Free Dragon Flight by Caitlin Ricci Page B

smoothing it as best he could.
    “You look fine,” Isabelle whispered.
    Zorin’s smile fumbled at being caught, but it was quickly replaced with a broad, playful grin that looked much more natural on his face. “Just fine? I’m not so handsome that I make your heart flutter and your legs go weak?”
    Isabelle rolled her eyes and gave him a light shove. She could hear voices up ahead as they neared a large copse of trees. Something dark flashed overhead and Zorin increased his pace. Amalthea and Isabelle struggled to keep up with him.
    Isabelle blew out an irritated breath once she caught up with him. She grabbed the back of his shirt, halting him.
    “You,” she panted, “walk too fast.”
    “Yes,” Amalthea agreed as she glided up to them, not at all looking like she had practically run to catch up to him as Isabelle had. “Now, your spat or whatever that it was is over, right?”
    Zorin pressed his lips together in agitation, but still nodded.
    Amalthea sighed and motioned him to lead the way. Zorin silently turned and continued up the quickly disappearing path.
    What was that about? Isabelle asked him.
    Zorin smiled at the irritation in her voice. He doubted if she knew just how cute it made her to be mad at him. I thought I saw something.
    She humphed behind him and Zorin shot her a boyish grin over his shoulder. Amalthea serenely ignored them both, but neither woman missed the tension in his lithe body.
    A light tingle shivered up Isabelle’s arms. She rubbed at her pale skin and frowned at the goosebumps quickly forming.
    “Zorin?” she called to him.
    He apparently heard the worry in her voice and turned toward her, taking her outstretched arm between his warm palms. He rubbed her arms for a moment before dropping her hand and stepping away.
    “It’s their magic,” he said simply. “You can’t filter it and it’s rubbing up against you.”
    Isabelle frowned at him. “What can I do about it?”
    Zorin quickly frowned and his answer was immediate. “Not much. You aren’t used to magical creatures so it may just take some getting used to for you.”
    Amalthea shook her head. “Be the girl’s filter, Zorin.”
    He blushed and held out his hand. A little confused, but willing to see, Isabelle put her fingers in his. Zorin took a breath and the tingling sensation started to bleed from her skin like beads of water. As the last of it left her, Isabelle laced her fingers with his and came up to his side.
    “You must have known that would work, right?” she asked him.
    Zorin nodded.
    Isabelle tilted her chin and considered him for a moment. “Then why would you let me continue to have that odd sensation when you stopped it so easily?”
    He blushed easily and nodded toward the trees where they knew the council was waiting. “I didn’t think that you would want Faolan to see us holding hands.”
    He saw the tears bead on her lashes and watched as she ruefully shook them away before he could get up the courage to wipe them from her cheeks.
    “We’re going to be married,” Isabelle reminded him, her voice breaking. “It doesn’t matter what he or anyone else thinks.”
    Zorin nodded, kissed her temple and then pulled her along silently behind him.
    The path fell away to reveal a small clearing lined with tall trees. In its center was a mismatched group of creatures Isabelle had never expected to see together in one place.
    Isabelle was quite happy to see that her uncle was not present among those gathered.
    “Don’t stare,” Zorin chided her, the laughter clear in his voice.
    Isabelle flashed him a quick smile and squeezed his hand. She looked at all of the council members, all of them settled into the bright grass and staring impatiently at Amalthea. There was a large smooth stone placed away from the others that the council members had gathered around and Zorin helped Amalthea down onto it. He led Isabelle off to the side and wrapped her arm around her waist, pulling her against his side. She