Face flushed and frowning, she looked worried.
Her expression cleared when she saw him and her green eyes widened. She splashed through the stream, then bent, scooping water into her hands. As she raised them to her lips to drink, sun slanted through the trees, and their eyes met.
She was beautiful. Something ached deep inside him. So beautiful.
Parting her lips, she drank, water droplets catching like crystals in the sunlight as they fell from her hands.
Vibrant colors flitted through his mind, swirling and eddying, stronger than ever before. A whoosh rushed through his chest, as if it was too small to hold his emotions.
Shards, she was gorgeous.
§
So beautiful. The words flashed through her in a deep male timbre.
It was him, Roberto, thinking about her. They were mind-melding. She saw an image of her, drinking from the stream. The way he saw her took her breath away.
Roberto grinned, the sun striking his dark eyes, turning them to burnished gold.
Water dribbled through her fingers as she stared at him, seeing him as she never had before. Every part of his face was painted with tenderness and wonder.
Something fluttered in her chest.
He was beautiful too. More than beautiful.
She reached up and stroked his cheek. A surge of strange energy hit Ezaara, rushing through her. Anything felt possible.
His eyes sparked as he spoke in her mind, “Harness it. Run, run like the wind.” He tugged her hand. Sliding on the stones, they scrambled onto the bank and ran through a meadow of wild flowers toward the mountain.
Roberto laughed and his eyes met hers.
Ezaara’s stomach jolted. He liked her. Her tough arrogant master, more than liked her. Every fiber of her being sang. He cared about her deeply.
Letting go of her hand, he smiled. “Go, Ezaara, go! You’re a rider of fire.”
Energy flooded her, pushing her on. She raced across the meadow, heading for the mountainside, Roberto keeping pace.
“Follow the flags.” He pointed at a narrow trail dotted with red flags, leading up the granite mountain face and back down to the basin floor.
“I know.”
They took off toward the thin trail. Ezaara’s blood was on fire, the familiar heat of imprinting burning in her veins as she raced to the top of the track. Somehow, she was harnessing Zaarusha’s energy to run.
Roberto melded. “That’s what we’re called when we harness our dragons’ energy—riders of fire.”
“I can see why.” Her soul was ablaze, feet speeding along the mountainside. “Can every rider do this?”
“Most masters can harness their dragons’ energy, but only a few are able to use it for running. You, Tonio, Lars and I can. Tonio also has dragon sight—he can see much further when he uses Antonika’s energy.”
“We’re melding. How is that possible?”
“I don’t know. I have certain mental abilities, and Erob told me that you can meld with other dragons, so you probably do too.”
“Did Erob really say that?” she blurted out loud.
Roberto laughed.
They raced down the stony incline, Ezaara barely feeling her feet touch the ground.
She’d always loved running, but this was something else—so effortless and powerful. The sprint they’d maintained up the mountain and back down the path to the valley floor was phenomenal. Her body seared with dragon fire, driving her into a rapid dash, faster than Roberto, across the fields to the finish line.
§
Dragons were wheeling in the sky near the caverns. Heart pounding, Roberto crossed the finish line behind Ezaara. He’d expected her to run well, but this was incredible. Zaarusha’s bellow shook the ground underfoot, signaling Ezaara’s win. Ezaara leaped upon Zaarusha and rode her in a circle over the crowd’s upturned faces. They erupted into a roar. Everyone was going wild, hollering, whistling and clapping.
Zaarusha landed, and Ezaara slipped off her back. Roberto was about to greet her, but Simeon dashed forward and snatched Ezaara in his arms. Spinning her around, he planted a kiss on her mouth. Ezaara turned tomato-red. Her surge of anger flared in Roberto’s mind.
Simeon was taking liberties. Roberto’s blood boiled. His hand automatically went for his sword, but it wasn’t there.
“Easy,” Erob melded. “You still have fire in your veins. Don’t do anything rash.”
Shards! What was he thinking? He was a master, not some lovesick youngling.
Simeon grinned and blew Ezaara another kiss. Someone in the crowd whistled. Others cheered. People surrounded Ezaara, pounding her back and congratulating her. Simeon hovered nearby—as if he’d trained her. As if he meant something to her.
Roberto was so enraged, he could barely think straight. He slipped his impassive mask into place, the one he’d learned to wear in Death Valley, and strode through the crowd.
“Roberto.” Adelina reached out to him.
He shoved his way past her, ignoring the hurt that flashed across her face.
Ezaara had seen how he felt about her. If she revealed his feelings to anyone, he’d lose everything he’d worked for. He’d be banished, no better than his father. He couldn’t afford to love her.
§
It was tradition for Lars to wait for all of the racers. He shaded his eyes. The last two runners would be here soon. The crowd had gone inside to feast Ezaara’s victory. Knowing Lydia, she’d save him a bowl of stew and a good spot in the mess cavern. Behind Lars there was the thump of a dragon landing. Probably Tonio’s.
Someone tapped his shoulder. Not Tonio. “Ezaara, what are you doing here? I thought you’d be enjoying your glory inside.”
She shrugged. “It’s too noisy. I’m not used to so many people.”
“That was a fine performance. I’ve only seen a few run like that,” said Lars. “Lately, Roberto’s been first home, but years ago, your father beat me with an unprecedented burst of energy.”
