Page 61 of Scales ’N’ Spells: Volume Two

Ravi thought about the implications of being able to meet a wind dragon. There was a lot that he didn’t know, that he’d figured out on his own. How his wind ability worked, for instance. He turned wistful at the idea of having an hour to ask the many, many questions he harbored.

“You think I can maybe meet a wind dragon from your clan?”

“I’ll make sure it happens.”

“Every time you make me a sweet promise, it makes me want to do naughty things to you.”

“Sounds like incentive to me.” Sora ducked in closer to steal a kiss as Ravi stopped at a crossroad. “I like doing things for you.”

Seriously, this man. Ravi would ask the cosmos what to do with him, but actually, he had too many ideas as it was. He kissed him back quickly before continuing to drive.

“I want to do things for you, too. So far, you’ve been helping me and my clan, and I haven’t been able to do anything in return.”

“Well, the situation rather called for it.”

“I mean, not arguing, but not my point, either.”

“You’re already helping me tremendously by pulling my clan out of hiding.”

Ravi gave a bzzt, like a game show host when a contestant gave the wrong answer. “Try again. Something more personal.”

“Take me flying?”

That wasn’t at all the question Ravi had expected. He blinked a few times, processing that.

“Sure? I mean, I love to fly, I’m all for it if you want to go on a trip with me.”

“It’s not often the dragons of my clan will take one of us flying, unless it’s their mate or there’s some task that requires it.” Sora’s voice turned soft and wistful, a little nostalgic. “But the few times I’ve been up, it was glorious. So liberating, as if gravity’s hold on me had fallen away completely. I loved every second of it.”

Now he was talking Ravi’s language.

“There’s no freedom like sailing through the sky. I hear you there. As soon as we have everyone settled, let’s go for an evening flight, yeah?”

Sora sounded like a child being offered some forbidden treat. “You mean it?”

“Absolutely. I have a harness fitted to me. I’ll strap you in and we’ll take off.” Ravi bounced a bit in his seat in anticipation. “This will be fun.”

“And a reward for hauling grumpy people out of an airport. Most of the clan doesn’t view flying on an airplane well.”

“Ha! Not surprised. My clan only does it out of strict necessity. Wait, didn’t you tell me you travel a lot?”

“I do, but usually alone. It’s not something my family joins me on.”

“Really? But like…isn’t staying in one place all the time boring?”

“I’ve always thought so. There’s so much of the world to see, after all. Why stay in one corner of it?”

“Exactly.”

Sora gave him a nod, both of them firmly on the same page. “Then, you’ll take trips with me?”

“You bet I will. Ooh, where should we go first?”

“Now, that’s a question. It also begs the question—where all have you gone?”

“Uh, that’s my question for you. Where all have you been?”

“I think I asked first,” Sora pointed out, amused.