I must look like a homeless, junkie angel wannabe.
That’s when it hits me.
Dragons have invaded Earth, so I’m sure that the general public is on slightly higher alert than they normally would be, but there have been absolutely zero reports of winged humans.There have been no Valkyries I’ve evenheard ofother than me.Humans out here, inPleasant Grove, Utah, won’t have even seen a dragon other than the ones on the television.To them, it must feel mostly surreal, even now.
I bet the preppers have hidden in their bunkers, and the rest of the world’s starting to wonder whether it’s all a conspiracy and the government’s just making it up.That kind of skepticism is just human nature.
Which means, if they see a dingy angel wannabe out here, the most obvious assumption would be that I’m a lunatic, not that I’m connected to the dragon invasion.I’ve somehow crafted the heaviest, most elaborate wings anyone has ever made for cosplay—that’s all.As long as they don’t, like, see me flying or something, no one will assume they actually work.As long as I can avoid some kind of forced inpatient situation, I’ll be fine.
I stand.
You’re done leaking?Azar asks.
I sigh.“For now, anyway.”It’s still so embarrassing, but I square my shoulders and start marching toward civilization.It takes me about a quarter mile to remember that we’re literally in the middle of the closest mountains and it would take me hours to hike down to Pleasant Grove.Luckily, Azar has been following me with the stealth of a woodchipper.I’m assuming they all have.
“Hey, you can give me a ride while it’s still dark,” I say, “right?”
Of course, Azar says.
I snort.“Not you.You’re the size of a cruise ship.I’m talking about Agrippa.She’s more travel-sized.”
I’m not letting you go wandering around by yourself.
“Are you worried I’ll alert the local militia and you’ll get attacked?”
Of course not,Azar says.We have your siblings.
And the last time she was with the humans, she attacked them and freed us,Agrippa says.She’s trying to find brights to stave off a war.I trust her.
She’s still too important to risk, Azar says.What if the humans recognize you and attack you?With your fluffy wings and tiny swords, they could kill you easily.
“Not a single human here will be a threat,” I say.“Trust me.”
I don’t trustyour judgmenton this matter.
“It was so much easier when you could shift into a human form,” I say.
I’m not concerned about making things easy for you.
I can’t tell whether Azar’s making a joke.It would have been a joke, before he lost his memory, but I think he’s being serious.“Do you want me to have a real chance with this?Or not?”
Azar frowns.
“I won’t be going that far.”I point at the slight light over the other side of the mountains.“Hikers come up here around dawn, or I’d let you fly me over, but I can’t risk them noticing you and calling the cavalry.You’re bright red and massive, and it’s hard to miss your magnificence.”A little flattery never hurts, but even spreading it on thick, it takes me five more minutes to convince him to stay put.
“Could you at least switch to Axel?He’s less recognizable.”
He doesn’t even argue that point.
I can sense him better when he’s Axel, too,Agrippa says.When we finally head out, we’re not even flying.Axel insists it’s less visible and safer for us to slither through the mountainside.
It’s kind of nice to lie on something—I won’t lie.
I even close my eyes for a minute.
It’s less that I’m exhausted, though I am, and more that for the first time since being locked in that hanging cage, I’m away from Axel.I couldn’t have done this on her before—with her wings, she’s far easier to grip.Snake-form-earth dragons are usually the hardest to ride, like Gordon, but with wings, I have a joint to hold.Her movements are smooth and fast, and we make good time.
The trip over the mountain’s actually pretty nice.
