Sophia quickly explained. Some new dragonriders think they own the world…
Some? Liv joked. That’s all of you.
Ha-ha, Sophia replied, then typed out another message. The Dragon Elite protect the world. There’s a new group of evil ones named the Rogue Riders.
Oh good. New riders with inflated egos, fire breathing dragons, and an evil streak, Liv replied.
It’s definitely a bad combination, Sophia stated.
So what have these evil riders done that you need my help? I’ll do whatever it takes to assist.
They displaced a large population of elves in Hawaii, Sophia explained. I need the House of Fourteen to find them refuge.
Liv’s reply was fast: Anything but that.
Pretty please, Sophia begged. They don’t have anywhere to go, and the Elfin Council is overwhelmed.
But if they’re the island elves, then you know what that means…
Liv’s text trailed away, but Sophia knew all too well what her sister was implying.
Yes. They’ll all be hippies.
I literally will do anything else you need, Liv stated. Your taxes. Talk to your dragon about his hygiene. Explain to your boss that no one can understand a word he says. Just don’t make me rehome hippies. It will destroy my usual sunny disposition.
Plllllleeeeeaaaaassseee, Sophia texted.
Oh, well when you put it that way, Liv replied.
I know it’s not an ideal job, Sophia continued.
I gave a shapeshifting sloth a pedicure yesterday, Liv messaged. Nothing in this job is ideal. However, I’d rather do that again than deal with hippies.
But they don’t have anywhere to go, Sophia argued while teetering back and forth on the Expanse, realizing she was running out of time to get her sister to do this. She and Wilder would need to leave soon.
That’s because they’re dirty hippies, Liv countered. Maybe this is for the best and they’ll die out.
Liv…
Okay! All right! I’ll do it, Liv messaged.
Thank you. Sophia smiled wide.
But… Liv replied and followed it up with, if they tell me that they can’t accept certain accommodations because the feng shui is off or it doesn’t have the right vibe, then a bunch of elves might mysteriously go missing.
I’ll owe you one for this. Sophia watched as Wilder approached from the Cave. Simi and Lunis flanked him on either side. The blue dragon limped, but not as much as she’d feared.
You definitely will, Liv texted. I need you to trim Plato’s claws. Tell Rory that I forgot to file the tax return he did for me…for the last couple of years. And inform Clark that I accidentally forgot to tell him that the milk in the fridge he’s been using is from centaurs.
Sophia laughed as she typed. Anything else?
Tell my sister that I love her and would do anything for her, Liv replied.
Same to you, Sophia messaged.
Liv sent one more message before Sophia put away her phone with a smile on her face: Familia Est Sempiternum.
Chapter Nineteen
Dragons were meant to fly. One who couldn’t wasn’t considered a true dragon, Sophia knew from reading the Complete History of Dragonriders. They were like second-class citizens in dragon society—marked with a curse upon them.
For that reason, Sophia knew it weighed heavily on Lunis that he had to attempt the next flight beside Simi. Having to fly and land in front of the demon dragon had been one thing, but Lunis was already in a position of power there due to his older age and size.
However, there was a hierarchy with the dragons at the Gullington and Lunis had struggled to find his place with the elders. Although he was superior in size and faster due to the early age when he and Sophia had magnetized to each other, his youth constantly counted against him with the others. If he struggled on this mission’s flight, then it would no doubt harm his ego.
Aware of this, Sophia nodded for Wilder and Simi to take off first across the Expanse. She made an excuse that she needed to adjust Lunis’ harness and would catch up with them.
“Maybe you’ll catch up,” Wilder teased and winked at her. “It depends on how long you dawdle.”
“You can have a day’s head start, and we’ll still catch up,” Lunis quipped.
“I seriously doubt that,” Wilder fired back, then patted the side of the white dragon’s neck. “The wind is always in our favor, but today it’s especially so.”
Wilder was right. The gale-force winds that were starting to pick up would make Simi faster since it was her element. They could also make takeoff more difficult for Lunis.
“The winds can only help you so much when you’re riding on an old clunker,” Lunis joked and nodded at the white dragon.
“We won’t talk about the level of disrespect in referring to me as a rundown car,” Simi said smugly.
“I believe you just did,” Lunis stated dryly.
Sophia pretended to double-check the straps on Lunis’ harness. She glanced over her shoulder at Wilder. “We’ll be right behind you. I need another second to ensure we’re set.”
From atop his dragon, Wilder nodded. “Sure thing. Catch you on the other side.”
Wilder set off on his dragon in a brilliant series of graceful movements, then sprinted through the Barrier and set off into the air with practiced elegance.
Sophia turned back to Lunis and gave him a look of pure confidence. “You’ve got this.”
“What I have are a bunch of insults I plan on volleying at Simi,” he remarked as she climbed onto his back.
Sophia shook her head. “I don’t see what good it does. She doesn’t play back.”
He shrugged. “I hope to wear her down, but yeah, it’s more fun when they fight back. I’ll teach her.”
Sophia gripped the reins, glad that they could be so lighthearted when they both knew that Lunis struggled emotionally and mentally with his injury. Although Sophia knew that Lunis was trying to avoid the question, she leaned down and caught his gaze. “You ready for this?”
He drew in a measured breath and nodded. “All I have to do is get into the air.”
“And land,” Sophia added.
“I’ll get to that part when we get there.”
Sophia laughed. “Well put. Really deep.”
“Don’t worry, Soph.” Lunis set off in an uneven trot. The momentum wasn’t what they were used to, but he overcompensated by flapping his wings in a faster, different rhythm that made him move faster. Lunis sprang into the air right before they hit the Barrier and would be visible to Simi and Wilder. He didn’t catch much air at first, but his wings worked extra hard.
To Sophia’s relief, he stayed flying, although he skimmed the ground before he rose higher and took off faster as they soared through the Barrier—in time for the others to see him flying high.
Chapter Twenty
Once Sophia and Lunis were in the air flying beside Wilder and Simi, it was as though nothing was ever wrong with the blue dragon. Landing was the tricky part. Sophia knew it and also realized that Lunis was unwilling to admit it freely. The last time had injured more than his leg—or reinjured it, as it were.
However, she also knew that he didn’t want to dwell on it and suspected that he was trying to figure out clever ways to get around the whole landing part until his leg fully healed.