Page 37 of Tailwind

‘Hey!’

The seizing stopped. The afterburn felt like peace in comparison.

Two sets of fast and heavy footsteps echoed around me. The blurry light coming through my visor was blocked by a shadow. A hand braced on my shoulder.

‘Paldon? Can you hear me?’ The voice was familiar. The shadow shifted. ‘What the fuck is going on?’

No amount of torture could stop me from recognizing his voice. My chest seized one more time, the panic reigniting the leftover energy. He lifted my faceplate, his purple flight suit swimming into view.

Theo looked down at me, crouched on the stone steps by my side. His eyes were wide and his signature grin was nowhere to be seen. ‘Who did this to you?’

Bile rose in my throat as I tried to speak. I wanted him to go away. I tried to tell him. My head felt like it was going to explode as my eyesight went from blurry to black.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Five years earlier

‘It’s weird to think we might be on different teams if we get into Volitant.’ I stroked the long snout of my wyvern, Cosia, calming her, and myself, before the final race.

‘When we get into Volitant, Lena.’ Theo emerged from under the wings of his wyvern, the membrane folded like tents between its body and front feet. ‘Whoever wins today gets to fly for Ballenir, and the loser can, I guess, fly for Mirendi.’

He finished buckling the saddle. I swallowed my nerves as I watched him work. I still hadn’t told him that no other team had responded to my letters. Not even Mirendi, who needed better riders than their current nepotism picks.

‘No more different teams, please!’ Ophelia, Theo’s mother, entered the aviary. She was dressed head to toe in royal blue and red – the colours of Wanderlust Racing. Our team. ‘I’m not going back to buying two sets of shirts!’

Cam arrived next, her shoulders squared and carrying a case of water bottles. The glass clinked in time with her heavy steps.

‘Ma, come on, I get that you like Lena, but I’m your son. Is it too much to ask that you cheer for me?’ Theo took the water bottles from Cam, offloading them to the bench before pulling two out.

‘Yes,’ both Ophelia and I replied in unison.

I grinned at her and she smiled back, the same dimples I always saw on Theo’s face, making it impossible to forget the family tie.

Theo took three steps across the aviary and handed me a bottle. The wyvern aviaries were a definite step up from the Junior Drake stables, but it still felt crowded with two wyverns and their riders, let alone our guests.

‘Relax, Theo.’ Cam clapped him on the arm. He winced. ‘I’m on your side.’

Theo’s face burst into a gloating grin. His warm brown eyes danced across my face, waiting for my reaction. He wouldn’t get the satisfaction though. No matter how much time our families spent together, I would always know Cam best. She wasn’t going to let me down.

‘Because you’re right, kiddo,’ Cam continued, ‘family comes first. That’s why I always cheer for Lena.’

My gaze was already locked with Theo’s, so I got to enjoy every second of his face falling and shoulders slumping as he lost this round.

I thumped his arm in victory, making sure to get the right side, and leaned in close. ‘Nice try, Theo.’

Breathing in near him was a mistake. His citrus cologne was so thick that it caught in my throat, threatening a coughing fit. I took a swig of water to wash it away. I needed to be in perfect condition for the race.

‘You know what? I think that’s enough visitors for today.’ Theo threw his arms wide to herd our guests out. ‘The final race of the season requires some calm preparation.’

‘Oh, don’t pout, sweetheart—’ Ophelia was cut off by Theo’s one-armed hug that doubled as a way to corral her from the room. ‘Good luck, Lena!’

‘Hey!’ Cam hadn’t been moved by Theo in the slightest. ‘Show them what you’re made of.’

I nodded. Cam’s resolute belief in me was as strong as my own. We knew I was the best rider. That my only competition was Theo.

She ambled out, met by Ophelia already chatting to her at the door.

‘Alesso and Pops have saved us seats, we’ll be able to see the finish line …’ The heavy door muffled the rest.