Page 40 of Blood of Olympus

“Flight training?” I repeated dumbly.

Did you suddenly develop hearing loss? she sniped. Yes — flight training. I am one of your greatest assets in this war. And if you’d care to look past your own fears, you’d see it.

Hey, uncalled for.

That ridiculous brow-that-wasn’t-a-brow lifted again in unveiled judgement.

It’s called for, Nyssa. We need to train — together — if we’re to stand any chance against the monsters Kronos will no doubt employ. Between my fire and your shadows, we could take out half his army!

Icy dread crept across my heart. She was right. He’d have beasts, traitors, and Titans too — if they managed to escape the shitshow that was the crumbled gates.

Everything alright up there? Caelus asked, his voice echoing faintly like he’d called across a great chasm.

Fine, I sent back.

No reply. Figuring out how to send the thought down so far, and expending enough effort to do so, was difficult — more so than I’d anticipated.

I tried again.

We’re fine.

I knew I’d been successful when his cloying concern morphed into something lighter like relief.

We’re about to start flight training, though. Be ready to catch me at a moment’s notice, I joked.

Lykos and I are doing the same. A pause. And I feel like I’ve been waiting my whole life for you to fall for me.

A scoff bubbled at the back of my throat.

Always with the theatrics, Golden.

Anything to make you smile, Nightshade.

If you’re done being disgusting, can we train now? My purple menace cut in. Apparently I’d managed to broadcast the thoughts down both tethers without meaning to.

Caelus’ presence faded as he laughed himself back down to his own lessons.

This is going to be violent, isn’t it? I asked the interrupting dragon.

Of course it is.

Give me one moment.

With a flick of my hand, an inky rope curled around the front of her neck. I gripped the shadow-forged reigns tightly, took a steadying breath, then sent: Alright then, let’s go.

Words I may yet regret ever conveying.

Velira immediately tilted, tucked her wings in tight, and speared her body at the ground.

Down, down, down we dove.

The flats outside Aetherion grew closer with every passing heartbeat, the scattered trees growing larger, and the landscape more defined.

Vel?

She angled, aiming right at something I had taken to be a white hillock — I was so very wrong.

Lykos’ lithe body sprinted across the open plain, a rider visible on his back.