Page 81 of Ashborne: Defiance

She gasped, and I thought perhaps she was about to overbalance again, but instead, she straightened another couple of inches—all her weight and balance on her feet, her arms held out from her sides, only half-bent.

She kept her weight on the balls of her feet, like a pro, and while she looked awkward, I could see she’d gain both confidence and balance quickly.

She was a natural.

‘Made for this,’ Kham inserted quietly.

‘Yes,’ I agreed. The evidence was before me. There was no point denying it.

Underneath us, Koa called, and Kham responded. Grace giggled and wobbled, but kept her feet. I dropped my hands, no longer waiting to catch her. There would soon be no need.

Despite my misgivings, I felt genuine admiration watching her. She threw herself into any challenge—almost recklessly. I’d seen men do the same, but usually with an edge that said they either had something to prove, or walked the line of self-destruction. Grace seemed joyful to take the challenges.

Once she’d flown for a full minute, when she’d gained enough confidence to look around slowly, and even called to Koa, I knew it was time.

“Are you ready?”

“Ready for what?”

“You’re going to step off and let the straps catch you.”

She wasn’t smiling anymore. But she nodded.

“Take hold of the strap and hold it out, away from you. The greatest danger in casting off is getting a foot caught in the slack—you can imagine how that goes when the strap pulls tight, I’m sure.”

Grace winced and nodded. Swallowing hard, she took the leather strap in both hands, then extended them out in front of her, letting the strap pull through her hands until her arms were fully extended.

“Good. Now the trick for your first time is to keep your feet below your waist—and when the strap catches you, let your body swing as it would on a rope swing. Have you ever swung on a rope or—”

“Yes, I know what you mean.” She licked her lips and nodded quickly, her eyes bright, but round. I could sense conflicting waves of thrill and fear in her, and almost laughed.

“Good, then focus on how you keep your feet forward and shift your weight back when the momentum reaches its peak and begins to swing you forward—do you know what I mean?”

“Yes.”

“Good. The moment you begin to drop, Kham’s flight will draw him forward of you. When the strap catches, aim your feet at his side and let it pull you against him.”

“Got it.”

“Excellent. With time you’ll grow skilled and you can—shit! Grace!”

I hadn’t covered the best and safest way to drop off a dragon’s back, but apparently she thought I’d given the command, because she sucked in an audible breath, grabbed the strap far too tightly, and hopped to the side. And promptly plummeted toward earth.

27. Fearless

~ VOSKI ~

Instinctively, I lunged forward, attempting to catch her before she dropped—but I was a beat too late.

Grace shrieked.

A dragon’s flight was deceptively quick. Because we were so far above the earth, our progress seemed slow. But he flew as fast as the birds. Faster than a galloping horse.

The moment she dropped, his momentum exceeded hers, and we flew forward, past her, so that the slack on the strap was taken up in a blink.

I leaned over, hissing curses and shaking my head.

She’d grabbed the strap too tightly. I had no doubt she’d have burns on her palms when this was done, but I doubted she felt it yet.