Fin tried—gods, he tried—not to look down. But curiosity betrayed him. The ground was horrifically far beneath them.
His stomach pitched. He swallowed hard. His stomach rolled.
Gods, he had wanted to ride a dragon after the War Summit. He hadn't admitted it out loud to anyone, but secretly, he wanted to.
Rex rode and commanded them, like it was second nature. It looked simple—almost stupidly simple. Nova stood on Onyx's head for goddesses sake.
Riders hopping on and off, running along wings, acting like it was no more difficult than mounting a horse.
Fin had thought, quietly, privately: That looks fun. I could do that.
He now understood he had been suffering from a severe and undiagnosed case of delusion.
Because this?
This was hell.
Wind punched him in the face. His eyes watered violently. His wolf whimpered in his head like it wanted a refund on the experience. Fin clung to the scale ridge like a man who suddenly understood the fragility of life.
"Absolutely not," Fin muttered, teeth rattling. "This is not fun. This is how fools die."
Onyx, flying next to Elle's dragon, rumbled with deep amusement.
Fin glared. "Don't you dare. Not one sound."
Onyx rumbled louder.
Ahead, Elle's dragon dipped sharply.
Fin didn't wait for his brain to object.
He braced—leapt—and landed on the green dragon like a sack of bricks hurled from a tower. The beast jolted under the impact, but Fin grabbed Elle instantly, one arm locking around her waist before he could topple.
"Elle!" he shouted over the wind. "Elle, listen to me."
She didn't respond. Her glowing green eyes fixed forward. Magic leaking off her like steam.
Fin forced himself to breathe.
"You've been there for me," he started, voice rougher than he meant. "When Nova was sick. When the summit went to shit. When I needed someone, you were just… there."
The dragon dipped sharply. Fin tightened his hold around her.
"You are Cael's mate. Nova's closest friend. Our Beta Luna. But you are also my friend. My first friend that wasn't Aeron, Cael, or Jax, or somebody who had to tolerate me because of rank. Nova was my mate, she doesn't count. You do."
Still she didn't respond.
"And I…" he clenched his jaw, "I keep people away. It's how I was raised. It's how Alphas survive. I didn't let myself look at you because the second I did, I'd cave—and that magic could've killed you. I felt it. And Cael would never forgive me if I let anything happen to you. I wouldn't be able to live with myself."
The wind slammed against them; Fin dropped his forehead against her shoulder for half a beat, grounding himself.
"But I was wrong," he said quietly. "I was cold to you and I should've apologized hours ago."
His voice sharpened, cracked.
"I'm sorry."
A breath.
"I'm sorry for being a dickhead."
The green wildfire around her flickered. The blaze around her eyes sputtered then died. Her pupils snapped back in, her expression clearing like someone had finally turned her brain back on.
She blinked. Then slowly turned her head toward Fin—who was still latched onto her like a terrified barnacle.
"…Fin," she said carefully. "Why are we on a dragon?"
Fin let out a high, offended sound. "We? Elle, you bonded to this thing!"
She stared at him, confused. Then stared at the dragon beneath them. Then back at him.
"In your defense," he wheezed, "you did not choose a dragon. It merely… responded to your magic flare. Loudly."
Elle blinked twice. Slowly.
Then looked down—actually registering the open air beneath her for the first time.
She screamed and latched onto the dragon's neck like a woman embracing death.
The dragon huffed, scales rippling in clear offense.
Onyx flew next to them just as Rex threw both hands up, laughing. "Well, that is awkward!"
Fin shot him a murderous glare… then, against his will, the corner of his mouth betrayed him.
Damn it. He refused to like Rex.
The dragon roared, wings snapping open, and pitched forward into a sharp dive.
"ELLE—"
"STOP YELLING, I'M NOT DRIVING—"
The courtyard shot up beneath them in a chaotic blur—warriors scattering, healers screaming, Elias dropping his teacup for the second time in six minutes.
The dragon hit the ground with a thunderous whump, wings flaring hard.
Fin flew off entirely and grabbed Elle like a man bargaining with the gods.
He broke her fall, not at the expense of the wind getting knocked out of him.
