"IT WAS PRETTY FUNNY."

Josh's face burned, but he kept his eyes trained on his socks. "It wasn't that funny, Dad," he grumbled.

His dad chuckled as he readjusted the ice pack on his stupid, smiling face.

The memory replayed in Josh's head even as he tried to repress it. He had been deep in sleep when his dad shook his arm. Muddled from the sudden wake up, his mind jumped to the Darren fight, and he had punched. Straight out punched right into his dad's jaw.

He dug his fingers into the leather couch. The warmth spread up his cheeks to his ears.

At least you punched your dad. It could have been your mom, Boomer quite unhelpfully added.

Josh buried his face in his hands. I hate you both. So much.

Not our fault you beat up your dad.

Rather than dignifying Boomer with a response, Josh raised his head and glared at his dad. He stood at a granite counter brewing coffee. Their little housing quarters still hurt Josh's head to see. They'd walked into a castle, yet they stayed in what seemed like a modern suite. Three rooms, a small kitchen, and a small living room, all furnished like a five-star hotel.

"Why did you even wake me up at..." Josh glanced at a clock on the wall and gaped, no longer as sorry for the punch. "Six-thirty in the morning!"

His dad filled a cup with coffee, adding creamer and sugar as he answered. "They told you last night to be awake an hour earlier than the starting day for the Sanctuary so you could get a small tour."

Josh wrinkled his nose. He figured he would have escaped school hours up here. "Seven-thirty is the normal time for this place?"

His dad's eyes twinkled. "No, the normal time is eight. But, well..." He made a show of sniffing the air and wrinkled his nose. "With the way you smell, you really need a shower."

Josh glowered. True or not, he was too tired for his dad's humor. He gestured around the room. "Well, there's no bathroom in here, so where do I go?"

"Oh, they have a communal bathroom." Ignoring the dismay on Josh's face, his dad provided directions and explained where the supplies were.

His dad's words proved precise. The room was right where he said it would be, and he had described the layout perfectly. Toilet stalls on the left along with urinals, shower stalls along the right, cabinets filled with a variety of hair wash and soap along the back. The only thing his dad had failed to explain was the porcelain floors and the persistent clean smell.

Josh walked back the way he had come about ten minutes later, in the same clothes but otherwise clean. He chewed on his lip as he reversed his dad's directions.

Boomer?

A presence stirred deep within him as the dragon responded. Yeah?

How do my parents know so much about this place? Josh asked as he turned a corner. The hallway where he stayed greeted him. Such exact directions.

I don't know, Boomer admitted. I've never met them.

Josh sighed as he reached the door. It had been a long shot since Boomer probably would have said before, but he had hoped.

His dad sat in a chair, a book in his lap and coffee in his hand. He glanced up when Josh walked in. "Glad to see you didn't get lost."

"Your directions were good," Josh said. He took a seat as well, peering at his dad. "Very good."

Although he didn't look away from his book again, his dad tensed. "Good to hear."

Josh leaned forward, struggling to keep the glare off his face. His dad failed at acting casual. "But how are they so good?"

His dad gazed longingly at the book for a moment, almost like he wanted it to transport him to another world.

"And it's not just directions to the bathroom. Dad, how do you and Mom know about all of this?" Josh pushed.

With a sigh, his dad shut the book. "We used to live up here, Josh, but that was it. Just lived up here." He gestured toward the door. "You've seen some of this place. It's huge. They need help keeping it clean and working, so they have some regular people help out."

Josh clenched his jaw, tension building along his shoulders. Boomer, is that true?

Yes, Boomer replied. There are a lot of non-bonded humans here.

So his dad wasn't lying about that part, but a painfully clear memory stopped his words from truly sinking in. Josh's mind flashed to his mom as he descended the stairs last night. The demanding pleas that he turn back. The unfiltered desperation on her face. The utter defeat that took its place.

"I don't believe you," he said.

His dad's jaw twitched, and he looked toward the room he and Josh's mom shared. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. Indecision danced across his features.

"I don't—" he finally said, but a knock at the door cut him off. Sagging in relief, he took his escape. "Come in!"

Josh sent his dad a quick glare before turning to the opening door. Mara stood there with a gentle smile and a small bag in her hand.

