‘I can sacrifice myself for you, sugar,’ he said with a wink.
River shifted beside me.
I smiled at Isla’s logic. ‘They do sometimes. But don’t fae marry their mates?’
‘Oh yes, you’re right. Maybe Maddie can help you find yours in Fogoya, she always helps me findthings.’
By the time we returned, night had fallen, though I felt refreshed instead of tired. The day’s peacefulness had soothed me more than I’d realised I needed.
Inviting my dragon to join me in the courtyard, we basked together in the moonlight, simply enjoying the quiet and the clear sky, its countless stars scattered like unruly fireflies.
I'd always loved gazing at the stars. I admired their quiet resilience, how they continued to shine despite the endless darkness around them.
‘You seem stronger,’ Anya observed with a snort.
‘My body’s finally healing. My mother’s curse… I’ve never heard of anything like it. It’s a miracle I survived.’
‘It was pure death.’
I hesitated. ‘I never asked what it was like for you when I…’
‘When you died?’ Anya groaned in my mind. ‘It felt like something pulled out each of my fangs, then hacked off my wings. Like you took them with you.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘You can be sorry for shutting me out, and I’ll scorch you myself if you ever do it again, but not for that. That wasn’t your fault… It was hers.’
Anya suddenly stilled, ears twitching. Her attention snapped to the treeline, where a flaming figure stepped out from the shadows.
‘Who are you?’ I called, ready to run, even though I knew I didn't have to. I might not have been able to fight him, but my dragon wouldn’t hesitate to.
The closer he came, the more disturbing his appearance became. He was missing several fingers, and a deep gash marred his face.
‘Fucking witches!’ he roared, conjuring swords of fire. Anya’s answering bellow shook the ground, and she sent a warning plume of flame his way. He jumped back, eyes wide, though vengeance still burned in them.
‘I’m going to gut you like your kind do mine!’ he shouted, charging and retreating between her strikes. She was trying to deter him, not kill him, but even her patience began to fray.
‘Adrian, stand down!’ River’s voice cut through the chaos as he ran in, his power extinguishing the man’s flames instantly. The man struggled against his grip, trying to break free, but River held firm.
‘Calm down,’ he ordered again.
‘She’s a witch! I’ll slaughter all of them—they deserve to die!’ Adrian’s voice cracked, thick with hatred. My heart sank.
What had my people done to him?
River’s reply was low but sharp as a blade. ‘Not her.’
He dragged him away into the night.
The King
Dragging him up to my office was a chore. He thrashed enough to make it difficult even for me, but I wouldn’t let him come near Ava.
I wasn’t particularly worried about her safety currently, considering her dragon looked ready to pounce, but it would have ended tragically if she were alone.
Anger rose in me, my fire coiling, poised to smite him. He had tried to touch what didn’t belong to him, and a part of me I was even afraid of wanted his blood. The logical side, the king, forced me to think beyond the moment.
Adrian was a good man. A soldier. He loved this kingdom above all else. In Ava all he had seen was a witch. That had been my view once as well. Could I really blame him? My fire did.
