Page 87 of Tears of Gold

“I am, but I think we do have a backup plan, just in case. Erritt’s recovering fast now and in most cases, he’ll at least be able to restrain me.” His tone sours. “In a worst-case scenario, he and Vanrey could subdue me.”

“Maybe I’d pay money to see that.”

He elbows me, painfully accurate despite the darkness. “Nice to know whose side you’re on.”

I laugh. “I’m kidding! In all seriousness, let’s not summon Vanrey. I’m having fun out here.”

“Me too. If I went full wild, he’d never let me back in Erritt’s sight.” There’s a sadness in his tone that makes me wonder if there’s more to it.

“True.” The words slip out easily, but I wonder what full wild would look like in a dragon. Not that I know much about them, but as dual power users as well as shifters, they have a reputation for being powerful.

He leans back on his elbows. “But, I’m not losing control, I don’t think. Just some of my dragon instincts are getting much stronger.”

“Like hunting?”

“Yeah. And sex, obviously.”

I lean back on my elbows. “That’s just ‘cause you’re a pervert.”

His chuckle comes out low and rumbly. After another silence, he asks, “You sensed something of Erritt’s essence today, right?”

“Yeah, I think so. It was weird.”

“Do you want to see for yourself?”

“See what?”

“What’s waking up inside me.”

My mouth suddenly feels dry. Meet Skye on steroids? “Will it eat me?” I lock my clammy hands together between my knees.

“Not everything out here wants to eat you, you know.” He chuckles. “Ava might be an exception, though.”

“Uh-huh.”

“You don’t have to,” Skye says, sensing my hesitation.

I straighten. “No, I do, it’s just, I’m nervous, you know? One of you is more than I can handle.”

“True.” He chuckles. “Well, up to you.”

I reach my hand out in the dark to touch his shoulder. “I’m game.”

“I don’t know how this will feel since you aren’t used to detecting essence, but I’m pretty sure it’ll work. I feel like he wants to meet you.” Skye pulls on my arm, hauling me over to straddle his lap.

The fact he can manhandle me easily, despite being an inch shorter, reminds me just how strong he is. Then he leans in to kiss me. After the first flush of his warm lips on mine, I feel like I’m falling into a lightless abyss. Screaming, I jerk, clawing for a grip. Our contact breaks and I find myself back on his lap beside the creek bank, gasping cool night air into my flaming throat.

“Shit, sorry,” I mutter, smacking my forehead.

“What did you feel?”

“Like I was falling.”

“Try again?”

“Yeah.” I must be a sucker for punishment, but this seems important to Skye. So far, it’s not worse than drowning, though falling to my death feels just as scary.

“Try and let it happen. You’ll need to reach the bottom.”