“No!” I roared and flew to him. His body was awkwardly spread over the ground in his man form. The snow tainted blue around him. I landed a few feet away and shifted, running to his side. Not again. I couldn’t go through this again. “Father! Look at me. Look at me!”
A deep gash was on the right side of his chest, and the blood was pouring out. It wasn’t a deadly injury for a Drayvok, but Avra’s body wasn’t healing. I realized to my dismay that his scales no longer pulsed over his skin; his dragon was nowhere to be found.
“Father!” Kyr shouted desperately next to me, while he knelt with Ash on the other side.
“We have to do something!” Ash demanded as his hands tried to stop the blood from coming out.
“You did it,” Avra rasped, looking at Ash. “I knew you could.” He coughed, struggling to breathe.
“Don’t do this, damn it!” Ash shouted. “You just married our mother, just returned to her. Don’t do this!”
A tear left Avra’s eyes. “Tell your mother I love her, and that I would do it all again.” His hand weakly cupped Kyr’s cheek and then collapsed to the snow covered ground.
“No!” I screamed at the top of my lungs and began to rock next to him, desperately searching my mind for something we could do to save him.
“He’s barely breathing.” Kyr whispered as tears left his eyes. The teardrops that fell from my eyes and Ash’s mixed with Kyr’s over our father’s chest, and my eyes widened.
“An energy drink!” I shouted, repeating Gabriella’s words for when we drank our combined blood back at the temple. I turned to my brothers. “The Bond of Three makes our powers stronger. Our blood can already heal, but if we combined them, their power can—”
“Save him!” Kyr finished, and I nodded.
“But we don’t have enough time to fly all the way up and merge.” Ash reminded.
“Then we’ll just have to make do.”
Exchanging one last glance, we began to run in the snow and jumped, transforming into our dragons. We flew low, around the curve of the mountain and headed back, letting Ash take the spot above us as we rushed towards our father, he fell on us and suddenly the energy became searing hot, merging us together.
One dragon. Tree heads. One consciousness.
We roughly landed close to our father and hurried to his side.
“Hold on, we are here for you.” I sent into his mind.
Ash raked his claw under a couple of scales on our hand, and the blood came pouring out. He gently lifted our claw over Avra’s head just as Selenia got to his side. She immediately realized what we were trying to do and lifted him to her lap, tilting Father’s head back, and opening his mouth. Her palms compressed the slice on his chest, as she began to recite a spell and our combined blood dripped into his mouth.
“Please work, please work.” Ash begged through our bond, although the blood was pouring back out of Avra’s mouth. He wasn’t swallowing.
“Selenia!” I roared and she smacked his cheek hard, trying to bring him back to consciousness. His lids fluttered, although his eyes didn’t open, but he began to swallow slowly. Drop by drop, the shimmering blue blood made it down his throat while we watched him.
“How long do we give him blood?” Ash inquired worriedly.
“As long as he continues to drink it, or we run out of blood,” Kyr said resolutely, and we became silent.
*
I wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but the war had finally ended around us, and our father continued to drink. It was a slight movement of his throat, barely visible as he instinctively swallowed, but it was there. Selenia still whispered her spell over and over with her eyes closed, and her trembling hands remained on Avra’s chest. Some of the warriors had left, to cure their wounds and mourn their losses, while other’s remained. Standing around us, their heads bowed in respect and prayer for their Dragon Lord.
The snow was red and black on the frozen lands, evidence of the battle and death it had witnessed. At some point, someone had taken a cloak and laid it over our father’s naked body, to cover him, and keep him warm, but my brothers and I hadn’t dared move. Avrielle, Gabriella, Kahina and Gallai were inside the temple with our debilitated mother, who was affected by our father’s injury—reluctantly feeling her mate die. Theo sat next to our grandmother, his elven magic, shimmering over Avra’s chest, which barely moved with his shallow breaths.
The Summer Queen had entered the temple with Avrielle, and was sitting by our mother’s side, supporting her. She knew the pain of losing a mate all too well, and now so did I. No one had yet told her that her only daughter was dead—a casualty of our war, and my stupidity.
