Fledgling (Dragonrider Chronicles, #1)

by Nicole Conway

“I think we can agree that things are pretty lousy for both of us,” I went on talking to him, closing the distance between us. My voice was shaking because I was scared out of my mind, but at least he hadn’t made a lunge for me yet. “Let’s make a deal, all right? I don’t want to keep living with my father for the rest of my life, and I definitely don’t want to go to a prison camp. I want my life to mean something. And I’m pretty sure you don’t want them to cut your wings so you can’t fly anymore. You want them to let you go, but they’ll force you to stay here one way or another. Alone, neither of us can do anything to change the way things are going for us. But together, we could change both our destinies.” I was standing so close to him, I could smell the musk of his breath. I could feel it, too, hot and humid against my face. Reaching out, I could see my own hand trembling as I crept toward him. Just a few more feet. Then a few more inches. “Let me be your rider,” I pleaded with him. “I swear I won’t make you do anything you don’t want to do. And when we’re finished, when the war is over, you’ll be free to go back to the wild. I won’t treat you like a dumb animal. You’ll be my partner. We’ll get through this together. We’ll be a team.”