Dragonrider Academy: Episode 5

by A. J. Flowers

  Contents

  Blurb

  Dragonrider Academy Recap

  Home

  1. Flying Lessons

  2. Coffee Addiction

  3. Blending In

  4. Hovakim and Hashbrowns

  5. A New Student

  6. Duel by Beer Pong

  7. A Party to Remember

  8. Traditionalists and Loyalists

  9. Three little words

  10. Justice

  Epilogue

  Episode 6

  Read James and Lily’s Story!

  A Note from the Author

  Also by A.J. Flowers

  Good news: Solstice is alive!

  * * *

  Bad news: Dragonrider Academy is under siege by wild dragons.

  Solstice has been on a journey of his own trying to find me in this realm. I’ll have to get the story out of him one day of how he managed to survive long enough to find me. For now, we need to figure out how to get these wild dragons out of our realm.

  * * *

  My plan? We lure them to the Human Realm where reinforcements are waiting.

  * * *

  Oh, and maybe we’ll burn Max Green’s house on the way. Win-Win.

  Been a while? Click here to read the full recap of Episodes 1-3!

  Dragonrider Academy: Episode Five is here! Turn the page to continue Vivi’s journey.

  I flew from the portal, landing unceremoniously on the ground as I tucked and rolled, glad that Solstice tucked in my arm to stay safe.

  I groaned and lifted myself onto my knees, trying to catch my breath from the forceful fall. Apparently I needed to work on my portal-creation skills.

  “We gotta move,” I told Solstice. The portal behind me rumbled. I had hoped that the portal would close and the dragons would be forced to find another way to get to me. Either way, they would leave the Academy alone, that much was for sure.

  Solstice screeched just as something hard hit me from behind, sending me falling to my face again on the beach. Solstice wriggled out from underneath me and hissed at my attacker.

  Flailing, I worked my elbow to his my assailant hard in the temple.

  Vivi one, mysterious enemy zero!

  “Ow!” a male voice said, scrambling off of me and I realized I’d just beamed Killian in the face.

  “Oops, sorry,” I said, wincing. “To be fair, you really shouldn’t surprise me like that.”

  “The dragons immediately retreated, but not Zelda. She’s trying to get through the portal,” Killian bit out, rubbing a growing bruise on the side of his face. “Shut it down. We’re sitting dragons out here.”

  “Sitting ducks, is the phrase,” I corrected him as I glanced at the swirl of water. “Uh, I’m not even sure how I got it open in the first place,” I admitted, “and—”

  Killian rolled his eyes before he snatched the amulet out of my hands.

  The portal immediately fell, sending water splashing all over my face.

  I spit out a stream of water. “Well, that’s one way to do it.”

  Killian pocketed the amulet, brushed himself off and then scanned the dark landscape. “So, this is your home?”

  I considered the slice of land that I knew all too well. Silver Lake Resort glowed with dim lights in the distance, marking this as the place where my father died, as well as where I’d nearly drowned no thanks to Max Green and his psycho buddies.

  “Something like that,” I grumbled as I scooped up Solstice who trilled in response before looping around my arm. I frowned. Luckily it was nighttime, but I couldn’t exactly waltz around with a dragon.

  A problem to figure out in the morning.

  “Let’s go to my house,” I said, waving Killian along. “It’s this way.”

  I led Killian to the road, which he took his time to scrutinize. “Interesting black river,” he said, frowning when I laughed.

  “It’s called asphalt,” I said, chuckling.

  He quirked a white eyebrow. “You didn’t see me mocking you when you showed up at the Academy wearing underwear.” He smirked, eyeing my body. “Not that I was complaining.”

  I rolled my eyes. “It was a bathing suit.”

  He smirked. “Whatever it’s called, I liked it.”

  “You’re such a guy. Come on.” I led Killian off the road and through the forest toward my childhood home.

  We’d just crossed over to the other side where I estimated my neighborhood to be when headlights rounded the corner. We were still hidden by a crop of trees, but I wasn’t going to miss Killian’s reaction to cars.

  I wasn’t disappointed.

  He immediately crouched in a fighting stance and drew his sword. “It’s a demon,” he said, his voice a harsh whisper as I bit back a laugh. “Or maybe even worse than that… a Light Fae.”

  A truck careened by us, rumbling so loudly I wondered if the muffler was broken.

  “Get behind me!” Killian snapped, only to hesitate when I broke down laughing.

  Killian frowned as I dissolved into a fit of manic giggles. The truck harmlessly disappeared into the night, leaving Killian’s whitewashed eyes staring at me, as if illuminated by the moonlight.

  “That wasn’t funny,” he said, sheathing his sword.

  “Oh, yes it was.”

  He frowned while Topaz shivered, finally making me feel sympathy. I stroked the little creature and his hackles lowered as Solstice nuzzled him.

  At least our dragons got along.

  “So, what was that thing?” he asked.

  “A truck,” I informed him, able to answer him with a semi-straight face. “It’s a transportation device. I really can’t believe you’ve never seen one.”

  He crossed his arms. “Who needs a device when you have a dragon?”

