Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 84237 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84237 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Samuel quickly shook his head. “No, I’m sure I’ll be fine with Dimitri. No reason to go to the trouble.” He slipped his arms into the holes of the vest and nearly missed the small smirk that twisted Luka’s lips as he moved to settle the harness on Samuel’s shoulders. Did the dragon now think that he wanted time alone with Dimitri? No, definitely not. Samuel just didn’t want to trouble the others. Someone needed to stay behind and watch over their gear, right?
“In regards to earlier,” Luka started softly as he carefully adjusted each of the straps so that Samuel was snugly embraced by the harness, “about talking in dragon form, we are and aren’t our dragons. There is a separate, more animal consciousness inside of us. More like the spirit of our dragon’s instinct. Most of the time, the human you know is in full control of the dragon. We think, feel, talk, and act like we would in our human form.”
“And the other times?”
An expression Samuel couldn’t quite name filled Luka’s handsome, slender face. It wasn’t quite amusement. Maybe embarrassment. “When our mate or someone from our clan is in danger, the dragon’s instinct tends to take over.” Luka lifted dark eyes to meet Samuel’s. “We’ll do anything to protect our mate or even another mage.”
Something warmed in Samuel’s chest. The idea of someone being so protective, so possessive, was kind of intoxicating. Totally unhealthy. He’d never fall for someone who wanted to risk their everything to protect another person like that.
Fuck, even his own brain was laughing at him now.
Yeah, it was stupid and unhealthy, but so fucking sexy.
Luka pulled the last strap into place, briefly squeezing the breath from Samuel’s lungs and jerking him out of that dangerous spiral of thoughts.
“I think you’re ready,” Luka declared with a grin. “Once you get settled on the saddle, you’ll find a thick rope running from the saddle with a hook. Attach that to this ring here.” He flicked the silver ring in the center of Samuel’s chest. “If you happen to fall out of the saddle, this will keep you attached to Dimitri until you can climb into place.”
“Do riders often fall off their dragons?”
“No, but it’s always a good idea to be prepared.” Luka led the way over to where Dimitri now wore a saddle similar to a horse saddle, complete with a set of stirrups for Samuel’s feet.
There was zero doubt in Samuel’s head that they were going to fly incredibly high and fast, but it didn’t stop the excitement that bubbled through his veins as if someone had added carbonation to his blood. Never in his life had he thought he would one day ride on a dragon. Sure, this one was an exasperating—though very sexy—dragon, but he was still a dragon, and Samuel was going to be soaring above the clouds with him. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime event, and Samuel couldn’t wait.
Even with Dimitri lying flat on the ground, Samuel needed Vasily’s help to climb into the saddle. Gregori was already standing on Dimitri’s back to make sure that the harness was properly attached.
“Are you comfortable? Are the stirrups the right length?” Gregori demanded.
“Yeah, everything feels good. I’m ready.” He pulled off his glasses and tucked them in his pocket for safekeeping. His vision wasn’t terrible and he couldn’t imagine his glasses were going to help that much at the heights they were likely to go.
Gregori nodded once. “Hang on to the pommel and lean with Dimitri on the turns. Our hearing is good. He’ll be able to hear you talk even above the wind.”
“Okay, we’ll scout the area, try to find a good path up the mountain.”
Gregori jumped down and moved to stand next to Vasily and Luka. Beneath him, Dimitri moved. He could feet the almost liquid dance of muscles as he climbed to his feet. He turned around once while extending massive white wings behind him.
With a great upward thrust as Dimitri pushed off the ground, they launched into the air and were immediately pulled higher by the flap of those wings. They climbed as easily as a sparrow, rising faster and faster until Samuel couldn’t hold in his giggles any longer. Cold wind rushed past his face and ruffled his hair. His fingers instinctively tightened on the pommel while his heart raced.
He stared out at the surrounding forest that tried to swallow up the narrow road they’d been following for the past several miles. Blue sky stretched out above them with fluffy white clouds, while rolling shades of green blanketed the earth leading up to the mountains.
It was simply stunning.
Lowering his gaze, Samuel’s attention was suddenly locked on the shimmering pale scales of white underneath him. He extended one hand and slid his fingers along Dimitri’s back, marveling at the texture. The dragon was gorgeous. Sleek and powerful, frightening and awe inspiring. Nothing in this world compared to him. Even if Samuel hadn’t seen the other Valerii dragons yet, he refused to believe any of them could compare to Dimitri’s beauty.