Destiny gave him a sugar-wouldn’t-melt-in-her-mouth smile. “Girl talk. Nothing you’d be interested in.”
Nick doubted the hell out of that, but Raluca went on, earnestly clasping Destiny’s dark hands in her pale ones. “You have been a true friend. I look forward to our girls’ night out.”
“Me too.” Destiny grinned mischievously, giving Nick a vivid recollection of her joke — or had it been a joke? — about taking Raluca to a strip club. Though if she did, Nick was sure she’d pick a classy one and Raluca would actually like it.
“But if it’s safe, may Nick and I be alone now?” Raluca went on. “I am not tired, and I would like to continue enjoying the fresh air and the night.”
Nick wasn’t so sure the assassins had given up for good, but they did at least seem to have given up for the night. Besides, they were out of the crowded, noisy nightclub now. Nick was perfectly capable of protecting Raluca if she just wanted to walk around the city at night.
“It’s fine, guys,” Nick said. “I can take it from here. Thanks. We’ll see you tomorrow.”
Rafa and Destiny took off, she with a chuckle and he with a suggestive wink.
Once they were gone, Raluca turned to Nick. “You’ve shown me your world. Would you like me to show you mine?”
Confused, Nick asked, “Viorel?”
“No, that’s only where I came from.” Raluca’s eyes brightened until two stars seemed to shine from her face. “I’m a dragon, Nick. My world is the sky.”
“You mean, you’d fly with me? You’d let me do that? Lucas never lets anyone ride him. Well, except Journey.” Nick laughed, suddenly realizing why. “Oh. Is that something dragons only do with their mates?”
“Mates, or lovers. Sometimes best friends. Any others, only in case of utmost need. I have never allowed anyone to ride me. It seems very intimate.” She brushed her heated fingers across his cheek, trailing them down to her lips. “But we are intimate. And I would like to show you the freedom of the sky. Is that something you might enjoy?”
Nick took a deep breath, his head spinning. Shane had taught the team to skydive, and Nick had loved it. But that was nothing compared to getting to ride a dragon! “Fuck, yeah.”
He glanced around the alley, making sure no one was within sight or earshot. No one was. The streets of Santa Martina emptied out quickly once the nightclubs and bars closed for the night.
Following his glance, Raluca assured him, “Once you are riding me, I will become invisible to others. That is, other dragons would be able to see me. I am not sure about other shifters.”
“I can’t see Lucas once he goes invisible,” Nick said. “None of us can. But Journey says she can see him if she’s riding him.”
“Good,” Raluca said. “It might be disconcerting to seem to be flying unsupported through the air.”
Nick grinned. “Yeah, it might.”
Raluca backed away from Nick, until she stood in the middle of the alley with plenty of space on all sides. Her hair and eyes and dragonmarks and miniskirt glittered like the diamonds on her shoes.
The air around her began to sparkle silver. The specks of light gathered around her and began to spin, until Raluca vanished within a tornado of glinting silver. Then the glittering whirlwind vanished, and Nick saw a dragon.
Though all other colors were lost in the moonlight, Raluca’s dragon shone with the pure silver of her hair. She was exquisite, slim and graceful, with translucent wings and talons like silver daggers. Her eyes were Raluca’s eyes, gray as storm clouds and regarding him with excitement and love.
Nick’s breath caught at the sight of her. “You’re so beautiful.”
A dragon couldn’t smile, but her eyes brightened. She dipped one wing and bent her forearm, inviting him to mount.
Nick touched her back, marveling at the velvety softness of her hide. Moving carefully, he stepped on to her forearm and lif
ted his leg over her back. She was bigger than a horse, but slim. He easily settled into a hollow behind her neck, fitting into it as if it had been made to hold him.
She shook her head, sending her silver mane rippling. Nick realized what she was signaling him to do, and took hold of it. It felt more like feathers than hair, but he could feel that they were strong. He got a tight grip on it.
“I’m ready,” Nick said. He’d spoken softly, but his voice echoed in the empty alley.
Raluca’s flanks expanded between his legs as she took a deep breath. Then she spread her magnificent wings, their tips nearly touching the buildings on either side, and leaped upward.
Nick drew in his breath in amazement as Raluca soared up and up, out of the alley and above the buildings, into the sky. Santa Martina spread out beneath him, parts dark and others sparkling with multi-colored lights. The freeways flowed like rivers of rubies and diamonds. At first the sky was its usual orange-purple with reflected light, but as Raluca soared higher, it became darker and darker. Finally, it became black and then he could see the stars, pure and brilliant as Raluca’s eyes.
The air was cold, burning his lungs, but her body warmed his. Even her mane was pleasantly hot in his hands. Skydiving was nothing compared to riding a dragon. This was like being a part of the night itself.