Shadow Wings (The Darkest Drae Book 2)(16)

I’m ready. I strode to the edge of the drop, my steps resounding with my body weight; I was about half the size of Tyrrik’s Drae form by my estimations. I stretched my neck over to survey the drop. It was about one hundred and fifty feet down.

Tyrrik continued muttering advice beside me. “Tuck your legs into your body. Flatten to speed up, and raise your head and tail to slow.”

I rolled my eyes and dropped over the side. His startled yell echoed behind me.

Stretching my wings wide, joy filled me as the current caught and held me, the air billowing beneath my wings. My fall was gently slowed until I was floating. I banked to the right around the semi-circle clearing then pulled my wings tight and stretched them wide, pushing down against the currents. I lifted and lifted until I was in line with the tree tops. The temptation to continue upward and soar into the unknown was nearly overwhelming. I wanted to see how fast I could fly, if I was faster than the other Drae I’d seen streaking through the sky, and if I could go on endlessly—it sure felt like it.

I circled around the clearing another three times, taking the opportunity to flatten myself for speed and arch my neck and tail upward to slow down. I reveled in the knowledge that I was a fearsome beast, powerful and strong, and in flight, I was graceful, even elegant. Flying was a dance, and I was a master.

I did one last lap then decided I was done. The sunlight was irksome, and I really did want my nap. Extending my legs, I landed at the top of the clearing, tucking my wings in as my feet made contact.

Tyrrik’s eyes shone as he practically ran toward me. His smile, a rare thing to behold, was as wide as I’d ever seen it.

I furrowed my brow, concentrating on my body. The air shimmered with blue energy as I shrunk back into my human form, or rather my Phaetyn form. The air cleared, and I glanced down to make sure my clothes were in place before extending my open palm to Tyrrik.

He placed the golden pill box in my hand without a word.

“You know,” I mused. “I thought this Drae business would be harder.”

The Drae cleared his throat before speaking. “We are predators. We need to be able to protect ourselves once we transform. Your powers should come naturally—”

“Should?” I asked, raising my eyebrows.

“I’m unsure how your Phaetyn blood will affect some elements of your transition,” he admitted.

I nodded, gaze fixed on the golden box. So shiny. This was my greatest treasure. I’d put it in a great spot. The thought halted me. No, it had to go in a secret spot, somewhere no one would find it. My eyes slid to Tyrrik. Would he try to steal it back? I’d need to be careful. No one stole my horde. Even knowing I was being irrational, I couldn’t talk myself out of my obsession with treasure. “I’m going inside now.”

“Okay,” Tyrrik answered.

His tone was odd, and I peered back at him as he drew another object from deep within his aketon. The golden pill box was nothing in comparison to the huge ruby he held.

My chest rose and fell as I fixated on it. “Where’d you get that?”

“Doesn’t matter, does it?” he said. “Although, I’ll give it to you if you stay for another lesson.”

The ruby was a real treasure. I’d put it in the secret spot, too. I’d take extra, extra care no one found it.

“Just one more lesson?” I asked. My feet were already walking back toward him.

“Just one more,” he agreed with a smile.





7





“One more time,” Tyrrik said, rubbing his chin. “Then we’ll stop.”

I rolled my eyes. One more attempt would only make me feel like a bigger failure. A Drae-loser. Totally incompetent.

He’d had me shift from my human form to my Drae form and back at least a dozen times, or rather, attempt to shift. I could easily go from Drae to Phaetyn, but the Phaetyn to Drae had been impossible on my own. If Tyrrik touched me? Boom. No problem at all. And now I was seeing webs of black and blue color again. “I’m tired. Let’s just try again later.”

“Come on, Ryn.” He patted his aketon and pulled out the ruby. “One more time, and it’s yours.”

I looked at the gem with mixed feelings. When Tyrrik first showed it to me, I practically salivated, but now the stone represented what I couldn’t do on my own. Disgusted with myself, I waved my hand in dismissal. “Keep it,” I said, turning back toward the cave. “I don’t want it anymore.”

My words weren’t exactly a lie, but they weren’t the full truth, either. I did want the sparkling gem, but we’d set the terms for winning the ruby already, and I had yet to master the current lesson.

So much for it coming naturally.

Khosana, he called. Don’t quit.

I’m not quitting forever. I threw the thought back without looking his way. You said it wasn’t a weakness to call a halt. I’m tired. I’m not progressing. Let me sleep. I’ll try again in the morning. It had been a challenging day after an even more challenging night.

He sighed, and I shrugged it off. Why did he care so much? It wasn’t like it was his fault I couldn’t shift on my own.

The darkness swallowed me whole as I trudged into the cave. My eyes adjusted with a blink, and I scanned for a good place for my golden trinket. I pulled it from my pocket and studied the shiny treasure with a smile I knew was pretty crazy.