Page 30 of The Keeper of the Kingdoms

“As I said before, I’m not wild about heights.”

“You were just sitting on him, though?”

“Correct, until there was a situation in the courtyard below and someone called for a healer.”

Nyx’s eyes went wide.

“Then we had a small miscommunication about the fastest way to get me there and we were airborne before I could blink.”

There was a pause where Nyx did his best to maintain a neutral expression. “And?”

“And I blacked out, slid from his back, and fell to the ground like a stone. He caught me—luckily—and you know the rest. So obviously, I’ll never be flying again and that’s just one more, and I believe, the final reason why I am not now, nor shall I ever be, a ryder.” I breathed in relief for getting that out. There were so many reasons I was not a ryder, but my crippling fear was the only one I had not shared, and now that I had, we could put this nonsense to bed.

Nyx laughed, not with the same hysteria Zaria had. His was more a laugh of pity and amusement. “You do know it’s not that simple, don’t you?”

I scowled. “It is if we make it so.”

“Kiera, come now. They must cover this in your healer training. You’ve been called to your flyer. That changes you. You are not the same as the fae you were before this. Once that connection is opened, it has to be satisfied.”

“Nonsense. I get that I’m bonded to a dragon now, or whatever. But we can find ways of working together on the ground.I do not have to fly around like some dragon chaser to satisfy it.”

“Oh, you are so wrong about that. Zaria, tell her.”

Zaria blew out a steadying breath and composed herself. “It’s true. You won’t just want to fly together—you’ll need it.”

I looked between them, shaking my head.

“It’s the Goddess’ plan,” Nyx added. “And the Goddess doesn’t make mistakes.”

“Why do people keep saying that?” I snapped. “Clearly, she had an off day because this whole thing is a mistake. If this was her plan, why did she also make me afraid to do it?”

“Only she knows the answer to that, but you’ll overcome it,” Zaria assured. “The trust you build together will soon have you over your fears.”

“Not everyone is like you, Sol.” Nyx chuckled. He looked at me and shook his head. “Did she ever tell you what she did the first time we flew?”

“No?”

“She was so keen to show me she trusted me, she took a swan dive off my back over the valley.”

I opened my mouth and then seemed unable to find any words.

“Exactly.” Nyx agreed.

“You’d already said you could catch me if I fell, so I trusted you.”

Nyx mumbled something about females sent to try him, and I assessed Zaria.

“What?”

“You are certifiable,” I told her.

She smirked.

“No I mean it. I should have you restricted to the healer’s wing for assessment for that madness. You are clearly mentally unstable. How did you live this long with that kind of reckless streak?”

Nyx bit his lip to hold in his mirth.

“That will be you as soon as you let go and accept that this is how things are for you now.” she insisted.