. "I had a magnificent teacher."
Zephyrus chuffed in agreement.
Thalorion swept a look at us and rumbled a strange growl. Ramiel just chuckled and patted the side of the massive beast's head. "I suspect the dragons would all agree that they are the best teachers of all."
I found myself laughing, even though it wasn't especially funny. It just felt good to laugh and share this flight with someone else. As much as I loved soaring with just Zephyrus, there was something about this that was even more meaningful. I noted that Ramiel's hair still looked so elegant and had all fallen back into smooth waves. "You use that enchantment, don't you?"
"What enchantment?" His brow creased as he canted his head.
"The one to keep your hair elegant and flowing," I said, unable to keep the teasing tone from my voice.
His smile pulled up higher before he shook his head, speaking with mock seriousness. "I have my vanity, gnat. All fae do. What good is magic if you can't do a little something to make yourself feel better? Or perhaps you actually are blessed with hair that is never tangled or unseemly? I've heard that some royals are attended by the wee ones with their blessings and gifts and gorgeous hair is one of those gifts."
I giggled. "No. When I was born, some fairies gifted me with some gifts but nothingthatsubstantial. The only reason I knowyou're using the enchantment is because I do something similar. That was all me though. Not a gift from our tiny cousins."
The way he smiled at me just made me come undone inside. The air whipped about us. His enchantment must have been a bit stronger than mine because his hair never cut across his face. Off in the distance, more dragons called to one another, low and throaty.
He shook his head, still smiling. When he looked back at me, my breaths quickened. No one ever excited me so much. "Well, gnat," he said, his voice rippling through my mind. "You wear your magic well."
"As do you."
We flew awhile longer, Zephyrus and Thalorion sometimes making additional maneuvers. Once we dove into a cloud bank, the cold rush cutting through me and then contrasting with the sharpness of the wind and the heat of the sun. Steam rose off the dragons in delicate patterns.
It was everything I could have ever wanted. My blood and heart sang with happiness, my cheeks burning and sweat and cloud condensation rolling down my neck. Knots take me. I didn't want this flight to end.
"Do you ever skim down along the Chasm or go inside?" I asked. "Before the curse stopped you, I mean."
"Oh yes, frequently but only for brief periods," Ramiel responded. He nudged Thalorion, and he drew alongside us. Hearing his voice in my mind while the dragon wings thundered around us was a strange sensation. "The Chasm is a beautiful place. But it's not intended for us. Especially not someone like me who is cursed."
"What was here before the Chasm? Or what made it tear open?" I realized I didn't know what precisely it was. "I always heard that it was like a portal into the abyss. But from up here, it looks like it's…it's like seeing the ocean on a foggy morning."
He chuckled at this. "Well, depends on who you ask. I explored the Chasm before the curse prevented me from entering. When I was boy and more of my family lived, there were even times when we danced upon the barrier and played with the deep swifts. Most Sentinels believe that there was once a portal here. Something that reached into the other worlds. Then something happened to rip it out, and this is what remains. An opening into accessible liminal space with all the creatures that it holds. It's dangerous in there. But that's why it leads to other points of liminal space."
"What happens if you go in? You mentioned that it reacts to you?" I scratched Zephyrus's ear as he adjusted our height. Thunder grumbled in the distance. We now flew among the spires and tors, the massive natural structures dwarfing both dragons.
"Everything becomes hostile. The barrier weakens, but the air and space within…thickens. It becomes like the barrier's surface all the way through. Chasm wraiths seem drawn to my presence. And it escalates swiftly from there." He shook his head. "Once, my presence summoned ten night reavers. We barely escaped alive. The longer I am in contact with the mist, the faster it accelerates and the thicker it is. It feels like drowning and as if you are moving through clear molasses."
"And that isn't how it is for everyone?" I adjusted the pendant, tilting my head as I listened. My shoulder started throbbing more, and my wrist stung.
