Chapter 60

We cross the finish line second, behind the Blue Flame clan from England, causing our clan to erupt in cheers as our name flashes on the leader board. Everyone embraces the team members as they join us, no one caring that they’re still somewhat wet from the game. Mason thanks Kayla for their thermal gear, shuddering as he complains that the area was much colder than they anticipated it would be and Kayla, because she’s oh so very humble, eats up every bit of praise se receives.

“You guys were fantastic.” I tell Falkor as he walks up to me, his hair falling in his eyes as the water washed away the products keeping it from his face. He looks softer this way and I feel almost jealous that everyone else gets to see this side of him.

“Gavin helped through most of it. I could have stayed behind with you.” Gavin snorts from beside him.

“We would still be stuck trying to figure out how to navigate the winds at the last challenge if you weren’t there. They had them blowing from three different sides.” He huffs, looking very displeased.

“Oh, that’s why you guys paused so long. We thought it was because you didn’t know what to do.” Sam admits and Gavin glares at him.

“I can’t wait for the next team challenge, whatever it is, you’re going, and we’ll see if you can get through it any faster than we did.” Sam just grins before walking off, talking about calling Nick to inform him of the good news. “Asshole.” Gavin mutters before grabbing his bag and walking off in the directions of the bathroom. I laugh as I watch him go, focusing my attention back on the screens when he’s out of sight.

“Black Haven is stuck in the quicksand.” Gina updates me as my gaze travels between various screens.

“Looks like our clear luck hasn’t run out yet. Maybe we could lend them some.” Falkor muses, his hand coming to rest on the small of my back as he settles next to me. Gina doesn’t hide her blatant staring at his chosen position, widening her eyes at me even as I try to avoid eye contact. She chuckles before poking me in the hip, causing me to shrink back into Falkor, who just wraps his arm around my waist without question, much to Gina’s pleasure.

“Silver Moon Mountain just made it out of the sand.” Kayla muses, a slightly concerned look on her face. “Are they going to finish in time?” I shrug my shoulders.

“As long as they don’t finish in the bottom twenty, they’ll still rank, even if time runs out.” Falkor tells her, his thumb rubbing back and forth on my hip, probably sensing my worry for Hayden as I watch them struggle over the last of the quicksand hurdle. It feels like forever until the time runs out and I’m equally glad that Silver Moon Mountain made it to the finish line as I am glad that Black Haven ended nineteenth from the bottom.

“Looks like our luck didn’t work for them this time.” I mutter as I stare at the leaderboard, wondering what kind of excuses Sewell Hutting is going to come up with this time to discredit our win. Falkor chuckles, kissing my head before he goes to grab his bag, leaving me standing there more than a little stunned.

“Did my brother just…” Kayla trails of eyes wide as she stares at me.

“Yep. He did that.” Gina grins, wide and excited.

“I bet they’ll have a bonding ceremony as soon as we get back home.” Kayla muses after she gets over her shock.

“Yeah, I think they’ll wait at least a week.” Gina responds and before I can tell them that we’re not having a bonding ceremony anytime soon Kayla is urging Gina to put her money where her mouth us, Gina proceeds to call over Gavin, who chimes in with three weeks and Sam says a full month because he knows I love to plan things out.

“You guys.” I get their attention, and they look at me like they’re surprised I’m still there. “No betting on us.” I tell them and watch their smiles collectively get bigger.

“So, you admit you’re an us?” Sam asks, wiggling his eyebrows as I drop my face in my hands and groan. “Oh, Roanan must be so pissed from beyond the grave right now. He gets to miss this finally happening.” I burst out laughing, despite the twinge of pain that shoots through my chest.

“I bet you a hundred bucks he’s finessing this from beyond the grave.” Gavin chimes in, starting another round of betting. I silently follow them out of the arena, watching their craziness as they drag the warriors into their betting, talking about creating a spreadsheet and how the winner gets bragging rights and possibly a child named after them, who’s child I have no idea, because I can’t imagine naming a child after one of these idiots.

“Why don’t we go stretch our wings.” Falkor suggests as I change my position for the tenth time in the last five minutes, switching off the TV as he gets up from the bed, holding his hand out to me. I slide mine in his, thankful for the late night and empty hallways as we leave his room. I love our clan, but I cannot handle one more joke about our relationship right now, not with how worked up I’m feeling, and I honestly have no idea where it’s even coming from. We find a decent clearing before I’m morphing, shooting into the sky, knowing Falkor will follow. Sure enough his massive dragon comes up from underneath me and we fly together as if we’re one, barely any space between my underbelly and his back. We fly for a while until we settle on the bank of a massive lake.

“Fancy a swim?” I look between Falkor and the lake, wondering if he meant in human or dragon form. Before I can ask him, he answers me by moving headfirst into the water, his wings propelling him forward and then he goes under for a few seconds before shooting up into the air, spraying droplets of water on me. I shake my head in amusement, following his lead, only something changes the moment my dragon gets submerged under the water. I panic a little, trying to lift my wings but they’re not there and just when I think I’m going to drown I realize I’m breathing just fine, my body, large, white with no wings, my feet tucked so tight to my body they look nonexistent, and I realize I look like a serpent. In panic I aim for the surface, my body moves with more ease than I’m used to and it’s seconds before my head breaks the barrier of the water, but my wings don’t come back like I expect them too, instead I fall back down into the water, being submerged once more, panic rising inside me, because I have no idea what’s happening but I know that whatever it is, can’t be good.