The Fiery Breath (dragon shifter chronicles book two)

Prologue

My hands clutch Sivarno's scales, a burning stabbing pain lingering, clawing at my legs. They ache as he shifts on his feet and lifts off. My stomach twists and twines, and a lump of fear boils in my blood cells. I hold tighter, refusing to look down at the ground as Sivarno glides forward and through the air.

My feet press against his back, shifting, pressing my toes into his skin. I hold tightly, feeling the cool smooth scales against the palms of my hands. I feel a wind blasting against my face, the cool air slapping against my skin and pressing into my hair. My belt, holding the long sword, shifts and fiddles in its sheath. I hold tightly against his scales as we fly forward, gliding through the air. Second by second, the grass seems to dim, and Argo slips away into a tiny dot. The air is harder to breathe, and it shifts roughly against the inside of my lungs. I force deep, small breaths though, taking in the huffs and whips of air against my face. The sky is a faint blue, and before me I see miles and miles of yellow skin. White, fluffy clouds disappear as we glide through them. They slip away like a thin mile of nearly white fog, disappearing as soon as I get close.

Before me, the sun shifts, staining against the clouds that guard it. I look down, and my whole stomach seems to flop. My nerves twists, intense horror yanking at my bones. My nerves swell with adrenaline, and then explode. The terror and adrenaline stain my insides, soaking my blood. I feel a lump force its way against my throat, holding horror.

My eyelids flicker closed. The ground was at least two hundred-five hundred feet away. The grass stood as little flecks of green, and the buildings seemed like painted squares, stained against the grass. The trees were merely specks of dest. If I were to let go.... my hands tighten, latching tightly against the edges of the scales. My feet press harder against his back, pushing against his scales. I feel a nauseating sickness rest inside me, yanking my breath as I gently try to breathe.

Sophia. Her words are stained against the paper of the scroll or letter, but imbedded inside me. Soaking every thought, letting my head drip with hope. I feel that feeling soar over me, holding me close, keeping me tight. Her words send an image of her. Her hair pressed against her cheeks, her hands radiating soft warmth into mine. Her eyes, pretty and pink, laced with that hope and happiness she always seems to bring with me. Her dancing at the ball, cleaning my wounds, walking alongside me, keeping me brave, hugging me, crying for me, holding me, and writing the letter that just might keep me from breaking down.

I look up, and the wind slaps against my face. It sends my hair flying, and as it slaps against my face it hits my cheeks. I let my eyes drift to slits, and trace the edges of the soft, fog like white gas. I feel happiness rise inside me as I think of Sophia. Her smile makes me feel that happiness gliding through me, and the memory of her soft warmth radiating through her hands makes me feel as if she's here.I have to be brave. I have to stay strong. Stay alive. For her.

I close my eyes, force a deep breath, and feel the air shift uneasily into my lungs. Even though i'm struggling to breathe, something finds itself in me. My breath doesn't come as hard, and starts to ease in my lungs. My hands hold tightly, but feel the cool air slapping against them. A feeling of relaxation sits inside me, lingering, flooding and draining my fear. A laugh escapes my throat, easy and nice. I don't know how to describe the feeling except for the fact that it feels as if i'm flying. Even though I could fall and die, I have to stay locked onto Sivarno, i'm flying.

Im free.

A burning, shooting pain simmers in my shoulders. I hunch over, my palms pressing harder against Sivarno's scales. I turn, my hair slapping against my cheeks in the rough winds. Out of my armor and shoulders, little feathers with soft white fluff and green lines sprout. I feel another aching, awful pain clawing at my shoulders. A horrible, awful panic swirls inside me, latching at my thoughts, holding me. I feel my heart begin to pound, and the beat is heard very clearly in my ears. A cry rises up my throat. What is happening to me? I see Sivarno gently turn and look at my shoulders. My eyes catch his, and I think for a moment, a shard of panic snaps in his pupils. Then he turns away, his green pools for eyes disappearing out of my vision.