“Of course not.”
I smiled, unable to take my eyes off her. She was determined to try all the stupid things we once did when we were young. But we did not know any better at that age, and barely had any guidance from the grown ups. The black clan was very different back then. Its leadership was plotting the rebellion, and everything was wrapped in a shroud of complete secrecy. We were by ourselves most of the time. I grimaced, thinking about how stupid we were back then, but we simply did not care.
“This is so high,” Alina whispered and I could not detect any trace of confidence in her voice.
“We need to start slow. Practice on the ground first.”
“No!” She shook her head.
“You don’t need to prove anything to anyone.”
“This is for me. I want to be stronger, I want to be a survivor,” she said.
“Acting reckless will not get you there, princess.”
“I don’t have much time. And stop calling me that.”
“You have time,” I said.
“How do you know?”
I looked at her in silence. I did not know. It was possible that someone would inform the council about ourwhereabouts, then we would be ambushed. Hanoch would not be able to protect us, he had been clear about that.
My business with Sage was taking longer than I expected. I did not know much about building a shelter and had to rely on the old man’s directions to make any progress. I had managed to chop and prepare some logs, and start making the frame of the future building. When I checked on the old man earlier today, he was lying in the bushes too drunk to get up. I had to carry him back to his bed, and cover him with the rag he used as a blanket. We were stuck here for the time being, and our visit could last much longer.
“So, how do you do it?” Alina asked in a different voice.
“You concentrate on your dragon, and allow your body to take over.”
“That’s too broad.” Alina shook her head, looking at the drop.
“That’s why we need to start slow.” I turned to look for some more suitable place for us to start practicing.
“I am not afraid,” Alina whispered behind me.
I looked back, only for a moment, and she was gone. She jumped while I was not looking.
I swore and dove off the edge, I rotated in the air, pressing my arms closer to my body, acquiring the speed I needed. Suddenly, I spotted Alina below and prayed to all the gods that I would catch her in time. Fear I had never known before took over, and for a moment I thought I had lost her.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
ALINA
Violent bursts of wind and the feel of my body being weightless paralyzed me. I kept rotating in the air, unable to stop. My fears returned, and no matter what I did, I could not help screaming. I could not do it, I could not catch the feeling of my beast. I felt nothing. Only the impossibly loud beating of my heart as every second brought me closer to the ground.
Please, please, please!
I begged the stars and the sky.
Suddenly, a painful tug up stopped me mid-fall, and my head started to spin when I saw the black shape wrapping around my torso. I clenched the scales of Tynan’s dragon,and closed my eyes as he took a sharp dive down, avoiding the rock formations below.
A moment later, as fast as lightning, we landed, hitting the ground hard. His arms were still on me when his body started to transform.
In the soft afternoon glow, Tynan appeared in front of me looking absolutely stunning and ready to take my head off.
Instead of saying anything, he spun me around and dragged me toward the rocks. When he pushed my back against the surface, I squinted in pain.
“What the fuck was that?” he yelled, his face just inches away from mine.
