48. Despicable Dragon-In-Law #3
She looks around herself, the slits in her reptilian gaze shrinking. With a look of defeat she slowly shifts into her human form.
Her bloody and burned form doesn’t stir any sympathy in me.
“Bazrosh––my wing...” She croaks, looking devastated. But he still doesn’t shift, standing guard. Her lips peel back flashing serrated teeth, but he starts building a ball of fire in his throat and the matriarch finally takes the hint, stumbling back.
With wide fearful eyes and an unsteady gait she turns around and starts running, falling down a couple of times in her rush to escape.
Once she’s out of sight, only then Baz shifts and I notice the extent of his injuries.
“I can heal you. Just give me some time. My reserves are momentarily depleted from healing Ifrinn.” Azael offers, making me frown. He shouldn’t be tapped out this easily.
“It’s fine. Thanks, Azael. I’ll heal naturally. I dodged most of Mother’s attacks.” Baz assures while bleeding from numerous gashes, and that’s when I decide to give him a piece of my mind.
“What the hell, Baz? Why were you pulling your punches? I understand she’s your mother, but she was fighting with the intent to kill, not just incapacitate you. Anyone could see that!”
He smiles a little sadly, “I didn’t want to harm her irreparably, Starling.
She taught me how to fight. She knew and could anticipate most of my moves.
But when she came after you, that’s when she lost whatever leverage she had.
A slight to me I can ignore, but I’ll not let any harm come to you, no matter who.
” His voice hardens toward the end, face tightening in anger.
I rub my hand down my face, just done for the day. “I don’t understand you, Baz.”
“You do. You’re the only one who does, Starling.” He insists earnestly. “And if nothing else makes sense, know this, that I love you. And I’ll eliminate whatever comes in the way of that.”
His eyes shine fervently and I’m at a loss for words.
Shaking my head in exasperation I remind him, "Your potential match was here earlier.
You met that dragoness at the mermaid ballet.
You were going to have a child with her, Baz.
If that's not equivalent to destroying our love, I don't know what is. "
"I wasn't going to, Starling. She accosted me at the ballet. I was always politely distant with her. I considered being a donor initially, but ultimately I wasn't going to go through with it. Not without your consent. Believe me," he pleads.
"Mother brought her to spout rubbish about her being a suitable match even after I gave up my right to lead the Emberfang flight.
I don't give two shits about that anymore.
You're my heart's desire. You're my perfect match.
I just took the wrong approach trying to avoid conflict and not cause ripples with my mother.
I never realized she was rotten to the core.
" He sighs, shoulders slumping but shock holds me immobile.
"You gave up your right to Emberfang?"
A determined light enters his silver eyes.
"Yes. It's not worth losing you. I’ll say this again, and keep saying it until you believe me one day, Starling.
You are all that matters. I made a lot of mistakes.
Unforgivable ones. And I know that things can never be the same between us.
But I want to be better. Do better. Fighting with Mother reminded me that I'm my father's son.
He was a gentle dragon. He was both a father and a mother to me.
Always teaching me how to be a better dragon, not just a leader or a fighter.
He'd have been ashamed of my actions." His gaze drops as he swallows thickly.
"I hurt you. Crushed your beautiful heart.
But I'll keep trying with my dying breath to win back your affections.
" Baz stares at me, eyes fervid. "I don't want to live my life without you, only to die full of regrets. Nothing matters without you––not my flight, not my hoard, not even my life. And I’ve realized that some bridges are worth burning down. Forever.”
His words settle around my heart like glowing embers, driving away the everpresent shadow of bleakness little by little.
He was ready to kill his mother for me even though he was holding back when it came to protecting himself. He quit his flight that he was so proud to be part of. What does that say about him?
Baffled, I search his eyes for dishonesty, but only see sincerity shine out of his silvery gaze. His eyes soften imperceptibly as he takes in my glowing halo. "My shiny Starling." He whispers softly, brushing back a lock of hair from my cheek.
My throat suddenly feels tight, and I break the silent stare-off.
Alistair clears his throat, his tone a little cautious yet curious.
“Delight, you have a new glowing tattoo on your back.” The phantom whisper of his fingers along my spine elicits an involuntary shiver even though he’s not touching me.
“It's an overlapping pattern of a…swirly arrow aligning....seven rings?”