CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO #2
“Will you be seeing her again?” My throat grows thick but that doesn’t stop the emotion from leaking through the mental speech. “She’s not faring well. The healers say that she doesn’t have long.” Yet she seems to be clinging to life.
For the first time during our conversation with the Queen dragon I hear real grief and exhaustion in her voice.
“I’ve done all I can to help my rider. We are tired.
Our mates have passed on to the aether, and we wish to join them.
I always stayed with Calantha. Begged to save her, but she gave up on life long ago.
Her final wish was to keep her daughters safe, so I kept hidden and separate from her.
For if the realm knew we were alive, he would have come for you in that village.
Craven knew you were there and used your safety to keep her compliant.
He threatened Vasari as well if I tried anything.
They were keeping close tabs on her. Now you two are safe and have each other, so your mother’s last wish is fulfilled.
I am now too weak to see her in person, and I do not need to.
I’ll see my rider on the other side.” She tucks her long neck against her body, done with the conversation, hurting from what she has endured.
Tears spring to my eyes. She knew—they knew where I was the entire time. Forced her to endure whatever he was doing with her. The anger in me boils over, cracking my facade of calm and composure.
I slip into the shadows and appear at the base of the Queen dragons talons, placing my hand against her chest, and then my head. “I swear to you to protect Vasari and our realm. We will enact revenge for you both. This I promise.”
I vaguely hear my mates yelling in fear for me in the background, but I know in my heart that nothing bad will happen to me in the presence of Vasari’s mother. After all, I used to play with her as a fledgling.
Vasari moves behind me and presses her snout against her mother’s.
“Thank you, my hatchlings. I am tired now; go, bring your warriors and put a stop to the tyranny. I will not join; my energy is sapped. May the Fates guide your journey.”
I step back into the shadows and bend them to land delicately onto Vasari’s saddle.
Killian’s voice pushes into my mind, seething. “I thought we agreed you were not to get off Vasari’s back, Little Warrior.”
My eyes meet his. “My instincts pushed me. It was something I needed to do—to show I see her pain. I am sorry for worrying you.”
His gaze softens a fraction. “I’ll figure out some way to punish you. No more getting off; there are too many dragons. I’ll feel better once we are out of their den.”
I nod, giving him a small smile. Focused on the Queen dragon, I only now notice the tension brewing amongst the others who are not used to outsiders.
Rozen shouts, “Em, watch out!”
I spin and my heart falls into my gut as a white dragon knocks a red out of the way, making right for Thornwing who stands at his full height.
Ember loses balance trying to dodge as Thornwing stands on his hind legs and misses Rozen’s hand reaching for her, barreling the long distance towards the ground.
The red dragon takes the opportunity to blow flames her way. A scream lodges in my throat as I watch on in horror, the scene unraveling so quickly that I can’t do anything.
A loud roar sounds, shaking the cavern, as the white dragon throws up a wing stopping the flames and shielding Thornwing’s body from view, and a blast of magick explodes out from it.
Rozen scrambles from his dragon’s back, and as I go to jump into the shadows to get to them, Aemon appears behind me, tethering me to him.
“Look Rav, she’s okay,” he states urgently, holding me tightly.
“More than okay,” Jesper chuckles, standing on Tisur’s saddle so he can get a better look. “Seems like we have another mate bond!”
“And dragon bond,” Talyn chips in.
The white dragon—a gorgeous female—is holding Ember in its talons, placing her on the stone floor in front of Rozen before growling deeply at the red who attacked.
The red dragon snorts but backs off.
Roz frets over Ember who seems to be unconscious.
His words finally seem to register. “What… Did you say mate bond? How do you know?”
Jesper smirks. “The magick blast, obviously. Although yours, Rav, was much more spectacular—gave me chills all over my body. Although please don’t ever fall from dragonback again unless you know for a fact your dragon can catch you. You took ten years off my life.”
I blink at him before focusing back on my friends. Ember was the only one unbound to a beast. I should have realized and made sure she stayed back, but I didn’t think. What if she died because I brought her into a dragon’s den? Mel already died fighting for me; I can’t lose anyone else.
“She’s safe, Little Dream,” Aemon whispers. “Mel would be excited she found her beast, and mate.”
I nod, hearing and agreeing, but the adrenaline coursing through my veins hasn’t calmed yet. I’ll feel better once we are out of the cave and back at camp.
“Come on, I’ll ride with you. Let’s get the newly mated out of here, shall we?” Aemon states a little more loudly and Vasari begins to make her way out of the cave.
“I’ll make sure the lovebirds get out safely!” Jesper yells from behind us. “Oh, nevermind! It seems like Roz has everything handled!”
I twist my body in Aemon’s hold and see Thornwing following us—well, following the white dragon who is following us.
And on his lap is Ember, curled against his chest. He peers down at her with more awe than I’ve ever seen before, like he’s going to spend the rest of his days worshipping the ground she walks on.
A soft smile pulls at my face as I lean back against Aemon. It seems mate bonds are coming back. I hope the realm is ready.