He wasn’t just beautiful.
He was… kind.
“Here are some clams,” she said, holding out the pouch filled with the small shells.
“Thanks. I’ll roast them over the coals,” he said, taking the bundle and spreading the small mollusks over a hot stone buried in the remnants of the charred wood that still glowed.
She sat beside him, her fingers brushing his as he handed her a section of the roasted fish.
“Thank you. I’ve never had a picnic before. I’ve seen other land creatures do them and always wondered what they would be like,” she murmured.
Jabir smiled, his eyes brimming with warmth. “I’m glad you’re here.”
She forced a smile, her heart quivering like the reeds in a storm.
Even as warmth seeped through her, the bitter truth crept in like the tide.
How could a creature of water ever stay with a boy made of fire and land?
But for now… for this stolen moment under the early afternoon sun… she could pretend.
And oh, how sweet the pretending is, she thought as Jabir told her of his home on a distant world called Valdier.
Drago’s Airship
* * *
Phoenix sat on the edge of the crate aboard Drago’s airship. A majestic dragon head carved into the bow of the airship was pointed toward the Isle of the Monsters. Sunlight danced on the ocean waves far below while the ship floated above fluffy white clouds.
The other dragonlings were scattered around her in loose clusters, the air alive with chatter and the occasional burst of laughter. The breeze tugged gently at her long hair and carried the scent of salt and the occasional aroma of lunch that would soon be ready.
“We’re really going to the Isle of the Monsters,” Amber exclaimed, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet.
“Finally!” Jade added, throwing her arms wide. “We actually get to explore the one place we originally wanted to visit!”
Alice arched an eyebrow. “You mean the place you were trying to sneak off to before getting portal-tossed onto a pirate island?” she teased.
Jade grinned unapologetically. “Still counts.”
Amber elbowed her. “Hey, we survived Blackheart and his creepy boneyard ship. That has to earn us a few points.”
“I just hope all the demented symbiots you brought with you went down with the ship,” Alice said.
“Are you kidding? Those guys saved our butts!” Jade retorted, laying the back of her hand on her brow as if she were about to faint.
Amber snorted. “Not to mention they are pretty indestructible. We’ll gift them to the Empress.”
“I bet Ashure will get blamed when they go crazy and start destroying stuff,” Bálint scoffed.
They all burst into laughter.
Phoenix turned back toward the group, her heart warmed by the easy banter. It hadn’t always been like this. When they’d first fallen through that portal, scattered and scared, none of them had known what to expect.
“I still can’t believe everything we’ve seen,” Adaline murmured, her gaze drifting to the horizon. “The Isle of the Elementals, the Pirates, this airship…”
“I would have liked to see the Isle of the Dragons. I mean, we are dragon-shifters, after all,” Bálint added, his voice full of quiet pride.
Roam flexed. “Speak for yourself. I have to admit it was cool to be a giant cat-shifter. That could come in handy.”
