Chapter 26 #2
Around them, the quiet village stirred to life. More Mist Dwellers emerged, curiosity etched into their translucent faces. The clearing filled with murmurs and soft laughter as the villagers gathered, drawn by the sight of royalty in their midst.
The crowd parted like mist before a breeze as Princess Gem stepped forward, her presence luminous. At her side stood her husband Ross Galloway, Drago, and Orion—commanding, regal, and unmistakable.
“Well,” Drago rumbled with a grin. “Looks like Phoenix and Zohar found at least a few more of their missing friends.”
Gem’s gaze fell on Adaline. She tilted her head, eyes shimmering with insight. A slow, knowing smile curved her lips.
Adaline flushed but returned the smile shyly.
Bálint watched her, his joy dimming as he caught sight of Alice still holding tightly to Phoenix and Adaline. She hadn’t looked at him once.
His chest tightened.
Zohar nudged him with an elbow. “What’s going on with the girl with the floating hair? She’s staring daggers at you.”
Bálint groaned. “That’s Leanna. Don’t ask.”
Zohar’s eyes gleamed. “I am asking.”
“You know what? Why don’t you go say hi? I bet she would like you a lot better than she likes me,” Bálint suggested. “Charm her with your amazing personality.”
Zohar narrowed his eyes suspiciously, but before he could respond, Dew bustled forward, her expression flustered but gracious.
“Well, I don’t know about you, but I think this calls for a celebration,” Dew announced, watching the teens laughing and joking with each other.
“I agree,” Orion said, turning to look at Ross. “I think I saw a keg of that drink you call beer onboard Drago’s ship. Would you like to help me sample it?”
Ross’s eyes lit up while Gem wiggled her nose with distaste. “Oh, yeah.”
“Hey! That’s my private stash,” Drago grumbled, turning to chase after Orion and Ross. “Orion, you’re as bad as Ashure!”
Laughter swept through the crowd at the joyful banter as the men headed for the docks.
As the afternoon faded into evening, music drifted across the clearing.
Lanterns floated above the lake like tiny stars, casting ripples of light onto the water.
Villagers danced, laughed, and swapped stories with dragons and nobility alike.
Zohar was, predictably, flirting with Leanna, who was delightfully slipping through his fingers like wind.
Phoenix and Geoff laughed with Adaline near the center fountain along with Mud and Breeze.
At a nearby table, Drago and Orion were deep in conversation with Leanna’s parents and Dew’s husband, Wake, while Ross Galloway made a group of kids laugh with stories about Earth, while Princess Gem made them laugh with tales of Ross trying to save their kingdom.
But Bálint had only one focus.
He spotted Alice slipping away from the crowd, her braid swaying gently behind her as she wandered down to the end of the dock.
He hesitated for a moment, then followed.
She sat with her legs dangling over the edge, bare toes skimming the surface of the lake. The moon had risen, and its reflection shimmered across the rippling water. Wisps of mist floated lazily from the royal airship, now docked and softly glowing with the hum of magic.
He sat down beside her, careful not to disturb the quiet.
They sat in silence, the peace between them fragile as spun glass.
He glanced at her—and stilled.
She was crying.
Her shoulders were hunched slightly, and tears slid silently down her cheeks.
Concern surged in his chest. He scooted closer and gently wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her against his side.
“Hey… what’s wrong?”
She shook her head. “Everything. And nothing.”
He reached up and stroked a tear from her cheek. “Tell me the everything.”
She sighed. “I miss my mom and dad. I’m happy Zohar and Phoenix and Adaline are okay… but I’m scared for the others. And…” She paused.
“And?” he asked gently.
“And you never kissed me.” Her voice was small, trembling. “Not once. And I don’t know why.”
Bálint’s heart skipped.
He turned to her and cupped her face in both hands, forcing her to look at him.
“Because I’m stupid,” he said softly.
She blinked. “You’re not stupid.”
“Yeah,” he said, voice cracking, “I am. Because I always assumed we’d have time. I always thought we’d be together—that it would just… happen someday. But when I saw Geoff kiss you—when I thought I’d lost you—I realized I might not have someday. And that scared me more than anything.”
Her eyes filled again.
“I know we’re young. And I know things change. But Alice…” He swallowed hard. “I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember. I just didn’t want to mess it up before I even had the chance to tell you.”
Alice let out a shaky breath.
“I needed to hear that,” she whispered.
His thumb brushed her cheek. “No more wondering.”
Then, he leaned in.
Their lips met in a kiss that was soft, searching, and filled with promise—warm and a little uncertain, like a flame catching for the first time. With a sense of wonder. Of hope. Of something real.
As they pulled apart, her forehead rested against his. His dragon, deep inside, sighed in contentment.
Bálint looked at her—not at the glow of her aura, but her. The girl who challenged him. Softened him. The girl who would one day be a fierce, brilliant woman.
And he vowed, silently and fiercely, that he would never take her for granted again.
They sat there in silence, fingers twined together, looking up as the stars danced overhead.
Glad we no roast the other boy—or ourselves, his dragon sighed.
Yeah. Me, too, my friend. Me, too.