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He growls again, and l try but fail to stifle a weak laugh.
“Look at that,” she tells Aurdyn, gesturing to me. “You’ve put her in good spirits. At least you’re good for something, it seems.”
He narrows his eyes, and I laugh again.
“Your color is returning.” She touches my cheek. “Are you in any pain?”
I consider her question, trying to find the best way to explain the bone deep discomfort that moves through me. “It’s strange… almost like… being burned, but from inside.” Aurdyn’s eyes widen. “I—I cannot quite explain it. It is not pain exactly, but a dull, raw ache.”
“Do you remember what happened?” Aurdyn asks.
“Some but not all,” I murmur. Lifting my free hand, I study my palm as flits of memory return. “I conjured flame to shield us, but I—” I shake my head. “I’m not sure how. I’ve never done anything like that before.”
“I believe it is an effect of our bond,” he explains. “You are able to create my Dragon’s fire. You inherited this from me, through our connection.”
Myriad images flood my mind and I gasp as I remember him shifting forms. “Oh, Aurdyn, your wing.” I glance over his shoulder. “Did you hurt it when you changed into a full Dragon?”
“Do not worry for me.” Tenderly, he brushes the hair back from my face and then arches a teasing brow. “I am a Dragon. My kind are strong. I am fine. Concentrate on yourself. You need to rest and gather your strength, so we may leave for the Ice Mountains.”
“But why did I fall unconscious in the first place? Why do I feel so weak?” I ask. “Was it something to do with the magic?”
He gives me a sobering nod, and Healer Trian steps forward. “You’ve inherited fire magic from your Fated One, but you must be careful how you use it.”
“I—I’m not even sure how I did it in the first place,” I counter.
Trian studies me a moment. “And you’ve never done anything like it before? Never manifested any powers?”
Thinking of my visions, I exchange a quick glance with Aurdyn, and then shake my head ‘no.’ Trian seems friendly enough, but the only person I trust entirely right now is my Dragon protector.
As if sensing this, she meets my gaze evenly. “I am not your enemy, and I do not wish you harm. I know your people condemn those who have magic, but our kind are not this way. And we have never aligned ourselves with the Mages, nor do we trust them.”
That much was obvious to me when Garvin denied having seen me and the other remained silent when the Mage offered a reward for me.
“If one of them found us, others will not be far behind,” Aurdyn says darkly. “Now that I am able to fly, I will check the forest surrounding the village for any signs of danger while you rest. We should leave tomorrow at first light, if you are able.”
“She should be well rested by then,” Trian chimes in.
“We could just leave now,” I offer, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. But when I stand, the world starts to spin.
Aurdyn snags an arm around my waist and carefully sets me back down on the bed, his gaze full of disapproval. “Do not be stubborn. You cannot travel like this.”
“I’m not being—” I start to say ‘stubborn’ but stop as he narrows his eyes, growling at me.
“Do not try to deny it,” he grumbles. “I already know how you are.”
My jaw drops.
He turns to Trian. “I will return shortly. If anything happens to her while I am gone, I will raze this pitiful village to the ground. Do you understand?”
All the color drains from her face as she nods.
“Rest.” He points a stern finger at me. “I will be back in less than an hour.”
As soon as he leaves, Trian walks over to me. A faint smile tugs at her mouth as she shakes her head softly. “Never thought I’d see the day a Dragon was tamed by a human.”
“I’ve nottamedhim,” I deny. “We’re—” I start to say ‘friends,’ but as the memory of our kiss returns, my cheeks heat, and I know it is more than this, so instead I say, “boundto each other. That is all.”
“Is that what you’re calling his obsession with you?” She shakes her head. “He was so worried about you, I thought for a moment he’d burn us all last night, blaming me for you not awakening.”
