Page 92 of Courting the Dragon Prince

Luther flapped, taking them higher but not so high that the air would thin and Onyx would struggle to breathe. Then he slowed. He angled forward. He dove.

“Fuuuuuuck!” Onyx screamed.

At the last second, Luther pulled up, halting their descent, and stopping them crashing into the earth.

After a second, laughter burst from Onyx. “Oh! Oh! Fuck! My heart.”

Luther glanced back and saw Onyx shaking with the force of his laughter.

“That was so much fun.” Onyx wiped at his eyes.

Mirth bubbled up in Luther’s chest.

“You know what else would be fun?” Onyx reached out his hands in front of him. He took a deep breath.

Luther looked ahead. A boulder rose from the ground ahead of them.

Panic spiked inside Luther. His wings tensed as he prepared to evade a rock attack.

Then he remembered this was Onyx doing this. And earth elementals and dragons were no longer enemies at war.

He let out a breath, forcing his muscles to relax.

Also, Onyx would be a fool to try to take down a dragon he was riding. The boulder hurled to the side, crashing into a cliffside. Rock shattered and crumbled, falling to the earth.

Impressive.Luther could appreciate an earth elemental’s powers when they weren’t being directed against him or those he fought with.

A sliver of a memory started to unfurl inside Luther. He shoved it violently away.

“I’ve missed the mountains. I’ve missed hurling rocks,” Onyx said. “And don’t worry. The grand monk said no one lives out here.”

Good to know.

Truthfully, Luther hadn’t thought about it. But he was glad Onyx had and that he wasn’t just carelessly hurling rocks into cliffsides where rocks could fall and crush a village or a hapless individual.

Another boulder flew through the air in front of them. Luther snapped his wings. He dove towards the boulder as it hurtled towards the earth.

“What are you—” Onyx didn’t have time to finish his question.

Luther opened his mouth. Fire burst forth, hitting the stone straight on. A sharp crack filled the air, and fragments of stone split, flying in all directions. Luther halted their descent and flew upwards.

Onyx’s hand slapped Luther’s scales. “Incredible. Let’s do that again!” And before Onyx had finished speaking, another rock flung diagonally through the air in front of them.

Luther flew towards it, jaw gaping as flames burst forth and hit the rock.

Onyx cheered, and Luther roared.

They spent the next few hours flying, chasing boulders, hitting rocks with fire, swerving through the mountains, and then exploring more of the island.

And as the sun rose over the horizon, Luther took Onyx out over the ocean. The pinks, oranges, and golds of the sunrise reflected on the sparkling water.

Luther couldn’t help but think about all the times he’d flown through the night in an attempt to exhaust himself so he could sleep. It had never been wondrous. It had been a means to an end.

But because of this right here, with Onyx on his back, warm hand pressed to Luther’s scales, he remembered what a gift it was to be able to fly.

Thank you, Onyx, for returning this to me.

They went back to the monastery shortly after dawn. Movement in the gardens and windows told Luther people had started to rise.