Over Easy

by T L Christianson

  As I exited the bathroom, there stood my long-lost guard —Taya, in the hallway, her arms across her chest. Bu, instead of the bored expression that she usually sported, her mouth was tight, and her fists were clenched.

  The hallway was slowly filling, students knocking into me, trying to make their way to class.

  I neared her and asked, “What’s wrong?”

  “What’s wrong? What’s wrong?!” Her arms flew apart, and she widened her stance. Blinking, she laughed angrily. “Why is Elijah Carrick warning me to keep a better eye on you? Did something happen?”

  I cringed and stepped back, almost knocking over one of the younger students. “What did he say?”

  Taya continued, “He didn’t say, but he’s acting suspiciously like something did. Are you going to tell me, or do I need to ride your ass again?”

  I once again closed the space between us. “I’ll talk to you later in private—I promise.”

  I didn’t need any more rumors or whispers behind my back.

  “Fine,” she said, still staring daggers at me when I turned to meet her eye.

  Walking to class, I shook my head. Great! Thanks, Elijah! You little ass hat!

  I planned to talk to Taya. He didn’t need to involve himself.

  16

  Pushing on the doors that led to the quad, I realized that my dragon class was being paired with another group of older students—students my own age. I groaned as I spotted several people hanging out near the Elm trees.

  This is awkward, I told Aaraeth. I wasn’t easily embarrassed, but I prided myself on my intellect. So I wasn’t exactly excited for my peers to find out I was in a little kid class.

  To make matters worse, Elijah was there. He stared at me with a stony expression, which I ignored.

  It had rained earlier that morning and most of yesterday. The tapping of dripping water sounded beneath the chatter of voices. The sky above was a mottled gray, and the humidity high. A cool breeze blew through my fleece jacket, smelling like ozone and rain.

  Taya had stayed behind on the steps and watched me from a distance.

  The picnic table was littered with a few other Drake students, and I sat with them after wiping the bench off with my sweater.

  The other teacher appeared on the cobble path that led from the storage sheds and bellowed, “My class, Dr. Weaver’s class—Gather up! Dr. Weaver will not be joining us today, so it will just be me. If you are unfamiliar, my name is Mr. Snyder. I run the cadet program as well as upper-level dragon flight.”

  The chattering voices hushed, and we began to move to obey. A student helper followed behind Mr. Snyder, pushing a large plastic bin on bicycle-like tires.

  Backpacks and books were discarded by the tree and table as both classes moved into position.

  The teacher continued, “We’ve learned about dragon flight techniques on paper and in the classroom, but for the younger students, this will be your first day to practice!”

  Me and a blond girl from Eton shared a smile of excitement before glancing back at the teacher.

  I frowned and spoke to Aaraeth, Hey? Did you see that? Maybe I’m starting to fit in. That girl was from Eton.

  Aaraeth seemed disinterested. She probably forgot to be angry at you…

  I snorted.

  Mr. Snyder’s loud voice brought my attention back to him. “All right! Please pair up so that an older student is paired with a younger student! Dr. Weaver’s class—choose an older student to assist you as your partner.”

  I turned to the Eton girl, but she’d already begun moving toward someone else. Pursing my lips, I scanned the group. The only person I really knew here was Elijah.

  I watched him shake his head at a pretty girl with a long red braid. She shrugged and was tugged away by another Harrow student who grabbed her arm.

  By the time Elijah had crossed the space toward me, everyone had basically paired up.

  The Harrow Prime tilted his head toward me with a cocky smile that reminded me so much of Ashe.

  “Looks like it’s you and me… younger student,” he said, still grinning at me.

  “Looks like I don’t really have a choice,” I replied sternly.

  Mr. Snyder’s student aide rolled the cart on its bicycle tires toward us as he handed out sets of black straps.

  When he neared me, he held one out, but I shook my head. “I don’t need a harness.”

  But the black strappy bundle was shoved into my hands anyway. I frowned and dropped it onto the ground.

