Page 123 of Memories Like Fangs
“Oh, you thinkthatwas showing off?” I cackled. “I’m just getting started, baby!”
I spun around and pushed harder, building more and more speed. The cold bit at my face, but it didn’t feel like I expected it to. Now, it warmed me more and made me even more excited. My pink locs in their half-up ponytails and the ones that weredown whipped off my neck behind me, caught in their own slipstream. I extended one leg and lifted my arms out. As I twirled, the skirt of my dress lifted, too, just like it was designed to, and made me quite the sight to see. Then, I gathered into a tighter spin. The world should have blurred, but it only grew sharper as my powers took over to help me keep my focus. As I lost momentum, I easily came out of my spin and took off again around the rink.
Maze and Frankie Beverly blasted from the speakers overhead, but it was drowned out by the sounds of laughter and talking. Hot cocoa, buttery popcorn, and roasting food wafted from the concession stand. I weaved around the clumps of my cousins and so many others, laughing as they shuffled cautiously like newborn baby deer. Many slipped as they tried to gain any traction, fighting to stay upright on their blades without walkers or the walls for support. Couples clutched each other’s arms and waists as they tried to skate onward. Some were just as graceful as me and Ayrie. I passed someone closer to Pops’ age as they went in reverse. One woman took off from the ice to do an aerial spin. There was a nice conga line of skaters who were moving in sync around the rink like they shared one mind. Two male dragon-shifters skated with a young child between them with a pacifier in their mouth. I caught a flash of long black braids ahead, and I quickly realized it was the Sire skating. Still calm and composed, she even skated like a queen. When she nodded to me as I passed her, her smile was genuine and even sweet. No matter what experience level we were at though, there was a strong sense of belonging here, the delight floating in the air with the magical orbs lighting the rink. Maybe it was because we were all related. My dragon hadn’t stopped purring since we had left the house. She sensed so many of our kin around, and it made her swell with pride, comfort, and security like she never had before, at least not since my parents were alive. Therewas something sacred about not just seeing this many dragon-shifters in one place, but seeing so many generations blended together.
I was about to be on my fourth turn around the rink when Ayrie shouted from the other side of the rink, “Hey, Byrdie-Bee! Have you had enough practice? Are you ready for a little rematch?”
I called back to her, already picking up speed to reach her. “Oh,please! I was waiting foryouto be ready! I could beat your ass in my sleep!”
“Hey, Sire Gale? You are an impartial party. Mind judging my win against my cousin?”
I rolled my eyes, but the Sire smiled. “I would be happy to.”
It was just like when we were kids. The three of us met in the entrance of the rink. The Sire stood behind us to watch us and be able to declare the winner. We would circle around the rink once, dodging our relatives like obstacles. The first one back at the entrance would be declared the winner with bragging rights.
“On your marks, ladies!” The Sire called.
I crouched low, ready to push off against the ice. I saw Ayrie do the same out of the corner of my eye.
“Get set!”
Ayrie’s smirk flared into one of pure trouble. I chuckled breathlessly, every nerve alive already with adrenaline and excitement.
“Go!”
We took off. Our blades hissed against the ice, steadily increasing our pace. We raced through our family, some shouting encouragement for who they wanted to win and others leaping out of the way to avoid us. We were neck and neck, skating side by side with each other. Ayrie was fast, way faster than I remembered. It had me a little nervous for a minute. It wouldn’t be the end of the world if I lost to Ayrie. It wouldactually be just like old times, since shealwayswon our little races. I was competitive, but I wasn’t a sore loser. I could take an L.
But, we won’t be taking this one. We will defeat her. Our mate is watching, and we must prove how strong we are,my dragon growled. I wanted to roll my eyes at the primal nature of my dragon, but I also couldn’t help but agree with her. Especially as I felt more than saw Quinn’s eyes on me and felt her proximity like the chill of the freezing temperatures through my layers. I didwantto win, if for no other reason than give Quinn another reason to be proud of me. The idea alone sent a thrill through me to push me further.
Right in time for the first turn.
I leaned into the curve, seeking a boost from it and daring Ayrie to try and overtake me. Ayrie didn’t take the bait. Worse, she lost speed bracing for the turn.
Well, worse forher.
I surged ahead.Farahead, where I couldn’t feel her presence next to me anymore. Through the whoops and screams of the crowd, I could easily make out Quinn’s cheers, and that only pushed me more. Each turn only brought me more and more in the lead. My muscles burned for the briefest moment before healing and doing it all over again. My chest heaved with each breath, coming out as clouds. I darted forward as if Ayrie were directly behind me.
I crossed our agreed-upon finish line. I stopped cleanly just past Sire Gale at the rink’s entrance, sending a spray of icy powder into the air. I spun around with a dramatic flair in victory. It was just in time to see Ayrie finish.
“No freaking way did you finally beat me!” Ayrie gawked, her jaw on the ice. “Maybe I’m getting soft in my old age.”
“Ha!” I scoffed, crossing my arms. “You’re hilarious. More like I finally got to prove all those past wins of yours wereactually frauds. You’vealwayscheated. Don’t you remember when we were twelve and you pushed me over during our race and called it ‘accidental turbulence’?”
“That was a legitimate air current, Little Miss Crystal Magic!”
We both cracked up then. I almost lost my balance from laughter and had to grab Ayrie’s sleeve for stability. Shaking her head while wiping away tears, Ayrie said, “Would you look at us! It’s just like when we were kids! It’s like nothing’s changed.”
I looked around the rink then. Multicolored scarves and coattails flew along the wind with the skaters. People I adored and delightful laughter surrounded me. Frost sparkled under the glow of the high sun and magical orbs over the ice. The scents and the whole world around us resembled the memory that Lilah had teleported us into. No, not resembled. Itwasthat, but so much better. I wasn’t reliving my memory, I waslivingand making new memories with my time and chance. On the outside of the rink, Quinn watched with Bryson on her shoulders. Both of them were still cheering like Ayrie and I were competing for the Olympic gold. My heart swelled.
As much as things were the same still, they had changed quite a bit, too.
“I think the kid versions of us would be so very proud of where we ended up,” I said softly.
Ayrie laced her arm around mine to pull me in close. “I think you are right.”
The day continued in a fun blur. Soon after I beat Ayrie, Bryson begged to take to the ice himself. So, Quinn put on his skates and passed him over to us. He very much didn’t inherit his mother’s grace on the ice, but he loved taking our hands and pleading with us to go faster and faster around the rink. When he finally grew bored, he asked to go play with Quinn again and for me to join in this time. Once we swapped our skates for our boots, we started a snowball fight that drew in all of the kidsand even a few adults. It quickly grew loud and hilarious. Our screams and laughter filled not just the rink but overflowed into the park.
It reminded me so much of my childhood, the glorious fun that just could spring up spontaneously from nowhere and nothing. This is how the holidays always used to be and why we would visit every year. Of course, my parents wanted to be around family during the holidays, but Mom also used to say that anything you did on New Year’s Day set the tone for the rest of your year. So, what better way to start a year than like this? I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. It helped how much I loved my family and loved seeing Quinn with them while they loved her.
