Kerrigan beamed. She’d spent the rest of the hour trying to get to her feet. She’d managed it once before face-planting into Tieran’s back. But she was so happy to be flying in any way, shape, or form that she could hardly even care. Only Fordham had also been able to land on their dragon by the end of the session.

“Now, I want the trainees on one side of the arena opposite their dragon on the other side.”

Kerrigan winked at Tieran. “Partner.”

He blinked at her. You’re in high spirits.

“We’re doing it,” she whispered.

It’s the first day. You’re incredibly optimistic.

“And you’re a pessimist. Now, get over there.”

Tieran blew hot breath into her face. She rolled her eyes at him and jogged to the other side of the arena, lining up between Fordham and Roake.

“Nice job out there,” Fordham said.

She grinned. “Getting over your fear of heights?”

“It’s a fear of falling,” he corrected her. “And, yeah. Falling this much in one day is making it go away.”

“Didn’t I tell you that facing your fears makes you master them?”

He bowed slightly in her direction. “Forgive me for ever doubting you.”

It was the most they’d said to each other in days. Color heated her cheeks at the way the words flowed over her. They’d been avoiding each other with good reason. Fordham had made it clear this wouldn’t happen, and now, she was betrothed… always had been apparently. Not that she’d let that stand if she had anything to say about it. But she didn’t want it to change their friendship. If it was all she could have, it was what she would take.

Alura came to a stop before them. “Dragon bonding is the core to the entire Society. It is the foundation of our government and the establishment of Fae and dragon relations. However, the bond is a fragile thing. When you’re first bonded, the tether between you and your dragon is a little light within yourself. Something that flickers on, and if you’re not careful, it can go out.”

Kerrigan chilled at those words. She’d never heard of that before. Bonds could be severed and not kill the dragon and human rider? No wonder this was only spoken of to initiates.

“What we’re going to spend the next eleven months on is working that bond like a muscle until it’s big and strong. It generally takes about a year to get a bond strong enough to be fully functional. You should be able to feel where the other is even if you were on a different continent. On a different world entirely,” Alura said with an arched eyebrow. “It would be your beacon home.”