Chapter 58
I awoke in the very room where I had pricked my finger on the spindle—only this time, Queen Sonara was nowhere to be found.
Exhaustion settled deep into my bones, dragging my body down even as I struggled to rise. With a groan, I forced my body upright, trying to shake off the drowsiness of my enchanted slumber.
All I wanted to do was sink back against the pillows and sleep.
Instead, I swung my legs around and tried to stand. My legs wobbled like a newborn calf, and I hissed in pain, gripping the bedpost for support. I helplessly cast another look around the empty room.
No one was here.
Where was Fenn? And Mal?
“Dammit all, Aurelia,” I growled at myself. “You are the Dragon Queen. If you can’t shake off a little sleepiness, then what the hell are you good for?”
I summoned my power—just a kernel of it. I let it glow in my chest, spreading warmth and energy across my body. Flames coiled low in my belly as magic sizzled in my blood.
With a gasp, I straightened, all fatigue and sluggishness leaving me in an instant. I vaguely remembered Rosalina wounding me during our battle, but I felt no pain. There were no lingering injuries. Somehow, I had been healed.
My fingers twitched, eager for me to shift into my dragon form.
But I couldn’t. Not yet. If I did that here, I would destroy the castle.
With renewed energy, I burst out of the room. A passing servant yelped when she saw me, and I frantically asked where I could find Cela. With a shaky finger, the maid pointed down the hall.
I found my handmaid changing the linens in my old bedchamber. When I entered, she dropped the wadded up sheets with a sharp gasp, then rushed toward me, arms out, as she pulled me to her in a tight embrace. Startled, I held her, touched by her show of affection.
“My lady!” Cela withdrew to look me over, eyes wide and cheeks pink. “Are you well?”
“I am. Can you tell me where my dragon is? And where is Fenn?”
Cela’s face paled. “You have not heard?”
“Heard what?” I asked impatiently.
She quickly filled me in on what had happened. Sonara’s death. Autumn’s army.
And Fenn, racing to head them off.
I didn’t hesitate. In seconds, I was taking off down the hall, flying down the staircase and out into the courtyard. Several servants stared in alarm as I sprinted, trying to put as much distance between myself and the castle as possible.
My heart slammed against my ribcage, my breaths coming in short spurts as I turned back to stare up at the towering turrets of Fenn’s home.
In the Dream Realm, things had been different; there was no risk when I shifted. It was all an illusion. If I damaged anything, there were no consequences.
But here and now, there were people I might hurt. Buildings I might crush.
Sweat trickled down my brow as I assessed my surroundings. A servant drew closer, a question in his eyes, but I waved him away.
“Get back!” I cried. “All of, you get back!”
He had the good sense to flee, drawing other servants with him until I stood alone in the middle of the courtyard.
Part of me knew that the only reason I’d been able to unlock my dragon form was because of the Dream Realm. I hadn’t held anything back. That release, that trust in my magic, was precisely what I had needed .
It was exactly what Mal had told me. To trust my magic, like I trusted him when we flew.
With this in mind, I closed my eyes, and unleashed it all. I spread my arms wide, freeing my dragon from her restraints.
Be free, I thought.
Power exploded from me. Fire roared in my chest, spreading through my body and heating me down to the tips of my toes. With an almighty cry, I released a jet of blue flames that ignited along my arms. My body lifted and grew in size, just like during my fight with Rosalina. A tail swished behind me, and wings spread from my shoulder blades. More, more, more, my body continued to grow until I was heavy and massive and powerful.
In moments, I stood in my dragon form, towering over the courtyard. Screams echoed nearby, but they were distant enough to reassure me no one stood within striking range.
Unlike when I had shifted to attack the unseelie, I felt in complete control. I remembered who I was and why I was here.
Fenn. I needed to find Fenn.
I took stock of my body, gazing down at my midnight black scales. So much like Mal… My dragon form must have been part of the Darkener species, just like him.
I wriggled my clawed feet, breaking concrete with my heavy steps. My barbed tail swung to the left and right. I exhaled a puff of ash and tried to spread my wings.
Nothing happened.
With a growl of frustration, I tried again, focusing on where I thought my shoulder blades were. One shoulder rolled. Then, I felt it. The muscle connecting my right wing. Gingerly, I flexed it.
My right wing spread wide, casting a large shadow over the courtyard as it blocked the light of the moon. Triumph raced through me, and I spread the other wing as well. Once I located those muscles, it was as easy as breathing.
I flapped both wings, and a gust of wind billowed from the motion. With a roar, I took to the skies, wings beating as I floated higher and higher. Delight raced through me from the feeling of flying freely. Completely on my own. The wind whistled past me as I arced through the sky. I curved to the right, away from the castle, and put on a burst of speed, flapping my wings with more force. My scales protected me from the moisture and the wind, and I felt nothing but freedom, the weightlessness of gliding through the sky.
