"Up and at 'em, Y/N!" Imogen's voice rang out, cutting through the haze of my grogginess like a cannonball. I groaned, burying my face in my pillow as I rubbed my eyes with the back of my hand, wishing I could summon the power of sleep to smother me back into oblivion.

"Is it time for flying training already?" I mumbled, my voice muffled by the pillow. The words felt too heavy for morning, like they had been dredged up from the depths of some distant, cruel realm where mornings are endless and you can't hit snooze.

Imogen's laugh echoed in my ears, and I could almost hear the spark of mischief in it. "Yeah, it sure is. Now get up, sleepyhead. Tairn and Toothless are an impatient duo."

I pushed myself upright, groaning like an old cartwheel that had been left out in the rain too long. With a little help from Imogen, who probably had more energy than a caffeinated squirrel, I staggered to my feet. I blinked at the blinding sunlight streaming through the window, squinting like I'd just encountered a thousand suns.

And then I saw them.

Violet and Rhiannon stood nearby, grinning at me with those knowing smiles that could melt a glacier. Violet's dark eyes sparkled with amusement as she tossed her hair over her shoulder. "Ready to choose which dragon you'll be riding?" she asked, her voice light, but with a hint of challenge.

I winced. Ah, yes. Today was the day—the day I had to choose between Tairn and Toothless, the two dragons I'd been bonding with for weeks. Both were magnificent creatures in their own right, but there was something oddly unsettling about the decision. Toothless and I had already formed a connection. We were like two peas in a pod—or maybe two fire-breathing, tail-whipping peas. But Tairn, with his fiery eyes and dramatic flair, insisted on making things complicated. He demanded a turn as my partner too.

And as if the decision wasn't already enough of a headache, Violet's voice broke through my thoughts with a teasing tone. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say those two are in love with you."

I sighed, the weight of the words sinking in. Violet wasn't wrong. Tairn and Toothless had both been quite... persistent in their efforts to win my affections. I couldn't help but think they were a bit too eager. If only they knew the true nature of the powers I hid—the ones that made both dragons seem like cuddly, fire-breathing puppies in comparison. But that was a secret for another day. A much, much later day.

For now, the dragons were waiting, and I had to make a decision. It seemed that life—and dragons—didn't care much for my need for a nap.

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"Hrm, there you are at last, sleeper," came Tairn's voice, deep and warm, his breath ruffling through my hair like a gentle wind. I blinked up at him, trying to shake off the last remnants of sleep, and couldn't help but laugh as I reached up to rub his giant, scaled snout.

"Sorry, grumpy. I just wanted to sleep in today," I said, my voice still thick with the remnants of slumber. Tairn snorted in that way dragons do when they think they've been wronged, a puff of hot air sending a few stray strands of my hair flying.

Toothless, never one to be outdone, let out an exaggerated huff from beside me. "You didn't when we were flying to the Hidden World, you and I," he muttered, his voice a little too smug for my liking.

I chuckled, reaching over to give him a good scratch behind his ears. "Well, when you're flying toward that kind of adventure, who needs sleep, right?" I reached into the pouch at my side and pulled out a fish, offering it to Toothless. He grabbed it eagerly, his eyes lighting up with excitement. Watching him devour it like an overenthusiastic puppy made me smile, but the warmth of his joy didn't last long.

"Well, well, you're up early and not crying, I see," came a familiar voice that made me roll my eyes before I even turned around. There stood Xaden, grinning like he knew something I didn't. Behind him, Sgye, his sleek, shadowy dragon, shifted restlessly, as if eager to join in on whatever mischief Xaden was cooking up today.

I turned to face him, flashing a mock scowl. "Well, Imogen wouldn't let me sleep, and I'm sure Tairn and Toothless would've invaded my dreams sooner or later," I grumbled back, crossing my arms. Xaden raised an eyebrow, his grin widening, clearly enjoying the scene.

"Right," he said, a little too dryly. "Imogen. And I'm sure the dragons were just so innocent in all of this."

I shot him a side glance, and he chuckled at the look I gave him. The dragons were all too happy to get involved in my sleep schedule—or lack thereof. Still, there was something about mornings like this that made the chaos feel almost... pleasant. Even if it meant no more sleep. At least for now.

