Chapter 40 #2
She glanced back at the lake, worrying her bottom lip, before looking up at him with yearning. A trembling smile curled her lips.
“Alright, but… I cannot be gone long. If mother or my sisters discovered what I’ve done—”
Jabir grinned. “We won’t be gone long,” he promised.
He helped her over the boulders, steadying her when she swayed. He realized that while she had legs, she wasn’t used to using them. Jewel smiled excitedly back at him as he gripped her around her waist and lowered her to the ground.
“You are very strong,” she said with a shy laugh.
“You are very light,” he teased, reluctantly releasing her so he could shift. “Once I’ve shifted, climb onto my back.”
Jewel nodded, her pale cheeks flushing a delicate rose color. Jabir stepped forward, and, before he could question what he was doing, he pressed a light kiss to her parted lips. He stepped back, a charming grin on his face, and called forth his dragon.
Finally! I thought you would never let me out, his dragon grumbled.
Jewel gasped, her fingers trembling as the air around Jabir shimmered. In a blink, the boy with the warm eyes and gentle laugh vanished… and in his place rose a magnificent creature of sapphire and silver.
A dragon.
Light danced across his iridescent scales like sunlight across the lake’s surface. His wings unfolded in a slow, powerful stretch, their translucent webbing edged in pearlescent shimmer. Jewel’s breath caught in her throat.
She had seen dragon-shifters before, of course. A few lived in the village, but she hadn’t noticed them flying overhead the last few weeks. Those dragon-shifters were lumbering, snorting beasts—more boulder than beauty. This… this was like watching a god of the wind and stars come to life.
“I… you’re…” she whispered, stepping forward.
The dragon purred, a deep, vibrating rumble that warmed her chest. Jewel reached out, unable to resist, and ran her fingers along his neck. His scales were smooth as river stones, yet soft in a way that defied logic.
A delighted giggle escaped when she scratched behind his ear and his back leg thumped the ground like a giant puppy. He twisted his head and gave her a grin full of sharp white teeth, then exhaled a perfect smoke ring that swirled around her like a ribbon.
She laughed again, the sound echoing off the trees.
Her eyes widened with delight when he spoke.
“Climb on,” he rumbled, his voice deeper now, layered with a low thrum that curled around her bones like the pull of a tide. “Between my shoulders. Hold on tight.”
She blinked in shock, her heart skipping a beat. “You… you can talk in this form?”
“Of course I can. Hurry,” he said with amusement. “Unless you’d rather admire me from the ground all day.”
Flushing, she carefully slid her leg over his back. His wing folded in, bracing her, while his tail curved behind to steady her. She clung awkwardly to his neck, her legs wobbly and unsure. Her siren form allowed her to shift into legs, but she rarely used them. They still felt… strange, weak.
“I’m ready,” she said, more bravely than she felt.
“Hang on,” he warned.
A beat later, he lunged forward—and leapt into the sky.
She shrieked, the sound swallowed by the wind. Her arms tightened instinctively around his neck as her eyes slammed shut. The world dropped away beneath them. Cool air rushed past her, stealing her breath, tugging at her hair.
Then… warmth.
She cracked one eye open. His scales, beneath her palms, radiated heat—gentle, comforting, like sun-warmed rocks near the shore.
“You okay back there?” Jabir’s voice rumbled beneath her.
She nodded, her cheek pressed to his neck. “Y-yes.”
He blew a soft puff of warm air back at her. She smiled, steadier now.
Slowly, her hands slid along his neck until she gripped the smooth, silvery neural ridge running down his spine. The moment her fingers brushed it, he let out a deep, contented growl that vibrated through her chest. She giggled again, the sound surprising her.
When she looked up—her breath caught.
They were soaring over the world.
Below them, the forest unfurled in endless green. Rivers glittered like winding silver ribbons. She saw animals scatter in surprise—a family of centaurs pointing, a herd of shaggy beasts galloping toward the trees.
Jabir dipped lower, gliding between the towering treetops. Sprites perched on tree branches gaped at them, slack-jawed. Jewel waved, laughing in delight.
Then, as if that wasn’t magical enough, a flock of birds took flight and swept in beside them—scarlet and gold feathers catching the wind. She threw her arms out and laughed, pure joy bubbling from her chest.
Jabir rose again, this time soaring higher… and higher… until the clouds swallowed them.
Jewel reached out, her fingers brushing the mist. Cool droplets clung to her skin, reviving her. She sighed. The moisture helped. She hadn’t realized how weak she was starting to feel until the clouds kissed her skin.
