Chapter 27 #2
“Yes. So, you have more options than you think.”
Alex sat forward. “Handor?”
Alex would have been someone he’d have trusted with the information even without the predicament he was in.
Trouble was he didn’t really have much of a choice but to spill the beans to the others.
“Dragons didn’t always shift, and it was difficult to live in this realm without that ability.
Those who couldn’t adapt left, and the shifters remained.
The place they went is called Handor. I thought only the dragons and the wyverns knew of its location. ”
“I suppose, it would make more sense to make a life with others of your own kind,” Alex said, his voice wavered. “Although I am far from admitting defeat.”
He could choose to give up his dragon side and stay with Alex.
But he knew deep down that not only would he be giving himself a death sentence, but the regret and resentment would only grow, and their relationship wouldn’t survive.
He would grow old and die, while his beautiful elf would appear as if he hadn’t aged a day.
“I have a couple of immediate ideas,” Jack said.
“There’s a counter potion I came across in Estonia.
It’s a bit of a long shot, but worth a try.
Then I’m sure I read an orc treatise on locked-in syndrome where a number of orcs got themselves trapped in a different form after an attack.
Not quite the same, but it might give us some ideas. ”
Dorian saw the way Chris looked at Jack, as if he had hung the stars. He wanted that, he had devoted fans, and a loving family, but he’d never been the centre of someone’s world like Jack was to Chris.
“I’ve already put out feelers through a couple of demon colleagues of mine,” Karl said. “They weren’t optimistic, as spell locks are considered cheating.”
Ashley scowled. “That tells you everything you need to know when even demons won’t touch spell locks.
This lowlife not only chose to use one but then added a hinge to make the impact worse.
Fucker. But we have some options. I’ll help Jack with the potion, and, Chris, perhaps you can speak to Simon. ”
“He came to see me,” Dorian said. “He offered his help, reckoned his magic might have interfered a bit.”
“I’ll contact him again. But I’m not sure he’ll have anything we can’t find,” Chris said.
“True,” Ashley agreed. “I was more thinking, if we came up with something, he’d be able to spin it in a different way. His was one of the signatures involved; he might have a thought on how he might be able to deal with the hinge aspect.”
Dorian got the sense that the real drive behind fixing him wasn’t their concern for his well-being, but that they were annoyed with their lack of progress and considered it a challenge to their own abilities.
Ashley, Jack and Chris left, and Karl followed after checking if he or Alex wanted anything.
“We’re going to have to talk about this,” Alex said, crawling out from under Dorian’s wing. “You’re going to need to be prepared to make a choice. And under no circumstances will you make me a factor.”
He knew where Alex was coming from, but he couldn’t dismiss his importance so easily. “I can’t ignore what I feel,” Dorian insisted.
“I’m not asking you to. But we both know, you’d be miserable if you gave up your dragon side.”
“You said you hadn’t given up finding a way.”
“I haven’t. But you should consider the outcomes properly, and not decide on the spot.”
“I like being a dragon, I don’t know how to be only human.” Dorian nuzzled Alex. “But I had wanted a nestmate.”
“Dorian, we don’t really know each other that well for you to call me your nestmate yet. You probably have an attachment because I’ve been helping you.”
He didn’t think that to be the case. “I’ve not just come out of the egg, Alex. I can honestly say I’ve not had such strong feelings for someone before.”
“It wasn’t that long ago you were pining after Robin,” Alex said. Dorian couldn’t place his expression, maybe defensive or resolute.
“We’ve established I was clinging on to something that wasn’t real, and now I’ve spent time with you, I understand what having someone important means.”
Alex took a deep breath. “I never thought I’d meet another person who I could be close to after Kagin, but I have to admit, you’ve surprised me in so many ways.”
“This isn’t over.”
“We have lots of things to try. I want you to promise me something, Dorian.”
“What?”
“If we can’t solve this, you don’t choose to be human for me. You deserve to live your life to the full in Handor.”
Dorian didn’t want to promise anything without thinking things through properly. “For now, all I can promise is I won’t rush to make my decision.”
“Okay.”
He didn’t want this conversation to drone on. Instead, they should fill their time together with better things. “Alex, do your wings work in this realm? I assume you have them, they’re just not visible.”
