Page 53 of Claim the Light
I’m only a step behind him, but I have to stretch forward to see them. Only once my line of sight descends far enough that I can view the horizon do I make out the greenery far below us.
Far,farbelow.
“Fuck,” I whisper.
My heart is pumping hard, but a grin is growing on my face. My wariness about coming here is disappearing, and the fear of my power I felt only a short time ago is being pulled away with it.
Fuck, there’s something in the air here…
It’s instantly intoxicating to my senses.
I’ve lived my life within four walls and the restrictions of city streets. I’ve never traveled beyond that concrete and steel world with its carefully trimmed and sculpted parks.
I’ve never experienced an environment like this before, and Micah was right. The only way I’ll discover what I’m capable of is to be exposed to the elements and find out what I can do.
Taking another glance at him, I find a curious light growing in his eyes as he tips his head to the side. I read my name on his lips, even though I can’t hear him speak:Sophia?
I can’t answer him. Not yet.
My blood is pounding, my head is buzzing, and I can practicallyfeelthe cage around my power straining to break apart.
I’m still fearful of what will happen when it finally opens, but here, in this environment, it feels impossible to continue constraining it.
I take a step toward the cliff’s edge, casting my focus inward to the swirling energy within my mind and body, wishing I understood it better.
The white tunic I’m wearing can accommodate my wings, but the instinct to welcome the rush of air across my skin is high. Pulling off the garment, I roll my shoulders and close my eyes as I inhale the scents around me.
The unfamiliar woody perfume of the forest far below, the cold of the air beating across the stony mountain, and then, the earthy scent of wolf and dragon as Micah closes the gap between us.
I open my eyes and now I give him a smile as I allow my dragon nature to surge, my arctic-blue scales blushing across my arms and chest, cooling my cheeks.
Without another moment’s hesitation, I burst into a run, sprinting against the wind and toward the cliff’s edge.
I launch myself off the rock into the sheer nothingness beyond. I release my wings with athumpthat vibrates through my body, and for a second, I’m suspended between the opposing forces of air pushing forward, up, and down. I’m cushioned within them so that it feels like I’m resting within the sky.
I’m aware of Micah’s presence where he stands on the edge of the mountain, but I don’t look back.
In the next heartbeat, gravity takes hold.
I feel it surging through my body, a clutching force that wants to destroy me, but I take control, pushing my hands forward, tucking my wings tightly against my sides and tilting myself downward.
My heart bursts up into my throat as I plunge through space.
Far, far below me are rocky crevices, a stony terrain with a few sparse trees that quickly transforms into the forest. If I don’t stop my fall, I’ll hit the rocks and break every bone in my body.
If I drift too far forward and don’t stop my fall in time, I’ll plunge into the trees. At this velocity, I’ll be ripped to shreds by the branches. Leaves that may be soft will become like blades.
But if I time my fall perfectly, I can dip into the open area between the cliff and the trees and soar back up in time to avoid hitting either rocks or trees.
Of course, if I were sensible, I could spread my wings right now, slow my fall, and fight the wind to descend to the treetops.
Oh, but this place.It begs me to let go and be wild.
With my wings tucked close to my sides, the speed of my descent increases. The cliff face is a dark gray blur, and now the ground rushes up at me.
At the last minute, I extend my wings, pushing hard against the force of gravity.
With a mighty effort, I sweep my wings backward. A split second later, I throw my arms to the right, forcing my body to twist midair just like I learned in aerial combat training and at the same time, I wrap my wings around myself again.
