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“I guess you could fly to the Sky Lands tonight, break the curse tomorrow and be back before classes on Monday,” Emma said thoughtfully.

“Well, thatwouldbe convenient, I guess,” I said, trying to smile.

To be honest, I’d been hoping to put this off a bit longer—not just because I secretly feared Saint’s Drake, (even though I definitely did) but also because I was about one hundred percent certain I would lose him after the curse was broken.It had been so nice this past week, having a real boyfriend to hold hands with and cuddle with and sit with at mealtimes.

But then I remembered what I had told Saint, about letting him go.Maybe he just wasn’t meant to be mine—at least not for very long.And there was no point in putting off something you feared or dreaded—it was better to get it over with.

It was time to meet Saint’s Drake.

32

AVERY

The athletic field behind the school is the only place a full-grown Drake—especially one as big as Saint’s—could safely come out at Nocturne Academy.So that was where we went—me and my whole coven.Well, except for Jalli.She didn’t dare to bring her chimelings when Saint’s Drake was going to be out in the open.So she had stayed back with them to keep them safe.

I didn’t blame her.Part of me wished I could hide in the Norm Dorm too.But hiding doesn’t break curses—courage does.Or so I told myself as we all trooped out to the field.

All of us stood in a loose semi-circle with Kaitlyn and Ari on my left and Megan and Griffon on my right.Emma was next with Bran and Lachlan on either side of her.All of us waited while Saint stripped down to his shorts and then walked to the very center of the field.

“When it happens, it’s going to happen fast,” I heard Ari muttering to Kaitlyn.“We should be ready to Shift.”

“I am.”Kaitlyn lifted her chin.“I won’t hesitate if it looks like Avery’s in danger.”

I was glad my two Drake friends had my back—though I wasn’t sure having three giant Drakes on the athletic field would be better than having one.

“Guys, I’ll be okay,” I said to them trying to make myself believe it.“Saint’s Drake loves me—he won’t hurt me.”

“No, probably not.But the love of a Drake can be…intense,” Ari said, frowning in a worried way that put an extra knot in my stomach.“We just want to be certain that Saint’s Drake is careful with you, Avery—we want to be sure he doesn’t love you toohard.”

I had a sudden dismal image of the huge Drake squeezing me in one giant, clawed hand because he was so excited to finally get to “cuddle” me.It would be like that awful scene inOf Mice and Men,which we had dissected in English class, where George loves his pet rabbit to death.

But no—I couldn’t let myself think like that.I had to trust my boyfriend, I told myself.I knew how much Saint cared for me and a great deal of that love and devotion was coming from his Drake.It might be Cursed and completely insane, but the emotions it had for me were unwavering.I had to trust that it would take care of me, the same was Ari’s Drake had taken care of Kaitlyn before she had a Drake herself.

Saint reached the middle of the athletic field and then turned to face me.He took a deep breath and let it out and I saw a look of relief cross over his face.He had told me this was the longest he’d ever gone keeping his Drake bottled up inside since it had first come out so it must feel good to finally let it go free, I reasoned.Still, I wasn’t prepared to see the man I loved suddenly disappear…and see a twelve-ton beast take his place.

Saint’s Drake was enormous—even bigger than the one Ari had inside him.It had shimmering black scales that seemed to glow with a crimson light in the moonlight.The undersides of its vast wings were blood-red—it spread them wide as it turned its vast, car-sized head to look at me.

No, not ‘it’—him,I told myself firmly.Saint’s Drake was a male just like he was and he had the same possessive characteristics that all Drakes had.In fact, I could feel that possessiveness coming out of him like a hot wave.The look in his flaming eyes—which looked like pools of boiling lava—was one of intense need.

“I think you’d better go to him, Avery.”Ari’s deep voice was hushed.“His desire for you will make him reckless soon if you do not.”

“But what if it’s not safe?”Kaitlyn protested.

“What if he hurts Avery?”Megan and Emma demanded at the same time.

“Hush, girls—I’ll be fine.”I tried to keep my voice light though inside it felt like all my organs had turned to lead.The enormous predator who was bigger than a T-rex and probably twice as unpredictable, was expecting me to go “cuddle” with him and there was no way of backing out of it unless I wanted him to fry not just me, but all my friends.

Sometimes you just have to do something.You can’t let yourself think about it—even a little—or you’ll talk yourself out of it.So I dropped Megan and Kaitlyn’s hands and just started walking.

“Oh Avery, be careful!”I heard Emma say and there was panic in her voice.

I was tempted to feel the same emotion myself, but I knew I couldn’t afford it.If I started freaking out, I would freak out the Cursed Drake and then who knew what damage he might do?Stealing myself for anything that might come—including my imminent demise—I walked right up to him.

What else could I do?

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AVERY