Free Ondrej by Saranna DeWylde

waterfall.
    She sighed. “Yeah, you’re right. But your dragon likes the idea.”
    “He does. He likes it a lot. It’s on the Approved Plan list. Unlike the one we’re about to execute. Are you ready?”
    “I think so.”
    “It’ll be about three hours on my back. Can you hold on that long?”
    She rolled her eyes. “Can I hold on? Please, it’s like you were made for riding.”
    “Nymph, if you keep talking that way, you’re going to find yourself flat on your back instead of heading to your chosen destination.”
    “Promise?”
    “All you have to do is say the word, Princess. Say you don’t want to go, and we’ll do something else.” He half hoped she would say that she’d changed her mind. That the rest of the world could go to hell and then make love to her, fuck her, then make love to her again while the world did just that.
    But that wasn’t what he admired about her, that wasn’t what made her a good mate. It was her willingness to sacrifice. It was her strength to do what was right.
    Even his dragon couldn’t argue with that. He couldn’t argue with it, but he didn’t have to like it.
    “You understand why I have to?”
    The conflict in her eyes set the course of action. She needed him to help her do what needed to be done. He couldn’t worry about what this meant for them or for him.
    “Yeah, I understand. I’d do the same if I thought it would save my brothers. Looks like I’m doing everything your father didn’t want me to do.”
    “He wanted you to change my mind.”
    “Instead, you changed mine. If things work out the way we want them too, how’s he going to feel about you being with me?”
    “These things have always been my own choice. He found you worthy to protect me, so I’m sure he’ll find you worthy to be with me as well.”
    “If I ever get the chance, I’ll make the vow so the whole world can hear it. Krysanthe before gold,” he whispered in her ear. Before she could respond he said, “Let’s get in the air, unless you want to say your goodbyes again.”
    “My heart couldn’t take it. This morning before we slept was enough.”
    “Do you trust me?”
    “With my life.”
    “Then hold on tight to my shoulders.”
    “You’re not doing what I think you’re going to do, are you?” she asked, peering down over the ledge of the cave.
    “Oh yeah.”
    “Oh gods.” Despite her obvious reservations, she latched on.
    Ondrej leapt off into a freefall with his arms wide. “Are your eyes open? You have to watch,” he yelled. Then he Changed, two beats of his wings righting their descent.
    “Do you do that all the time?”
    “Every chance I get.”
    “It must be amazing to fly.”
    “And what are you doing right now?” he asked.
    She laughed and clung tighter to his neck. “Higher.”
    He was happy to oblige her, soaring ever higher until they were above the clouds. Living underground as she did, she didn’t need as much oxygen as a mortal might.
    “How long do dragons live?” she asked.
    “A thousand years or so. How long do nymphs live?”
    “The same. I’m two hundred.”
    “I’m not sure how old I am. We left the dragon lands a long time ago and I can’t remember.”
    “What’s the first thing you remember?”
    “Chasing bison on that prairie. It was before I could fly.” He and his brothers. They’d been left on their own. He wasn’t sure if they’d hatched alone, or what had happened. Only that his memories were only of him, Mikolas and Imre.
    He flew hard, the tails winds helping to propel him even faster. The Alpha fire brewed in his gut and he kept it at a steady simmer. Ondrej would be ready for whatever he had to do.
    The flight seemed both too short and too long.
    It was too short because he wanted to keep her with him as long as possible, and too long because he was hyper aware that every second could be their last together. He tried not to think about it because it made the dragon side of psyche angry and it was so very important