Page 31 of The Keeper of the Kingdoms

“Nope,” I replied defiantly. “Not happening. I will take up residence on the bed of the Middle Sea with the kelpies before I ever willingly sit on a dragon’s back again.”

FOURTEEN

KIERA

“Ireally hate you,” I snipped at Nyx from where I sat on Jaxus’ back.

“Oh, relax, will you? You’re only sitting there.” Nyx rolled his eyes from the safety of the ground several feet below.

“That’s what he said last time,” I huffed.

“We’re inside. I can’t even spread my wings,”Jaxus added to the conversation through mind speak.

“He might be able to break out or something. I don’t know what you dragons are capable of!”

“You dragons?”Jaxus parroted back, sounding offended, but I ignored him.

“Where is he going to fly in a training room?” Nyx said, repeating the sentiment he had not heard his friend express. “We are in a stone palace, levels down. If you think adragon can?—”

“Ugh, you two are so annoying,” I grumbled, cutting him off.

Nyx laughed and Jaxus huffed out a curl of smoke in amusement.

We had come to one of the larger practice rooms. It was large enough to accommodate Jaxus in his shifted form but not large enough for him to perform any heroics this time. If he tried to take off here, his wings would meet wall and we wouldn’t make it off the ground. The only reason I had agreed to this madness was because it was mildly safer, but I still wasn’t convinced they didn’t have some antics up their sleeves.

That, and it was late at night and we’d been in the Flaming Pegasus earlier. Ale had been imbibed and I was just loose enough to agree to try this again. And with an audience, no less.

Nyx had wheeled in some kind of mounting platform they used for children, which was insulting enough. But the real humiliation was coming from the inebriated spectators’ gallery. Zaria and Luka were shouting encouragement from their position against the wall while they snacked on food they grabbed from the dining hall on the way here like this was a spectator sport.

“If you don’t want to give it a go, I think Jaxus should take me up!” Luka called.

Zaria smacked his chest. “Let her focus!”

“Focus on what? She’s on the ground,” Luka muttered, swaying from drink. “I bet ryding would be a blast. Either way, a dragon would let me.” He wore a smirk that made Zaria roll her eyes. “I haven’t conquered a dragon yet. Let me add that to the list.”

Zaria glared at him. “Quiet you.”

“Is Jaxus not available?” Luka asked.

Zaria smacked him again.

I could use a snack to soak up all the ale but apparently I was already a vomit risk, and with alcohol in my system too, Jaxus had put his oversized foot down and said no food until I dismounted.

I peered down at the ground and regretted it immediately. Why did dragons have to be so big, anyway? They could fly and breathe fire. It’s not like they need the brute strength and size the Goddess gave them. They have the means to escape and evade and burn everything to the ground. The bulk is simply unnecessary.

Big, smelly show-offs! I thought to myself, causing an eruption of giggles to spill from me.

“Something funny up there?” Nyx asked.

“Want to share with the group?”Jaxus challenged mind to mind.

“Goddess save me!” I cried. “It’s bad enough I have to put up with you both separately, but now I have one in my mind and the other in my ear, talking in tandem. I can’t. Is there a point to this exercise other than to send me mad?”

“The point,” Nyx stated with authority, although I almost thought I detected a slur. “Is conditioning. We need you relaxed, hence the drink, and accustomed to sitting up there before we can move on to flight.”

I tensed, and Jaxus shifted in objection.

“He can feel your tension. It causes his to spike. It’s a bond reflex, if you like. You have to relax,” Nyx coached.