Jovari the Blue

Chapter 20: A Future

The Kengr Gate

Leah's thighs ached. No, scratch that. Her entire body ached. She was from rural Indiana and no stranger to riding horseback for hours on end. She'd grown up around horses, even competing in dressage. That was before everything had fallen apart. Her old life felt like eons ago, like it belonged to someone else, someone she hardly knew anymore.

Flying on the back of a dragon wasn't like riding a horse. The motions were different. They were more magnificent but also far more uncomfortable. You couldn't simply stop your dragon and hop off for a break. Landing took time. Getting on and off took strength. Being in the sky was cold and empty, even though it was thrilling. Her skin was wind-chapped and sunburned, despite the sunscreen she applied in vigorous amounts. And she was always thirsty, her throat always dry.

They took infrequent breaks, just enough to relieve themselves, or catch a few stolen hours of sleep. She was exhausted, both mentally and physically. So, when they finally descended towards the gate that would take them into Dragonwall, she nearly wept with relief.

Jovari had been their guide. He'd come this way before, with Claire, the first time she'd traveled to his kingdom. Despite what Leah had witnessed thus far, her mind wanted to deny it. Her best friend had lived an entire life in another world. Dragons existed. Magic was real.

They were somewhere in the Canadian wilderness. An entire day had sailed by with out a single sign of civilization. Soon, she'd leave her life far behind and start a new one. Something about that had her heart racing with equal parts of fear and excitement.

The gate was deep in the forest, and they'd landed at the nearest clearing, then muddled their way through the dense growth. "Before we pass through, I'd like a word alone with Leah," Jovari surprised everyone by saying. "You lot go on ahead. Give us a few moments."

Her hackles raised. She knew immediately what this was about. Still, her answer was the same.

Claire gave her a questioning look. "Go on," she said, reassuring her. "I'll be right along."

Irelia eyed the gate, her shoulders set, then walked purposefully through. Leah blinked, staring at the point where she'd just vanished. Talon offered Claire his hand. They shared a look before walking through.

Leah blinked again, then turned towards Jovari. They were alone. "I know what you're going to say."

He crossed his arms, eyeing her. "I'm not going to dissuade you from coming along."

"You're...not?" Her brows pulled together.

"No." His admission sounded more like a scoff.

"But you want to, don't you?" He blew out a breath, looking up at the canopy of trees. "Yeah, I thought so. Go ahead, then. Tell me how dangerous it is. Tell me that I ought to stay behind."

"You think I would have you stay behind and leave you here all alone?" He waved a hand at the wilderness surrounding them.

"I'm sure I could find my way home just fine." She lifted her chin. It was a lie. She knew very little about survival. And here, so far from civilization, she'd be lucky to last a couple of days. Assuming a bear didn't eat her first. Or a moose didn't trample her. Or...whatever else.

"I'm sure you could," he said, looking her up and down, his eyes burning a path over her body. Her skin heated. Shockingly, there wasn't any sarcasm in his voice. He honestly believed she'd make it out here alone, if she had to.

Damn it!

Why did he have to be so infuriatingly handsome? With his auburn hair and perfect cheekbones and warm eyes. It didn't help that he stood a full head and a half taller than her. Didn't help that he was corded with muscle. It especially didn't help that whenever he turned into a drengr, he was the most beautiful shade of sapphire blue she'd ever seen.