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Suddenly, a massive black wyvern lands before us. I think my heart is in my throat. Breathing becomes a challenge as I step back, my mouth gaping open. Lukene plants a hand to my lower back.

“It’s okay. Wrath won’t hurt you. Well, unless I tell her to. So you are safe… for now, Reckless.” He winks, taking a few steps past me then turns to me. “Come on, Reign. You are going to be fine.” I see Elm standing with a guard, looking just as shaken up as me. I braid my fingers and kiss them. He returns the gesture before hopping onto the wyvern with James.

Lukene climbs onto the wyvern and extends a hand. Shadows cascade down before me like steps, making it easier to get on. With shaky legs, I ascend the shadowy stairway and seat myself in front of Lukene. I lean forward to avoid touching him. The last thing I need is to brush against him and let my thoughts wander again.

Lukene wraps his arms around me, guiding my hands to the spikes on the wyvern’s back. “Hold here.” His massive arms fit around me like a glove on a hand, fitting together—a perfect match.

“Lukene, I don’t think I can do this… I?—”

Taking both of his hands, he trails them up and down my arms. “Call me Luke, and I promise nothing bad is going to happen. You won’t fall off, and if you do, I’ll use my shadows to catch you. You should know by now I won’t let anything happen to you.”

With that, he whistles. The gigantic beast flaps her wings, and then we are airborne, heading up, up, up. My stomach floats into my throat as my heart smashes against my ribs. The wind is fierce and stings my eyes, so I shut them. I’m going to die. Humans were not made to fly; that’s why we don’t have wings. I feel myself sliding back into Luke as we ascend. He holds me firmly, while his hand rubs lazy circles on my stomach.

“Open your eyes, Reign,” Luke whispers close to my ear. His warm breath caresses me, sending a tingling sensation down my spine and heat floods my core. When I open my eyes, we fly straight ahead. The night sky is blanketed by darkness. The moon illuminates the clouds, shining across the ocean, making it glitter. It’s such a beautiful view, such serenity being high above in the abyss of darkness.

Lukene slides his hand down to my upper thigh, beginning to rub and kneed the muscles there. He works his strong hands from above my knee to my upper thighs. Every pass, he gets closer and closer to my core. I begin to ache between my legs, completely forgetting that I’m high above the ground on a wyvern.

Feeling his hardness press into me, the proximity of his hands to my aching center makes me feel like I’m going to come undone. He rubs his hands down my thighs again, and tantalizingly slow, he brings them up closer, and closer, and closer to my center. He goes higher this time; his thumb nearly grazes that spot that aches so badly. I can’t help the soft moan that escapes my lips as I wiggle back into him. He lets out a deep, husky groan. I lean into his chest, laying my head back on him. He immediately stiffens, stopping all movements.

“Reign,” he whispers, his words breathy. “Try to rest. I’ll make sure you don’t fall.” He pushes back a little. Unsure of what I did wrong and feeling slightly embarrassed, I sit up straight. “You can lean forward and lay on her.”

Feeling the color of embarrassment stain my cheeks, I am thankful it’s hidden by the night. Not sure what to do or say, I lean forward and rest my torso on Wrath. Lukene begins to rub long strokes up and down my spine, and before I can realize what’s happening, I fall asleep, lulled by the sound of the wind, the flapping wings, and the warmth of Luke’s hands.

I wake to the morning sun starting to ascend, casting colors of reds, oranges, and golds across the clouds and oceans. It’s breathtakingly beautiful, watching the colors stretch across the sky. I lean up off Wrath, cracking my stiff neck.

Looking over my shoulder, Lukene appears tired but gives me a lazy smile. His hair is a delightful mess. I want to run my fingers through it, but I don’t. I turn my face back to the sunrise, seeing Wemdrah come into view. I close my eyes, trying to soak in as many of the sun’s rays as I can since it’s so cold.

“So beautiful,” Lukene murmurs, his voice soft and reverent.

I open my eyes to the bright sun still rising, painting the sky in vivid colors and illuminating the clouds. “It truly is, isn’t it? I think it’s the most stunning sunrise I’ve ever seen.”

Lukene chuckles, his playful eyes fixed on mine. “Yeah, I guess the sunrise is beautiful too.”

I turn my face away from him, hiding my heated cheeks, but I can’t suppress the small smile that forms as we get closer to Wemdrah.

* * *

Landing in frontof the sandstone castle, Luke helps me down from Wrath. I walk over to Elm, Jake, and Marshalla while Captain James, Luke, and the other guards walk toward a gorgeous woman with ebony skin and orange hair.

“Well, that was a terrifying experience,” Elm chuckles. “But I didn’t mind sitting behind the captain the whole ride.” He raises his eyebrows up and down, and I can’t suppress the giggle that escapes my lips.

“Yeah, well I can tell you I am killing that wyvern. There is no way in the hells I’d ride one by myself,” Jake states.

“Oh, like you are going to actually kill it! It will probably kill all of us first,” Marshalla retorts.

“I was scared at first, but I enjoyed it. There was something so serene about being up there,” I say, a hint of a smile on my face. Remembering the way Luke touched me, I shut my eyes, still feeling his hands on me. The thoughts are interrupted by the memory of how he stiffened when I leaned back against him. What did I do wrong? Did he realize he doesn’t want a Drifter from the Hollows? I rub a hand down my heated face despite the chilly air.

Captain James approaches us while I watch Luke and the orange-headed beauty walk off, disappearing around the side of the castle.

“Alright, follow me to your rooms. Get cleaned up and rest for a few hours, then you will meet Christolyn.” We all follow James into the palace.

The palace is gorgeous in a simple way. There are no ornate golden designs or over-the-top chandeliers—just earthy tones and big open windows. The rugs that adorn the halls are turquoise with swirls of brown and tan. Simple, yet stunning.

James leads us down the hall, putting Jake in a room, then Marshalla, then Elm. I walk to the next door, expecting it to be mine, but the captain keeps walking.

We reach the end of the corridor, turning the corner, and walk the entirety of the next hall before stopping in front of a white door. “Why am I not in the other hall with the other contestants?” I ask Captain James, confused.

“Those were my orders,” he says dryly.