"These are for you." She held out the bag. While Josh came to grab it, she continued speaking. "Xander sent Hisato and Jonathan to your house. It burned down, so you'll need to find Apphia to ask about getting more clothes."

Josh looked in the bag she had handed him, trying to ignore the unease circling in his chest. All of their belongings had been eaten away by flames. They would never be able to return to their home.

I'm sorry, Josh, Boomer said. It's never easy, but at least you're all safe.

Yeah, Josh said, still staring at the workout clothes within the bag. I guess there's that.

"Hisato, huh?" his dad said, breaking the moment of tense silence. "I don't recognize the name. He new?"

All the names should be new, but no, for his parents, this was familiar, and he still didn't know why since he didn't believe his dad's story. His unease shifted into bitterness as he lowered the bag to his side.

"He's been here for fifteen years I believe," Mara replied. She studied Josh for a moment, then nodded to the clothing. "Once you change, we can start the tour. I think you'll enjoy it." She smiled, and the weight in his chest felt lighter.

"Okay." He went to his room, his dad and Mara's voices dulled behind the door. With a quick, longing glance at his bed, he changed into the sweatpants and t-shirt she had provided.

"You're staying with Jonathan and Elisa then?" his dad was saying when Josh stepped out. "So that's why you and Cale seem close. How about Pe—"

A sliver of unease made Josh's insides squirm, and before his dad could finish and let Mara reply, Josh slammed his bedroom door. He winced but couldn't deny his relief when his dad and Mara turned to look at him rather than continuing their conversation.

His dad sighed in exasperation. "Your brother and mother are sleeping, Joshua. You'll be lucky if you didn't wake up Eli."

"If he did, I can tell Ioana to make him regret it," Mara offered.

"Sounds like a plan," his dad said with a satisfied nod.

Mara grinned at him, then turned to Josh. "You ready to start the tour?"

"Sure. We should probably get out of here before we have a chance to see Eli get up."

She chuckled as she headed for the door. Josh followed while his dad returned to his book.

"Where to first, oh great tour guide?" he asked as they walked in the direction opposite the bathroom.

"Outside," Mara said. She smiled when Josh raised an eyebrow at her. Her blue eyes gleamed with excited mischief. "Hey, you're the one who says I'm the great tour guide. Just trust me on this."

He gulped. How could looking like she was planning something be so cute? "Okay, I'll trust you."

They fell into a comfortable silence after that, only broken by Mara softly humming an unfamiliar tune. Josh sneaked peeks at her as they walked. She somehow felt like the most unreal thing around him.

He had been in the middle of peeking at her when she suddenly stopped and turned to him. She didn't say anything if she noticed, only gave him that mischievous smile. "Close your eyes."

"Um, okay?" He eyed her warily for a moment before doing as she asked. "Now what? I can't really walk anywhere."

"You can with a bit of help."

Her hand slid into his. So effortless for a movement that sent his heart crashing into his rib cage. Her hand in his was so warm. He wouldn't be surprised if it spread through him and made him melt. His eyes begged to open. Had the simple action affected her at all? Or was he an absolute moron?

She led him around a corner. Wind brushed across his face as they neared what he supposed was the exit. It picked up when they stepped outside, the sun beating down on them from above. They paused long enough for Mara to open the gate, then continued.

As they got further from the gate, she started murmuring to him, the breeze almost snatching away her words as it picked up. "Not that far. Getting closer. Just a bit more. And... there! You can open your eyes now." She placed a hand on his chest, halting him before he could go any further.

Josh blinked as he adjusted to the sunlight. When he did, blue sky met him. He dropped his gaze, waiting to find rolling green hills. But he just saw more and more blue. Half was the light blue of the sky, while the rest was the deep, shimmering blue of the ocean.

The ocean that was thousands of feet below them.

He had never had a problem with heights before, but his stomach dropped as he stumbled a few feet back. "What... How..." He leaned forward just enough to see over the edge and gawked. "We're in the sky!"

"Yep." Josh could hear the smile in Mara's voice, but he couldn't rip his eyes away from the ocean. "You can't see it, but there's an energy field around the entire Sanctuary to keep it afloat."