  I tapped my lip. “Fair point.”

  We wandered onto the dark road and for once I found myself grateful for the lack of street lights. It kept us hidden as we worked silently through my old neighborhood.

  Although everything felt so different now. A lonely wind rustled the leaves and a shadow swept overhead, causing me to snap my gaze to the dark skies.

  Could the Wild Dragons have followed me already?

  Solstice keened and nudged my jaw, sending comfort through our bond. She didn’t want me to worry, and my own adrenaline spikes were giving her a headache.

  “Sorry, girl,” I whispered as I scratched under her chin. She seemed to like that.

  When we reached the house, it felt somehow small and rectangular placed on the overgrown lawn. I fumbled underneath one of the pots and pulled out the spare key.

  “Seems secure,” Killian said in a mocking tone.

  “Don’t judge,” I said, wielding the spiky end of the key at him before unlocking the door.

  I stepped into the home, inhaling familiar scents. I turned on a light and went to the dining table where mom’s papers were still strewn about. I shuffled them a bit, finding a strange pit in my stomach knowing that she wasn’t here.

  She had finally found me again, for what? To get herself in danger?

  Killian slipped his hand around my waist, startling me. “You’re thinking about your mother, huh?”

  I nodded, unable to speak in case I started crying. I so didn’t want Killian to see me cry.

  “She’s the reason you could leave the Academy like that,” he reminded me, patting the amulet in his pocket. “She’s an enchantress of Avalon, so she is where she’s supposed to be, when she’s supposed to be there. The same goes for you.”

  I smirked, finding that level of faith amusing for a guy like Killian. “How serendipitous of you.”

  He smirked, but then his stomach released a violent grumble, one my sto
mach echoed.

  I flicked my tongue at the fridge. “I say we eat something before we alert the Wild Dragons where we are by our tummies.”

  Killian chuckled. “Agreed.”

  I opened the refrigerator, finding it completely empty. Frowning, I closed it and spotted a pizza delivery number on the door. “A few weeks without me and she probably starved. Thank God for pizza.”

  “What’s pizza?” Killian asked, making me balk.

  “Are you for real right now? You’re in for such a treat.” I dialed the phone and ordered some food, rummaging through the drawer to find a credit card that wasn’t maxed out. Yet another reason to start over my life in a new realm… no credit card debt.

  After clicking off the phone, I showed Killian to mom’s bathroom while I went upstairs to mine. Luckily bathrooms are pretty straightforward, so I didn’t have to explain basic plumbing to him, thank goodness.

  I filled the sink for Solstice and she slipped into it with an adorable trilling sound. Her leafy wings splashed into the water and I chuckled. “You like that, huh?” She squeaked at me before dunking her head, then she rolled her snout across her scales until they shined.

  Smirking, I left Solstice to her bath while I cleaned up and then I found a new t-shirt and jeans to wear. The doorbell rang as I was putting my hair up into a ponytail. “Yeah, just a minute!” I shouted down as I scampered out of the room and down the steps.

  Killian stepped out of the bathroom and I barreled into him. My hands went to his naked chest as I gazed up into his whitewashed gaze. “What was that alarm?” he asked, his voice a husky whisper. I realized that I was crushing myself against him and I cleared my throat as I untangled from his hold.

  A shirtless Killian tended to make a girl’s brain misfire. Totally not my fault.

  “It’s just the doorbell,” I explained as I hurried past him.

  I creaked the door open enough to retrieve the pizza and sign the receipt with a generous tip. What’s a little extra credit card debt?

  The delicious aroma hit my nose, making my knees week. I hadn’t eaten a solid meal for a month, and it felt like it.

  Mouth watering, I hurried up the steps. “We can eat in my room,” I said, my stomach bursting with butterflies at the realization that I was going to bring my first boy to my bedroom.

  Killian followed me silently, not seeming to understand the monumental gravity of this situation. Given that we’d technically been living together for a few months now, I guess it wasn’t such a big deal, but it still felt like one.

  Hurrying onto the bed, I flipped open the pizza box and offered him a slice. He simply stared at it with a raised brow.

  “If you’re not going to eat it, I am,” I said, shoving it into my mouth. I flinched when I burned my lip, but I was way too starving to care.

  Solstice flapped out of the bathroom, glittering from snout to tail, and perched on my thigh. She reared her head back and opened her maw, so I tore off a piece and dropped it down.

  Killian and Topaz both made a pained sound. “Dragons are supposed to eat raw meat.”

  Solstice keened and opened her mouth for more. I giggled and gave her another piece. “Well, any dragon of mine is going to love pizza.” I chomped off another piece for myself, rolling my eyes back. “Sheer heaven,” I said around the mouthful.

  Killian pinched a piece between his fingers as cheese dripped down onto the box. “I don’t see the appeal.”

  “Just try it,” I said.

  He returned the piece to the box before shifting onto the bed and resting against the headboard. He crossed his arms and stared me down. “You and Solstice have as much as you want. We’ll go hunting in the morning.”

  I rolled my eyes. “You can’t ‘hunt’ here.”

  He frowned as if I’d grown two heads.

