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8
Whistles erupted from the Elevated Warriors’ mouths, calling on each of their Dragons while we stood on the landing pad the next morning. Feelings of excitement, purpose, protection, and duty—among many others—burst inside of my chest the second the colorful creatures flew out of their lairs, diving towards us.
A small smile tilted my lips, enjoying the way each of the Dragons felt about helping their riders. It was truly humbling to feel them like I did. They were magical creatures in every sense, and I hoped to one day be able to understand them like my father had.
Lifting my fingers to my mouth, I whistled too, hoping Tharion wouldn’t behave like an ass, and actually come out so we could go on the rescue mission. It was all kind of hanging on him.
Spike, Fulgur, Ember and the others landed across from me while I waited, ready for their companions to mount them. Curious, I glanced up, wondering where the hell mine was, to find Luna graciously descending towards us. She didn’t need to be called by Evie, because she could sense her presence and her every need. Their connection went deeper than anything the human mind could understand.
That meant only one thing.
My head turned towards the castle entrance to find the doors opening. Evie walked through them with Kingston, Asher, Hanna, and two more warriors flanking her… and Willow. On the chief’s orders, Harrison, Fletcher, Penelope and the rest, had exited with me ahead of them. Smiling, I noticed that the first leather bodysuit I ever saw her wear clung to her curves. Its Dragon wings belt wrapped around her hips, holding her retractable spear, while the skirt’s straps swung over her thighs with every step.
Something told me it was like her war outfit.
“Morning, Princess,” the other warriors and I greeted in unison.
She answered with a brief nod, clearly having far more important things in her mind. Stopping before Luna, who landed closer to the door than the rest of us, she turned to Kingston, ironing out a few details before we left.
“Morning, Braxton.” The familiar voice took on an enticing tone.
I pulled my gaze away from Evie, to find Willow standing before me with an endearing smile. I frowned, she was clearly up to something. “Morning.”
“Did you sleep well?”
“Um…”
I wasn’t sure what to answer to that. The torturing nightmare had definitely succeeded in awakening my demons, but what I experienced afterwards, with my mom, had left me such peace that I awoke refreshed and deeply calmed. Granted, I still had no idea if that had been anything more than a dream; a really good dream. We couldn’t exactly visit heaven, or whatever the equivalent was for our world, and I had no proof other than the fact that I woke up on the floor. Yet, I knew one thing for sure, if that was our heaven, then my mother definitely belonged there.
“I slept well, and you?” I finally answered, bringing another smile out of her.
“Marvelously, thank you for asking.” She slipped her arm around mine. “Come with me for a moment. I have something for you.”
My mouth opened to reply but she didn’t really care about my answer, pulling me along with her to a corner of the space. Stopping near one of the cavern walls, she turned around and lifted a cloth bag I hadn’t noticed her holding.
“Here, I made this for you last night.”
“You made me something?” I asked, half smiling, just as movement called my attention from the left. Evie was glaring in our direction, probably wondering what this was regarding.
“Yes. Don’t you want to see what it is?”
My smile grew into a grin when my attention returned to Willow, and I took the bag, opening it. Holy shit, she had done it. She had made me a T-shirt out of the drawings I gave her, and the cotton we had requested from the elder sisters in the market. Pulling it out, I extended it, laying it on my chest to compare the size. The cotton in this world was softer than anything I had ever felt. The stitching was expertly done by hand in a silky blue thread, and my heart expanded with appreciation for her.
Before I realized what I was doing, I pulled her into my arms for a bear hug.
“Thank you so much, Willow.” Kissing her cheek, I leaned away, remembering too late that this type of physical interaction wasn’t as natural in this world as it was back on Earth, and I had never really hugged her before today.
Willow’s snowy cheeks turned cherry red, onyx eyes growing wide, and she pressed her lips together to contain the laughter bubbling inside her. She was shocked by my reaction, but she was also thoroughly amused.
“I’m so sorry,” I blurted. “I am just so happy, and—”
She shook her head, chuckling a bit. “No need to apologize. Happy is good. I’m glad my gift made you happy.”
“You have no idea.”
“Well, aren’t you going to put it on?”
“Not exactly. I’m not going to undress in front of you.” That was clearly the lamest excuse ever, but I didn’t want to have to explain my scars.
