Page 42 of Wild Fire

“No,” he chuckled. “It’s fairly instinctive, and I’ll be with you the whole way. Setting down the first time isn’t always the most graceful, but I have no doubt you’ll be flying rings around the lot of us in no time at all.”

“What’s happened while I was transitioning?”

“Falkor sent out emissaries to the other dragon clans and to some of the more prehistoric shifters. We’re going to be the main target for the cloning experiments. All we can do for the moment is wait. We’re safe here at Dragonwyk. We picked this location both for its remote locale as well as its ease of defense.”

“In that case,” she said with a grin, “let’s take my wings out for a spin.”

He laughed as they walked out of the yurt and were hailed by people’s good wishes.

“What do I do?” she asked.

“Center yourself and look inside. You should see your drakaina. Invite her to come forward and be one with you.”

Dani closed her eyes and almost immediately could see her drakaina waiting. She saw the drakaina spread her wings as she galloped forward and whispered we are one.

Immediately Dani was enveloped in a chaotic, localized storm filled with lightning, thunder, and a myriad of shards of color and electricity. She reached out to try and touch it, expecting to be zapped, but only felt energy and joy. Laughing, she felt her drakaina take over and her body morph.

Warrick was right, flying was instinctive. Not bothering to wait for him, she rushed forward, beating her wings and feeling herself being lifted up into the air.

“Damn it, Dani, wait for me,” she heard Warrick mutter under his breath.

Laughing she called back over her shoulder. “Catch me if you can!” she banked to the right but turned too steeply and had to correct to get back level.

Warrick’s laughter trailed behind her. “You’re doing fine, beloved. Use the air currents to your advantage.”

And then he was beside her, guiding her, showing her how to do things more easily. It was intoxicating, and she thought there might be nothing better in the world than to be drakaina and to fly alongside one’s mate. Then she looked at him and remembered the night before their transition. Okay, so maybe there was one thing better than flying with one’s mate. She smiled mischievously, catching Warrick’s eye.

It too started with an ‘F.’

---