Chapter 23

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

M ists curled around the towering cliffs, making it difficult for Jaxxon to see as he climbed. Squinting, he reached forward, feeling desperate for something to hold onto. Far above, he heard Tiara’s desperate screams. Heart racing, he pulled himself up. His fear of falling was replaced with the fear of failing her. Jaxxon focused, propelling himself up the mountain with reckless speed. The dragon’s lair was a vast cavern still far above, glowing in bursts of violet colors.

His fingers felt against the rock, trying to find places to pull himself forward. Each move was a gamble, a bet against the ledges holding his weight and the wind tossing him into the waiting mists. His breath came in ragged gasps, the air thinning as he pulled himself higher. Zade was climbing below him as they cheered each other on, knowing one wrong move would be the end for them both.

Climbing the side of the mountain was the fastest way to the dragon’s lair. The roar of dragons drowned out the sound of Jaxxon’s beating heart.

“Kylo!!!” he growled, but his dragon had long pushed him from his mind, shutting down their bond. Galan had done the same to Zade .

Jaxxon’s muscles ached as he stretched daringly toward a crevice, contorting his body like a ballet dancer performing a finale.

Ahead, the cavern’s silhouette loomed larger, a refuge from the biting wind and uncertain footing. But the path to it remained treacherous, strewn with loose stones and hidden dangers. He helped Zade up into the last stretch of the mountain. Neither man looked down.

Tiara’s screams were closer and more urgent. It spurred him on like a lifeline.

Finally, Jaxxon reached the entrance to the cavern. He stumbled inside, breathless and trembling with a mix of relief and apprehension. The air inside was filled with mist...and dragon fire.

Jaxxon and Zade ran through the dragon’s lair. The scent of fire filled the air where every dragon in Crelentia was gathered. They saw several dragons ahead who turned, blocking their way as they tried to reach the middle of the circle. Dragons who had been raised with them since birth, some Jaxxon and Zade had raised themselves, held them off, turning on them like strangers. Like predators protecting a meal.

But Jaxxon wouldn’t be deterred when his legacy hung in the balance. Using his shadow magic as a shield, he dodged the dragons snapping their maws at him in warning. Zade distracted them long enough for Jaxxon to run up one dragon’s back and jump to where the circle of dragons was gathered. Zade then quickly followed, and the two men ran and slid between a large dragon’s legs, making their way to the circle’s center.

Kylo’s fire was an unrelenting storm as it hit Tiara. The torrent of flames danced in hues of violet and black, rippling furiously around her.

But it didn’t burn.

She threw her head back and shouted as though sheer pleasure was filling her soul. Magic burst into starlight as elemental tattoos, the shape of elaborate dragon scales, covered her arms and neck. The iridescent gold and pink tattoos shimmered with light against her beautiful bronze-colored skin. The Crelentian elemental tattoos covered her body, ending below her jawline. They were an elegant pattern of dragon scales she would wear forever, though with practice, she would eventually learn how to conceal them when needed.

Light shot from her palms as she turned them around, marveling at what she was becoming. Ancient Crelentian symbols rotated in glyphs around her hands, spiraling into the air.

She was starlight.

She was a Crelentian.

And she was a Celestial dragon rider.

As the last of Kylo’s flames went out, Tiara stood glowing in her starlight. She was so happy she cried. The dragons roared, sending shadows into the air. And then they bowed before her.

Relief overwhelmed Jaxxon as he dropped to his knees. Zade did the same. And then they bowed with their foreheads touching the ground.

Jaxxon had risked everything for her. The mountain had tested his resolve and challenged his courage. Yet, against all the odds, there stood a Crelentian female and a dragon rider. He couldn’t help but smile. In saving her, he had also found a strength within himself that he never knew existed—a strength born of love and fueled by the unyielding determination to restore the legacy of Crelentian elementals and the Celestial dragons.

Tiara smiled, moving around the circle and thanking each of the dragons as they introduced themselves. Turning toward a piercing screech, they all looked as Kylo bent down. And over his shoulder hopped a tiny dragon.

The baby dragon jumped down in front of Tiara. It took a few cautious steps forward. Its tiny nose twitched as it sniffed around her. The baby dragon smiled, unfurling its black wings and raising its spiked head .

