5. Chapter 5
O nce I’d decided to show them the class and style of a crown mage, I found it was easier said than done.
Digging into my wardrobe, I realised that for the last ten years, I hadn’t purchased a single dress suitable for such a show. After taking a moment to rethink my choices, I opened the trunk holding the mementoes of my previous life, pulling out my old ceremonial battle mage uniform from its depths.
Looks like it’ll still fit.
The thought made me smile, and, with more enthusiasm, I put the dress on. It was a simple design, as—despite the decoration—it was tailored for fighting. The mossy green velvet was cut close to avoid catching on one’s surroundings—or a stray weapon—and the stiff collar was designed to ward off the teeth and claws of ghouls and creatures of the night. Even the gold braiding was there to deflect an attacker’s edged weapons.
Out of habit, I strapped two daggers to my thighs and added a cincher that squeezed my already narrow waist and enhanced the fullness of my hips and bosom. After a moment’s hesitation, I pinned a small ornament, a circle with three stars joined in the middle, to the collar.
If any mage saw it, they would instantly realise that I was a conduit mage with Anchors; and even if that were no longer true, with my Anchors’ marks still on my skin, it felt right to wear it.
I braided my hair on the sides of my temples, letting the rest of my unruly tresses fall down my back before I sauntered to the market square. Deliberately taking the long way around, I allowed the citizens of Zalesie the pleasure of the once-in-a-lifetime sight of their Ani dressed as a battle mage.
‘Too old,’ my arse , I thought, enjoying the covert and not -so-covert stares until I came to the floodplains.
Another of the joys of mountain life, the extensive field was covered in lush and vibrant green grass after the spring floods, the warming sun melting the alpine snow and creating a temporary lake at the town border. However inconvenient it may be, it was a great boon for the farmers, as the fresh grass that grew here after the waters receded kept their animals well-fed.
It was a long walk, but I hoped to see the dragons on my way to the town square, maybe even the blue-eyed creature that haunted my dreams.
A powerful gust of wind surprised me and I had to shelter my eyes from flying debris until it died down. Only then did I notice the cause: a familiar-looking dragon. With black scales glinting and blue markings capturing my attention, the magnificent creature settled down, and my heart stuttered with awe as I watched.
My dragon was here. Whether it was my wishful longing or pure luck, the subject of my dreams was right before me, folding away enormous wings and shaking the moisture from his head. Once he was finished, the dragon turned to me, his vertical pupils widening before he lay his head on the grass, making the strange growling-whistling noise he made the last time we met.
‘Oh, hello, handsome. I was hoping to see you! I think it’s time we had a little chat.’ I grinned, raising the hem of my dress and marching towards him through the soft grass. It was strange how seeing him made me so ridiculously happy.
A warm breeze caressed my skin, and the soft murmur of a babbling brook made the moment feel surreal and illusory. I’d seen dragons a few times at university, but never in a field full of flowers, and never one I’d felt a connection with.
During our schooling, all battle mages worked with various military formations to learn how they fought so that we’d be more effective and accidental casualties could be kept to a minimum; that education also included the legendary dragon riders and the theory of fighting spectrae.
I still remembered the uproar when two of the beasts and their riders had landed in the university yard to facilitate that training … It was safe to say that both mages and the young riders enjoyed the educational exchange in more ways than one.
I had already joined with my Anchors and was more interested in the creatures than their riders by then, and my eagerness to learn earned me a few strange looks. However, I’d learned that dragons were knowledgeable, sentient beings with their own personalities and thoughts.
Most of them still soared through the skies, unbothered by other races. Occasionally, they bonded with humans in a similar way to a battle mage unit. As for their thought processes, most of our knowledge was secondhand, as we had to rely on their riders for communication.
I always treated them with respect but had never felt the desire to get too close; I didn’t know what was so different about this one. I should have been afraid, or at least wary, instead of charging towards the dragon as if he were my long-lost sibling.
‘Who are you?’ I whispered, leaning towards the beast while he nuzzled his snout into my hand, rubbing the polished scales over my palm. The dragon was so gentle, barely moving and observing me with such focus that I had to hold myself back from throwing my arms around his neck and embracing him. His warm breath enveloped me like a caress, making me sigh. I closed my eyes, feeling a strange sensation blossoming in my chest.
Happiness . It took me a moment before I realised it wasn’t just me who felt it, but the impressive beast as well. It was exactly like my dream—the sensation that he missed me, the feeling of belonging once again.
