24. Dragons
twenty-four
Dragons
*ALANA*
I can only stare at my family in shock, and to my utmost surprise this is the first time I feel really connected to Kilah, because she looks equally dumbfounded and shocked. I’ve woken up to the biggest mess ever. The plan was to go look at the horses and then train, but my father called me in for an emergency meeting.
All my siblings are here, but also Aylin, our mysterious witch, General Shayan, Tynan, Royan and Ita. All ranked members are around.
It seems it was Azadeh’s wish for Eibhlin, Nevyn and Kilah to be involved too, or my father would have left them completely in the dark. To be frank, as someone who was left in the dark too, I would have hated for them to be left out further.
Bless her, she truly has a heart of gold.
“And you haven’t told us about this because…?” Kilah wants to know after our father has finished the whole story about a potentially crazy deity roaming around and targeting our lands, the weird ass prophecy and, furthermore, the secrets surrounding Azadeh. I thought it’s just a gift of protection she has, but she can connect to the dream world, and she…
“Dragons,” I mumble, fighting against an approaching headache. “So I am not crazy?”
“Why haven’t you told us about it?” Kilah demands to know.
“Kilah,” Flinn huffs. “Chill! We didn’t know either until a few days ago!”
“She isn’t wrong though,” Endellion intervenes. “She has a right to be upset. We were upset, too, when we were finally told.”
Flinn sighs and rolls his eyes, but lets the issue drop.
Eibhlin, meanwhile, is looking at one of her dolls with a frown. “Difficult times are coming,” she mutters quietly, more to herself than to anyone else. “And a tough decision.”
“What?” Caelan asks, confused.
Eibhlin flashes him one of her creepy smiles. I love my sister, but she can be scary sometimes. “Nothing,” she says.
“I’m not crazy,” I say once more. “I’m not crazy. I thought I was, but I am not…”
Of course you weren’t crazy, my wolf, Ros, huffs.
“For all that’s worth,” Dad says quietly. “We truly didn’t know that there was a chance the dragons were still alive.”
“You dismissed me the moment I talked about it, without giving it a second thought, just because I was a child.”
Ita was the first one to believe me, and for a long time, the only one, until Aza came and claimed she believed me, too.
Dad looks at me for a long while. “That’s true, and I’m sorry for not believing you. I know this doesn’t help you now, but we were truly convinced that dragons didn’t exist anymore. I still should have tried to understand you more.”
I rub my temples. “And now?”
“Now we need you to remember as much as you can,” he says.
I furrow my brows. “It’s so… blurred.”
Maybe it would help to return to the place this happened to you?” Aylin asks.
“That is not a bad idea,” Flinn agrees.
Our father furrows his brows. “There is actually a little village that was attacked recently, very close to where you and your mother stayed back then. The plan was to send Tynan and Ita to investigate, but seeing how you progressed in your training…” He pauses. “I was thinking about sending you along as well.”
My eyes widen. I’ve been waiting so long for my father to accept my path and my choices. He made me prove myself so often, and promised me if I made it through warrior training, he’d finally let me join an outdoor mission. And now that I did… finally, he sticks to his promise as well. “I accept. I will go on this mission and try to remember what happened.”
Dad groans. “Promise me you will keep an eye on her,” he says towards Ita.
“Of course,” Ita smiles. “Please don’t worry, my king. It’s pretty much a standard mission.”
I can see Azadeh taking a deep breath. “How about I take a trip outside the pack too?” she says. “I feel like I should be searching for something, and I can’t do that here. It’s a gut feeling… something tells me the two sides of a coin want to lead me somewhere, maybe subconsciously so.”
Before anyone can say something, Endellion lets out a deep sigh. “She is right. There are more and more clues, and we need to act on them. I will accompany her.”
“I will join you too. Aza will be in danger out there,” Flinn points out.
Azadeh shakes her head. “I doubt I’m going to be in more danger outside. We will be careful.”
“And we should research the cult,” Caelan points out.
Dad frowns. “All three of you will be traveling with Azadeh?”
“I can come too,” Royan offers.
“I think it will raise too much attention if you join us too,” Endellion says. “If it’s just us, we will make it look like a family vacation. Maybe it would be better to follow a different task, Royan. We are going to watch out for Aza.”
“While we are on it, we can show Aza more of our country,” Flinn offers. “The seaside, for example.
“The glacier,” Caelan adds. “The Crystal Forest.”
“Three days at most,” Endellion says to our father.
“Alright,” Dad nods. “I trust you to keep the princess safe.”
Shayan clears his throat. “Meanwhile, I’d like to research the cult more. Is there a way to get in contact with them? They don’t know me, and I think it will be easier for me to get information.”