I wanted to tell her myself. I owed her that much.
If I had accepted Aura as mine before, if I had claimed her, she too would have been protected; covered in armor by the scales that my dragon would have given her. If I hadn’t left her down there, thinking she was safe with the warriors…
My eyes swept Father’s face as numbness spread inside me. Nothing but a hollow man was left in my place. I couldn’t lose him too. A breath suddenly exhaled from his lips, his chest sinking, and he stopped moving. Tears brimmed my eyes at the realization. Ash lifted our hand away from his lips, and we separated, returning to our man forms. We looked at our grandmother as she removed her hands from his chest. The gash had closed. I kneeled again, cupping his cheek, and placed a kiss on our father’s forehead. The weird temperature of his skin in the freezing cold reached me.
“I think it is time to take him inside, so Mother can say goodbye.”
My brothers reluctantly nodded at my words, and we reached for him. A heavy breath left Kyr, frosting Father’s skin as it touched him. My mind awoke then.
Ice Dragon!
I ripped the coat that warmed Avra’s body and began to cover him with the energy-bursting snow of the frozen lands. The White Haunted Mountain contained the most powerful energy in our realm, and so did the land that surrounded it. My brothers caught on quickly, and helped me until he was fully sheltered by the snow.
My chest constricted as the minutes passed, unyielding, and I stopped breathing while hope seeped into me. Maybe, just maybe…
“Hope changes everything…” Aura’s words echoed in my mind then, and I dared to let hope fill me whole.
“Come back to us, Father.” I urged out loud. “We need you!”
Reaching for his hand under the natural frozen blanket, I squeezed it and my eyes widened. I swept the thick layer of snow away from his arm and saw the scales begin to pulse over his body. I desperately shoved more snow away, uncovering his chest, and the scales began erupting out of him, shielding him in a frost white suit of armor, just like ours.
Gasps and cries of relief erupted from everyone around us, just as Father’s eyes fluttered opened, and he took in a ragged breath. Frosted snowflakes escaped his lips as his gaze fell on us. “I knew you could do it…”
I walked towards the temple behind my brothers, while they helped our father. He was still weak, but he was alive, and his dragon was back.
They went into the magnificent—now fully visible—white sanctuary, but before I could step in, a hand held me back. I turned to find Theo behind me. We stepped aside so the others could enter, until we stood alone. Agony, similar to the one I felt tearing at my insides, darkened his golden eyes and I frowned.
“Is everything all right?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know how to admit this. I never thought I would be asking this of a true friend like you. Believe me, I know what kind of man this makes me, but if I don’t say what I need to say to you, I will die all over again.”
I reached for his shoulder, concerned. “What is it?”
“Please don’t choose Kahina.” My eyes widened at his words. “Somehow, somewhere, the Goddess thought me worthy of a second chance, and granted me a silver bond… with her… with Kah. I can smell her, I can feel her and so she can feel me too. I know you said she was yours, but I beg of you, with everyth
ing in me. I can’t go through this again… lose love again. I will die without her. So, please… if you are Drayvok, if you can choose anyone you want. Please, don’t choose Kah. Don’t make her yours.”
Theo’s eyes shone as I looked into them, and I realized just how cruel and ironic life could be. “Did something happen between you?”
Theo’s eyes filled with shame as a tear escaped him. “We kissed last night, but nothing else. She won’t hurt you like that. She said she promised to be yours and she won’t—” he paused, trying to regain his composure. “Please forgive me.”
I gripped Theo’s face, looking intently into his eyes. “Don’t! Don’t be sorry, fight for her. If you can feel her, smell her, if you want to love her… then claim her. Make her yours. Show her you are the only one who can make her happy. If she wants you too, don’t let our promise come in the way of your second chance.” My jaw strained while I struggled to hold back the emotion scorching my insides. “Do what I should have done when I had the chance. Love her.”
He pulled me into his arms for a fierce hug, and then rushed into the temple after Kahina. I swallowed the pain threatening to tear me in two and stepped in. My gaze went to the multitude of people there, celebrating our victory and commemorating the losses, but I slipped by them unnoticed, to return to my room. I wanted just a few moments with my Aura, before I had to give her to her mother for a royal burial.
