Chapter Eleven
Sophia wasn’t as nervous on her first ride as she was than when Lunis set off across the area outside the Barrier of the Gullington. She reminded herself that she needed to be confident. That would lend to Lunis’ assurance. But it was so hard not to worry about him as he sprinted and picked up speed.
Sophia could feel the bit of faltering on the right side as Lunis favored his injured leg, but he was still running and almost fast enough to spring off the ground. That would be the real test. That was the part that would put the most strain on his leg.
The hope was that it didn’t make it worse. Mahkah believed that flying would strengthen it, but Lunis hadn’t wanted to practice before they left. He said it would jinx things, but Sophia sensed that he was afraid it would make it sore and therefore he wouldn’t be up for this mission. He was willing to go out with a bang to accompany her.
Confronting the very first new dragonrider since her on an injured dragon wasn’t ideal. In a perfect world, Sophia would be rested up and not somewhat drained from containing the toxic spill at fairy godmother college. But more important than that, Lunis would be in tip-top shape and not have the worries of landing.
Riding had become such second nature that Sophia had to remind herself how much she did that was on autopilot. The rider cued everything with their motivation and thoughts. It was they who navigated even without using reins. Again, the rider's emotions made the dragon fast or nimble or the opposite.
Therefore Sophia pressed her eyes shut and privately told herself that Lunis could do this. That he’d not only do it, but he’d do it well. Every occasion after this would be better because of the strength he had to muster to overcome this setback.
Not a setback, she told herself. An opportunity to get stronger. Better.
After that thought, Sophia made the firm intention for Lunis to launch into the air, feeling that the momentum was right. She felt him leap after stumbling a little, which made her eyes spring open with sudden concern.
However, to Sophia’s relief, Lunis had successfully soared into the air and quickly gained speed and altitude. He’d done it. He’d flown for the first time after the big battle and injury. Now he only had to land…
Chapter Twelve
Once they were airborne, everything felt normal. Flying was as natural as breathing for Lunis and Sophia. It felt so good to be back in the air for both of them. Sophia sensed the happiness radiating from her dragon’s heart, and it made her happy. She was hopeful that this would lend to the positive mood they needed to secure the landing. Everything was about the emotions surrounding the event and the power of thought.
Sophia pulled up her phone and looked at the map that Mama Jamba had created for them to find the demon dragons and riders. Since it was an interactive map that changed when the dragons and riders moved, Sophia had set up a webcam on it and connected the feed to hers and the guys’ phones. Each was assigned specific riders to go after. Sophia’s were in an area of the Mojave desert outside Las Vegas.
As she’d studied the map, it had repeatedly appeared that many of the demon dragons and riders were concentrated in that area. That was strange, and Sophia couldn’t figure out why that would be the case. Maybe demon dragons preferred the desert's heat, versus the angel dragons who liked the cold winds in Scotland.
However, it was only the demon dragons that had magnetized to riders that were in that desert area. The others had spread around the globe. There had to be a reason for the concentration, and Sophia was close to figuring it out as they approached where the map said her assigned demon dragon and rider were located.
We’re almost to them, Sophia told Lunis telepathically, then checked the map on her phone again. She glanced down at the desert below and realized that they were over a huge truck stop on the outskirts of Las Vegas.
Eighteen-wheelers and other vehicles lined the parking lot. The large structure over the filling station shaded much from view, but Sophia thought that a dragon should still stick out and wasn’t likely to be next to the pumps, filling up. Different groups of tourists and truck drivers congregated in various areas, conversing or stretching their legs from the many hours on the road.
How do you think we spot them? Sophia asked. The demon dragon could be glamoured as a truck to keep attention from them.
They could be, Lunis replied. Or they could be hanging out behind the truck stop and harassing a mortal.
Sophia jerked around and looked in the direction behind the truck stop. She immediately spotted what Lunis meant. There at the back of the building was a smallish black dragon and next to him was a short guy holding a mortal by the neck as he pinned him to the brick wall of the building.
Sophia leaned low and prepared for what they’d need to do next. Let’s get down there and find out what’s going on.
He directed them downward and prepared for the landing.
Sophia held her breath. This would be the moment of truth.
Chapter Thirteen
Sophia tensed and prepared for the landing. She felt Lunis do the same as stress welled to the surface in him.
She patted his neck and leaned low. You’ve got this, she said to him in her head.
The mortal spotted them as they approached, and his eyes widened. That got the attention of the dragonrider who was pinning him to the wall. The guy looked over his shoulder and didn’t appear happy to see Sophia and Lunis flying in their direction.
Lunis should have slowed down to make the landing as easy on his front leg as possible. But Sophia knew that this was also personal. She recognized the black dragon from when it hatched and harassed Lunis and many others on the Expanse.
Coming in fast, Lunis brought his back legs forward and nearly tipped Sophia back with them. She had to overcorrect to keep from flying toward his tail.
He flared his wings and cupped the air to stop his momentum as he lowered to the desert floor, hovering in place for a moment. Like a phoenix descending from the heavens, he landed on his back legs with Sophia holding onto the saddle to keep herself upright.
What had been a careful attempt to avoid injury appeared as a very regal entrance. However, the excitement of having such a brilliant display had made Lunis overly excited. The blue dragon fell forward a little harder than intended. Sophia felt the pain that rocketed through Lunis as if it was hers when he landed too hard on the injured leg. However, his complaint came out as a majestic roar as though he was making his presence known to the new rider and mortal and not that he was crying out from the searing pain.
To promptly take the attention off Lunis, Sophia slid off her dragon and strode straight over to the dragonrider who still held the mortal against the wall. The guy was a smidge taller than her, which made him pretty short for a male. He wore designer jeans and a graphic T-shirt. His short brown hair was spiky in the back and combed over one eye, reminding her of a hipster in Hollywood who thought they were too cool for school. Hopefully, this guy wasn’t like those pretentious ones.
“Hey,” Sophia said at once and narrowed her eyes at the guy and the mortal he held. “Is everything okay?”
She expected him to explain what the problem was. Maybe the dragonrider had caught the mortal doing something wrong and was punishing him, making him right his mistake. That was her hope.