Page 17 of Beaux and Dragons

“Well, we don’t have all day.” Federico sat straddled on Celestia’s back in the lead position at the base of her neck.

“We?” Ana snapped all in place and handed Federico the strap to keep it from dangling.

“Am I not invited on your trip to scout out a good place to meet her?” Federico lifted an eyebrow with a hint of amusement, which tore at Ana’s insides.

“Fine.” Ana settled behind Federico, straddling her dragon but leaving a handspan behind Federico’s bottom and herself.

“You are ridiculous.” He twisted around, eyeing the gap between himself and Ana. When she shrugged, he grabbed her wrist and placed it on his torso. “Don’t do something dangerous just to spite me.”

Ana’s fingers curled, grabbing the fabric of Federico’s coat. She should tell him to leave and shoo him away forever, but she couldn’t, even though Padre would never approve. She scooted closer to him and gripped Federico on the other side, getting a nostril full of citrus wafting off his coat jacket.

A low chuckle vibrated in his chest beneath her hold. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell your family you slummed with the dragon keeper’s son.”

“How dare—” before Ana could finish whatever retort was on her lips, Federico clicked his tongue and pressed his feet into Celestia’s scales. Celestia leaped into the air. The warm humidity swept through Ana’s waywardbraid and loosened the pins she’d put in place. Quenepas grew small below them and disappeared far behind.

Soon the next town, Guanajuncos, appeared below, with small wooden buildings and a tower in the center.

“There,” Ana cried.

But Federico yanked on the bridle to fly away from the coast and further into the jungles at the center of the island.

“What are you doing?” Ana screamed.

“You’re going to force her to meet you at every stop along the way?”

Guilt swept through Ana’s conscience like a ferocious wave she hadn’t seen coming. She’d been thinking about herself more than Celestia when creating this plan.

Time passed while Federico guided Celestia toward the Burgos Mountains at the far end of Lourdes City. Rather than staying in the closest range, he led Celestia to the center of the range near a waterfall flowing with brilliant cerulean water. Sunlight glistened in the distance as Celestia settled on the side of a cave overlooking the gush of water. Another fiery red dragon swooped from above them through the waterfall and disappeared.

Federico patted one of Ana’s hands with a gentle touch. “You can let go now.”

“Where are we?” Ana continued to clutch around Federico’s waist, having now seen five more dragons flying in the distance. One of the beasts dove into the jungle. Another parted ways to cross behind the waterfall mountain, and yet the others neared and settled not too far from them. A ledge with several caves covered the giant mountain. With so much foliage interspersed, there might even be more homes.

He unclasped Ana’s fingers with gentle dexterity. “The people of Lourdes buy spaces for their dragons in this valley.” He unmounted and reached up for Ana as if to ask if she needed assistance. “This is the space for my dragons.”

Ana spun to view deeper into the darkness of the cave mouth and found two giant iridescent orbs flickering in the shadows. She inhaled sharply, never having seen more than a few beasts in one place before, but she’d heard stories of the isle of Santolaria where the reptiles bred and the races transpired. Though Celestia had never harmed a human or dragon before, others were known for their vicious tactics to gain dominance.

“Will they accept Celestia?” Ana twisted her attention back toward Federico.

He didn’t bother hiding a sober smile that was anything but reassuring. “We’ll find out.”

Ana swept her leg around to dismount, but Federico clasped her waist to carry her down before she could object. His touch sent flames up her spine, and she couldn’t discern if they were caused by her ire at his audacity, or delight. Federico extended his hand out to hers, and she took it more out of fear than anything romantic. If this was his lair, his dragons would need to know they were friends.

The next several minutes passed in excruciating silence. A burnt-yellow dragon crept out of the cave with giant fangs protruding from its bottom jaw. Its razor-sharp glare and bolstering stance suggested that this was the dragon to impress. It dragged its dark orbs for eyes over Ana and stopped at the hands clasped between Federico and Ana.

Then, the beast leaped at Celestia, sniffing around her body. Ana clutched Federico tighter as she imagined the yellow beast swinging its horned tail at her dragon.

Federico called to his dragon. “Chispas, be gentle.” He spun to meet Ana’s eye and leaned forward as if to share a secret. “Chispas is more fang than bite, and if Celestia is accepted by him, she’ll be accepted by all.”

“How many dragons do you own?”

“Twelve.”

“Then why did you want to buy Celestia?”

“Would you believe me if I said she holds a special spot in my heart?” Federico’s dark lashes fluttered once with a heartwarming sincerity that twisted Ana’s insides into uncomfortable knots.

She shifted her riding dress, dispelling the heat rushing up her neck. Her old friend had first ignored her, then given special attentions to another, but now had singled Ana out. How was she to keep up with this strange new Federico? Instead of asking the question chiseled on her tongue, she shifted her attention to Chispas pinning Celestia down with his paws. Celestia licked his cheek with her playful grin. The terrifying Chispas let her go and shook his head with a sigh.