  The chattering died down as Professor Snyder waved his hands and yelled, “All right, all right! In a minute, I want you all to spread out. First, the older student will demonstrate the Maylor takeoff and the Fowler takeoff. Then the younger student will attempt this maneuver—while staying low to the ground… AND with the help of their partner. Please land using the corkscrew technique.”

  I blew out a breath and groaned.

  The corner of Elijah’s mouth curved up. “Are you scared? You’re probably scared, not having much experience. But it’s okay, flying really isn’t that hard…” He continued on his monologue while I ignored him and began walking toward the far side near Drake House.

  Eli was still talking at me as if I were a complete moron who’d never flown a dragon before.

  Who was I to correct his misconception?

  I rolled my eyes and kept walking. When we were far enough away from the other students, I waited as he continued to talk. “…Do you want me to go first? I’ll go first? Wait, no… ladies first. I already know all this… You can go first—or do you want me to show you?”

  “I’ll go,” I told him.

  Rolling my neck, I closed my eyes and released Aaraeth. She slid off my skin with a silent whoosh before sinking into the soft ground in front of me.

  You are not going to correct him? She asked me, referring to Elijah.

  Nope, I replied.

  I’d been flying with Aaraeth almost every night since we’d been joined. Although I wasn’t experienced, flying with my beast was as natural as breathing for me.

  There were no words to describe the freedom, satisfaction, and completeness that filled me when I rode my dragon.

  I shook my head slightly before kicking the harness straps out of my way. As I neared Aaraeth, she bent down so that I could climb up her front paw.

  “That’s good…” Elijah said.

  Turning, I ordered, “Quiet!”

  I knew that would piss him off, but I didn’t care.

  When I lifted one leg across Aaraeth, my foot smeared mud over her hindquarters, but we both ignored it.

  We had an audience. Her size alone attracted the attention of almost all the other students and their wyverns.

  When the sun poked out from its thick blanket of clouds, Aaraeth straightened and stretched, extending her wings outward. Her blue-green iridescent scales sparkled like jewels as the light hit them, and I watched the awed faces as our audience took her in.

  My dragon, Aaraeth, was both breathtaking and terrifying at the same time.

  I heard a gasp here and an exclamation there.

  I tamped down a smirk as we looked out over all the smaller beasts. Other than me, Elijah was the only other Prime here—his dragon, Hynd, still in the dragon realm.

  Okay, Aaraeth. Do the first takeoff, where you flap and jump straight into the air.

  Her excitement was contagious. My beast wanted to show off.

  She crouched, and her wings stroked the air, once then twice. Another huge flap of wings as Aaraeth’s thick muscles moved beneath me made my palms sweat, and my grip on her became doubtful. I tightened my hold on her spikes, and my heart began to thunder in my chest as I slid a little.

  Maybe I should’ve worn the harness.

  My mind began to fill with doubts, but before I could back out, we were airborne.

  I squeezed my eyes closed and let Aaraeth’s thoughts flood my head. Worries faded into the background, and I rested my cheek against her scales
.

  I stretched my senses to my beast, letting go of myself. Her body was now my own, our wings almost involuntarily striking out as they propelled us higher—again and again, catching the breeze, we rose into the damp air.

  The tension left my body, and I let go of Aaraeth’s spikes, stretching my arms wide to feel the wind rush over me.

  With every fiber of my being, I trusted Aaraeth.

  Even though the wind was cold, my insides were warm with joy. Flying was the only thing that made sense anymore.

  Then suddenly, we dropped several feet. I hovered above Aaraeth briefly before slamming back down onto her back with a yelp.

  Delight filled me, and laughter bubbled out only to be swallowed by the wind.

  But then, someone nudged at me, a dragon calling out to us. It was Professor Snyder. He was angry that we’d flown too high. He wanted us to come down.

  Did you hear him? I asked my beast. The teacher wants us to land.

  Aaraeth glanced below, toward the open space, and let out a disappointed snort.

  Yes, she told me as she fluttered down like a leaf.

