Dragonmark by Sherrilyn Kenyon

humans. It tends to scare the natives and cause them to do stupid things. He flexed his wings and turned his head to look back at her. Are you ready to fly now?
    Cringing, she glanced down at the clouds and felt her stomach lurch at the thought. “This is much higher than we went before.”
    It is, indeed.
    And as he’d done for the fight, he used his powers to make the saddle straps rise up to wrap around her body and secure her in place. The fact that he took such care caused a wave of warmth to surge through her. It also made her feel a bit better about this perilous venture. “I’m ready when you are.”
    I won’t let you fall, Edilyn. Remember that I’ve done this for thousands of years. For me, flying is as natural as breathing. Do you trust me?
    Edilyn hesitated at the sight of the clouds that obscured the ground so far below. Always terrified of heights, she’d never dreamt that she’d ever be this high above anything. “I trust you. But if I scream, don’t take it personally.”
    With a soundless laugh, he spread his wings wide and fell forward into the sky.
    Her stomach sank like a stone as her breath caught in her throat and strangled her with absolute terror. The winds whipped against her skin and hair, more akin to talons than some unseen natural force. It was actually quite painful. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears. Yet for all that, it was exhilarating.
    Spectacularly beautiful.
    The sky was far bluer up here than when she was in the fields where she worked. The sun brighter. Below her, everything was a mesh of unidentifiable greens and browns. She couldn’t tell what was what. Nor could she see any people or animals. The world looked nothing like she was used to.
    Are you all right?
    â€œI am. But how do you know where you are? Everything’s indistinguishable.”
    I have magnetoreception that allows me to see the earth’s magnetic fields and magnetoreceptors in my ears and snout for contour and altimeter tracking.
    That made as much sense to her as memory foam and the other nonsensical terms her brother had used. “What language are you speaking?”
    He laughed under her. My drakomai vision is different from that of a human. I can see shadows rising from the earth that allow me to know and determine cardinal directions. They guide me like phantom spirits, pointing me to the right path. Likewise, I have different nerves and senses in my ears and nose that tell me how high I’m flying and what is below me even when I can’t see the ground. So even on the darkest night, during storms or fog, I know exactly where I am and what’s around me. Ergo, I shouldn’t accidentally fly us into the side of a mountain … at least I hope not.
    She let out a squeak over something she hadn’t considered. “Is that truly a possibility?”
    It only happened once. Most of the scarring healed … after a few centuries.
    Her breathing turned ragged as total fear claimed her.
    Illarion laughed even harder. Relax, Edilyn. I’m jesting with you. I’ve never hit the side of a mountain. And while I have crashed into a few trees, it was only because I was wounded in battle and brought down from it.
    That made her feel better. At least that he’d crashed from the fight, not that he’d been injured. “Have you seen many battles?”
    Not by choice, and I’ve no wish to speak of it. Such discussions turn my mood sour.
    And with that, he began to lower them through the clouds toward the ground at a speed that left her gasping.
    Only this time from joy and not fear.
    True to his word, the waterfall was gorgeous. It fell like a majestic veil in the sunlight to splash down into a tranquil oasis. She’d never seen anything more beautiful. The air around her was scented with the most delicate fragrance. It reminded her of the stories her brother had told her of his fey homeland that could only be reached by