Our flight instructor, Mathian, strode forward with the air of someone who was both far too serious and entirely too amused by the whole situation. His mouth twisted into a smile as he surveyed us. "Now that we're all here, let's get started," he said, his voice carrying the authority of someone who'd seen too many accidents to not be cautious. "Today, we will be practicing dodging maneuvers. Please stay on your dragon and try not to fall off."

He grinned, clearly enjoying his own dry humor, though the warning was more than a little well-founded. There had been more than one unfortunate soul who'd tumbled off their dragon into the valley below, often resulting in a mixture of broken bones and crushed egos. No one liked to think about it, but the possibility of a very abrupt stop at the bottom of the valley was never far from the back of my mind.

Tairn, as if reading my thoughts—and possibly just in a mood to be cheeky—huffed loudly in my mind. Pompous prick, he muttered, the words buzzing like static in my thoughts.

I couldn't help but smile at the sheer irritation in his voice, smoothing his ruffled, crimson scales affectionately. "You know, Tairn, I think you're just mad because Mathian's the one giving orders today," I teased, giving him a gentle pat. "Don't worry. We'll get through this."

Turning toward Toothless, who had been standing by patiently, I gave him a pointed look. "Stay behind, all right?" I suggested, keeping my voice as calm as possible, trying to play the responsible rider for once.

Toothless, who had been unusually quiet up until now, immediately furrowed his brows in that adorably indignant way he always did when I tried to tell him what to do. What? he practically sputtered in my mind, his voice rising with disbelief. No, if Tairn's going to drag you anywhere, I'm coming with you. You're my rider, remember?

I sighed, already knowing where this was going. Toothless could be as stubborn as a rock when it came to me. His sense of loyalty was both heartwarming and a little exasperating. You're my dragon , Toothless, but you're also the one who needs to stay back and keep watch, okay? I tried reasoning with him, even though I could already hear the sound of his low growl of protest.

You're my rider, he insisted again, clearly unwilling to back down.

I gave him a look that said more than words could. It was the kind of look that said, Please don't make me argue with you right now.

With a huff of resignation, Toothless finally gave in, but not without a few extra, disgruntled grumbles as he fluffed his wings, clearly plotting how to sneak in on the action later.

Mathian, clearly unaware of my internal battle with my dragons, gave a nod to the group. "All right, riders. Mount up. And remember—stay on your dragons. The valley below doesn't appreciate uninvited guests." His smile never faltered, but there was an undeniable spark in his eyes, like he was secretly looking forward to seeing just how many of us would fall into the valley today.

I gave Toothless one last look before I swung up onto Tairn's back, ready to dive into the chaos Mathian had set up for us. And though I knew I'd have to deal with a grumpy Toothless later, for now, all I could focus on was the wind in my hair and the impending dodging maneuvers.

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"Well done, L/N!" Mathian called out, his voice carrying through the wind as he soared beside me on his dragon, Lily. She was a sleek, purple-scaled dragoness, her wings flashing like a streak of vibrant amethyst against the sky. Tairn growled low in his chest at the sight of her, the sound vibrating through my spine like a warning. Lily, unfazed, dipped her head slightly and veered away, giving us a little more space.

"You're doing well!" Mathian shouted, his grin wide as he directed his attention to Violet, who was skillfully guiding her dragon, Aderyn, through the same dodging maneuvers. Aderyn's dark, leathery wings flapped powerfully as Violet made subtle adjustments, the two of them in perfect sync.

I shot a quick smile to Violet, who was already concentrating hard on the course, but the smile was fleeting—Tairn had something else in mind.

"This is going to be hard. Hold on tight," Tairn said, his voice growing serious, almost too serious for my liking. His wings snapped in, folding tightly against his body. Without warning, we began to plummet downward in a sharp dive toward the river below. I instinctively tucked myself in closer to him, clutching at the straps on his saddle to keep steady as we shot through the air like an arrow released from its bow.

The wind whipped through my hair, roaring in my ears as I felt the exhilarating pull of gravity, the rush of the dive taking my breath away. The sun glittered off the river below, the water shimmering like liquid silver. We were flying so fast that the world blurred around us, everything but Tairn's sleek, powerful form seeming like a haze.

As we leveled out, Tairn's claws extended, razor-sharp and glinting in the sunlight. I watched in awe as they skimmed the riverbank with incredible precision, barely a whisper of sound as they passed over the surface. A few fish, startled by our sudden speed, leaped into the air, their scales flashing like fleeting jewels.

Without breaking stride, Tairn's claws snapped out, and with the deftness of a predator, he speared the fish midair, plucking them out of the sky as easily as if they were just another part of the maneuver. I couldn't help but smile as we soared away, the caught fish wriggling in his grasp, proof of his effortless skill. It was the perfect combination of grace and power, and I was starting to think maybe Mathian wasn't the only one enjoying himself up here.

"Nice catch," I muttered under my breath, laughing at Tairn's satisfied growl.

He didn't respond with words, but I could feel the smug satisfaction radiating from him as we continued our flight, weaving through the air with the grace of a creature who knew exactly what he was doing—and thoroughly enjoyed every second of it.

In the distance, I could see Violet and Aderyn completing their own maneuvers, their flight as fluid and impressive as ever. Today was proving to be more than just a lesson—it was turning into a competition, and I wasn't about to let Tairn's ego get too far ahead. After all, I still had a few tricks up my sleeve.

If they only knew what I really hide, I thought, the corner of my mouth twitching into a smile that was just a little too polite. It was the kind of smile you put on when you're not exactly lying, but you're certainly not revealing everything. My thoughts lingered for a moment, wondering just how much they'd really understand if I let them in on the secret.

Mathian, our blond-haired instructor, was too focused on the rest of the training to notice my thoughts. He flashed me a quick smile and waved a hand, giving me a nod of approval. "Good work, L/N," he called out, his tone friendly but matter-of-fact.

It wasn't long before Dain, the boy who'd been flying a few feet behind me, swaggered up with his usual grin. He had that confident air of someone who was used to being praised, but I didn't mind. He'd earned it—he was a decent rider, and his dragon, Cath, was a sturdy creature. Not as flashy as Tairn, but dependable.

"Yeah, you can almost level with General Sorrell now," Dain said proudly, giving me an appraising once-over. His gaze lingered for a moment, as if trying to measure the depth of my abilities, before his smile stretched even wider. "You're getting good."

"Really?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. I didn't believe it for a second. I might've been keeping up with the basics, but leveling with someone like General Sorrell? That was a tall order, even for me.

Dain nodded, the look of pride on his face making me wonder just how much faith he had in me. It was hard to tell with him sometimes—he had that aura of someone who'd seen a lot and wasn't easily impressed, but right now, he seemed genuinely pleased.

Tairn, as if he'd heard the conversation and had a few thoughts of his own, shifted slightly beneath me, the tips of his wings fluttering in the breeze. His eyes flickered over to Dain and Cath, and the look he gave them was unmistakable—a dragon's version of a condescending stare. He was big, powerful, and not one to back down from anyone, even if they were smaller or less intimidating.

"Look at this," Tairn muttered in my mind, his voice laced with quiet amusement, though there was a hint of superiority underneath. "That little one Cath doesn't stand a chance."

I glanced down at Dain's dragon, Cath, who had stepped up behind his rider, eyes wide with respect, but also a little uncertainty. Tairn's gaze fixed on the smaller dragon with a piercing intensity, and Cath visibly flinched, instinctively stepping back. It wasn't even a contest—Tairn's presence alone was enough to intimidate any dragon that wasn't fully confident in its own strength.

I couldn't help but smile, though I kept it subtle. Don't be too harsh, I thought, trying to calm Tairn's ego. Cath's not a bad dragon.

Tairn rumbled in response, clearly unwilling to be persuaded. He knows where he stands.

Dain, oblivious to the mental exchange happening between me and my dragon, clapped me on the back, a little too hard for my liking. "Come on," he said, his grin not fading. "Let's see if we can't push you closer to Sorrell's level. Maybe we'll even get you to show off some of those hidden tricks you've got."

I chuckled, though it was more a nervous laugh than anything else. If only they knew, I thought again, but this time, I kept the secret tucked away where it belonged—hidden behind a smile and the fierce, proud eyes of Tairn.