Page 33 of Red Fire
“I’d say,” she mutters under her breath, again, sounding like it’s a bad thing.
“If it makes you feel better, we’ll share,” I tell her. “Thank you for the offer.” I wince because I’m being too nice. I’m trying too hard.
“It would.” She opens the bar and breaks it in half, giving me the bigger piece. I don’t argue because I don’t think it would help much if I did.
“Thanks.” I take a bite.
We eat in silence and then drink some of the water. Not long after, the first splashes of rain begin to fall.
“I love the smell of rain,” Octavia says, inhaling.
“Me, too.” I had never thought about the smell of rain before, but she’s right; it is pleasant.
The storm hits, and flashes of lightning illuminate the darkening landscape. Thunder rumbles and crashes all around us. The sound of the storm is loud and powerful, the rain drumming against the leaves and the ground. We huddle close, trying not to get too wet, which is impossible. Thankfully, it is warm, even the droplets that hit my skin. The storm rages on, making it impossible to talk through the din. We finish our meager meal and continue to watch the storm unfold around us.
“It’s beautiful,” Octavia says.
Again, she’s right…it is. And again, I never really took any notice before.
After a time, the intensity dies down into a steady rhythm of droplets on the jungle canopy above us. Octavia’s expression is relaxed as she tilts her head back, eyes closed. I find myself staring at her, the way the raindrops cling to her lashes. More drops gather and run down her neck between her cleavage.
She’s beautiful.
If she catches me staring, it might freak her out, so I look away.
Despite everything that has happened, a calmness settles over us as we sit under the shelter. The tension between us has shifted, morphing into something else. Something less tense. Less stifling.
The scent of wet earth fills the air as soft rain continues to fall. The worst of the weather is over. I will get some sleep tonight. I feel safe after the hard downpour.
“I thought that all dragons were feral, bloodthirsty creatures,” Octavia says out of nowhere. “Especially the oneshere on Mistveil.” She turns her gaze on me. “You killed that guy…dragon… You know what I mean.” She licks her lips. “But you weren’t out of control. When you looked at me, I recognized you. You have the same eyes in your dragon form. They wereyoureyes. I saw intelligence. You were calm, cool, collected…a touch brooding, but you were still you. You weren’t some crazed beast.”
“Did they tell you we were all bloodthirsty, crazed beasts on Draig?”
She nods once. “Yep. They said that the Draig Dragons were bad but that the Mistveil beasts are so much worse. They warned us that our lives were in danger.”
“What did they tell you about us? About dragons, in general?”
“Not much. They said that dragons existed but refused to let us see one.” She shakes her head. “I didn’t believe them. I thought they were bullshitting us. That the pictures released to the media were all fake.”
“So you said.” I smile.
“I thought it was a big conspiracy theory. That they were feeding us propaganda nonsense. The trainers on Draig told us that we were descendants of Sky Wardens, that we could mentally bond with and control dragons. Actually, they didn’t want to use the word control. They said that dragons couldn’t be controlled, but that we could keep our bonded dragon calm. Work with them…tame them enough to function as guards…to keep you in line…or your dragons in line.” She scrunches up her nose. “All a little confusing. They say that you guys from Mistveil all hate the humans and want to kill them all. It’s their job to stop you so that the humans don’t declare war on the dragons.”
“Interesting.”
“Is it true?” She lifts her brows. “It doesn’t sound true to me.”
“Parts are true, and parts are false. What else did you learn?”
“I didn’t pay as much attention as I should have. I was already planning my escape. So, I take it that you’re not all raging, bloodthirsty beasts in your dragon forms. There is some human in there. And you can shift at will.” She goes on, “I mean…you did seem to shift at will. You can, um, control it, right?” She looks fearful.
I nod. “I am in full control, both in my human form and my dragon one. You don’t have to be afraid.”
She huffs out a sigh of relief. “I knew that. It’s just that it’s nice hearing it. I wasn’t sure.” She shrugs. “I don’t know anything about dragon shifters…or dragons, for that matter. I’ve read books about…um…dragon shifters.” Her cheeks go red. I’m not sure why. “They’re fiction, so I thought I would ask you. Knowledge is power and all that.”
“I’m in full control, but that can’t be said about all the others out here in the jungle.”
“Oh. Why is that? Are they like the dragons on Draig? Do they need Sky Wardens?”