"Rayne?" Quiksilva asked and I groaned, still out of it and he sighed gently nuzzling me. When I didn't wake or even respond he sighed again as he rested his head against mine.
"She'll be fine. She just needs to rest for a while." The Shadow Booster said as he knelt beside me and my dragon, staring down at me. "I still can't believe that the gauntlet chose Rayne as the Light Booster." He said and when Quiksilva gave him a growl he shook his head at the dragon. "Not like that's a bad thing but she can't defend herself yet." He added as he leant forward and stared at my face as I gasped. As I lay there, barely aware of my best friend and a possible ally watching over me, I groaned as I saw visions of that same mysterious warrior.
"No...go away." I groaned as I shifted my head and the Shadow Booster rested his open palm against my forehead. Somehow that helped and pretty soon I was asleep and he grinned before he stood.
"Call me when she wakes up." He said chuckling as Quiksilva tilted his head to one side in confusion. "Growl or something." He added before he walked away and my dragon nodded not sure if we could really trust this man. For most of the day I slept, not dreaming as I recovered from the stress of my training and the attacks by the army of wraiths and when I finally showed signs of waking Quiksilva gave a growl as he nuzzled me.
"Hmm...'silva?" I whispered as I slowly opened my eyes he gave an excited growl before he nuzzled my neck. "Good to...see you too." I muttered as I sat up only to clutch my head as a wave of dizziness made me feel faint. With my eyes shut tight I didn't see someone approach until I felt someone sit beside me and I opened one eye to find the Shadow Booster kneeling a grin on his face.
"Fighting wraiths is a challenge even when you're not ready to collapse." He told me and I blinked at him still feeling a little under the weather. "Maybe you should think about not fighting if you're exhausted."
"I wouldn't have had to if I hadn't been set upon in the first place." I muttered as I rubbed the bridge of my nose, fighting off a yawn. "Just my luck." I grumbled and the Shadow Booster laughed. "Its not funny you know. I wasn't hurting anyone and they attacked me."
"You're just lucky that I came to your rescue. Otherwise..." The Shadow Booster trailed off when I glared at him and he shrugged enjoying teasing me. "How do you feel?" He asked changing the subject and I managed a slight smile.
"My back hurts. Probably from being knocked flying by the wraith." I replied reaching up and setting a hand on my back before I tried to rub it. Of course I couldn't reach far enough and I finally gave a frustrated growl making the Shadow Booster chuckle.
"Look since I saved you let me help." He offered and I stared at him for a few seconds before I finally nodded and as he stood and walked behind me Quiksilva gave a snort.
"Just be careful with him. You know he's probably just doing this for himself." Quiksilva grumbled as he rested on the ground and I gave him a grin, trying not to laugh at my dragon's sour expression. "Whatever." He added as he lay his head down on the ground. When the Shadow Booster knelt behind me I tensed up just as he put one hand on either shoulder and he rolled his eyes behind me which thankfully I didn't see or I probably would have moved.
"Just relax." He told me and as he began to gently rub my shoulders I have to say that I was pretty amazed by how gentle he was and after a few seconds I tilted my head back slightly, enjoying myself as he rubbed the ache out of my back. When his hands moved further down and began to rub the spot between my shoulder blades I actually sighed and he paused, chuckling at me. "Does that help?" He asked and I gave him a slight nod. "Good." He said as he continued and after a few seconds more I had an idea.
"Maybe I should switch back to Rayne. That'll make this a little easier." I told him and after a long moment he nodded before I slipped the medallion from my gauntlet. Once I was back to my usual self I sat down and he returned to gently rubbing my shoulders. Pretty soon I forgot that my enemy was helping me to relax and when my head lolled back, now resting on his chest he fixed me with a stare. Of course I couldn't see his expression or even his eyes that seemed to glow from underneath his helmet, but as he stared down at me he smiled as my eyes closed.
"Feeling better?" He asked me and all that emerged was a slight groan and he chuckled before his fingers dug in just a little more and as he massaged my back, his hands moved towards the centre of my spine. And as his fingers moved back and forth the Shadow Booster had a brillant idea which would determine just how much I trusted him. "I have a question. What do you think of...Moordryd Paynn?" He asked and that threw me for a few seconds but I eventually found my voice.
"I liked him once but not anymore." I answered as the Shadow Booster massaged my back. As the Shadow Booster listened to me sigh he had a thought and he smiled as he leant forward and I was more than a little surprised as he planted a light kiss on my shoulder before he returned to rubbing my shoulders and back.
"Um...what was that for?" I asked and that's when he chuckled before he took one of his hands off my back and wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me against his chest. The sudden move shocked me into silence and as I turned my head slightly he gave me a grin and leant in before his lips met mine and my eyes went wide for a moment before I kissed him back. The kiss seemed to last forever and when we broke apart the Shadow Booster carried on massaging my back as if nothing had happened. "Oh...wow." I mumbled not sure what had just happened and as I stayed perfectly still my new ally asked me something else.
"Do you still like him?" He asked and I paused not sure just how to explain how I felt about the rider. Of course when the Shadow Booster kissed my shoulder again I lost my train of thought and it didn't help when he brushed my hair away from one side of my neck and kissed my throat. I couldn't help it and when I let out a gasp he chuckled, liking the hold he had on me, and I glared at him though it was a wasted effort as I was breathing a little fast.
"I did...now I'm not so sure. You on the other hand...I'm liking a whole lot. At least you make an effort with me but he doesn't even want to admit to me ,or anyone, that he likes me." I finally answered as the Shadow Booster paused. "I wish I knew why. I mean he can be a nice guy when he wants to be. Maybe he just doesn't want to look soft in front of everyone else."
"Maybe you're right. He is the leader of the Dragon Eyes and that probably puts a lot of pressure on his shoulders." The Shadow Booster said and I tilted my head back to look into his eyes. "Though he should really think about you a little more." He added and I gave him a grateful smile before he cupped my chin and as we kissed his other hand left my back and slowly made its way to the base of my spine. I gasped then as his fingers found the hem of my jacket and when his hand disappeared up my shirt my eyes went wide.
"Shadow...Booster...wait..." I managed to gasp and he stopped kissing me staring into my eyes as I blushed. "This is...too much."
"I shouldn't have pushed you." He told me as he stood and stared to walk away before I could even get my head around what almost happened. As his dragon magged him onto its back I rushed over and looked up at him, trying to find someway of explaining why I hesitated.
"Its okay. I know why you...did what you did. Would it be alright with you if we get to know each other a little better first?" I asked and after staring down at me he smiled, giving me a nod and as his dragon raced away he gave me a slight wave. Once they were gone Quiksilva walked over and fixed his amber eyes on me. "I know, I know. We may have gone just a little overboard. Though I have to say I enjoyed his company." I told him and he snorted rolling his eyes before he magged me and set out for the Penn Stables.