Page 92 of Exquisite Monster

Varídarted back into the branches, and Sirrus moved me to the side, readying himself. Much like the first time,Varíflew and Sirrus created obstacles for him, but this time it was far more intense. He flew against a constant wind, with rippling currents along with sharp darts of air he had to avoid.

Sirrus blew out a breath of fire. It wouldn’t hurt anyone here, but it was yet another obstacle to train around. And if Andaros had figured out how to use scalefire this way…

I watched asVaríturned a blue so dark it was almost black and dove into a nearby shadow, swooping around the trunk of the trees to land on my shoulder unscathed. He pushed his head up under my chin in greeting. “That was wonderful.”

“It was my idea to train,” Sirrus said, reaching out and tappingVaríon the nose. “But so far he’s put me to shame. There’s nothing I’ve thrown at him that he hasn’t avoided with ease.”

My small dragon was close enough that I felt him puff up with pride and begin to purr. “Good,” I said. “It will help you stay safe.”

“And you too,” Sirrus said.

My legs were still a little shaky from the shock of the fall. “I begged him to leave,” I murmured. “While we were falling. I told him to fly, but he wouldn’t.”

He pushed his head into me just like he had at the moment when he chose to stay. My eyes burned as Sirrus pulled us both to him, just being a presence through the wave of fear and memory.

Varígrowled something in the dragon tongue. It seemed longer than normal. Sirrus smiled. “Varísays he would like to train more, but with bringing darts back after you throw them. He also says it will help you practice.”

A laugh burst out of me. “Is that so? I need to practice?”

I didn’t need Sirrus to translate the sound he made asyes. “All right. I’ll go get the bag and come back.”

“Wait.” Sirrus caught me around the waist and tugged me back. “I’ll get it. You stay on the ground.”

“I’m all right to climb the stairs.”

“I know, but I’d rather you stay and enjoy the sun.”

My breath caught. He remembered how much darkness there’d been under the ground. I lowered myself onto the soft grass instead. “Hurry back.”

He winked before jogging away, leavingVaríand me to snuggle in the sunshine.

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

________

ENDRE

Clouds darkened the sky above Evrítha. Which made approaching easier. The black scales of my cursed form blended in with the near-black sky. I didn’t think Evrítha was being watched, but I couldn’t be sure.

It would have been smarter to wait for this journey until Idroal returned, but I couldn’t. Answers I’d searched for over the last centuries could beright there. That, and I needed to see where Lena had been.

Slowing, I looked through the thin layer of clouds to make sure there were no unfriendly eyes.

Then I dove straight down.

Tucking my wings, I arrowed into the earth, and my stomach plummeted along with my body. This was so, so much further than I had imagined. I no longer questioned why Andaros thought Lena was dead after he threw her down here. She should have been.

Down and down and down. Until the light from the surface was barely a pinprick, only visible because of my dragon eyes.

Farther down than I ever thought possible, I saw violet. The magic net Lena had described. I flared my wings and slowed, gliding down above the roiling water collected at the bottom and avoiding the chaotic collection of fallen objects hovering in space.

I landed heavily on wet stone, digging my claws in.

A rough-hewn doorway disappeared into darkness, beyond it I saw a field filled with underground plants that glowed, unnatural trees, and moisture gathering on every exposed surface.

It was so dark down here. My eyes could see just fine. But Lena? My heart stuttered. She’d been down here for nearly three months. Even Andaros had let us see the sky.

I don’t recall inviting anyone into my home. A resonant voice sounded in my head, and I almost laughed. She sounded exactly as I remembered her.