“I manifest them and use them to some degree, but it’s more low-level hovering than full-on flying I would do in the other realm.” He was clearly not expecting the question. “Why?”
“I thought we could go for a flight together. I can carry you if your wings aren’t up to it.”
“Carry me how? You’re not a pony; I’m not getting on your back.”
“Oh no. I’d hold you in my arms. You can trust me not to drop you.”
Alex puffed out his cheeks, and Dorian waited while Alex worked through his thoughts. He wasn’t the sort of person to be rushed, and Dorian knew there was a certain level of control that would need to be conferred for Alex to agree to Dorian’s proposal.
“Okay. When are you thinking of going?”
Dorian glanced at the window. “The weather looks nice now. So, if you’re free, we could take the air.”
For a moment, he thought Alex might refuse, but instead, he stood. “Come on then. I bet it’s a great view over the hall and the grounds.”
Dorian was delighted and trotted off towards the French windows. In all his years, he’d only flown with five people, and one of those had been Robin in an emergency. Flying with Alex would be special. Alex stood next to him on the terrace. “How are we going to do this, then?
He opened his arms. “Come here. But stand facing away from me, and I will put my arms around your torso. I promise not to drop you.”
“And I’ll promise not to hex you into next week.”
Alex was a feisty creature, and Dorian loved his spark. He wrapped his arms around Alex, tight enough to be secure but still allow him to breathe. It wasn’t lost on him the level of trust Alex was placing in him, and Dorian felt a happy thrill shiver through him. “You ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
He launched himself into the air, feeling Alex stiffen, but once they were a few metres above the ground and he was in no danger of dropping him, Alex relaxed. “I’m going to do a loop of the house, then over the grounds to the lake.”
He’d created a regular flight path, so he could see all his favourite parts on his circuit. The front of the house was his favourite; the symmetry of Crofton Hall appealed to him, but the lawn and orchard to the rear were another pleasure.
“It looks so different up here.” Alex had to shout over the wind. “I didn’t realise there were ash trees.”
There was a clearing he’d found on one trip, and he decided that would be a perfect space, as there were special sprays of flowers he thought Alex might appreciate. He flew over the lake first, Alex pointing out a clutch of ducklings, and Dorian promised not to eat them.
The Crofton lands had a deciduous forest to the north where Dorian’s hideaway was located. Alex seemed thrilled to be so high up, calling out features and plants that he’d like to harvest for the potion stores.
Dorian circled the clearing, descending with each loop and landed in the mossy centre. “I wanted to show you this place. It feels special.”
He let go of Alex, who stared around the copse. “I think it’s an abandoned fairy ring. I can feel a residue of magic. I doubt Ben knows it’s here.”
He hadn’t thought this little place was anything but a piece of nature. “I hope it’s not dangerous.”
“Not to us. But I daresay a human child would be less lucky.” Alex surprised him by sitting on the ground. “I actually like the vibe. I think I might come here again, although I’d need to see how accessible it would be on foot or drop a locator for a portal.”
He wanted to offer to bring Alex, but he knew Alex would bring up that it could only happen if he either remained a dragon or rediscovered his ability to shift. Instead, he settled down behind Alex and let out a happy rumble as Alex leant against him.
“Alex?”
“Yes.”
“If I decide to remain a dragon, can we stay friends?”
Alex pressed back into Dorian’s side. “Of course.”
“I’d get permission to have you visit Handor. I’d like to know you were doing okay.”
Alex didn’t answer straight away, and Dorian wondered if he said something he shouldn’t have. “That’s very sweet of you. If the dragons let me visit, I’ll come. But they might have rules.”
He’d never been to Handor. As a shifter, it wasn’t his home, but the place was talked about with reverence by his people.
He had no doubt he would be accepted, and if he were to tell them that people had tried to help him, he was sure they’d let Alex visit.
However, he was getting ahead of himself.
Maybe they could still save him, but he knew in his heart of hearts that if they couldn’t, he would choose to be a dragon.
He guessed he should have cared more about leaving Hollywood behind, but apart from a handful of people, he didn’t think he’d miss his old life.
The days could be long, and the constant need to keep in shape was a trial, and when it came down to it, the adoration meant little in the end.
For now, he would enjoy the time he had with Alex and mourn what could have been later.