I entered the room, not bothering to ignite the magical sconces, and slipped into the bed next to Aura. Darkness surrounded us as my scale armor disappeared so our skins could touch. Her once warm body was utterly cold under my hands, forcing the tears out of me. I wrapped my arms around her, and clung to her, while my dragon bellowed in pain inside me.
“I’m sorry. I am so sorry.” I cried, caressing her back with my fingertips. The pulsing of my scales was intense and distraught, and I couldn’t feel anything else but the loss of her.
“If you are out there, then I’m out there, fighting by your side. I love you, Nyx, and if I die tonight, so be it. I don’t want to live without you.”
Her words returned, ripping apart what was left of me. I held her, pressing my face into the curve of her neck and my tears began to soak her skin. I shut my eyes, holding her impossibly closer, wishing I could change this. I needed her, and I wasn’t sure I could survive without her.
A light tingling reached my chest and I froze. My eyes slowly opened to find pink tendrils of static energy coming out of Aura’s chest. My heart stopped. The rampant rhythm of my pulsing scales stopped, and the cries of pain thundering from my dragon ceased. The world froze and then I felt it, heard it… the weak beating of her heart.
“Aura,” I called, praying I hadn’t imagined it. My hand caressed her cheek, trying to get her to open her eyes. “Aura!”
Could it be possible? Could I get a second miracle this day? I stared into her eyes, as they fluttered open. Radiant ocean blue irises stole my sanity, and my mouth crashed over hers, claiming her lips in a desperate kiss that robbed us both of breath. The tingling concentrated over our chests, and I leaned away to see her pink energy now almost electrifying as it gained strength, pulling yellow tendrils out of me.
They connected with the other, becoming even more intense, and shot out from us, covering every inch of the darkened room. The pink and yellow wisps of electricity slowly moved, dancing to their own rhythm in the shadows that surrounded us, covering every inch of the room.
A phenomenon of love and power, which only our essences could create.
“Did we win?” her voice was barely audible, she was still weak, but she was alive.
The tears fell freely from my eyes and I incredulously smiled. “Yes, we did. We did it, my love. We have a world where you and I can be together.”
Her body shuddered, and I pressed her closer to me. “I’m freezing.”
I swiftly dropped kisses all over her face… unbelieving. “Yes, you are. Don’t worry. I’ll make you warm. I promise.”
I held her tighter, pulling the thick throw at the end of the bed over us. My lips closed over hers and I kissed her deeply, pouring every single emotion I had repressed from her into the kiss. I loved this woman, and the Goddess had gifted me a second chance with her. My blood had healed her, my body had healed her, and I was never letting her out of my arms.
“Mine!”
“You are mine,” I whispered against her mouth, confirming my dragon’s claim.
Her lips curved into the most dazzling smile, and I stared at her brilliant ocean blue eyes, mesmerized, while the show of lights that still surrounded us reflected in them.
“Then make love to me already, dragon man.”
I grinned and my lips crashed over hers, drinking her in, and vowing to never let go. Her body curled around mine and I slid inside her, feeling her open up to me once again. This time, a powerful wave of emotion and desire slammed into me in response. I welcomed it as her body moved and contracted around me.
And I loved her.
Making her mine over and over for the rest of the day, loving her the way she deserved, and repeating my vow to her.
I loved Aura, and as Drayvok, Holy Dragon, Prince, or even as a simple man, I would never cease to show her that. She was mine, now and forever, and nothing less than her in my arms this way, every day, would ever be enough. I would never tire, because I needed her more than I thought possible.
Loving her for all eternity would never be enough for me.
Epilogue
KYR
Three years later….
*
“Who wants another burger?” Theo asked, wearing a blue apron over a pristine olive green silk suit, and standing at the grill he had brought into our new castle as a gift. Apparently, it was something humans used to cook their meat of choice, and from what I had tasted, it was a brilliant invention.