Elle lifted her head just long enough to look profoundly exhausted by existence.
Then her eyes fluttered once.
And she went completely limp, collapsing unconscious against Fin's chest.
"Elle!" Cael limped across the courtyard the instant he saw her slump forward, Elias shouting after him in hopeless protest.
Jax arrived a heartbeat later at full Alpha speed—partly out of duty, partly because he had the self-control of a brick when dragons were involved. And also, yes, to pet Onyx.
Fin stood up, sweeping Elle into his arms at the same time. She was similar to Nova where she weighed nothing to him.
Cael shot forward, fury flaring in his eyes. He did not appreciate another man holding his unconscious mate.
"You cannot carry her, Cael," Fin said, giving him a dramatic eye roll. "You should not even be standing."
Cael growled under his breath but couldn't argue. Fin turned and strode toward the infirmary, fully expecting Cael to follow.
_______________________________
Later, Elle stirred awake. Her hand flew to her forehead with a groan.
Elias was already beside her, pressing a tonic to her lips. "Sip. Slowly. Try not to die again today, if you can manage it."
Fin and Rex stood nearby—Fin tense, Rex looking annoyingly entertained.
"How are you feeling?" Rex asked gently.
Elle squinted at him. "Like my head is being used as a drum in a troll festival."
Rex snorted.
Hyran stepped forward. "Do you recall what transpired?"
Elle blinked at him, confused. "I remember running… Jax yelling… something glowing… and now I'm in bed. Why? Did something else happen?"
Fin and Rex exchanged a look.
Outside the infirmary window, a massive dragon was in the courtyard. It appeared to be playing fetch with Colonel Sterling and Onyx. It saw Elle through the window, even though she was far away. It stared at her.
Elle screamed and nearly climbed up Jax.
"Why is it looking at me?"
Jax sighed. "Your dragon."
"My what?!"
Hyran coughed delicately. "You bonded to him."
Elle looked at the dragon, eyes wide. "When? How? I don't even like heights!"
Fin stepped forward, hands on his hips. "You don't remember nearly dropping me from the sky?"
Elle blinked. "What sky? I was in the forest!"
Rex laughed under his breath. "Oh, she really doesn't remember."
Elle stared at all of them, horrified. "Someone tell me why I have a dragon."
Silence.
Finally, Hyran spoke, tone steady and certain. "Your magic reached out. Your dragon answered. It chose you. Bonded to your soul, much like Onyx did with Nova."
A faint grin curved his mouth. "And once that was settled," he added mildly, "you appear to have taken it for a ride."
"You found a dragon. It responded to your magic, and it chose you. You are it's bonded, much like Onyx and Nova. You went for a ride after."
Fin muttered under his breath, "Dragged me along for the ride, too."
Elle turned sharply. "You were on the dragon with me?"
That was the last thread of Fin's patience. He dragged a hand down his face. "Because apparently apologizing on the ground is too simple for you."
Elle stared. "…You apologized?"
Fin threw both arms up. "I apologized mid-air, Elle. MID-AIR. While praying to every god I don't believe in."
Outside, the dragon rumbled in the courtyard — unmistakably amused. Almost like it was listening.
Cael, who was awake with his eyes closed, clearly decided to remain "unconscious" so Fin could finish humiliating himself.
Elle blinked once. Twice.
Fin groaned. "I am sorry, Elle."
Her eyes warmed. Then her face cracked into a grin — and she burst out laughing, wild and breathless.
And Fin's expression — for once — cracked.
He stepped forward before he could second-guess it, slid an arm around her shoulders, and pulled her carefully, gently against him. It wasn't a dramatic sweep or an Alpha claiming gesture — it was the kind of tight, relieved hug a man gives to someone who genuinely scared the hell out of him.
"I was terrified," Fin said quietly at her temple, voice low but steady. "You nearly killed me. Twice. I still apologized."
She laughed again into his chest. "Thank you for… apologizing mid-air?"
"Never speak of it again," Fin muttered.
Behind them, the dragon rumbled a sound that might have been approval. Or mockery. Both seemed likely.