Page 87 of Midnight of Ashes
I just grinned wider. “I’m sorry. You’ll always be Mr. Grumpy Cat to me.”
That had his eyes narrowing, but I didn’t miss the amusement there.
Knox watched me and his brother carefully, and I didn’t miss the hope in his expression.
But I didn’t want the weight of that on my shoulders. I turned to Cillian. “Will you take me flying?”
I knew it was he who would have the final say. He was the alpha, after all.
I started toward him, determined to make my case. But Cáel cut me off, letting out a chuffing sound.
Pinning him with a stare, I placed my hands on my hips. “Don’t think you can bully me with your size, even if you are one million times bigger.”
Cáel still didn’t move.
I tried to dart around him, but he was surprisingly agile for being so large, and he cut me off again. I was going to need a different game plan.
Searching around me, I bent and picked up a fallen branch from one of the pine trees. It wasn’t very large, but I thought the needles just might do the trick. I brushed them down the side of Cáel’s neck.
He jerked and twisted, letting out a barking laugh. The moment I had an opening, I booked it to Cillian. Thank goodness for ticklish dragons.
Cáel let out a growl of frustration, but Cillian was grinning, showing all his razor-sharp teeth.
“Did I earn my flight?” I asked hopefully.
Cillian tossed his head back, motioning to his back. I didn’t hesitate. It took a few tries to make it up Cillian’s back, but finally, I succeeded, settling just above his wings. I searched for something to hold on to, anything.
Finally, I saw what was almost a braid of scales along his neck. I touched it gently. “Will it hurt if I grab these?”
Cillian shook his head.
I wrapped it around my hand until I was sure I was secure. Then I patted Cill’s neck. “I’m ready.”
Cáel and Easton let out sounds of protest, but I ignored them.
Cillian stood, his large body moving to the center of the clearing. His wings began to flap, sending a gust of air over me. Then we were rising.
“Oh my God,” I whispered.
In a matter of seconds, we were hovering over the trees, and then we were flying.
Cillian dipped and swooped as he picked up speed. The wind stung my face as he shot forward. I felt completely weightless and…right.
Something stirred inside me. An awakening of sorts at just how at home I felt in the sky.
A few seconds later, three other dragons joined us. Cáel on one side, Easton and Knox on the other. Cillian led the formation, taking us over the forest toward the mountains.
I grinned as he dipped down to a waterfall, the spray splashing my face. Then he was up again and soaring. That weightless feeling was back and along with it, complete bliss.
Was this what my parents had been hiding from me? I couldn’t imagine staying away from this form if I had it. But maybe they’d done it for me.
Cillian dove, and I let out a happy shriek as my stomach dipped with him. Then he was back to hovering just above the treetops.
Knox rose above us, his form casting a massive shadow. I reached up with my free hand, trailing my fingers over his belly. Knox let out a roar of pleasure. As he peeled off, he rewarded me with a flip that had me grinning from ear to ear.
We flew for at least an hour, until I finally patted Cillian’s neck in a sign to go home. My arms were aching, and I didn’t want to take a tumble.
The rest of the guys stayed at our side as we headed home. As Cillian lowered us to the clearing once again, I caught sight of a figure standing off to the side.