  Oh! Aaraeth! The professor wants us to do the corkscrew landing…you know…

  I know the one, she told me flatly, changing her technique.

  Are you upset? I don’t want to come down either, I told her.

  I do not get upset like humans. But I would like to fly more in the daytime instead of at night. It is easier here. The air is thicker.

  Aaraeth had talked about the place where only dragons go, but I’d never really thought much about it. After all, she was with me here, even if she was there. I could call her back immediately if needed.

  But her words triggered the memory of what Evgeni told me. Celine thought we could go to the dragon realm. He’d called her idea crazy. But she was also brilliant… hmmm…

  Aaraeth began the landing perfectly, angling her wings until we spiraled down and landed lightly near Eli and his dragon, who now stood watching us like a giant statue.

  Hynd was coal black except for a pale gray underbelly. The beast was almost as massive as Eondian, and for a moment, I was afraid. I still didn’t trust Ashe’s Harrow dragon.

  I trust my mate, Aaraeth reminded me.

  Professor Snyder stood beside my partner, hands-on-hips. I kept an eye on the pair as I slid off my dragon’s back, my feet sinking into the wet grass.

  “Miss Miller! That was completely unacceptable! I said to stay low to the ground! On top of that where is your harness? Safety protocol dictates that you must wear one, which we already discussed in class…”

  Okay, so in my defense, I’ve had a lot of shit going on. I mean, honestly? How am I supposed to know every single rule? Dr. Weaver could be extremely dry, and her tests were super easy. Besides, I’d fallen from the sky on Aaraeth before, and I was fine!

  Fine? Aaraeth asked, pushing into my thoughts.

  Yes. Well, for the most part.

  You were severely injured. I thought you might die.

  I snorted in imitation of my beast but tried to hide it as Snyder went on about safety and protocol.

  “…You were only supposed to take off and land. That’s it! Conditions aren’t safe to fly that high today…” He continued.

  I nodded and chewed the side of my bottom lip.

  Was this really necessary?

  Were all these safety protocols really needed?

  Was I reckless? Or were these rules in place to protect the other students from themselves?

  I glanced out across the quad at the others. The wyverns were so small and skinny compared to my dragon.

  Were these rules to protect them?

  A scream thankfully brought my professor out of his tirade, and we all turned to see a Drake dangling from his harness as his wyvern clumsily thumped along the ground, sliding into the mud.

  Mr. Snyder turned back toward me, his lips pressed into a thin line. “Come see me after school for detention. As a Prime, you have to set a higher standard. You have to follow the rules.”

  He didn’t wait for an answer but strode away, his scholar robes floating on the air behind him.

  I nodded before puffing up my cheeks in defeat.

  A strange expression narrowed Elijah’s honey-brown eyes as they roved over me. “You can really fly! I had no idea you could actually fly.” He stroked Aaraeth’s eye ridge, and she allowed it.

  Traitor! I told her, but she crooned to Eli’s touch.

  I scoffed as I realized that Elijah and Aaraeth were talking to each other. I knew other Primes could do it, only I’d never seen another Prime talk to my dragon… except Ashe.

  “At least Ashe has the decency to speak to Aaraeth aloud,” I told Elijah.

  He smiled at me and, in so many ways, reminded me of Ashe.

  “How come your last name is Carrick? If Ashe’s sister is your mother, why isn’t your name something else?” I asked, catching the Harrow Prime off guard.

  A cloud seemed to pass over his bright eyes, and his posture stiffened. “You don’t know?”

  I let out a single bark of laughter. “What do you mean?”

  He closed the distance between us, his height making him tower over me. “Seriously?”

  I shrugged, shaking my head. “Why are you acting so weird?”

  Grabbing my arm, he pulled me closer and leaned down to whisper in my ear. “You don’t know about seeding?”

  I jerked away, “Stop! Weirdo. What’s seeding?”

  He glanced around. No one was within twenty feet of us.

  “No one can hear you. Just tell me,” I said.

  “My mom’s a wyvern, but she’s from a long line of Primes—so… you really don’t know about seeding? Ashe has probably done it. It’s when a Prime has a child with an unmarried wyvern from a Prime family.”

