Page 27 of The Keeper of the Kingdoms

“Not really,” I called out in reply. “It’s pretty high up here already.”

“I haven’t even stood yet.”He laughed. My mind filled with it, adding further insult to my situation.

“I’m well aware,”I bit back through our bond.

“Should I?”he asked cautiously.

“If you feel it’s necessary,”I said through gritted teeth. Closing my eyes against the dizziness already making me feel lightheaded.

“Okay, hold on. It might feel bumpy for a moment.”

“Fabulous,”I snarked, then yelped as he rose. First, his front end, tipping me backwards, then his rear making it feel as though I was thrown forward. I gasped, gripping tight and screwing my eyes shut so I couldn’t see the several feet higher I now was.

Then we were still.

I was breathing hard, but Jaxus was motionless, his solid presence beneath me a reassurance I didn’t quite understand.

“Okay?”he asked tentatively. His voice was soft and smooth in my mind so as not to spook me, I supposed.

“Not exactly.”

“Want to get down?”

I was so warmed by the tenderness of his offer, fully aware how badly he wanted this—no, needed this. Because I was being drawn by the same forces myself. A need to fly. A deep desire to become one with my flyer and fulfill that destiny we’d beengifted. That he would end the experiment so quickly to make me feel comfortable was a kindness I didn’t deserve after shunning him for weeks.

“No, I’m good. I’ll just work on opening my eyes in a moment.”

His rumbling huff of laughter vibrated through me.

“Arse,”I said mind to mind.

“Take your time.”

I opened one eye and then the other, my stomach turning over at just being a few feet from the ground. “Goddess, save me,” I whispered. “Why can’t my destiny be on the ground?”

“The Goddess only tries us with what she knows we can withstand.”

“Hmmm.”

“Have you opened your eyes yet?”he asked.

“Regrettably, yes.”

“And how do you feel?”

“Nauseous!”

“It will pass, just relax,”he soothed. “We are just standing here, taking in the view—”He paused.“Scratch that. We are just staying here. I’m taking in the view. You’re trying not to, which is fine.”

I laughed. I couldn’t help myself. Whether he was trying to or not, he was really good at putting me at ease.

I traced my fingers along the scales on his neck that I’d fixated on to save me from looking out over the courtyard. Jaxus shivered under me, and I stopped.

“Don’t stop. It feels nice.”

Tentatively, I stroked his neck again and marveled at the way his scales shimmered in the light as his shudder rippled his skin beneath them. It felt too intimate and I began to wonder if his neck would be a sensitive place in his fae form, too.

No.