Chapter 25

Aelia

"Great." Internally, my core clenched. The idea of a flight across the river cradled in Reign's arms again was too much for my weary heart to endure. Still, I drew in a steadying breath and slipped on a smile. "Will your wings be making their grand appearance?" At least, I'd finally have a chance to get some answers.

He clucked his tongue. "I'm afraid not tonight. I've burned out the majority of my nox saving your lovely ass." He lifted his hands, showcasing the silver manacles on his wrists. "I'm sure you've heard the rumors. These sparkling bracelets suppress my power when I'm beyond the Conservatory's wards."

That was how they worked? I remained silent, shocked he'd shared such a crucial tidbit of information with me.

Despite every ounce of me wanting to ask more about them, I kept my mouth closed, choosing to savor the odd moment of intimacy between us. "So how will we return?" I was certainly feeling better, but I wasn't sure I could muster another swim across the Luminoc.

"Another secret, princess." His obsidian eyes glistened beneath the pale moonlight. "Can I trust you?"

"Well, considering you just saved my life, I suppose I owe you."

"Good girl."

Reign lifted his hand and plunged two fingers into his mouth. A low whistle vibrated the air, the frequency a sharp pitch I could barely discern. A few seconds later, thunder pounded through the night sky. I glanced up in search of the storm rolling in, but instead of the ominous clouds, an enormous creature blocked the moonlight, magnificent wings spread across the endless night.

"Is… that… a dragon?" I choked out. To my understanding, there were less than a dozen left on the entire continent. They had been dangerously near extinction as a result of the Two Hundred Years War. The ruthless creatures had been used as mystical aircraft and lethal weapons on all sides of the courts.

An answering roar echoed through the whipping winds an instant later. A torrent of white flames lit up the pitch sky as the beast soared overhead. It took every ounce of willpower I had to keep still when every nerve in my body urged me to flee.

Reign moved beside me, his gaze tilted to the sky. "That's not just any dragon, princess, that's my dragon. I'd like to introduce Phantom, the Death of Dawn."

The enormous obsidian monster banked right then angled her wings toward the earth, and fear's claws dug into my lungs. I'd barely recovered from this wound, and yet again, my body was fighting for survival.

As I watched the dragon descend, Reign's smile grew brighter and his intent became clear. "Wait a second… we are not riding that thing back to campus, are we?"

"We most certainly are."

My head whipped back and forth as that fear froze the blood in my veins.

"Well, I'm riding Phantom back. How you choose to return to the Conservatory is up to you." His teeth flashed a brilliant white beneath the moonlight.

"You're an ass," I gritted out.

"Maybe, but I'm also your only way home."

The ground rumbled beneath my feet, jerking my attention to the monstrous creature who'd alighted at the foot of the garden, partially hidden by the looming forest beyond.

Reign held out his hand, and I stared at his palm as if touching it might actually kill me. "Come on, princess. I promise she won't bite."

"So… she's your pet or something?"

He snorted on a laugh. "Don't let her hear you say that. Dragons are incredibly proud creatures and would never suffer the indignity of being called the pet of any Fae, no matter how powerful. Phantom is my bonded skyrider. She chose me when I attended the Citadel."

His words from earlier drifted to the forefront of my mind. "Why is she a secret?"

"Dragons are a priceless commodity in Aetheria. Only a few trusted friends know of Phantom's existence, and no one across the river, which is why we must move quickly before my loud friend wakes the entire campus. If others knew she still resided within the Umbral Court's borders, they'd seek only to exploit her powers." Reign stared across the garden in the direction of the massive creature. His expression was tender, almost loving.

I'd never seen anything like it on the sullen male, and I did not appreciate the feelings it incited through my insides.

"Now, are you coming or not?" His hand twitched impatiently. "We do not have much time until full light descends across the river. Getting Phantom through unseen at night is difficult enough. We will never stand a chance in the daytime."

I hazarded a glance at the enormous beast, and beady, onyx eyes, burning with fierce intelligence, seared into mine. The dragon snorted and plumes of silver smoke expelled from its vast nostrils. "Fine," I grumbled, wrapping my hand around Reign's palm. "If I end up dying today, after all, please tell Aidan it wasn't for a lack of trying."

His strong fingers tightened around my own and those mesmerizing irises met mine. "You are not dying today, princess. Of all the horrible ways you could perish within the confines of these two courts, Phantom is the least of your worries." He tugged me forward and somehow, my weary legs complied.

"How can you be so sure?" I moved warily beside Reign, one eye fixed on the obsidian dragon and my free hand closed around my dagger.

"Simple. She told me."

I glared up at the grinning bastard for a long moment before I realized I'd stopped walking. "Excuse me?"

"Good gods, they really taught you nothing at that Kin school, did they?"

"I think I would have remembered a lesson on talking dragons."

Reign released my hand and marched closer to the lumbering beast. I nearly begged him not to leave me. "Did you hear that, Phantom? Aelia believes you can speak."

The dragon's lips peeled back, baring razor-sharp incisors and row upon row of jagged teeth. Was that a smile? "Is she laughing at me?" I squealed.

The animal prowled forward, moving with a sinister elegance, its very presence commanding awe and terror. She lowered her head and nudged Reign in the stomach with her giant snout. It was a complete mystery to me how he avoided being impaled by the crown of horns circling the dragon's massive skull. Its colossal, serpentine body was covered in thick, obsidian scales that gleamed with an oily sheen, as if absorbing all light that dared to touch it.

"Not laughing, simply amused," Reign responded as he patted the beast's head, strategically avoiding the sharp points. "And Phantom does not actually speak. When Fae are bonded to their skyriders, a spell is cast which allows us to hear each other's thoughts."

"Oh." Well, that made more sense. "So all the bonded riders can communicate with their mounts?"

"That's correct."

"Why didn't you tell me that when we rode Pyra the phoenix?"

"Because she and I are not bonded. She allows me to ride her as I must to fulfill my duties as professor at the Conservatory. The mental link can only exist with one creature at a time."

"Interesting." I watched the giant dragon nuzzling Reign, and still, I couldn't not think of a dog with its master. He seemed almost gentle with her.

"Now, are you ready?" Reign raised an impatient brow, and I could have sworn the dragon's expression mirrored her master's.

"I suppose." I eyed the intimidating monster, silently pondering how in the realms I was to mount the thing.

The dragon"s expansive, bat-like wings unfurled with an intimidating span, the webbing between their spiny bones as dark as a moonless midnight. Its muscular tail, lined with spines, twitched back and forth, a deadly weapon in its own right. It seemed more than capable of crushing stone and bone without much effort.

"Come now, Phantom, give her a hand."

With an annoyed huff that sent columns of smoke into the air, the dragon dropped its belly to the ground and extended a leg. A clawed talon stretched before my boots, and my wide eyes followed the sleek, obsidian scales up a knobby limb covered in spikey protrusions. On the positive side, the nubs served as hand and foot holds—if only I could manage not to impale myself on their jagged points.

"Now, I climb?" I cocked a brow at my professor.

"Now, you climb, princess."

The typical scowl carved into his square jaw was annoyingly absent as he watched me. A spark of mirth lit up the endless midnight of his eyes.

Reaching for a scaly nub, my fingers closed around her thick skin, and I attempted to haul myself up. A sharp pang scorched across my shoulder as the wound from the gloomwhisper tore open. Biting out a curse, I miraculously held on. Thank the goddess the soles of my boots gripped the dragon's tough flesh, and I somehow managed to slowly crawl up its leg, despite the searing pain. "I would just like to remind you I almost died only a few minutes ago," I gritted out, clinging onto what I assumed was the beast's knee joint.

Reign heaved out a frustrated breath. "For the love of nox, Phantom, help her, or we'll never make it across the river in time."

A clawed talon, showcasing dagger-like nails, appeared over my head, and the scream died in my throat. Rough fingers—or toes?—closed around my torso, and I was suddenly weightless.

By the time my eyes opened—I wasn't sure when they'd closed—Phantom had deposited me onto her back, right between her shoulder blades and the ridge of her wing bones. My thighs instinctively closed around the big beast's body and warmth bled through my tattered clothes, reaching all the way to my marrow. My fatigued body nearly groaned in pleasure.

Until another familiar form appeared behind me, and my entire body tensed once again.

Reign's icy shadows curled around me, pinning me to his torso.

"Is that really necessary?" I hissed, squirming beneath their frosty touch.

He leaned in close, his heated breath tickling the shell of my ear. "I suppose that depends on whether you would still like to survive the flight home, princess?"

Raysa, I hated him.

With a resigned sigh, I sat back, allowing his shadows to curl around me, bindings of smoke and darkness. I wished I could say I hated it, despised their icy feel, but instead, I leaned into their ethereal touch.

"Hold on." Reign's sharp words jerked me from the brief moment of calm.

"To what?" I screeched as the dragon's powerful wings began to whip the air into a frenzy.

"Her wing bones!"

I could barely make out his reply over the thunderous flapping and the tornado of air thrashing around us. Strands of dark and light hair lashed across my face, the sharp sting bringing tears to my eyes.

Reign's shadows extended, cocooning me in a cloud of midnight, and the wild winds subsided. His arms tightened around my middle, and my body melted into his, just as a powerful thrust sent us shooting into the pitch sky. My stomach dropped to my toes and a groan fled through the gaping curve of my lips.

I squeezed my eyes closed and focused on my breaths, praying to all the gods I wouldn't pass out and fall to my doom. Once we leveled out, I hazarded a glance through slitted lids. The Court of Ethereal Light stretched before us, twilight blanketing the mystical, lush lands ahead.

When Reign had fetched me from Feywood all those weeks ago, I'd been so overwhelmed I hadn't truly had a chance to admire the breathtaking scenery. The soaring turrets of the Conservatory glittered with the moonlight at our backs and the first rays of sunlight dispersing across Aetheria. It was a truly splendid sight.

After skirting the arms of death, I needed a moment to appreciate it, to take it all in.

"Thank you for saving me," I whispered to the wind. I was well aware Reign hated when I thanked him for anything, but it needed to be said. With a quick glance over my shoulder, I caught a smirk ghosting across his lips.

"I'm simply going to ignore that remark."

"Do with it what you will." Releasing a breath, the tense set of my shoulders slackened, and I rested my head against Reign's shoulder. Every muscle, bone, and nerve in my body ached, and I was simply too exhausted to fight any longer.