Chapter 29

Chapter

Twenty-Nine

Rose

As I approached Magnus waiting for me in the field, I wiped my hands on my borrowed leather pants and prayed I’d be able to maintain my grip with sweaty, nervous hands.

Before I could wonder too long how in the world I would get to the spot I’d decided was my best option for survival, Magnus adjusted the position of his wing, basically turning it into a ramp.

I scrambled up as quickly as I could, appreciating the way he continued to move his wing to give me the platform I needed.

By the time I settled around his neck, my knees tucked underneath me, my entire body was shaking with nerves.

“You’ll be okay with him. I promise!” Kitra yelled from the ground.

“I might have more faith in that if there was a seatbelt or an oh shit handle for me to hold onto.”

Kitra laughed. “I don’t know what that means exactly but I think I get your drift. Grab a horn or slide your hands under the scales in front of you and you’ll find what you need.”

I did as she instructed and found that underneath those silky looking scales there were deep ridges that I could grab onto. It took me a little bit of feeling my way around until I found the most comfortable spot before I finally settled in. I'd still give anything for a strap or lap bar to hold me in, but this would have to make do.

Although in what world was this even normal? It was a rhetorical question with an obvious answer, but still. What we were about to do felt like the true definition of insanity. I was sitting on a dragon about to let him carry me off into the sky. I was either out of my mind, or the coolest woman on earth.

"Okay, I'm ready," I said aloud assuming that Magnus would still hear and understand me. And judging by the snort that came from him and the steam that followed, I figured I was right.

When he started to move, I held on for dear life and started praying, not to mention making promises. If I didn't plummet to my death, and I survived the fae realm, think of all the good I could still do in the world. Many families relied on my science with herbs to give them a better quality of life and I didn’t want anyone to suffer needlessly.

I could start over with another generation if or when I returned.

As Magnus lifted into the sky, I opened my mouth to scream and nothing came out. The pure fear and adrenalin of the moment froze everything. There was nothing I could do except hold on for dear life.

The wind whipped around us as he climbed, and despite the death grip I used, I could feel my hands slipping from where I held on. Ten seconds into our flight and I was pretty sure I was going to fall to my death any second.

But just as my hands were about to slip free, Magnus leveled out his body, and the gravity trying to pull me free eased. I cracked open one of my eyes a tiny bit, and the sheer force of wind that smacked into me brought immediate tears to my eyes. Note to self. Get some goggles before attempting this again.

I shifted slightly on my knees trying to get comfortable, but quickly realized that sitting on my butt would be far more stable. I could feel Magnus grumbling underneath me, but I didn't know what he expected. This was trial by fire and I had no earthly idea how to do this efficiently. It was going to take time to figure out.

Time is the one thing we don't have.

I heard Magnus's voice in my head, but it sounded from miles away. It was clear it was a struggle for him to communicate with me like that.

"It doesn't do any good to complain. I'm doing the best that I can and that's all you can ask from me."

A rumble of laughter spread through him and I imagined him mocking me for foolish thoughts. Whatever. Not all of us were supernatural beings with frigging dragons inside of us. If he heard that thought I couldn't tell but I felt better anyways.

So far, I was hanging on and all was good.

Famous last thoughts, right?

The moment they were free in my mind, Magnus twisted his body into a barrel roll, catching me off guard. I tried to counter the sudden move, but I lost my grip and began sliding down his back. I scrambled for something—anything to hold onto but there was nothing there. With my heart no longer beating, I entered full on panic mode as gravity took over and I slipped free from his body and began free falling through the sky.

I'd failed my first real test of survival and now I would die before stepping a single foot into the fae realm. My heart didn't feel like it was beating and with the wind rushing too fast in my face I couldn't catch my breath. All I could do was helplessly watch the ground rush at me like a wild maniac on fire. There would be no stopping it.

Until something did stop it. My body slammed onto something hard, further stunning me. And then I was sliding again, even faster than the first time. Whatever it was launching me back into the air.

Only the freefall didn't last long this time as something grabbed me around the waist and snatched me out of the air.

“Hold the fuck on .”

Magnus's voice roared through my head compelling me to reach down and grab something. I forced my eyes open and realized he'd caught me in his claw, the lethally sharp points holding me tightly in his grip. My stomach revolted and threatened to evacuate its contents.

“Just hang on. I'll have you on the ground in a second .”

As promised, he gently placed me on the ground a moment later. I still didn't feel like I could breathe, but since I was upright and still conscious, I guessed I was breathing fine. Although the ground was certainly spinning.

Kitra came running over. "Are you okay? Gods, you scared the hell out of me."

"She was fine. There is no way I would have let her fall despite how hard she tried."