  “Wait? What? Like, have sex?” I spat a bit too loudly.

  He shook his head and pulled me close again, his grip tight on my arm. “No, not just sex, to have a Prime—like me.”

  I stared up at Eli, his face close to mine. “So, Primes have sex with other Dragonborn—to try to get a Prime baby?”

  He nodded. “Yes.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Yes.”

  “And Ashe has done this?” My brain raced around in circles trying to fit this new piece of information into the puzzle that was the Dragonborn.

  “I don’t know. Maybe, maybe not. No one talks about it, but it’s accepted, and everyone knows it happens. It’s not a secret… It’s like when you go to a wedding, you know the bride and groom will have sex, but you don’t talk about that part.”

  His hand rested on my arm, but his grip had loosened.

  “But they just care about the outcome—that the baby is a Prime?”

  He nodded. “Like you. No one… well, almost no one really cares about who your dad was. I mean, your name—Miller isn’t correct.”

  “What?”

  “You do know that your last name on your official documents here is Lambert, your mother’s name, don’t you? She was a Prime; that’s all that matters. You’re a Prime; that’s all that matters.”

  “So, if I had kids…”

  “They’d be called Lambert unless you were bonded.”

  “Don’t Dragonborn get married?”

  “Yeah, but that’s only the case when two people can’t be bonded—like a wyvern and a dragon. That’s why Ashe was going to marry Lacy.”

  “And that’s why Ashe would complete the bond—no matter what?” I breathed. I was wading into dangerous territory, but I felt like Eli just might answer my questions.

  His gaze fell to the ground, and he blew out a sigh. “It’s probably one of the reasons—because you two are guaranteed Prime children, maybe several—but you know that’s not the only reason he would bond with you. Ashe isn’t like that. He wouldn’t do that.”

  I nodded. I’d felt Ashe’s feelings for me, his desire, and connection.

  But was that enough?

>   Was it enough that his dragon Eondian had sought out Aaraeth, nearly killing me in the process to mate with her?

  Was it enough to be together because our dragons couldn’t control themselves?

  “Hey,” Eli squeezed my arm. “Don’t overthink it. You have nothing to worry about.”

  I blinked my eyes, a shiver running through me even though the sun had poked through the clouds and shone warmly on my back.

  I pursed my lips and raised an eyebrow at him. Incredulity and anger ran through my body, making my face flush.

  Backing away from my partner, I caught sight of Aaraeth, lounging in her own pool of sunlight.

  Elijah called his dragon, and Hynd stood, lumbering toward us, dwarfing the wyverns around him. I couldn’t help but compare Hynd with Eondian.

  Will our dragons grow bigger? I wondered.

  Aaraeth, as usual, had been listening to my thoughts. Yes, both Hynd and I will grow a little.

  I watched as Eli mounted his dragon and gripped the harness.

  I don’t care for the harness. My dragon’s tone was indolent as she squinted into the sun at the other Prime. I think you’re safer without it. Besides, it makes me feel… as if I’m an animal.

  I laughed as I settled myself down on the wet wooden picnic table. You are an animal.

  She clawed the grass. I am not an animal! I am a dragon.

  Where do you go if you get hurt? You don’t go to the hospital. You go to a vet… probably.

  A low rumble grew from her throat. No. I do not! I will not.

  Eli and Hynd landed and were about to take off using the second method.

  The Harrow Prime drew the other students’ attention too, even if it was just from his sheer size. I reached out to Hynd’s mind. It felt a lot more serious than Eli, with his easy-going personality.

  Hynd? I called out as I watched him circle before preparing to land.

  Yes, my Queen? Other dragons had called me that too after the bond started.

  Tell Elijah that I forgive him.

  He grunted as they landed, his swirling yellow eyes glancing in my direction.

  I held sway over Eli’s Prime dragon Hynd, even without the bond complete. The power ran through my veins as I luxuriated in its warmth. This control over other people was seductive… and dangerous.