She didn’t tell him, though. She didn’t want it to end.
Then—the dragon’s throaty voice caressed her again.
“Hold tight.”
“Wait, why—?”
He dove.
The world plummeted beneath them. Jewel’s scream stuck in her throat, terror and exhilaration tangling as they sliced through the air. Wind tore past her ears. The lake flashed below. Trees raced up to meet them. She had never felt so free!
Just before impact, Jabir’s wings snapped open, catching the wind with a thunderous whoosh. They skimmed just above the river’s surface, so low the tips of his claws kissed the current.
They weaved through the winding river path, dodging boulders and water sprays, the forest rising like emerald walls around them.
She couldn’t breathe.
She felt alive, exhilarated at the beauty of the world that had always seemed out of reach to her.
After what felt like forever and yet was no time at all, Jabir glided to a landing on a soft pebble beach nestled in a quiet bend of the river.
Jewel slid from his back, her knees wobbling. He caught her with his tail, guiding her to a sun-warmed rock near the water’s edge.
“I’ll build us a fire,” he said, his voice still deep and rumbly. “Are you hungry?”
She nodded, smiling shyly. “Yes.”
He grinned, winked, and turned to collect driftwood. She clapped, delighted, as he tossed the driftwood into a pile and, with a breath, ignited the pile into cheerful flames. Jewel laughed when he waggled his brows at her, blowing a playful smoke ring into the air.
“I’ll be back,” he called, and moments later returned with a fish as big as his front foot. “Do sirens eat fish?”
“Yes,” she giggled. “And seaweed. Clams. Mussels. Whatever we can find.”
“Perfect,” he said, gutting and fileting the fish with practiced ease.
Jewel waded into the river, slipping beneath the surface. The water caressed her skin, cool and healing. She scooped up freshwater clams, placing them in a woven pouch she conjured from her belt. The ache in her legs eased. The pulsing fatigue in her spine dulled.
When she surfaced, Jabir—now human again—was crouched by the fire, watching her.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
She nodded, brushing hair from her face. “Better now.”
But her heart ached.
Because this? All of this? Couldn’t last.
She’d heard the stories—every siren had. Of girls who fell in love with land-dwellers. Of joy and longing. Of promises made and hearts broken. And always… always, the siren was left behind. Or worse—she never returned at all.
Jewel looked at Jabir.
The boy who soared through the sky like it belonged to him.
The boy who made her laugh. Who looked at her like she wasn’t dangerous or wrong or something to fear.
He wasn’t just beautiful.
He was… kind.
“Here are some clams,” she said, holding out the pouch filled with the small shells.
“Thanks. I’ll roast them over the coals,” he said, taking the bundle and spreading the small mollusks over a hot stone buried in the remnants of the charred wood that still glowed.
She sat beside him, her fingers brushing his as he handed her a section of the roasted fish.
“Thank you. I’ve never had a picnic before. I’ve seen other land creatures do them and always wondered what they would be like,” she murmured.
Jabir smiled, his eyes brimming with warmth. “I’m glad you’re here.”
She forced a smile, her heart quivering like the reeds in a storm.
Even as warmth seeped through her, the bitter truth crept in like the tide.
How could a creature of water ever stay with a boy made of fire and land?
But for now… for this stolen moment under the early afternoon sun… she could pretend.
And oh, how sweet the pretending is, she thought as Jabir told her of his home on a distant world called Valdier.
Drago’s Airship
Phoenix sat on the edge of the crate aboard Drago’s airship. A majestic dragon head carved into the bow of the airship was pointed toward the Isle of the Monsters. Sunlight danced on the ocean waves far below while the ship floated above fluffy white clouds.
The other dragonlings were scattered around her in loose clusters, the air alive with chatter and the occasional burst of laughter. The breeze tugged gently at her long hair and carried the scent of salt and the occasional aroma of lunch that would soon be ready.
“We’re really going to the Isle of the Monsters,” Amber exclaimed, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet.
“Finally!” Jade added, throwing her arms wide. “We actually get to explore the one place we originally wanted to visit!”
Alice arched an eyebrow. “You mean the place you were trying to sneak off to before getting portal-tossed onto a pirate island?” she teased.
Jade grinned unapologetically. “Still counts.”
Amber elbowed her. “Hey, we survived Blackheart and his creepy boneyard ship. That has to earn us a few points.”
“I just hope all the demented symbiots you brought with you went down with the ship,” Alice said.
“Are you kidding? Those guys saved our butts!” Jade retorted, laying the back of her hand on her brow as if she were about to faint.