"Amazing," he breathed. "So..." He ripped his attention away from below to look at her as a thought struck. "If anyone were to fall, the barrier would save them?"

"I'm not sure. Do you want to jump and find out?" She covered her mouth to smother her laughter when Josh's eyes widened in panic. "I'm kidding. The barrier only keeps the Sanctuary afloat and keeps others away from us. It won't catch us if we fall. There are other means to help with that."

A sudden excitement trickled through the bond. Josh frowned. "What do you mean?" he asked.

"You'll see." She gestured for him to follow before walking off.

Josh peered over the edge one more time before jogging to catch up. Only the front of the Sanctuary had a stone path. Grass made up the rest of the castle's exterior. The ground felt surprisingly solid given it was miles away from solid land.

So what was the excitement about, Boomer? Josh asked as they continued around the Sanctuary.

Silence answered him.

Well, that was just rude. Knitting his eyebrows together as he focused, he tried to reach out to the presence within him. All he found was a faint hum. He huffed. If you're just ignoring me, this is so not cool.

"Something wrong?" Mara asked.

Josh placed his hand over his chest, the same place he usually felt Boomer stirring. "Boomer can see into my head at any time, right? I mean, he can know my thoughts without me even directing them to him and all that."

She nodded. "He can become as aware of your every sense and thought as you are if he wishes."

"Can I not get into his head, too?"

Understanding passed over her face, and a grin pulled at her lips. "Eventually, yes. But unlike dragons, you haven't had centuries to perfect extending your soul to another."

"Good to know," he grumbled. Boomer, if this is payback for all the times I ignored you—

"By the way, we're here."

They came to a stop right before a large gate much like the front one.

"I'm guessing we're going in there?" Josh tried to glance inside. It looked like something peeked over the top of the gate, but before he could see what, Mara stepped in front of him.

She held out a hand. "Close your eyes and take my hand."

He complied, unable to help but smile. "You sure like surprises." Or maybe she just wanted an excuse to take his hand. A guy could hope.

"I like your genuine reactions," she corrected as she started to guide him forward.

His heart thudded harder against his chest as his face warmed. He shoved down the excitement building within. His reactions, not him. No need to get too happy.

It took him a moment to realize most of the excitement wasn't his own.

Boomer? Still nothing.

The gate creaked when Mara opened it. He stepped through, expecting a solid hallway and the flash of lights turning on. As they moved onward, though, he continued walking on soft grass and shifted between dark and sunlight. The wind blew. Something above him rustled.

Were there trees around him?

They walked for maybe another hundred feet before Mara said, "I'm going to let go now, but keep your eyes closed." Without waiting, she let go.

"When can I open them?" he asked. His hand felt cold without hers.

Now.

Josh's eyes snapped open as the previously silent voice spoke. His mouth dropped.

Before him was a dragon. He sat on his hind legs, so Josh could only guess he was about ten feet when standing, with a shockingly lithe body only a few inches wider than his. Sunlight gleamed off the dragon's deep blue scales except where his leathery wings rested against his back. A long horn jutted out from each side of his reptilian head with two smaller horns coming from each end of his jaw. Familiar electric blue eyes gazed down at Josh.

Even if he hadn't spoken, Josh would have known him. "Boomer."

The dragon's lips pulled back. Hello, Josh.

And then he pounced.

Fun Facts: Picking Boomer's name was actually pretty hard. At first his name was Barak, but it never really clicked. Then I realized it was very close to the name of our then-current president, and I didn't want the constant association. Then my brother jokingly suggested Boomer... And it stuck. There is a reason for his very strange name compared to all the other dragons, by the way xD And he was named long before the Okay, Boomer meme took off >.>

We got to meet Boomer!  And the Sanctuary is in the sky (giving the chapter title double meaning because Josh is over the clouds happy with his new situation)! Who saw that coming in this chapter?  I mean, honestly, what more fitting a place for dragons than in the air? ;) And Josh's day is just starting! Wonder what other kind of crazy things our boy is gonna find :D One way to find out I guess ;)

Let me know your thoughts on the chapter down below, and if you enjoyed it, don't forget to vote and comment! I also have a discord open to anyone who wants to join, and we have a section there to discuss the book :D It's in my bio if you'd like to join!