A hum of delight burned in my throat, and I released a stream of blue fire into the air. Burning suns, there was nothing like it!
I soared higher until I could make out the tips of the Mistwood Hills. The sight of it sobered me, reminding me of the task at hand.
Fenn and Mal were in trouble. I had to get to them.
Sudden awareness rippled through me, and I looked around in alarm, trying to find the source of it. After a moment, I realized it sounded like… voices.
I closed my eyes, concentrating. Then?—
Aurelia?
My heart lurched. I knew that voice!
Mal? I thought.
You have done it. You have unlocked your power. There was pride in his voice.
I tried to laugh, but in my dragon form, it came out as a low huff. Yes, I have. Thanks to you. Where are you?
Just south of the Autumn Palace. Fenn and I are in danger.
I’m coming.
Aurelia… You might need to summon the others.
I faltered. Others?
The other dragons. You are their queen, after all.
Uncertainty bubbled in my chest at the thought. Could I do this? I had only just unlocked my powers.
Put your trust in your magic, Aurelia.
I took a deep breath and searched within myself, trying to isolate another voice from inside me. They were merging together, mingling to form an incomprehensible babble, like a churning river.
When I focused on one, I called out, Jorey?
I wasn’t sure how I knew it was him, but I did.
His voice fell silent, just before he exploded with delight.
Aurelia! Is it really you? Have you done it? I knew you could! You were always so capable, so strong. I knew you had it in you. This is wonderful! The kingdom is saved! Now we can ? —
Jorey, I said, cutting him off. I need your help. Can you gather some dragons and meet me in the Autumn Court ?
Yes, of course, my queen. Right away. I will do this for you immediately. You can count on me. I will ? —
I tuned out his eager voice, relief and amusement coursing through me.
I could speak to the dragons. We could communicate.
Gods, it was almost too much for me to process. All these abilities, all this power…
But no. I could focus on it later. For now, Fenn needed me.
I pumped my wings again and took off toward the hills. With ease, I burst through the strange mist surrounding the Star Court. A stream of sunlight burned against my eyes, but I put on more speed, my wings beating even faster.
A tingle of awareness shivered past me, and I slowed, my eyes surveying the skies. Something else was here. Was it one of my dragons? Had they already reached me?
But this presence felt different. Foreign. It was not a form of dragon magic, that much I knew.
A blast of power shot toward me, and I spun, narrowly avoiding getting struck. I growled and flew lower, my clawed feet brushing against the treetops. More magic flashed, and I ducked and dodged, weaving my way through the trees and using the branches as cover for whatever magic was after me.
I had just flown past the Autumn Palace when I caught sight of the massive army heading toward my kingdom. A snarl built up in my throat when I spotted Mal and Fenn, standing amidst a crowd of soldiers, swords swinging. Mal leapt on one soldier, tearing out his throat before moving on to another. Next to him, Fenn struck with lithe grace, but his ashen complexion and hooded eyes betrayed his exhaustion.
He wouldn’t last much longer.
A roar burst from me, and the fighting halted as everyone froze to stare at my mighty form approaching. The ground shook when I landed next to Fenn and Mal. Several soldiers dived out of the way, afraid of being crushed by my landing.
I could hardly blame them. In my dragon form, I was more than twice Mal’s size, and I towered over the army easily. It wouldn’t take much to wipe them out. My blue fire alone could melt the flesh off their bones .
The soldiers withdrew, swords still raised, but fear apparent on their faces.
And there was Callan, cowering behind his horse. His wide eyes flicked from Fenn to me and back again. “Fennick, what is this?”
“A reminder of who you’re facing,” Fenn panted, wiping sweat from his brow. Despite his fatigue, he offered a cruel smile. “May I present, Aurelia Perdis, sovereign of the Summer Court, and the Dragon Queen of the Realm of Valora.”
My chin lifted at the pride in his voice, and I fixed a steely stare on Callan, who had gone paler than death.
“Dragon Queen?” he repeated weakly. “ Aurelia ? You—You cannot be serious.”
I pulled on the power within me and shifted to my mortal form, appearing in the same blue dress I had worn in the dreamscape. Callan stumbled backward, practically falling over in his shock.
I offered him a simpering smile. “You’re lucky I haven’t turned you into ash, Callan. I have control over the dragons, and I have already summoned them here. You know you cannot win this. Turn back now. Before I end you.”
He swallowed, his throat bobbing as he glanced over my shoulder as if expecting my army of dragons to descend at any moment. He then looked at the rows of soldiers behind him The horses were still rearing, pawing at the ground in agitation. The few riders who had been thrown from their mounts were scrambling backward, away from me and Mal.