We all gathered on the terrace that overlooked the Everlasting Kingdom, while a glorious yellow sun illuminated the horizon. Birds flew freely over the sky, landing on the tall pine trees around us. Theo’s castle was fully visible from where we sat, no longer surrounded by the magical wards that kept it hidden. The gold towers glowed beautifully under the clouds.
“I’m full, but I have someone here with a ferocious appetite.” Avrielle asked from beside me at the table and I chuckled. My queen knew me. “Can I have one more, grill master?”
“Make that two!” I added, leaning into her and kissing her.
“Coming right up!” he answered thrilled, and returned to his task.
“Ouch!”
I cringed, chuckling at the sound of Ash’s pain. We turned to see an adorable two-year-old girl sitting on Gaby’s lap next to him. She wore an immaculate white lace dress, a smile on her rosy lips, and the second most beautiful pair of violet eyes I had ever seen. Her sable black hair was arranged in two ponytails of curls, while she giggled, with her uncle’s finger between her teeth.
“Why is your daughter always trying to eat me?” Ash complained halfheartedly, looking at me.
I shrugged. “You should know by now that she bites. Why do you keep letting her?” I arched a brow, while Vivi’s laughter danced around us.
“He secretly likes it,” Gaby added, leaning in to whisper into Vivi’s ear. “Bite him again.”
Avrielle laughed as our daughter’s teeth clamped down on Ash’s finger once more. They pierced his skin but he healed instantly. Her shimmering purple scales pulsed along the pale skin of her little arms and legs.
“Bad baby Drayvok,” Ash mockingly reprimanded, kissing her cheek, and set her down. Vivi ran towards us, giggling while her sable curls bounced on her head. I carried her into my lap as she reached us.
“I’m confused. I thought all Drayvok had sons?” Gaby asked for maybe the hundredth time.
Avrielle chuckled. “It is uncommon for them to have girls, but it’s natural, it just doesn’t happen too often.”
“Achoo!” Kah, cupped her nose, slightly shivering while
standing next to Theo. “Sorry, my body seems to have gotten used to the warm weather of the Golden Kingdom.” She rubbed her small four-month belly. “And this pregnancy is not helping at all. I’m so susceptible when I come here. I feel like I’m going to freeze to death.”
Theo turned to her and kissed her, placing his blazer over her. They had been together since the day we finally liberated the realm with his help, and were now expecting their first child.
“It doesn’t help that you wear such low back dresses. Do you have to show your royal marking all the time?” Avrielle questioned.
“It is tradition. The ruler of the Stardust Kingdom has to show the royal marking at all times. It’s a reassurance to my people that they are still protected by one of their own.” Kah explained, stealing something called a “hot dog” from her husband’s meat resting board when he turned.
“Except there is nothing they need protection from, now that the Everlasting Kingdom stands,” I reminded, accepting the burgers from Theo, and biting into the juicy meet, cheese and bacon. “I swear this is the meal of the gods on earth.” I said, swallowing.
They laughed.
“Yes, that is true. But you know how traditions are.” Kah winked.
“How is your kingdom?” I asked, taking another bite. She was crowned a month after the battle, and her people had been thrilled to have their princess back. They threw a month long celebration, and although Kah ruled her kingdom now, Theo and her divided their time between the Stardust Castle and the Golden Castle—making sure both their lands were taken care of as they deserved.
“They are excited about the celebration this afternoon. It’s exhilarating to be able to share the Blooming Ceremony with the whole kingdom for the third year in a row. All courts united as one. We are just waiting on Nyx before it can begin, right?”
I nodded. “We still have an hour to go, they should be here soon.”
“Special delivery!” John announced, stepping out on the terrace with Jade, and “the guys.”
“The guys” were the twelve midnight black dragons we had been able to rescue, out of the twenty that Laeroth and Revyr had used to fight us—they were Revyr’s sons. We found out after the battle was over, that the Dark King had them born into slavery, and they had spent their whole lives in a dark cell, not knowing what or who they were. Being addressed in numbers instead of names, and flogged every time they attempted to questioned their lives.
Everlasting Kingdom (The Winter Court Chronicles Book 3) Page 23