Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
“She’s right!” Megan exclaimed. “You’d better not be doing any Blood Magic on school grounds, Avery. I’m pretty sure Headmistress Nightworthy had spells put up to alert her if anyone does it.”
“She had to put those up because of you, Princess Latimer,” I told her. “And besides, who said I would be doing Blood Magic on school grounds? In order to break the curse, you have to take the Curse Breaker to the person who laid the curse in the first place. Then you—”
“Wait a minute—wait a minute!” Megan objected, before I could even finish. “You have to take it back to the person who laid the curse? But wasn’t the person who cursed Saint a witch who lives in the Sky Lands?”
“Well, yes…” I admitted.
“And how do you think you’re going to get to the Sky Lands?” Emma demanded. “Is there some kind of transport spell you can use?”
“The only way to get to the Sky Lands is on the back of a Drake,” Kaitlyn said, answering the question for me.
“Oh, well then maybe you can turn into your Drake and take him,” Megan said brightly, looking at her. “Or maybe Ari’s Drake can do it.”
Kaitlyn shook her head.
“That’s going to be impossible, as I’m sure Avery already knows.” She spoke quietly and when she looked at me, her eyes were filled with fear—fear for me, I suddenly realized.
“Yes, I know,” I said airily, still trying to appear unconcerned.
“But then, if Kaitlyn and Ari can’t take you…” Emma began, frowning.
“It will have to be Saint,” I said firmly. “His Drake can take me.”
“Oh, Avery—you can’t be serious!” Megan stared at me with wide, horrified eyes. “That’s so dangerous! Why can’t anyone else’s Drake take you?”
“Saint’s Drake has already claimed Avery as his l’lorna,” Kaitlyn answered for me again. “He won’t tolerate any other Drake touching Avery. In times of dire need, another Drake might fly the l’lorna of another Drake to safety, but that is only if the l’lorna is in mortal danger. Any other time, Drakes steer clear of each other’s l’lornas.”
“They’re extremely possessive,” I said. “And I could never explain to Saint’s Drake why I was flying with another Drake—he wouldn’t understand. He’d probably just think I was, uh, cheating on him. And you know what they say—‘Hell hath no fury like a Drake scorned.’ Especially a Cursed Drake who wants you all to himself.”
“But…but what if he decides he’d rather eat you than carry you to the Sky Lands?” Megan demanded.
“Or what if he burns you to a crisp?” Emma demanded.
“Look, we all had those same fears when Kaitlyn decided to go to the Sky Lands on Ari’s Drake—remember?” I told them. “And she was just fine. I mean, look at her now!” I motioned to Kaitlyn, hoping to take the spotlight off myself.
“Yes, but Ari’s Drake was in his right mind,” Kaitlyn said quietly—not backing me up nearly as much as I had hoped. “Saint’s Drake is, well…he’s basically insane, Avery. And you can’t trust crazy people.”
“You can trust my Drake,” Saint’s voice came from behind me. I turned my head to see that he had come out of our room and was standing right behind the ratty blue couch I was sitting on.
“Oh, Saint—” I began.
“You can trust him, Avery.” He came around the couch and knelt on the floor beside me. Taking my hands in his, he looked into my eyes. “He loves you more than his own life,” he said earnestly. “If he had to die himself to save you, he would do it without a moment’s hesitation.”
“I know,” I said, not because I really did but because the way he was looking at me was melting me like ice cream on a hot day. Those obsidian eyes of his were so beautiful…so hopeful. But far back in their depths, I could see flames dancing and I knew his Drake was present too, as he always was.
“Are you sure, Avery?” Kaitlyn asked quietly. “Really sure you want to do this?”
“I’m sure,” I said, even though my heart was pounding. “I’m going to the Sky Lands and I’m going to break this curse or…” I almost said, “or die trying,” but that felt a little too scary and on the nose. So instead I finished it, “Or my name’s not Avery Nathanial Connor!”
“You’re middle name’s ‘Nathanial?’” Emma asked, clearly surprised.
“I’m lucky it isn’t ‘Hawkeye,’” I told her. “My mom had a major crush on Daniel Day Lewis’s character in Last of the Mohicans when she was pregnant with me. To be fair, I’ve seen the movie and he is damn hot.”
“You’re the one who’s going to be damn hot if this doesn’t work out the way you hope it will,” Megan pointed out, lifting her chin. “I mean, no offense, Saint, but we worry about Avery—he’s like our brother!”