Chapter 16 #2
"All right." I take it from him and slip it on under my cape. It's a little too big, but it smells faintly of the same smoke that he does, and I find that comforting beyond measure.
Fen reaches out and takes my hand as we set off towards the town, and I find myself extra glad for the flight. Not only did I get to see the world from dragon height, but we got here fast enough that we can steal a few more hours alone, and I'll always be glad of that.
Epilogue
The cool winter air whispers past my skin as I look out over the fields surrounding the castle.
There's something peaceful about being here, like the world pauses when I'm looking over it in the near-dark, and I don't have to think about anything other than watching Fen as he flies over the lands surrounding the castle.
I lean forward, admiring his powerful wings and the graceful way he flies.
Sometimes, he takes me with him, and I'm much more confident at riding than I used to be because of it.
Next time we have to travel a distance with me on dragonback, it's going to be much better. And it was fun the first time.
He comes close to the castle walls, the tips of his wings passing right by me in what I know is him showing off for me. He does it a few more times, and I have to resist the urge to reach out and try to touch him, even though I kind of want to. I know it's just going to end up with me hurt if I do.
Eventually, he seems to be done with his flight, and makes his way over to me, landing on the roof, like he's still not supposed to do. But I'm the only person who knows that he does, and I'm not going to tell anyone.
Red and gold smoke covers him as he returns to his human form, wearing the perfectly revealing white shirt that makes him look amazing. His black hair floats around his face in the wind, looking much more effortless than mine does when I'm in the same position.
"I thought you might be here," Fen says as he jumps down from the roof.
"Where else can I watch you in dragon form?" I ask.
He chuckles. "I do like knowing that you're watching me." He comes over and leans in, pressing a kiss against my lips.
I melt into his arms, glad that we can openly show affection to one another while we're at home. It's much better than having to keep this a secret.
"Did you have a good flight?" I ask.
"Mmm. It's good to stretch my wings when I'm not going to be able to for a few days. We've got the first part of our next mission starting tomorrow."
"I know. I'm nervous."
"We're going to do great," he promises. "And we'll have each other the whole time."
"Does that mean I get to play your wife again?" I joke, already knowing that's the truth.
He chuckles. "Of course. You did an excellent job of it the first time."
"Maybe one day, I'll make it my permanent job." I turn around so I can look at him properly.
A wide smile spreads over his face, making me certain that he's understood precisely what I'm saying. "Is that so?"
"I did hear that the dragon I'm courting has a serious streak," I muse. "He says he wants to know that a relationship is going somewhere."
"He sounds very wise." Fen's smile hasn't shrunk at all.
"He is." I put a hand on his chest. "And I love him."
His smile grows even wider, which I didn't think was possible. "I love you too." His eyes flash gold as he says the words, and I feel them deep in my soul.
"I'm glad that it's you I'm going on the next mission with," I say.
"Me too." He wraps his arms around me from behind, and I lean back against him. "I had a lot of fun on our last mission."
"It's hard to believe it's already half a year ago," I say.
"And Lady Eyre hasn't endeared herself to you in that time at all."
I let out a frustrated sigh and reach out to put my hands over his arms to hold him in place. "I'm not saying I did it for praise, but you'd think she'd have a little bit more gratitude to the people who got her out of the terrible situation she was in."
He shrugs. "Maybe she thinks the debt's been paid. We did collect money off her father, and ransacked the tower she was in."
"Ransacked is a strong word," I murmur.
"It's the right one, though. And tomorrow, we'll set off to do it all over again."
"Yes." I'm not sure if what we're doing is the right thing, but when it saves the people who would otherwise be trapped in lives where they're under the control of others, I don't see how it can be the wrong one.
I just wish that we could do more. But it's not like we're the ones in charge.
We're a small castle of people who are trying our best to help individuals.
Because what else can we do? I'm the daughter of a maid, and Vasia is the daughter of a disgraced noble, neither of us even have any dragon blood.
And while Fen does, he's also the son of dragons who have been banished from their kingdom for reasons we don't know.
Unless some miracle occurs where one of us suddenly gains power we didn't know we had, all we can do is keep trying to help as many people as possible. And that's exactly what I intend to do.
If you want more from the Dragonflame Heir world, you can start the main series (which follows Vasia), starting with The Hidden Dragon Heir:
And if you want to read a bonus scene from Fen's point of view, you can download his version of the events of Chapter 11 (the kiss) here: