“Have you both considered relieving this tension through pleasures of the flesh? I think it would fix much of what is lacking between you.”
I choked on my spit and began hacking profusely as it went down the wrong pipe. My vision blurred as tears sprang to my eyes and my chest tightened.
A warm hand touched my shoulder before gently moving to slip under my back and help me sit. A cold wetness touched my lips, and on instinct I opened them, greedily drinking down the water provided. I drank until my stomach hurt from bloating and my throat no longer felt like I’d inhaled the sands from Eruthya’s deserts.
“We will not be engaging in physical intimacy,” Theo answered, his voice far too close to my ear, sending an entirely unwelcome shiver down my spine. That was funny, considering he’d just had a hard cock from merely the touch of my head in his lap. “Now, can we please focus on the quickening and what they saw? You said the images you gleaned when Kaida sent them to you were unusual.”
I was still stuck on Sinda plainly telling us to fuck out our problems, but quickly tucked it away. As my eyes opened and Theo took away the empty flask of water, I shoved down my pride and asked, “Can you please help prop me up against the wall?”
“And feed her some of your rations while we talk. I don’t care what mental war you two have going on, but I will not let my offsprings’ bonded die right after finding her. It is a pain that I do not wish upon anyone.”
Her anguish and demanding tone had me reflecting upon the memory of Theo’s mother being her bonded. She was right. Whatever Theo and I had going on couldn’t be my focus anymore, I had a baby dragon to take care of and be around for.
I turned my head, making eye contact with Theo out of my peripheral vision and nodded my agreement. “I won’t refuse, anymore. I need to regain my strength.”
He let out a breath and quickly helped slide me up against the wall before settling in at my side with bread and dried meat in his lap. Kaida had finished his meal and got up to follow me, curling up on my free side but not before narrowing his gaze on Theo.
I felt the drackya bristle and ask quietly, “What did I do to you? I’m your king and you will respect me, young one.”
Kaida lifted his head again at his words and let out a hiss as his body rumbled. I felt his protectiveness floating through our bond as he gently settled his head in my lap, getting his bloodymouth all over my clothing. That was going to be tedious to wash off in the springs.
Theo grumbled to himself as he began to feed me. I focused on chewing and swallowing as quickly as I could, stopping myself from thinking of how intimate this felt.
In-between bites, as I felt the energy to, I recounted our time in the dreamscape from beginning to end and was met with silence afterwards.
“The quickening wipes the dragon’s and human’s mind of who they are, in an effort to ensure the bond is of pure intent and not for malicious or personal gain on either side. It leaves you at your most authentic and pure self. If either participant fails to choose to save the life of the other, without knowing why they would do so, it signals you are not worthy and the bond will dissipate.”
Her words made sense, and I quickly swallowed my mouthful of bread before asking, “That sounds exactly like what happened–why would our experience be considered unusual?”
“Kaida is a seer.”
My head snapped toward Theo, despite my utmost desire to not look into his eyes with his nearness. Some things were too important. “What?”
“Yes, Katla and Kaida are both seers. It has been countless centuries since the last set lived. They are always born in pairs, with one seeing the future and one seeing the present.”Before I could ask which Kaida was, she answered.“Katla sees the present of any territory within Edath. On our hunting trips, I have taught her to use it to detect where our prey is. If news of her existence escaped this mountain, she would be hunted and bonds forced on her over and over, in an effort tocontrol her power for gain. Kaida has more security, being bonded to you already.”
So that meant Kaida saw the future. I thought back to his eyes swirling and sparking in the same manner as the sky during the quickening, as well as the way his words felt detached.
“From what I can deduce, I believe your quickening took place in the middle of Kaida having a premonition. There should have never been a third party there speaking to you, Siyana.”
My blood ran cold at the memory.
Choose. Either you die, or the dragon does.
I would never let Kaida die, if I had a say.
"Sinda and I talked of the plan to go to Sanctum and find answers while you both slept,” Theo offered as he lifted more dried beef to my mouth. I greedily chewed on it as I nodded for him to continue.
“If what you saw is the future, we have to take into consideration that it very well could be something we must face in search of the undine elemental god. Are you willing to fly there still?”
Before I could answer, my guard went on high alert as Katla left her mother’s side and slowly moved toward us. Kaida’s head popped up, and he issued a warning growl. His twin lowered her head and let out a whine as she continued closer, and my entire body went rigid as she stopped near my boots and looked at me.
“She’s waiting for permission to approach,” Theo whispered, startling me.
“Oh…oh!” I murmured, my heart beating frantically at the thought of her deciding I was once again a foe and biting my toes off. She waited so patiently and showed no signs of aggression, so I conceded, “You can approach.”
Instantly, Kaida and her leapt toward each other, rolling around and playfully nipping at one another. I couldn’t help butgrin at the babies, loving to see Kaida enjoying himself as he should at this age. He quickly wore himself out, however, clearly not recovered from the quickening either as he flopped to his side and panted.
“Since the completion of the quickening, Katla now senses his energy within you, as we all can. You are now dragon kin, Siyana. Welcome.”