Next to me, I can see Tynan frowning slightly in worry, his whole stance changing. “Alone?” he asks.
“I could help,” Royan offers. “While the wolves here know me, I’m new to my rank, and the outer packs will just see me as a regular werewolf.”
His words seem to set Tynan at ease, and I can see why. Royan is strong and capable and will absolutely keep an eye on Shayan, though, deep down I think Tynan is underestimating his mate for being human. Shayan was a high-ranking general. He is said to be one of the best, and I have seen him train. He has amazing control over his body, despite having a handicap.
“I would like to help too,” Kilah says, to my surprise. “Nevyn and I might be young, and I am still wolfless, but I would like to help.”
“You can help us,” Shayan offers. “That is, if it’s alright with the king. Both of you know a certain etiquette and have your own unique knowledge. If we indeed happen to get in contact with someone of the cult, we will need help to prepare.”
“Alright,” Dad says. “It’s set. In a week's time, I want you all to return. And don’t take any unnecessary risks!”
*TYNAN*
I need all my courage to knock at Shayan’s door and am shocked when he opens it almost instantly. I stumble backwards, but Shayan reacts fast, grabbing me before I can drop to the floor.
“I’m sorry,” I blurt out in panic for acting like the biggest idiot, again.
“It’s alright.” Shayan eyes me thoughtfully through his serious eye. “Is something wrong?”
“I just wondered if you’d like to take a walk. I mean, it’s been a long and heated discussion, and lots of planning, and I’m more the guy for action, and…” Oh fuck, stop rambling Tynan! “And I feel like getting some fresh air.”
Shayan nods, much to my surprise. “I agree. A bit of fresh air won’t do any harm.”
I can’t believe it. I just stand there and gape at him while he swiftly puts on his coat and scarf. Don’t stand here like a celery planted into the ground, Orion huffs . Mate wants to go outside with us! Do something!
“We could take a walk towards the lake,” I offer.
Shayan nods. “Let’s go.”
Once outside in the fresh air, I can feel my senses calming down. Being so close to Shayan and yet so distant is killing me, but right at the moment I realized I have a human mate, I knew it would be more difficult. He isn’t repulsed by me, though, and maybe after I return from the mission, I will talk to him about the mate bond.
“Please be careful,” Shayan says much to my surprise, “on your mission, and return in one piece.” At this, even Orion forgets to breathe.
We walk up towards the lake. It’s a dark night, but it’s still beautiful. “It’s just a regular mission,” I say softly, my heart beating faster than usual. “I’ve done these a hundred times already.”
“That’s an exaggeration,” Shayan says.
I blush slightly at him figuring me out so easily. “Alright… maybe… ten missions, but it’s still just a scouting one.”
“Please, just promise me.” Shayan says as he turns to me.
He has full lips, beautifully curved, and I just wish I had the guts to lean forward and kiss him, but as it is now, I can only gaze into his eye like a lovesick pup. “I will be careful,” I say awkwardly. “You too.”
Shayan smiles slightly. “I will.”
I swear, seeing him smile just melts me into a puddle of affection. “When I return, can we talk?” I hear myself say without thinking further.
Smooth, really smooth , Orion grumbles. And subtle.
“Talk?” Shayan blinks. “Well, of course we can.” He pauses. “Don’t you find it repulsive?” he asks.
“What is supposed to be repulsive?”
“My arm?” Shayan says. “It’s not real. And my eye.”
“You look like a warrior, a hero, like someone who others will tell lots of heroic stories about,” I say with conviction. “Nothing about you is repulsive! You are perfect the way you are.”
Shayan looks at me, surprised. “My… you wolves…” He shakes his head, sounding amused, but doesn’t finish his sentence.
“I will bring you a gift,” I blurt out, making my demise even worse.
Shayan stares at me and raises his brows, though I can swear I can see his lips curling into a smirk. “Just don’t make it raw meat.”
“No raw meat, got it!”
We could make it dried meat , Orion muses. Or maybe grilled meat. Or fur from our prey! I have many good ideas.
Something tells me that Shayan might not really appreciate Orion’s so-called great ideas. How about we bring some spices or… I pause. Ingredients to cook for him; a local dish!
Human, this isn’t the worst idea you had so far!
With both my wolf and I having a plan, we both fall into silence, just enjoying Shayan’s presence. We walked along the lake until we reached the sacred tree, the dry little thing that once was blessed by the goddess. Still, everyone here, me included, feels weirdly attached to it.
“Is it blossoming?” Shayan asks all of a sudden.
“That would be impossible,” I say. It hasn’t bloomed for many centuries. I lean a fraction forward to inspect it. “I don’t think so, or does it?”
Shayan nods. “Must be the light or the lack thereof.”