I’ll work with the developer to get the app going. It’s specifically for dragons, Lunis explained. It still has some bugs, which is why it timed out. Once it’s ready, all the dragonettes will be on it, and they’ll be out of my horns once more.
A dating app for dragons, Sophia flatly stated while watching as Evan turned and made another large arc with Angus close on his heels.
Yeah, I’m calling it Cinder. Or maybe Flaming Opportunity. Or Hot Flyers. Oh and how about—
Sort of in the middle of something, Sophia interrupted. Let’s do this later.
Fine, Lunis said with a sigh. Oh, and good luck with Angus. He’s a cutie. I bet he smells horrible though.
Sophia nodded. I’m about to find out, she informed him as the Highland cow approached.
Evan did a much better job of getting Angus close this time. The dragonrider nearly brushed against the boulder as he sped past. The cow wasn’t that close, but it was near enough.
Sophia sucked in a breath, leapt off the stone, and flew through the air as Angus sped by, her hands reaching for his back.
Chapter Thirty-Four
The beast reacted immediately and bucked, trying to throw Sophia off. She clenched her arms around Angus’ neck and held on for dear life with her head buried in its long hair. The Highland cow did smell awful.
With the new complication, Angus stopped chasing Evan and finally gave him a break. Instead, the animal kicked its back feet high into the air and made Sophia feel like a rodeo clown as she held on tightly and took the worst ride of her life.
“How’s it going now?” Evan called to her through his laughter. “Can you bring Angus this way? Or that way?”
Sophia chanced a glance in the other dragonrider’s direction, not appreciating that he casually stood by the stone pillar and watched her and the cow with great amusement. “If I survive this, I’m going to murder you!” Sophia yelled between Angus’ attempts to throw her off.
Evan shook his head. “That’s premeditated. I have a witness too. Tiff, you heard that right?”
“Don’t talk to me!” the mortal complained. “Keep that thing away.”
“I’ve got you, darling,” Evan said smugly.
Sophia had twisted her fingers into the Highland cow’s long hair, which made it difficult to locate the key around its neck. “He’s got nothing,” she called, then nearly had the wind knocked out of her as Angus’ reared on its back legs and almost fell on its spine. That would no doubt crush Sophia.
She twisted to the side, and although she was close to the cow’s hooves, it gave her a glimpse of the key. As fast as she could manage, she grabbed for the object and yanked it off the beast’s neck.
How about Chi-Harmony for a name for the dating app? Lunis asked in Sophia’s head.
You’re second on my premeditative list of murders, Sophia threatened.
So you don’t like the name. Lunis sounded defeated. Well, there’s also Winged Partners, Embers to Eternity, or Firebreathers. Like any of those?
Go away, Sophia yelled in her head.
Fine, I’ll go back to the drawing board. The name has to be perfect.
With the key pressed tightly into her palm, Sophia pushed up a little to try and decide how to dismount the monster. She needed to leap as far from Angus as possible and hope that it didn’t trample her right after.
The biggest problem was that taking the key from around the cow’s neck had further enraged it, and Angus was bucking even more erratically than before.
“I don’t think Angus is happy with you,” Evan observed casually. “I think you should get off his back.”
“Thanks,” Sophia said through clenched teeth. She was going to have whiplash after this experience. And she was never, ever going to a rodeo, but she would definitely eat a ton of steak after this.
When Angus bucked the next time, he nearly knocked Sophia loose and made one of her hands come off its neck. She tensed, whipped sideways, and saw the cow’s underside.
This couldn’t go on much longer.
“That looks uncomfortable.” Evan still stood by but didn’t appear nervous about her predicament.
“It’s not the best place I’ve ever been,” Sophia managed to say.
With the ground coming into view a lot more often from her current position, Sophia decided it was time to make her move. She pressed her boots into the Highland cow’s back and worked to get them as much underneath her as possible. When Angus reared the next time, she waited until he thundered toward the ground again before she sprang off in the opposite direction.
Hopefully, she’d get points for the length of her dive, although her form and grace would lose her marks in the technical challenge. Sophia rolled head over feet but didn’t allow herself a moment of respite. Instead, she jumped to her feet and sprinted in the opposite direction of Angus, in case the beast planned to exact its revenge and get its key back.
When she glanced over her shoulder, Sophia was relieved to see that without her on its back, the Highland cow had decided to retreat and sped off the way it had come.
Finally allowing the exhaustion to take over, Sophia sank to her knees and rolled over on her back, not caring that the ground was soaked as her heart raced wildly.
Chapter Thirty-Five
The blue skies overhead sought to calm Sophia as her breath made her chest rise and fall dramatically.
How about, Lunis began in her head in a sing-song voice, Sparks for the name of the dragon dating app? Or Loot Finder? Dragon Hearts? Scales Meeting?
I’m fine, Sophia replied. Thanks for asking.
Good, then don’t interrupt unless you’re bleeding, and maybe not even then, Lunis scolded.
I think I’m bleeding internally, Sophia joked, then rolled over on all fours and willed herself to get up.
You’ll survive. Oh, and I like the names Heart Strings and Smoldering Hearts.
I feel like this whole endeavor is a waste of your time and my brain cells. Sophia continued to rest on her hands and knees.
Tell me if this bio sounds good for that sassy red dragonette who talks in her sleep, Lunis requested, obviously ignoring Sophia. He cleared his throat. I’m not at all down to Earth. High maintenance should be my middle name, although I don’t have a first one yet since I haven’t magnetized to a rider so far and probably won’t because I’m the ultimate worst. I’m the kind of gal who will call you in the middle of the night, crying about something that happened in high school. Oh, and I loathe bicycles, sunsets, the beach, and parks, and pretty much anything that brings joy to others. And Christmas. I can’t stand Christmas.
Sophia sighed as her breath finally returned. I think the bio needs to be tweaked a little.
Yeah, you’re right. I cut the part about how she always has dirt under her claws and hates to travel, and never, ever leaves the cold confines of my humble dwelling. Think I should add it back?
I think you should work on your bio, Sophia replied. I simply must hear how you describe yourself.
Already on it. I only need to put the finishing touches on it, and it will be ready for your listening pleasure. Quick question, do I hyphenate super-star-genius-extraordinaire-suave-gift-to-all?
You tell me, genius, Sophia fired back as she pushed up to her feet, sniffed her cloak, and realized she smelled like Angus now. She grimaced from the odor.