Amber snorted. “Not to mention they are pretty indestructible. We’ll gift them to the Empress.”
“I bet Ashure will get blamed when they go crazy and start destroying stuff,” Bálint scoffed.
They all burst into laughter.
Phoenix turned back toward the group, her heart warmed by the easy banter. It hadn’t always been like this. When they’d first fallen through that portal, scattered and scared, none of them had known what to expect.
“I still can’t believe everything we’ve seen,” Adaline murmured, her gaze drifting to the horizon. “The Isle of the Elementals, the Pirates, this airship…”
“I would have liked to see the Isle of the Dragons. I mean, we are dragon-shifters, after all,” Bálint added, his voice full of quiet pride.
Roam flexed. “Speak for yourself. I have to admit it was cool to be a giant cat-shifter. That could come in handy.”
Spring snorted. “Yeah, I can just see you growing into a giant cat in a spaceship. I think that would be more like kitty-in-a-can.”
“True,” Roam said. His face twisted with distaste.
They laughed again, the sound carrying like birdsong across the deck. There was a bittersweetness underneath it now. Stronger. Wiser. Sharpened by experience, by challenge, by becoming something more than just dragonlings chasing adventure.
“I miss home,” Adaline said softly.
There was a chorus of agreement.
“I miss Dad’s chocolate lava cake,” Zohar said wistfully.
“I miss hanging out with James,” Jade added.
“And the others in the amusement park,” Amber said.
Phoenix smiled faintly. “This has been fun… but, I think next time I would rather just hang out at home.”
They all nodded.
“Yeah. I do feel different, though,” Balint said.
“I think I’m stronger, more confident,” Spring murmured.
“More aware of what’s going on, mature,” Roam said, cupping Spring’s hand and smiling at her when she nudged him affectionately with her shoulder.
Alice nodded, her eyes shining. ”I’ve learned a lot—about myself and about the universe.”
Zohar glanced at Phoenix. “Is there any chance you can time-portal us back to like, ten minutes after we left? You know, so the dads don’t completely lose it when we get home?”
Bálint snorted. “I think it is probably too late for that. I just hope they haven’t told our moms.”
A collective groan rippled through the group.
“We’re so going to be grounded,” Jade muttered.
“For centuries,” Adaline added.
Roam nodded solemnly. “Millennia. They’ll invent whole new time units just to ground us forever.”
Alice tilted her head. “Do you guys think Jabir’s okay?”
Roam smirked. “He’s probably sitting in the palace, eating the Empress out of her castle.”
Spring elbowed him. “You’re just jealous because he eats as much as you.”
Bálint chuckled. “It’ll take more than food to make him grow.”
Zohar made gobbling noises while flexing his arms. “I’m Jabir. I eat everything in sight!”
Adaline rolled her eyes and waved her fingers. A small cloud materialized over Zohar’s head and dumped a shower of rain over him.
“Hey!” he shouted, sputtering.
“Oh, how ever did you get all wet?” she asked sweetly.
Phoenix laughed with the rest of the group as Zohar playfully chased Adaline around, shaking water on her. She turned her gaze back to the sea, her smile fading slightly as her thoughts drifted.
The Isle of the Monsters.
She could still hear Aminta’s cries echoing in her memory—haunting, ancient, powerful. That day had changed everything. The alien creature that tried to devour the Seven Kingdoms… it still haunted her dreams. It was the day she felt the first stirrings of who she would become.
And there had been something else.
I feel it too. The pull, her dragon whispered.
Yes.
When she crossed the portal bridge back to the Hive, she’d felt it—another call. A whisper across time and space. Not just to her, but to her dragon. Even her symbiot had felt it. It was an omen of things to come.
There had been another world… not this one. One half a universe away and woven through another plane of existence.
She hadn’t told the others. She knew one day she would be called to go there. That whatever force was there would take her away from Valdier—from her family, her friends.
A touch on her arm made her start.
She turned to find Spring watching her, her brow furrowed. “Hey. You okay?”
Phoenix hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah,” she said, forcing a smile. “Just thinking.”
Spring’s gaze lingered, then she nodded.
“You know, we’d better find Jabir before he gets adopted by sea monkeys or something. If he does, we’ll never get him to come home with us!”
Phoenix exhaled and joined the others, pushing the strange memory—that pull—deep down.
There was laughter ahead of her, friends by her side, and the promise of home just over the horizon.
But in the back of her mind… a shadow stirred.
And in the distance, something was waiting.