Page 8 of The Dragon's Gambit

“I’ll be with you, Reiya. Call out for me, and I’ll be there instantly.” Lee let out a puff of air as he looked at her seriously.

“Even if I don’t call out for you, you’ll be there the moment I need you. You always are.” Reiya met his gaze, her hearttrumpeting loudly as she gawked at the handsome face in front of her.

Lee chuckled and patted her head. “I try, princess.” He leaned in, kissed her forehead, and vanished.

Chelsie grinned at Reiya and gave her a couple eye raises. “Still crushing on your deity?”

“Chelsie! Shush.” Reiya rolled her eyes. He was probably watching over her right now. She didn’t need him hearing about how she drooled over his looks. He might never come back. Chelsie smiled knowingly and nodded.

“Chelsie, help me hoist him onto my back.” Reiya looked back to see her friend’s disgusted face.

“Eww … you want me to touch it?! We have no idea where it’s been.” Chelsie stuck her tongue out in utter disgust.

“Chelsie! It’s a child. You don’t want to see me struggling, do you? Now, give me a hand!” Reiya shook her head. Kelpies … so high and mighty. They were too good for everything. The child was maybe seven or eight years old. He was just a little kid.

Chelsie helped place the boy onto Reiya’s back, groaning and protesting. “Eww, eww, eww, YUCK! I’m going to be sick. Its breath hit my skin. This is repulsive. There, he’s on.” Chelsie shuddered, raising her hands and shaking them violently. “I smell … Eeewww … I need to wash off! See you at the top, Reiya. There’s a small pond up there where I’ll be waiting for you.” Chelsie turned and jumped into the river, vanishing the moment she did.

Reiya looked up the steep mountainside. This was going to be tough.

Chapter 5 Dragon Kingdom

The boy started to stir as she climbed up the mountainside. Her hands had small scrapes and were getting sore. After finding a small ledge halfway up, she decided to stop and catch her breath. She also wanted to talk to the child to make sure hewas okay. She didn’t want him to wake up scared, being carried by some stranger.

“Hey sweetie, are you waking up?” Reiya’s gentle voice called out. She could feel his body move a bit as he began to come to.

The little boy moaned, and she felt his body shift again. She decided to set him down so she could talk with him and make sure he was alright. Who knew how badly he was injured after being in the river? She sat the boy down and knelt in front of him. His eyes opened and he looked at her in confusion. Surprisingly, though, he didn’t seem to be afraid of her.

“How are you feeling? You really shouldn’t swim in water that moves that quick.” Reiya smiled gently at the boy. “I’m Reiya.”

“You … you saved me?” The boy asked with wide eyes. Reiya nodded at him. “Thank you. My name is Todd. And just so you know, I didn’t plan to swim in the river.”

“How did you end up there, then?”

“I was trying to force my shift. I thought the best way would be to jump from a high hill. I never shifted, though,” Todd said dejectedly.

Reiya bit her bottom lip. She understood trying to force your body to shift all too well. “Sweetie, you’ll shift when you’re ready. You’re a little young, aren’t you?” Reiya didn’t know at what age dragons shifted, but werewolves were usually teenagers.

“Our king shifted when he turned seven! He was the youngest shifter ever. I’m eight, so it could happen,” Todd beamed happily as he talked about his king.

Reiya remembered her mother talking about the dragon prince who was now king. “Your king is Xander, right?”

His eyes bulged wide. “How did you know that? No one calls him Xander … that’s his personal name.” Todd was shocked at how this complete stranger knew his king’s name.

Reiya winked at the boy. “I know a thing or two. How do you feel? Are you hurt anywhere?”

The boy blinked at her and then wiggled his body around. He winced as he moved his leg. “Ouch … my leg hurts.” Todd frowned and reached down to check it.

Reiya bent down and looked over the boy’s leg. There was a big cut and deep, dark bruising, but at least it didn’t look broken. “Looks like it’ll be okay, but it will probably be sore for a few days. At least climbing will be easier, since you can help hold on.”

“You’re going to carry me the whole way?!” Todd asked, shocked.

“Well, how do you think you’ve gotten this far?” Reiya giggled as she saw him look down the mountainside. “Come on, Todd … let’s get you home.” Reiya bent down and helped the boy onto her back. “Hold on tight.”

By the time Reiya reached the top, she was thoroughly cut up. The sharp rocks from the mountain left little nicks and scrapes over her skin. She was breathing heavily, trying to catch her breath.

“Are you okay?” Todd asked, with a bit of a whimper.

“Of course I’m okay. I’ve trained harder than this before.” Reiya straightened up so the boy wouldn’t worry.