Wild and Out of Control

|chapter forty|

|danica|

About an hour into the afternoon, I'm wondering if this assignment is actually meant as punishment for Aetos and not an honor.

     The twelve of us are split into two tight formations of six, seven when taking Violet's golden dragon, Andarna, into account. Aetos has the flag in his group just ahead of us, and when we reach yet another peak in the range, he splits to the right. If we don't stick together and change positions, and who holds the flag, we give the enemy less chance of catching it. By disorienting them, we have a good chance of winning the Games, as long as Fourth Wing catches the egg. I'm sure they will, they have Xaden leading them.

     The sudden change in our relationship should scare me, but it doesn't. Somewhere along the lines, we went from wanting to kill each other to...not wanting to kill each other. He let's his broody asshole side down for me and I let him see parts of me that I've never shown anyone before. Not even Violet sees that side of me.

     And whatever you do, stay the hell away from Xaden Riorson.

     Mira's warning from Conscription day echoes throughout my mind. She doesn't like Xaden, and given everything, she has no reason to. His father killed her brother, and she doesn't know the Xaden I know. She knows the Xaden that everyone tells her about. But like everyone else, she's wrong about him. Yes, he may seem dangerous at times, but he has the right intentions at heart. Like when he helped me make a saddle for Violet a few months ago, when we weren't even talking to each other. He saw my concern for her and went ahead and helped her even when he didn't. He would've done the same thing for me—offered a saddle even—but I said no. Azare nearly charred him alive when he tried to put it on him.

     Azare banks to the left, and my stomach pitches as we sweep down the side of the mountain. My legs' grip on the seat isn't as strong as it normally is, so I have to hold on tighter with my hands, the muscles in my forearms aching.

     Dives are my favorite of his moves. Okay, second favorite, right after soaring through the clouds on open wings. The wind in my hair and the freedom of the open skies, the pure exhilaration of flying, is the best feeling in the world.

     I've lived twenty years and never felt as alive as I did when I was on dragonback. Without even grounding in my forest, power surges in my veins, crackling with life of its own, jolting every single one of my senses to a degree that nears pain. I've come to live with the fact that my signet comes with pain—for both the person I subject it to and for myself.

      Azare flares his wings, catching air and pulling us out of the dive.

     The sudden shift in movement causes a jolt of pain to radiate up my body, and my thighs strain to keep hold of the seat. However, the thrumming in my skin numbs my body so I don't feel the pain for long. Huh. Maybe there's a benefit to it.

     Sitting tall in the seat, I sweep my gaze along the landscape as Azare begins to climb again, and my heart stutters. Up high on the western ridgeline is a gray tower that almost blends into the cliffside. I would have missed it if not for the—

     "Is that what I think it is?" Fear and excitement blend as they fuel energy into me, preparing me for a battle.

     Azare's head is already turned in that direction. "Dragons."

     I glance over my shoulder toward Liam and Violet and see that Tairn must have relayed the message, because we break formation, scattering as three dragons launch from the cliff above us, diving in different directions.

     We've given them multiple targets, but now we'll face them one-on-one.

     Three dragons from First Wing dive down from their post at the tower, one heading for each of us. A green clubtail chases after Azare, and I have to give it to that dragon for having the guts to go after the giant beast of a black daggertail.