Chapter 612: Free

The four of them had found a cave somewhere in the nearby mountains where the dragon's mountain was still within sight. After a short discussion, they then decided to spend the night there to give Vera as much rest as she could get with their current situation.

Thankfully, Vera awakened the next day. It had surprised Evie how quickly she was recovering but she quickly realized that she should not be that surprised anymore. Vera was no longer a mere human now after all. She is a dragon keeper now, just like her!

Vera was even the one who asked for Evie to start teaching and training her on matters with the dragons just a few minutes after they had finished their breakfast.

Of course, Evie did not intend to waste a moment longer and granted her wish. She could see the thrill and determination flashing in Vera's eyes, so she thought that there was no need to delay any longer. Every second counts in their race to changing the path that they take to their known futures.

For a few hours, Evie gave Vera precise instructions on how she managed to summon and tame her dragons. She believed that the methods Vera would use to handle her ice dragons should be similar if not the same.

While Evie was busy training and instructing Vera, Gideon and Gavrael were several feet away from them. Somehow, the two finally started talking to each other more often after breaking the ice with their first proper conversation between each other yesterday.

And while the ladies were highly focused on their own tasks, the brothers began discussing and talking about much more serious things that they could not talk about when Evie and Vera were listening into their talks. Gavrael had spoken with Gavriel last night and Gavriel had lots of question he wanted to ask Gideon. Thus, it resulted in this long and intense conversation between the brothers now.

The two of them talked about their lover's visions and then exchanged theories and information on the different ways they could move forward in changing what they knew might happen in the possible future. That had been the longest time they had ever talked since they were young.

But their seemingly endless conversation was later on interrupted when they saw a dragon approaching.

Gideon's eyes widened. "Already?"

Gavrael on the other hand was not as surprised as Gideon as he had the advantage of knowing Evie and her powers of control over her dragons. "She's a dragon keeper. Of course the dragons will listen to her as long as she knew what she is doing." He said in a matter-of-fact tone. He had heard from Evie's vampire men that she had taken only three tries before the dragons submitted and listened to her commands. Three time was just too impressive! Gavrael remembered that in the past, when he was training Evie, Evie had taken almost the same amount of time Vera spent right now. Ten tries.

A blue-eyed dragon landed majestically before them.

Vera stood there, facing it. Her heart racing. Evie encouraged her to go on. She must touch it and give it a name for the whole process to be completed.

The dragon looked down at her as she approached slowly with measured steps.

Gideon was on high alert at the back, more than ready to go to her if needed. They all watched in anticipation. And the moment Vera's hand touched the dragon's snout, Gideon breathed in a sigh of relief. The fact that the dragon accepted her touch was a good sign.

She looked back at him with one of the brightest smiles he had ever seen her wear. It made his heart swell. To think that this could make Vera so thrilled and happy.

After a while, Vera nodded at Evie, now ready to ride the dragon.

Gideon took a step closer, but Vera yelled at him with a big smile. "I'm fine, Gid. Watch me!" she even waved her hand. The excitement in her eyes brimming so brightly that it could be seen so clearly even from far off.

--

Once she was on the dragon's back, it took her many tries again to command the dragon to fly. And when it finally did, the three of them all spread their wings and followed after the dragon, ready to rescue Vera just in case something happens.

Vera was screaming but not in extreme fear, but in excitement and pure thrill.

"I did it!" she was shouting at them as her hands were clasped so tightly onto the dragon's spike.

When the dragon steadied its flight in the sky, Vera began to laugh out in pure triumph. "I really did it!" she shouted again as the dragon circled the sky with smooth wingbeats.

She did not forget Evie's instruction though, that she still needed to command the dragon to return her to the ground after a few rounds of circling in the sky. Honestly, she wanted to stay up in the sky for a little longer as this was her virgin flight on her very own attempt without relying on other's powers – other than advice and instructions from Evie. She never thought that this could be so exciting. She thought that this would scare her but at that moment, she no longer felt as helpless and weak as she had before. She felt so free, and power seemed to rise and bubble up within her.

Taking a deep breath, Vera closed her eyes and felt the quietness and stillness of the sky. Then, she gave out the order for the dragon to land.

The dragon listened to her orders. But when it dove down, Vera was caught off guard at the dragon's sudden action. Her hand slipped from the tight hold that she had on dragon's spike and the next thing she knew… she was free falling and headed straight to the ground!