Page 119 of Taste of Thorns

“Blaze!” I wail. “Take me back down, please.”

But I’m guessing the little terror is having way too much fun, because in the next moment he’s rushing us upward and I’m sliding down his back towards his rump, grasping onto him with just my fingernails.

“Blaze seriously,” I shout, “I’m going to fall off.”

The dragon rights himself, and then I’m guessing we’re gliding on the air current. Carefully, I peel open an eye. We’re up in the dark sky, the bright stars all around us and the air icy cold on my skin. I peer down and the earth is a black silhouette far below us.

“Oh my goodness,” I croak, but I have to admit, it’s too darn beautiful to feel too terrified. I’ve never been this far above the ground before and everything looks so small and so tiny– the trees of the forest mere dots and the great peaks of the Highlands just small molehills.

I curl down, lying flat along the dragon’s back and twining my arms around his neck.

“It’s beautiful,” I whisper and the dragon huffs in agreement. “You could forget the world exists up here, get lost in the clouds and never come down.”

I look out towards the horizon. I can make out the towers of the academy; stark and gnarled and ominous. It would be so easy to turn and fly away. We could sail right out across the realm – out beyond the borders where the demons lurk. We’re so high up I doubt even they could reach us. Maybe I could keep going and reach whatever lies beyond. Some other place. Some new home.

But that’s all just a fantasy. The demons would kill me as soon as I emerged from the safety of the realm, and there’s nothing beyond the wastelands – nothing that we know of. Besides which I have friends and family now – people tethering me to the ground. Maybe five months ago I’d be tempted by a fantasy like that – all I ever wanted to do was escape the torture and loneliness of home – but not anymore.

We hover in the air like one of Fly’s kites, riding the air currents, buffeted by the wind, until finally I stroke Blaze’s neck and say to him, “Thanks for sharing this with me, Boy. It’s so beautiful up here, but those men down there are just on the tad possessive side and they’re going to be worrying about me. So do you think we could go back?”

Immediately, Blaze spirals down to the earth and I’m a little elated that he truly does seem to understand me. Is Beaufort right and there is a connection between us?

I’m definitely not as elated about the flight down, though. It isn’t as smooth as hovering on the current. It has me feeling dizzy and gripping on for dear life again. Finally, Blaze’s feet hitthe ground with a soft thud, and with my body shaking slightly, I slide down towards the ground, Beaufort catching me in his arms.

“Okay?” he asks, his gaze racing over my face, Dray at his shoulder.

“I didn’t fall off if that’s what you mean, but a little warning wouldn’t have hurt.”

Beaufort peers across to the dragon and then up towards the sky. There’s wonder dancing in his eyes – he looks like a kid who might bubble over with excitement.

“It looked amazing.”

“It looked all right,” Dray sulks. “You know riding my wolf through the forest would probably be more fun and a lot safer.”

“Pfft,” Beaufort sniffs, “better than flying? Come on, Dray, you can’t say you wouldn’t kill to do that?”

“I’m not sure Blaze will be as keen to let you two ride him,” I caution, seeing where this is headed.

“No,” Beaufort says, “a dragon only has one rider.”

He’s still clutching my waist and I draw my palms up his strong arms.

“You seem to know an awful lot about dragons, Beaufort Lincoln.”

“I was pretty obsessed with them as a kid,” he says sheepishly.

“Yeah, and there’s his heritage too,” Dray says and Beaufort shoots his friend a look.

I go to ask what that means, but Beaufort doesn’t give me a chance because in the next instant, he’s kissing me.

“You looked so amazing up there, sweetheart.”

“Like all the princesses he used to crush over as a kid,” Dray mutters.

“Fuck off,” Beaufort says, but his eyes are still ablaze, like lightning in a stormy sky.

He slides his fingers into my hair and kisses me again. The dragon snorts behind him like Blaze isn’t exactly thrilled about me being man-handled like this, but it doesn’t stop him,

“Fuck, Briony, a dragon,” he shakes his head in disbelief, “what can this all mean?”