“Yeah, let’s do that,” Richie said, as they all started back for their homes.
Across the highway, back at his own house, Riley cast one last look toward his land past the rise where his daughter and her mate played in a torrential downpour. He looked up into the darkened, storm ridden sky. “Thank you for this storm,” he whispered.
His front door opened behind him, and Maia reached out and took hold of him, pulling him in out of the rain. “What are you doing out there?!” she demanded.
“Watching Remi and Cristie flying on the other side,” he said with a goofy grin.
“You’re kidding!” she said, trying to get around him to go see for herself.
“Let’s give them this time. Next time we’ll all go with them.”
“Why in a storm?” she asked, casting a glance in the direction of the rise.
“It hides his Dragon from any witnesses that might happen to be near. He roars when it thunders to hide his Dragon’s call.”
“The perfect camouflage,” Maia said.
“Exactly. And we think Cristie is on his back. She’s squealing and laughing as he rises and dips on the wind.”
“That’s got to be so exhilarating! Can you see them?” she asked.
“Only a flash here and there. If we were human, and didn’t know what to look for, they’d just look like a weird rain drenched kind of optical illusion. When it’s raining this hard, it’s hard for even us to see them unless we’re right out there near them.”
“Which is why you’re soaked.”
“Yep.”
“Why didn’t you come get me?”
“You’d fallen asleep already. And I didn’t know Cristie was with him until I got over there. Then I decided that I’d keep my distance and give them their time.”
“I love that they’re together.”
“Me, too. I even got choked up.”
Chapter 19
Twenty minutes later Cristie and Remi walked out of the woods, hand in hand, thoroughly soaked as rain continued to pelt them.
“I cannot believe what tonight turned into. I never, ever thought that I’d be flying through the sky with my mate, much less through a storm! It’s got to be the most exciting thing I’ve ever done!”
Remi chuckled. “I’m glad you had fun.”
“Fun?! I had the time of my life!”
“I’m glad you trusted me enough to let me share it with you,” Remi said.
She leaned against him, looking up into his eyes. “How could you think I didn’t trust you?”
He looked down at her. “There was a time I didn’t trust me. I always prided myself in making the right choices. But eventually, no matter what choice I made, it would be the wrong one for someone.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t understand for so long. And I’m sorry you ended up in that position.”
“Wasn’t your fault. It’s like I said before, how could I not see you? What you are to me, why didn’t I see that before?”
“I guess fate knew we weren’t ready,” Cristie said.
“Are we now?” Remi asked.