  Sighing, I ate in silence while Solstice greedily gobbled half of the box.

  My gaze fell to Killian’s sword he’d rested against the door. It wasn’t something I wanted to talk about, but if Killian and I were really going to do this, try to work together and understand our feelings. I sensed his deep desire to protect me, and he’d more than proven that by throwing himself at Wild Dragons so that I could get to safety.

  Why do all of that when he’d been so ready to walk away?

  “What made you change your mind?” I asked, keeping my gaze on the sword.

  He shifted and didn’t answer right away. He was quiet for so long that I finally looked at him. His pained expression made it clear that he was in torment over this issue.

  His jaw flexed before he spoke. “You were dying, Viv. At the time… I thought it was the only way.”

  “You didn’t even give me a chance,” I shot back, hurt that he would have gone through with breaking our bond had I not reunited with Solstice that night. “Why didn’t you just trust me?” The question came out quiet and I stared at my lap before meeting his gaze again.

  His piercing eerie eyes held a mixture of determination and love. “I won’t make that mistake again,” he assured me as he reached out and laced his fingers over mine.

  Our bond surged and I sensed the wave of cresting emotions when he opened himself up to me, fully and completely. I gasped as it hit me. He was more than willing to die for me, but what he truly wanted was a life with me, one where we flew in the sky with our dragons and protected the realms.

  Together as one.

  Heat surged over my face as I pulled away. “So… you’ll trust me?” I asked.

  He nodded, absolutely sincere. “Yes.”

  Glancing at the remaining pizza, I held up a slice and offered it. “Then take a bite!”

  He chuckled and took my offering. “Very well, little bird.”

  My heart stuttered at that name. He ate his pizza in silence, keeping his gaze on me the entire time.

  The moment would have been perfect, except for the low boom that crested across my soul.

  The Wild Dragons were on their way to this realm… and I had no idea what we were going to do next.

  It felt strange to sleep in my own bed after all this time. An eternity could have passed since I’d first gone to Dragonrider Academy. Everything had changed.

  Yet, waking up from a foggy sleep as I blinked at my childhood ceiling peppered with glow-in-the-dark plastic stars made it all feel like a dream.

  A pleasant one, perhaps, even if my life was now filled with danger and new threats.

  Rubbing my eyes, I searched the room for my mate and for our dragons. I found the room empty aside for a discarded pizza box strewn across the floor.

  A high-pitched chirp from outside drew my attention to the window. I rolled out of bed and rushed over, peering out and stopping short when I saw Solstice teetering from a large tree.

  “Solstice!” I yelled, leaning over the sill. “Be careful!”

  Completely ignoring me or demonstrating any sense of self-preservation, Solstice launched herself. My stomach dropped before she opened her wings with a dramatic flourish and glided toward Killian.

  He held his hands out to her and she flew directly into his arms. She chirped in excitement and wriggled down immediately, making a run for the same branch she had jumped from like a toddler who’d just learned how to use the playground’s slide.

  I sighed as Killian glanced up at me, a glitter in his eyes I hadn’t seen before.

  Pride.

  Topaz jumped from the same branch and glided to Killian, keeping his sapphire webbed wings open wide. Laughter escaped me as Topaz hit his rider hard, making Killian release a breath. Topaz squirmed excitedly in his arms, his flailing tail smacking Killian’s face as he jumped down before making a beeline for the tree again.

  Killian laughed too, ruefully shaking his head at the over-zealous wyverns. My heart swelled with happiness as I leaned on the sill and watched the wyverns attempting their first strides that would eventually turn into flight.

  I longed for that day.

  When Solstice chirped again with
victory having completed another lap, I glanced at the privacy fence.

  Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.

  Just as I was about to go down and corral the creatures indoors, a portal opened.

  Right there in my backyard.

  Killian reacted fast, clutching Topaz protectively to his chest while he barked at Solstice to remain in her tree.

  Who could it be? Was it the Wild Dragons, had they found us already?

  Tearing myself away from the swirl of red that broke the air into pieces, I dashed down the stairs, taking two at a time. I caught the rail like I used to as a kid, using my momentum to swing around to the backdoor where I burst out on the yard, my chest heaving as I readied myself for a fight.

  Solstice chirped several times in quick succession as she saw me. She jumped from the branch and soared through the air, changing her course to glide towards me. I held my arms out for her, anxiety making my hands shake as I darted my gaze from her to the portal vividly come to life.

  It sputtered and wavered, seeming unstable than the ones I’d used before.

  A body came through and hit the ground hard, but I relaxed when I saw who it was.

  “Lily!” I exclaimed, situating Solstice around my shoulders and rushing over to help my friend.

  Before I could reach her, another body came crashing through the portal right on top of her. I winced in sympathy as the air whooshed from her lungs with a wheeze. I recognized James now that I knew who to expect. The portal closed behind him with an odd airy noise.

  “Get off me!” Lily said as she shoved James off. She held a hand to her chest, taking in deep breaths. “I knew there was a reason Professor Finn was banned from using dwarf magic! That portal nearly catapulted me into a different realm!” She staggered to her feet and waved around a finger. “Never again!”