Dragon's Moon by Lucy Monroe

her to Abigail.”
    Ciara had to fight both the urge to simply caress his tail and learn the feel of the dragon’s scales close-up, and the overwhelming sense of safety this odd embrace gave her.
    Eirik nodded, his determined amber gaze telling her he agreed, but that they were going to do things his way.
    Stubborn dragon prince.
    â€œI know you think I need you watching over me, but I am perfectly safe in the forest.”
    He growled and shook his head, his tail tightening its hold on her. His warmth surrounded her like a shield and she wanted to relax, rest here where she felt safe enough to sleep, when she
never
felt that safe anymore.
    Could the dragon protect her dreams? ’Twas a whimsical if very tempting thought. And she dismissed it.
    â€œYou are bossy, you know that, right?”
    A dragon’s shrug moved its wings and once again a soft wind caressed her face. Ciara found it so ridiculously endearing, an unwilling smile curved her lips when really, she wanted to frown. “Arrogant beast.”
    The chuff that came from his mouth could be naught but laughter.
    â€œHow am
I
to get on your back then? I am not a bird. I cannot fly.” And the thought of scrambling up his huge body as the boys had done that day so long ago in the forest was not in the least appealing.
    Eirik shook his head and chuffed again. And then, without warning, she found herself being lifted off the ground.
    An embarrassing squeak came out of her mouth before she clamped it shut. And the tip of his tail caressed herback as if to soothe her. Darn it if she did not indeed feel soothed.
    Annoying dragon know-it-all.
    He set her standing on his massive thigh, his legs bent to make a step of sorts. And she found herself doing exactly what she’d sworn not to, climbing up his back like a child in a tree. He positioned his wings so she could use one to hold onto as she moved up his back.
    His scales were warm and not exactly slick, but they were smooth. Still, with his tail against her back and his wings nearly closed around her, she was in no danger of slipping. When she settled against his neck, she draped her legs on either side, resting them against where his wings joined his shoulders. She curled her arms around his neck, her fingers locked but careful not to choke him.
    It was as secure a spot as she could hope for in order to ride the mythical beast.
    Ciara felt the muscles under her thighs bunch and knew Eirik was getting ready to leap into the sky.
    â€™Twas just like riding a horse. She nodded to herself. Yes. That was it.
    So, she was a great deal farther from the ground than when she rode even the biggest horse in the stable. It did not matter. It would not be so bad.
    Eirik took a couple of running steps and then leapt upward.
    â€œA horse. Just like a horse,” she muttered over and over to herself.
    But horses did not fly, no more than wolves.
    And Eirik was still rising in the sky with Mairi in his arms and Ciara on his back, his great wings creating a powerful draft below them. Ciara peeked around his neck to look down. Her grip on the dragon’s neck tightened. They flew well above the tops of the trees…trees so tall she could barely see their tops from the ground.
    But the terror that had sparked in her at the thought of flight did not show itself now that she was high in the sky on a dragon’s back. Exhilarated rather, the sense of enchantment returned.
    She was flying and it was magnificent! She wanted to shout her glee, but worried she might draw attention to them and then decided they were too far from the ground for her voice to carry to anyone below.
    She threw her head back and laughed. Thoroughly captivated, she laughed as she had not since she was a small child. The dragon’s head came up and he bugled, a sound that was like bubbled happiness exploding around her.
    â€œIt is magical,” she shouted, hoping he could hear her through the rushing wind around them.