Is this how dragon riders feel? Is this why they’re ready to sacrifice their freedom to be with the dragons who choose them?
With those thoughts came another … Why do I feel like this? Women couldn’t bond with dragons. It just didn’t happen. Besides, I suspected this one already had a rider. Otherwise, why would he have landed on the floodplains on the outskirts of town during Maiden’s Day?
When my hand slid towards the corner of his eye, something inside of the beast rumbled, and I gasped, stepping away. I didn’t get far before being pushed closer by the tail that had somehow coiled around me.
The dragon gave me a long stare as if he was trying to say something, and then he pressed his head closer, closing his eyes. He clearly knew what he wanted, but I had no idea. Hesitantly, I touched him again, and when he didn’t instantly bite off my hand, I chuckled.
‘Is that all you wanted? Do you like me stroking you? I didn’t know dragons could be so gentle … and so needy,’ I said as he pushed harder into my hand. ‘You are worse than a tavern cat. I wish I could keep you, but I suspect your rider would strongly object,’ I cooed while petting him, and he rumbled again.
‘What’s this noise you’re making? Is it good or bad for you, my lovely? Gods, I wish we could talk,’ I murmured, lost in the moment, trailing my hand over the bumpy, raised ridge of his brow.
‘He is purring for you, my lady,’ a deep voice answered from behind me. My hand stilled, and I cursed myself for allowing anyone to sneak up on me. I turned quickly, meeting the gaze of a gigantic man.
He wasn’t just tall—he was massive , and the wet linen of his shirt hid nothing of his physique. Broad shoulders, firm thighs, and a torso covered in scars that were clearly visible under the see-through shirt. Wherever I looked, there were muscles—nothing but a wall of oversized, bulging muscles.
The stranger’s eyes shone with amusement when he noticed my wandering gaze. He ran his hand through the wavy jet-black hair that fell to his neck—clearly freshly washed—leaving a few strands plastered to his forehead. Most impressive were his eyes, their slightly upturned corners and irises a deep mossy green speckled with gold flakes.
He stood tall and proud, almost … posing, cheerfully , during my inspection. That kind gaze, with its hint of curiosity, made me feel comfortable, giving me time to compose myself. Once I had settled, the corner of his mouth tilted, and he stretched his hand towards me.
‘My lady, may I?’ He said, reaching for my hand.
The dragon wasn’t at all disturbed by the male’s presence, which, along with how relaxed the man was, must mean they were a bonded pair. Out of sheer curiosity and maybe influenced by his smile, I let him take my hand.
For a moment, he didn’t do anything else, just waited until he was sure I was comfortable, and I admit, his restraint charmed me. I was being held gently by the calloused hand of a warrior and couldn’t have felt more powerful than I did at that moment.
As a smile teased my lips, the rider guided my hand to the dragon’s eye, sliding it over the scaled ridges. ‘This is the most vulnerable place for a dragon and one of the few spots they always strive to protect. Blinding a dragon is the easiest way of incapacitating them. I’m surprised Vahin let you touch him here, but he is an excellent judge of character. For some reason, it seems he is fond of you,’ he murmured, again trailing my fingers along the ridges of the eyelid towards the corner of the eye, and the great dragon rumbled louder.
‘Stroking the eyelid is one way a rider can soothe their dragon, and it’s a source of great comfort to them both,’ he continued, his body so close to mine that I felt the warmth radiating from his skin. Yet, he didn’t touch me in any other way than holding my hand.
I knew he was here for the Maiden’s Day selection, but I couldn’t bring myself to feel hostile towards him. Maybe it was because of the dragon or because he was providing answers to questions I hadn’t even known I wanted to ask, all while guiding my hand over the dragon’s vulnerable eye.
The physical contact between us felt natural yet intimate, as if the pleasure of the moment was weaving its own special kind of magic. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d touched anyone without wariness or lust … it was a simple, joyful moment, being held in a way that seemed to comfort us both.
Then I realised he had given me the name of the dragon.
Vahin. That fits him perfectly.
‘Nice to meet you, Vahin. I’m glad I finally know your name,’ I whispered, and the beast opened his muzzle ever so slightly. A long, forked tongue slipped out to lick my cheek. I felt the dragon’s saliva left behind, but the strange gesture didn’t repulse me; it called to something deep inside my chest. My magic responded as if awakened from a long dream, but it didn’t reach for Vahin. Instead, it stretched towards the man who held my hand.
I froze.
What the hell-what’s going on?! Why him? Why now?