“You’re adorable! What’s your name?” she said, looking into its bright violet eyes.

“That’s Lakoda,” said Kylo, pushing the baby dragon closer. “He’s the last dragon to hatch. The last of the Celestial dragons.”

Tiara giggled, taking a few timid steps and rubbing the whiskers on Lakoda’s face.

Jaxxon rose, looking at Kylo and then at Galan. “You two are unbelievable! You scared everyone! And you put her life in jeopardy!”

“It was Kylo’s idea to set her on fire!” said Galan.

“It was only a little burst!” Kylo roared.

“She’s okay!” Kylo continued, turning his head back to Tiara, who was still glowing. She smiled, then relinquished her light magic. As the elemental glyphs of gold and pink symbols slowly evaporated, she stood before them, covered in her new tattoos.

Jaxxon’s eyes slowly wandered over her before meeting her gaze. Zade blushed, turning his head, as did the older dragons.

Tiara screamed, suddenly realizing her clothing was gone. She covered her breasts and the rest of her body with her hands. Her glorious nudity lit a fire in Jaxxon that he knew could be quenched in only one way. Kylo must have read his mind. Moving forward, Kylo knocked him back as Tiara ran behind his extended wing to conceal herself.

The dragons moved over, blocking them from seeing Tiara further. Kylo roared, his slitted eyes promising violence if Jaxxon took another step. But Jaxxon growled, unleashing his shadows, morphing them into a battle hammer. He was armed to fight, and Kylo raised a dragon brow in surprise and perhaps even pride. Galan raised his tail within striking distance as Zade slowly approached Jaxxon’s side.

“I’m only offering her my shirt,” growled Jaxxon, still ticked off that Kylo had set Tiara on fire.

Kylo huffed before moving back. Taking off his shirt, Jaxxon flexed his muscles in Kylo’s direction, eyeing the thickheaded dragon as he moved toward Tiara. She remained hiding behind Kylo’s wing, watching him as he neared .

“Hey, Star Diva!” he said, breaking the ice as she smiled timidly. Openly staring, he knew her small hands didn’t stand a chance of covering her bountiful breasts or the sweet spot between her legs. He whistled, sending her shrieking as she snatched the shirt from his outstretched hand.

Seeing Tiara wearing his shirt did things to him that he couldn’t put into words. A sense of need overtook him—or maybe it was just the reality that she was alive and well. The desire to be close was so intense he pulled her into an embrace.

She giggled before pushing off. She blushed, doing a catwalk to show how ridiculous she looked in his shirt, which hung to her thighs and nearly fell off her shoulders. But she was beautiful. Her eyes roamed his bare chest, and her smile promised pure mischief.

He stared pointedly, no smile, no words. Just a silent promise that if she didn’t behave herself, even with her new powers, he would tame. He was in charge. But the twinkle in her eye told him she’d love the challenge, and they would enjoy every minute.

Kylo roared, using his wing to force Jaxxon back again, claiming he and Zade were intruding on dragon space. Galan snarled, siding with Kylo. The dragons didn’t like anyone in their lair, even their riders.

Tiara turned to Kylo and Galan. “You two really know how to crash a party!”

Everyone laughed, Zade reminding them that the dragons had even outdone Jaxxon this time. Jaxxon slapped Zade across the head and the two wrestled a bit before hugging each other tightly. They were thankful that the night hadn’t turned into a disaster.

Kylo explained that Tiara’s untapped magic called out to him when she stood on Jaxxon’s terrace. Her elemental magic needed to be set free so her light could flow, bringing her tattoos to the surface. Now, they understood why Kylo acted weird when he first sensed Tiara on Mineva. The dragons’ protective instincts were a natural response toward all Crelentian females.

The moment sobered everyone as Kylo and Galan rose to their full height, spreading their wings. Dragons moved out of their way as they turned toward the entrance. Their dragon scales shimmered as the moonlight shone from openings in the cavern far above.

“Your tattoos match Kylo’s scales!” said Tiara excitedly, pointing at Jaxxon’s chest.

“Yes, we are bonded. Crelentian males bond with Celestial dragons bearing the same scale pattern. It’s always been that way.”

Zade showed her that his tattoos mirrored Galan’s scales. Every mature dragon was paired with a Crelentian male with matching dragon scale tattoos. And they knew the younger dragons would one day pair with the younger males who hadn’t reached puberty yet. They explained that the bond also allowed the dragon rider and its dragon to link their minds and powers.

