You are safe. Nothing has shifted. Dakh’s tone is amused. You can open your eyes.

And you can quit laughing, I tell him primly, and force myself to look out. The world is spread open before us, Dakh’s wings open wide to catch a breeze. He dips his head, and my view is clear. It’s…breathtaking. From up here, Old Dallas is green and gray, concrete and overgrowth, and being on top of Dakh instead of flung about in his claws feels powerful.

Well? What do you think? My dragon asks.

There’s a lot less jostling, I tell him, and dare to lift my hand long enough to put it on his neck. And you? You’re comfortable?

I am. Even if I was not, if it was what you needed, I would endure.

You’re sweet.

You are my mate. Why would I not want the best for you? He sounds puzzled.

It’s just nice to hear, I tell him.

Then I need to tell you such things all the time.

You already do. I send him a burst of affectionate thoughts and then take a deep breath, gazing out at the horizon stretched before me. Funny how perspective changes when your ride does. Here on top of Dakh’s back, I feel like the world is open to us. Maybe it’s not a crazy thing to fly away from Fort Dallas and see the world. Maybe we could search out other cities, nicer places to live, places with more survivors… Maybe we could see the world, or what’s left of it. The Grand Canyon would still be there. Yellowstone, too. Niagara Falls... The possibilities are endless. Heck, the beach. I love the beach. Just the thought makes me wistful. I went there on vacation with my family only a few weeks before the Rift struck.

Memories hit me like a wall, and I suck in a breath, blinking back tears. I can’t cry. It’ll fog my stupid goggles.

Do you wish to go to the ocean? I will take you. Point me in that direction and we will go. I will leave this instant. Dakh’s thoughts are full of comfort and concern. Only do not be sad, my sweet fire.

I love you, babe, I tell him. I’m not sad, I promise.

I am in your head. I can sense your sadness.

Just thinking about the past. I lost my parents when the Rift tore open. They died in one of the very first dragon attacks.

I am…sorry.

I’m not blaming you, sweetie. I stroke his neck scales again. Whoever attacked couldn’t help it. I’ve felt your thoughts. I know they’re overwhelming. It’s not just me who suffered. Everyone did. You did, too. I send him comforting thoughts. Did you lose anyone when you came through?

There is a long pause in his thoughts. He tilts his wings, and we turn a corner around the large building. Nearby, Claudia gives me another thumbs up, Kael flying a short distance away. I give her a little wave to let her know I see her. Then Dakh answers. Yes…I think I did. I do not remember a name, but I seem to recall…a sibling. A brother.

Oh my goodness. And he’s here? Or back on the other side?

He came through. I do not know what happened to him after that. I do not even know what happened to myself. His thoughts are wry. And the more I try to think about it, the harder it gets.

That’s okay, I tell him quickly as he swoops toward Claudia’s apartment for a landing. The fact that you remembered at all is incredible! You recall a lot more than Kael does, you know. I can’t help the pride that filters through my thoughts.

Dakh is amused at my pride. There is nothing to be proud of, my mate. If he remembers less, he was probably more affected by the madness. It has eaten away too much of his mind.

That’s terrible to think about. I feel a little guilty as we land and Claudia slides off Kael’s back, giving his nose a caress before looking over at me expectantly. I get down from Dakh’s back, albeit a lot less gracefully than Claudia does, and pull my goggles off.

“What did you think?” Claudia asks. “Does anything need to be adjusted?”

“It was great,” I tell her enthusiastically. “Much better than flying in his claws.”

“So everything worked?” Claudia moves to the saddle, and she checks my cords again, and we talk about possible improvements and what gear I’ll need in the future. I’m only half paying attention to the conversation, though.

I keep thinking about Dakh and his lost brother, and how much he’s lost overall. His home is gone, along with his friends, his family, and good chunks of his mind. It makes me feel guilty for even thinking humans were the only victims.

Guess the flight did more than change just one perspective.

37

DAKH

The day wears on, and as it does, I sense my mate beginning to droop. Her thoughts grow pleasantly fuzzy as they do when she is sleepy, and though she makes no attempt to get up and leave, I know she is exhausted. The other females chatter at her, and she listens to them talk, her smile constant. When they sit down to eat a meal, I nuzzle my mate’s hair. Finish your meal, I tell her, and then we will return to our home. You are tired.

Oh, I hate to leave. I feel like I’ve been away for so long. She spoils her thoughts with a yawn and then a sleepy grimace. Okay, maybe I’m a little tired. And I need to see if Emma left a note. To the others, she says, “We should probably go soon.”

They make sounds of protest, but Kael noses his own mate’s hair, and I can feel the current of his thoughts even if I cannot hear them. He is likely telling his mate the same, that she is tired and needs her rest.

It has been a good afternoon. We hunted for the females and spent most of the day roosting in the sunlight, idly conversing as our mates caught up. Kael is content with his human mate, even if most of his thoughts of the past are gone. I cannot be unhappy, he tells me. I do not like this place, but I like what it houses—my mate.

And I feel the same way. My Sasha has been trying to learn about our past. I cannot tell her much.

I can probably tell her less, Kael agrees. Sometimes I think it is for the best. Perhaps we are meant to leave it behind and forge new lives here.

Perhaps. But I am not entirely convinced.

The females say goodbye, and the fire-haired one pulls my Sasha aside one more time. She asks her if she is truly happy.

“Of course,” Sasha tells her, a curious note in her thoughts. “That’s the second time you’ve asked that today.”

Through the mind-link with my mate, I can tell that Kael’s mate replies that she just wants to be sure.

“I’m positive.” Sasha smiles at her and gives her another hug. “And we’ll see each other again very soon. I promise.”