My heart hammered so hard that I felt it in my throat as I snuck a glance at the stranger’s face and hesitantly resumed my movements. Aether poured through me, wrapping around him like an ivy, craving to take him.
I felt as if everything I had known about being a conduit, about Anchoring other mages, was pure nonsense. Nothing I’d read or learned had ever mentioned the possibility of bonding with a non-mage, yet his touch had awakened my conduit abilities.
I have to stop it before it goes too far.
I jerked my hand from the rider’s grasp, avoiding his eyes as he looked at me with confusion, unaware of my internal struggle. ‘I think Vahin has had enough of me petting him like a stray cat,’ I commented, trying to deflect attention from my awkward reaction.
‘That’s not what he’s telling me. In fact, he’s been enjoying it so much that if I did what Vahin wants, I’d already be throwing you onto his back to fly us straight to the fortress. I must admit his suggestion has merit,’ the rider answered with a playful smile.
He spoke about kidnapping me so casually, but the implications of his words hit me like a hammer. I wasn’t ready for this. I had barely thought about it and it was suddenly here, smacking me in the face.
Feeling a connection to the beautiful Vahin was one thing—feeling tiny prickles of magic teasing my skin as I stroked his scales was so very appealing—but this man … he was dangerous. The scars covering those unyielding muscles told the story of a warrior ready to fight at the slightest provocation, willing and able to take what he wanted.
Unfortunately, it appeared what he wanted right now was me .
Though my blood ran cold at the discovery that my magic responded to him, I could not blame him for my reaction. I couldn’t fault him at all. Even his last remark was clearly meant to be teasing. He was friendly, and while he had certainly misunderstood the cosy little moment, he didn’t make me feel threatened. The rider didn’t even react when I pulled away without explanation.
‘I have to go,’ I said, calming my thoughts.
I took a step back, distancing myself from the man and his dragon. I had somewhere to be, and I didn’t want to disappoint the magistrate with my late arrival. The only thing left to do here was to apologise for the misunderstanding and ensure that he knew I didn’t want to be chosen. He seemed nice, and I wanted to spare us both any embarrassment if he planned to ask for me in front of the townsfolk.
‘Would you grace me with the pleasure of your company tonight, my lady?’ he proposed before I could speak. I took a further step back, and the dragon growled his displeasure, tail thrashing, ripping up clumps of grass from the soft soil until the rider laid a hand on his snout. The man kept looking at me, and his eyes narrowed when I shook my head.
‘I understand the magistrate told you that you cannot refuse, my lady.’
The change of attitude was the perfect antidote for my unwillingness to hurt his feelings. He was no longer the gentle giant who looked at me with kindness but just another man who had tried to force my hand. Luckily, I’d had a lifetime of practice dealing with arrogant pri… men.
‘Yes, he told me, but I doubt you will have any pleasure forcing yourself on an unwilling woman. Let’s just keep pretending you are nice and can take “no” for an answer while I remember the enjoyable time I had with Vahin. Anything else will make the situation awkward.’
I turned towards the dragon and moved close enough to press my cheek to his snout. He was warm, and I wished I could embrace him because something in the enormous beast spoke to my soul, releasing feelings I’d buried ten years ago under the rocks of the Lost Ridge.
‘I hope I’ll get to see you again, Vahin,’ I said, inhaling deeply before turning towards the rider. ‘Good luck with finding a maiden to take home,’ I offered, noticing his smile widen as he rubbed his hand down the dragon’s side, inclining his head politely.
‘We look forward to seeing you again, my lady. Would you tell me your name? I feel I’ve earned that privilege, at least. Or should I convince Vahin to roll over so you can rub his belly to be granted the honour?’ He pressed, quirking an eyebrow.
‘You don’t need my name,’ I answered, but the image he planted in my mind made it a struggle not to chuckle. I’d expected anger and petulance, but not humour. I had to give it to him. The man had charm.
‘Clever. Men normally use cats or dogs to get my attention. By using Vahin, you certainly have an unfair advantage, but this is my final warning. You are kind and handsome. Don’t waste your time on me when the town square is full of eager women who are much younger and easier to charm. I don’t think you’d need to show them your … dragon to get their attention.’
It was my turn to jest, but still, I gasped when my words were answered with a plume of smoke and a deep rumble that I could only interpret as the dragon’s laughter. I didn’t want to wait for the rider’s answer, rushing towards the town square as if a horde of ghouls chased me, but I still heard the words that sounded like the peal of fate’s bell.
‘You can run away from me all you like, my stubborn mage, but I promise I’ll always find you.’