Tiara looked at her elemental tattoos, running her finger along the exotic dragon scale pattern. Jaxxon knew she likely wondered if her tattoos matched a female dragon but was grateful she didn’t ask. They followed the dragons to the entrance.

Zade stepped forward. “We need to get back. The women are hysterical. They saw the dragons, and the men can’t keep them under control for long.”

As Jaxxon and Zade moved to escort Tiara from the cavern, Galan snarled, blocking them. Kylo did the same as more dragons moved to thwart their attempt to leave.

“What the fuck is wrong with you, dragons?” Jaxxon yelled, raising his hands in peace as Galan and Kylo both moved to put themselves between Tiara and the men.

Kylo shook his head. “I don’t know. I just know we must protect her.” The other dragons said the same. Their need to protect her overwhelmed their senses.

The dragons hadn’t seen a Crelentian female since they were adolescents. The same was true for the Crelentian males, so they had no idea what was happening to them on a biological level. Jaxxon had the same urge to protect, but also to dominate.

Kylo and Galan were the oldest and largest of the dragons, and they rarely got along, given their drive to fight for dominance over space, food, and females. They were bred to lead together, yet given the way they fought, they hadn’t quite figured out how to make it work. But no matter how much they fought, they always protected each other’s backs. And they protected Crelentians with their lives. Tiara was now part of that family. So it made sense their need to protect her was intense. They would die for her. It was the dragon way.

Hmm, I think I know how to prove to the dragons that Tiara will be safe with us. Jaxxon looked at his dragon and the others before turning back to Tiara. His shadows rose, their power emanating in a massive swirl around him.

“I will protect her,” said Jaxxon, making the sign of Crelentia. Zade did the same. The dragons settled down, moving out of their way. Zade radioed back to their men, telling them they were okay and heading back.

They began walking to the dragon lair’s entrance once again.

“Okay, just how am I getting back to my friends?” said Tiara in a high-pitched tone. She stood frozen in place, looking from Jaxxon to Zade.

Zade winked and then jumped onto Galan’s tail and then ran the rest of the way to sit behind a set of raised scales on his dragon’s back.

“Show-off!” Jaxxon yelled as Zade laughed, giving him the finger.

“I’m not getting on Kylo!” Tiara shouted, dramatically pointing at the dragon as she backed away. “Nope, not going to happen!”

“As you wish,” Jaxxon shouted as he ran past her, jumping on Kylo’s back just as Zade had done. “ You know what to do, ” he said into his dragon’s mind as they rose in the air.

Kylo’s aerodynamic wings were magnificent. As he turned, he swung down, grabbing Tiara in his talons and lifting her with one beat of his wings. And then they flew into formation to where their men waited below.

Tiara cursed and screamed the entire time.

They landed near the command deck. The dragons nodded at Tiara and then returned to their lair. They had agreed it was best to explain to the other women what was happening before letting the dragons near them.

Hurrying through the fortress, they reached the conference center to one hell of a fight. The men had tried their best to corral the women without hurting them, but Jaxxon could see it hadn’t been easy.

Maya was the first to lunge forward, snatching Tiara away from Jaxxon and Zade as they entered the conference center. Maya pushed Tiara behind her, ready to fight to protect her. Lori was beside her, crying as she checked Tiara over for injuries.

“I’m fine. I’m okay!” said Tiara before the other women and girls swarmed her. They asked about the dragons and looked around the room for signs of danger.

“Quiet! I need everyone to calm down!” Jaxxon’s tone left no room for argument as everyone quieted.

“I know you have questions. And I know you are afraid. But I think we can all agree that Tiara needs her rest. It’s well past midnight, and we all need sleep.” He looked at his men, who nodded in agreement, but the women looked ready to roast him on an open fire. He grimaced, trying to look less threatening.

“I will personally come to breakfast tomorrow to explain everything. Just know that you are safe here. No harm will come to you.”

A small girl raised her hand. “So, do you have dragons like in the storybooks?”

Jaxxon chuckled. He stepped forward, smiling charmingly, and got down on one knee before the girl.

“We have Celestial dragons. And you’ll meet them tomorrow.”