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Claws stop scraping plates. Conversation halts. Breathing is no longer a choice. Everyone is frozen to their seats, staring at Nyx and waiting to see what he will do.
Cailian stretches his arm across the table and takes Nyx’s hand. “It is fine, My Dove. They deserve to hear the truth from me since I am now one of their Princes.”
“You don’t have to answer them. You don’t have to answer to anyone.” Nyx brings Cailian’s hands to his lips, giving it a kiss.
His free hand finds a home on my knee, and I have to hide my happiness because he is always finding a way to touch the both of us.
“I do not mind.” Cailian turns to the dragon staring daggers at him, picking up the glass of water and taking a sip before speaking. “I did kill his father. It does not get easier to say. Nomatter how much time has passed. No matter how many times I answer this question. No matter how many times I see the sadness in my mate’s eyes every time he looks at me. The guilt of killing my best friend is with me every day. I dream about it all the time, wishing how it could be different, wishing how he were still here with us.” Cailian wipes his cheek before anyone can notice he is crying.
“That’s enough,” Nyx says, grabbing our chairs at the same time and tugging us to him. “He doesn’t deserve to get interrogated for something he did eight hundred years ago.”
“Why did you do it?” A female dragon asks, and she doesn’t sound rude, just curious.
I’m not sure of her name. I need to make note of it so I can learn all the female dragons. Apparently, they patrol most of the time which is why we don’t see them often. Nyx said last night while we were falling asleep that the women while smaller, are quicker, and are far more brutal than any male dragon of his.
I laughed because that aspect of being a female seems to be the same across all species, not just one.
She stares at Cailian, sipping her velvelore juice while waiting for him to answer. She is fucking beautiful. Her scales are just as dark, but there is a faint blue hue to them that Nyx doesn’t have. Her eyes are a bright hot blue, the same color as the hottest part of a flame. Her wings are smaller and more compact, tucked down her back. Her long dark hair is up in a ponytail, and she drags her claws through the strands.
Cailian shuts his eyes for a moment, a massive wave of emotions filled with sorrow and guilt have me gripping the edge of the table. The pain takes my breath. I glance over to Nyx to see him rubbing his chest, his amber eyes glowing with tears.
“I want to tell you, I do.” He nods, giving her a sad smile. “I am not trying to be difficult, but I can’t tell you why. Loyalty is a component in my blood. Please, know I mourn my friendevery day. I think about him constantly. We would always have breakfast or lunch in the middle of the heartsnow. He would stay on his side, I would stay on mine, and we would talk. He was my best friend and I have to live with what I did every day until death takes me.”
Nyx growls, dragging his claws across the table. “You won’t be dying on my watch, Treasure.”
Cailian takes a sip of water and blows a kiss at Nyx. “Always be ready for the unexpected. Death is by far the biggest surprise one ever receives.” Cailian looks down at his food, the faint color on his cheeks retreating. “I apologize. I am not feeling well. If you will excuse me.” His chair grinds across the floor before he dashes to the staircase, leaving the table in silence.
Nyx stands, watching Cailian retreat, his wings spreading so fast, the breeze from them cause pieces of hair to dance in front of my face. I blow them out of the way, tucking the loose strands behind my ear.
Nyx’s breathing speeds up, his shoulders rising and falling with every inhale and exhale. Black smoke swims in clouds as it leaves his nose and fire begins to dance across his scales.
“Nyx,” I whisper, placing my hand on his arm to bring him back to me. His fury is building, and it is hot. Literally. I can feel it and I’m beginning to sweat. “Nyx, it is okay.”
“Duck,” he orders, and I don’t dare to disobey him.
His body trembles as his muscles grow. His tail becomes longer, and his growls become deeper. With a savage roar, he purges the flames inside him while picking up the table and tossing it through the air, sending a few dragons along with it.
I duck just in time, falling to the floor to crawl behind him. I rest my back against his massive legs. His tail wraps around me, a gesture that has me relaxing, knowing I am safe from his wrath.
“How dare you!” he shouts at his fleet. “How dare you upset my firebond after I said not to ask him questions. I should send you to the dungeons myself, so you never see the light of day. No, better yet, I should chain you with an iron bracelet laced in troll blood, and watch as you wish you could shift, but can’t. I want to see you struggle for how you just made my firebond struggle. You clearly defied me. I do not care if you don’t like my firebond, but disrespecting him, disrespects me. This is your warning. Do it again and I will kill you.”
“No you won’t.”
I gasp when I hear another say that out loud.
“I won’t? Do you forget I am a Prince? That I have royal blood inside me? Apparently I don’t use the power often enough. I’m connected to you all as you have pledged yourself to me.”
My back becomes warm, my skin begins to sweat, and I scoot across the floor to get away from him. I exhale with relief. Damn, he gets hot.
“Burn,” he states.
“What? N-No-Prince Dovenyx, please, I—”
“I said burn!” he roars.
I peek around Nyx’s body, past the meats and vegetables strung across the floor, to another dragon to the left.
Smoke begins to lift from him, his scales drying, rolling tightly as they lose their moisture.