Callan had lost the courage of his men. He had lost their respect. There was nothing left for him now.
“The Dream Mage is dead,” I said firmly. “You do not need to fear her retribution.”
Callan’s head swung to face me. “How can you be sure?”
“Because I killed her,” I said icily. “And I will kill you, too, if you bring your armies onto my soil.”
Callan’s jaw went rigid, and he rubbed the back of his neck. “Aurelia… I had no choice.”
“Save it, Callan.”
He flinched from the harshness of my tone. “Aurelia, please?—”
“Our alliance will remain intact, but only if you take your forces and go. ” This was more mercy than he deserved. Fire burned within me, begging for me to slice open his throat for attacking Fenn.
But I needed to be diplomatic. And Fenn had been right—my court needed allies.
Callan nodded stiffly, then turned to a soldier and muttered something. The soldier shouted orders through the cavalry, and row by row, the forces began retreating, turning back toward their castle.
I stood, watching them go with a stony expression. Callan looked at me, his mouth opening as if to say something. But my glare had him closing his mouth and turning away from me without a word.
Together, Mal, Fenn, and I remained standing in the grass, our eyes never leaving the retreating army. Even long after they vanished from view, we stood there, unmoving.
At long last, I let my shoulders droop, overcome with fatigue. In seconds, Fenn had me gathered against his chest, crushing me in a tight embrace.
“Gods above, Aurelia,” he murmured, stroking my hair, his hand cradling the back of my head as he held me. “I love you. I love you with all my heart. I should have said it before.”
I sagged against him, letting him hold me as if he could piece together every part of my shattered soul. I inhaled his delicious cool mint scent, memorizing the warmth of him, the feel of his hands on me.
“I love you, too,” I whispered, feeling fresh tears drip down my face.
He withdrew to look me over, his eyes full of concern. “Are you hurt? Did she hurt you?”
“My shoulder was injured, but when I awoke from the dreamscape, it had healed. I think passing through the realms brought some of the witches’ healing magic with me. Or it was my dragon magic.”
“So, she is really dead? The Dream Mage?”
I nodded. “I watched the life leave her eyes, Fenn. It’s done.”
He laughed in amazement, then drew me in again, bringing my lips to his. His mouth claimed me, his tongue pressing between my lips as he infused all his desperation and emotions into that singular, bruising kiss.
When he withdrew, he pressed his forehead to mine, and I focused on the feel of his breath, his heartbeat pulsing in time with mine.
A cacophony of roars filled the air, and we broke apart to find Jorey and four other dragons flying toward us. I grinned widely, waving them toward us.
As soon as Jorey landed, he pounced on Fenn. Fenn yelped, falling to the earth as Jorey licked his cheek.
A delighted laugh burst from me as I surveyed the others—the twins, a pair of auburn dragons named Calliope and Desdemona, a crimson dragon named Leo, and a tall bronze dragon named Raddigan.
I surged toward my dragons, arms spread wide as they nudged closer to me. Calliope pressed her snout into my shoulder, and Desdemona tenderly licked my ear. Tears pricked at my eyes as I embraced them. Part of me hadn’t believed I’d really communicated with them. Part of me feared I had imagined the whole thing.
But they were here. They had heard my call and come to my aid.
“The army has left,” I told them. “We are safe. Thank you for coming to assist us.”
Calliope purred, nuzzling further into me. For a moment, I did nothing but hold my dragons, reassuring myself that they were here, they were unharmed, and we had saved the kingdom. Just for this moment, I needed that peace.
“What happens now?” Fenn asked. He had risen to his feet and was scratching under Jorey’s chin.
I turned to look at him in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“You got your memories back. Your kingdom is safe. What will you do?” A rare note of vulnerability laced his tone.
I drew closer to him and pressed the flat of my palm against his cheek, feeling the prickle of stubble on his face. “Now, we return to my court and ensure the curse is broken. I’ll introduce you to my family as my betrothed. And then, we plan our wedding.”
A slow smile spread on his face. “You—You wish to marry me? Even after everything?”
I kissed him again, long and sensuous, my tongue sliding along his lower lip with agonizing slowness. He shuddered, a growl building in his throat as his hands came around my waist, gripping me firmly.
“Yes,” I whispered against his lips. “I will marry you, Fenn. If you’ll have me.”
He answered by nipping at my lip, and I laughed. He kissed me again and again, bringing his mouth to my throat, my jaw, my collarbone. For what felt like hours, we stood there, holding each other and making up for lost time while the dragons chased each other in the grass. We still had foes to face and conflicts to resolve, but here in this moment, we were simply two people in love, eager to spend the rest of eternity together.