I spun at the sound of Magnus's voice live and in person instead of in my head. He was back to normal with Isaac right behind him and no sign of dragons anywhere. He held out his arms and I stepped into them, unashamed that I needed his comfort.

"It's okay," he said in a soothing tone, his fingers rubbing up and down my arms. "We can try again later."

I scrunched my face against his chest, but wisely kept my mouth shut. I didn't want to admit how badly I'd done and how little I wanted to try again. But if I wanted to go with him to the fae realm, I would have to show them that I could handle it. Otherwise, I had a feeling they'd be dumping me back at my parents’ door.

"Let’s have some food and then we'll move on to swords and bows."

Great. More things I'd never done. Really, how could I have known in college I should have taken up archery or fencing?

We ate mostly in silence. Either because we were all hungry or frustrated or maybe even both. Truth be told I was both, and I could feel a buzz of energy building underneath my skin that I couldn't explain. It was probably the spell they were constantly talking about. Although Kitra had done some work this morning that was supposed to shore it up for another day or two. At most she'd warned.

By the time the dishes were cleared and we'd gathered again at the edge of the field I was asked to choose which I wanted to try. Since Kitra seemed proficient in the bow and arrow, and she promised to help, I opted for that. I needed a break from Magnus touching me and I didn't want to get near Isaac. The idea of him touching me sent an unpleasant shiver racing down my spine.

But after two hours of trying to hit a target under Kitra's more than patient guidance, we were all ready for another break.

"I'd say we should give the swords a try, but I'm going to be honest, and tell you ahead of time that I will struggle with those. My weaponry skills lean more towards fighting with small knives. I was really young when my dad taught me and it was all I could handle at the time. I did try shooting once, and that was a disaster."

I collapsed onto the grass and wiped the sweat currently coating my face with my sleeve.

"Daggers then." Magnus said. "Anything else?"

I shook my head. "I've always enjoyed my own company more than anyone else's, which meant I didn't have to worry about competing with anyone physically or fighting for my li?—

"What is it?" Magnus looked around the open field and the manor for whatever threat had made me suddenly jackknife into a sitting position and then up on my feet.

"Hand-to-hand."

"Hand-to-hand?" Magnus repeated as a question. "What are you talking about?"

"In college every woman on campus was required to sign up for self-defense. Just in case we had to fight off an attacker. I learned a lot and enjoyed it enough to follow up with some more advanced courses."

Magnus smirked. "Did you often have people attacking you at school?"

"You'd be surprised how many women got cornered around darkened campus buildings at night when they traveled back and forth from their dorms to the library or the cafeteria or wherever else. So we took hand-to-hand combat classes to teach us how to fight back and get away."

Magnus growled. "I'd like to go to these college campuses. It sounds like these attackers would make a nice fiery meal."

"Magnus!" Both Kitra and I shouted at him, but he lifted his shoulders.

"You can't tell me they wouldn't have it coming. Any cowards who attack innocent women like that deserve whatever they get."

"Then if that's the case, you deserve a taste of your own medicine." Isaac approached Magnus with a scowl. "How many times have you attacked the innocent?"

"Exactly why I suggested it. If a dragon has to take out his anger, then we should train him on the type of people to go after."

"That sounds like a horrible idea. Why are you attacking anyone?"

"How many times must I tell you that I am a beast before you listen?"

I sighed.

“Anyways,” I interrupted, trying to change the subject. “My point is that I turned out pretty good at it. So, for the rest of my academia days if I needed any physical health credits I opted for karate, or hand-to-hand combat, etc.”

“That might have been nice to know sooner rather than later,” he quipped.

“It’s not as if it is going to come in handy in the face of a dragon.”

“Dragons are the least of your worries. Depending on where you are in the realm, there’s a good chance you won’t see another one. Besides, it’s the littlest creatures you really have to worry about.”

“Like the fucking sprites,” Isaac grumbled.

The annoyed I’d rather chew glass than deal with a little woodland creature look on his face made me burst out laughing.

“Laugh it up now. But I guarantee, once you’ve met one of those demons, you won’t be laughing anymore.”

“Except Ensley.”

Isaac growled. “She’s the worst. Make sure you stay away from that one.”

By some miracle Magnus was nodding in agreement with his brother and I found myself mesmerized. So alike, and yet so different.

"Don't listen to them. At least not about Ensley. Although the other sprites are pretty bad. They probably wouldn't think twice about killing you."

I swallowed thickly at this new piece of information. I was definitely walking in blind to a whole new world.

"Well, all right then. Enough talk. Let’s see this hand-to-hand combat you've been bragging about."

Oh boy. The devilish grin on Magnus's face did not bode well for me.