“Beast!” I called upon my own dragon.
“Ryder,” he hissed at me.
“Merge with me so that from this day forward we may claim each other and together accomplish our predestined fate,” I said loudly. The words had just come to me, and I wasn’t even sure from where.
“As you command halfling, although I won’t be commanded like a lowly house lizard,” he hissed again, and I laughed suddenly.
“You, a house lizard? And here I thought you were magnificent, but now I’m not so sure, beast,” I said, and I could hear him chuckle.
“You’ll suit me fine, halfling,” he said, sounding amused. He came out of the shadows and I held my breath in awe. He circled me and sniffed me tentatively as I folded my arms across my chest. He roared slightly and then merged himself into and onto me.
I felt the burning s
