“Relax, friend,” the dragon rumbled, voice deep as the earth. “Rest.”
“Who are you?” I blurted before I could stop myself.
“Sy,” he said simply.
“Sy. Sy is a cool name.”
The dragon nodded.
“I’m Ash.”
“I know. She speaks of you often.”
“She does?” My whole chest lit up. I looked at Seph again like she was a miracle.
“She says you are…” Sy cleared his throat, looking almost amused. “Sweet. And honest.”
“She’s amazing,” I breathed. “She’s mine.”
Sy just smiled in amusement. “You love her.”
“Of course! She’s incredible.”
“I am glad. She is a very special girl. An important girl.”
“In what way?”
“What do you know of the balance?”
“That it’s impossible.” A voice said from the cave entrance. I looked up and saw K and Dev entering, clearly having scaled the walls throughout the night. Sy stilled and watched them like a predator. K just kept his eyes on him.
“True balance does not exist.”
“You enter my home without an invitation, lightning wielder.”
K gestured to Seph. “She’s my invite, dragon. I go where she goes.”
Sy slowly stalked towards him, not an ounce of fear on his face. Dev stepped back uncertainly. Even he could sense the power within Sy.
“Guys, stop. Sy saved us. He’s nice.”
Sy snorted and looked at me, as if he found me amusing.
Beside me Seph stirred. All three of them stepped as if to come to her, but an involuntary growl escaped me. I twisted so I blocked her from them.
“Ash,” K asked, as if testing me.
Seph blindly reached for me and touched my pants leg as she woke.
“Ash?”
I smiled broadly and turned to her. “There you are.”
“What happened?” she yawned.
“You used your ability. On Ollie.” Dev said, his voice quiet. Everyone looked at him. K’s eyes blinked in surprise.
Dev stepped forward to Seph’s side and knelt beside her. “It’s time we talked about this, Seph.”
