Page 47 of The Mating Quest

Ilana jumped off Drust’s back and helped Tate. As Drust transformed back to Skin, the pack’s children rushed up to Tate, chattering with excitement andadmiration.

Ilana joined Ethan, who laughed. “Look at him. They’ll all be eager to learn sign language now, just to hear the story about what it was like to ride adragon.”

“Not just any dragon, but the immortal Coldfire Wizard. Thanks Ethan.” Ilana gave him an admiring look. “That was nice of you. Look how happy heis.”

Praise from her made him embarrassed. He rubbed the back of his neck. “He’ll have pack status now, with the other kids. They won’t treat him like a pariah anymore. It’s important in pack tobelong.”

“Maybe everywhere.” Ilana looked at Tate and he sensed a deeper meaning to herwords.

Ethan picked up his pack, prepared to ride on Alex’s back. “Ilana, it was interesting how Drust communicated with Tate, asking him about taking a dragon ride. He didn’t use sign language. I think it wastelepathic.”

Ilana looked uncomfortable. “So?”

His gaze locked to hers. “It was the same way you looked at Tate when you first met him. As if you are also telepathic. Drust is a powerful wizard. I get it with him. But few Others are capable of this, except for those touched by dark magic. Evil. So why can you doit?”

“Don’t ask, wolf.” She gazed at the dragons and his sisters. “You don’t want to know. You really donot.”

Chapter 15

Ridinghigh in the sky on Drust’s back, wind rushing at her, Ilana struggled with her emotions. Ethan had gone from friend back tofoe.

All thanks to sensing her unique form of communication with Tate. In his eyes, that was darkmagick.

How could she explain herself? Should she even tellhim?

Both needed to focus on the assignment before them. That was more important than her abilities. Yet Ethan was an alpha wolf and would fight to bone and blood to protect those under his care, especially family. If she dared to threaten his sisters, or do anything he perceived as a threat, he’d take her fine new sword and chop off herhead.

Dipping down suddenly, Drust approached a lake nestled between two purple-shadowed mountains. He skimmed the surface, dipping a claw in the water and spraying her. Ilana sputtered and wiped droplets off her leatherarmbands.

“Do you mind,wizard?”

Not at all,Ilana.

She gritted her teeth as they rose into the air again, the others following. Of course Drust was telepathic. Like Ethan indicated, it was a wizardtalent.

Ethan is a wise wolf. Why do you not inform him of your specialtalents?

Another wizard talent. Mindreading.

“None of your business,” she shouted, gripping tighter a spike protruding from hisback.

It is my business since it is my talisman you seek and if Ethan fails to trust you, you will be in grave danger. Do not underestimate him. He is a strong alphawolf.

“Oh, I’m so afraid,” she mocked. “Grave danger. Like I haven’t heard thatbefore.”

Stupid, considering the wizard could easily dump her off his back, leaving her to crash to earth and crack open her skull. But she wouldn’tdie.

Fall asleep for 100 years in a secret glen in the Fae Summer Kingdom and then wake up to return to the Skin world to find a new culture, new technology, everyone she loved long gone? Yeah, been there, donethat.

Riding on Drust’s back actually wasn’t unpleasant. She enjoyed the bite of wind against her cheeks, the mist from darting into clouds, and the scenery was breathtaking. Montana’s flat plains had given way to jagged mountains, and dots of bluelakes.

Where are weheaded?

You’llsee.

Where are the others?It seemed a long while since she had spotted them through theclouds.

Stopped, at my request, to refreshthemselves.