Chapter 20

20

ARIA

M y heart was still racing from the near-miss with the electric bolt. If it hadn't been for Eirian's quick action, I might have been seriously injured, or worse. As the adrenaline began to subside, I found myself face to face with a very naked Eirian.

I quickly averted my eyes as heat rose to my cheeks. But not before I caught an eyeful of his chiseled physique. Were all shifters so... well-endowed? The thought made me blush even harder. I'd seen my fair share of attractive men before, but Eirian was on another level entirely. His body was a perfect blend of strength and grace, honed by centuries of dragon shifting, I supposed.

But then there was his… third leg. Something I had not seen too many of.

When I dared to look up again, Eirian was giving me an odd look, his brow furrowed as if he was trying to solve a particularly complex puzzle. There was something in his eyes I couldn't quite decipher - curiosity, perhaps? Or maybe something more?

"Are you alright?"

Alright was not the word for right now. I was holding a baby dragon, had just been saved by a dragon shifter, and seen one hell of a dick on display before me.

But I nodded and thanked him, and he then focused on addressing us all as I stared down at my dragon, still stunned by the little creature in my arms. It was happily cradled against my chest, watching the other dragons quietly.

Questions were asked, and Eirian did his best to answer, but when everyone started to move around the room once he'd told us we were to remain here, he found me once more.

"How are you feeling?" he'd asked, his tone rather soft, surprising me.

I admitted how I felt, and he explained their suspicions, before giving me an odd look and informing me he would be speaking with the Council.

I took that as my cue, not to mention there was some strange feeling I was getting around him now, and I wanted to focus on the little dragon instead.

But I did turn after I heard him speak with Elowen, watching him as he gave the room of fluttering dragons one last, uneasy look before he strode out of the hall, leaving us alone with our new companions and a handful of watchful Dracarians.

I turned my attention to the tiny dragon in my arms. Its scales were a shimmering white, catching the light and reflecting it in a rainbow of colors. It was unlike anything I'd ever seen before - more beautiful than the most precious gemstone, more alive than any creature I'd known. But it was its eyes that truly captivated me - a deep, swirling purple that seemed to hold all the mysteries of the universe. As I gazed into those eyes, I felt the connection, something deep and primal that I couldn't quite explain.

"Aren't you pretty, little one," I murmured, gently stroking its head. The dragon chirped in response, nuzzling into my hand. The touch of its scales was surprisingly warm, almost electric. It sent a tingle through me, a reminder of the magical nature of this creature I now held.

Around me, the other newly bonded pairs were getting acquainted. Chris's earth-toned dragon was already attempting to manipulate small pebbles, making them dance in the air. The sight was both amusing and awe-inspiring - this tiny creature, no bigger than a house-cat, wielding elemental magic with such ease. Zephyr's silver dragon flitted about his head, stirring up miniature whirlwinds. The fae's laughter echoed through the hall as he played with his new companion, his usual mischievous grin even wider than normal.

I watched in awe as the various dragons began to display their elemental abilities. Some breathed tiny jets of flame, turning the air shimmering and hot. Others puffed out small clouds of ice crystals, creating miniature snowstorms that swirled and danced before dissipating. One dragon, bonded to a fae I didn't know well, was shooting sparks of electricity from its mouth, creating a dazzling light show that had everyone nearby ducking for cover.

My own dragon, however, remained quiet and calm in my arms. It watched the others with interest, its purple eyes tracking the movements of the other hatchlings, but made no attempt to join in their elemental display. I could feel its tiny heart beating against my chest, its warmth seeping into me, but beyond that, it showed no signs of any magical abilities.

"It's okay," I reassured it, though I felt a twinge of worry. "You'll show us what you can do when you're ready." I tried to keep my voice confident, but inside, doubts were beginning to creep in. What if my dragon was different? What if it didn't have any powers at all?

As I cradled my dragon, my mind wandered to Eirian. He had looked so displeased when he left. Was it because of the unexpected nature of the dragons' awakening? Or was there something else bothering him? I couldn't shake the memory of his gaze, the way his eyes had lingered on me. It stirred something inside me, a feeling I pushed back down.

A piercing shriek cut through the air, shattering my moment. I whirled around, my heart leaping into my throat, just in time to see a jet of flame erupting from one of the dragons - a vibrant red one - streaking across the room. Time seemed to slow as I watched the fire arc through the air, heading straight for where Ossian and and a shifter stood.

The vampire reacted with supernatural speed, his body blurring with motion. He threw his arm up to shield himself as he moved to stand before the shifter protectively, but even with his incredible reflexes, he wasn't quite fast enough to move them both out of harm's way.

The fire caught his arm, and a sickening sizzle filled the air. Ossian let out a sharp hiss of pain, his face contorting in agony. The smell of burned flesh hit me a moment later, making my stomach turn.

The shifter he'd protected was stunned, holding her dragon close as she tried to check on him.

I rushed over, my heart lurching to my throat as Ossian bowed over. The others followed close behind, expressions of concern on their faces. My own dragon clung tightly to my shirt, chirping in distress at the sudden commotion.

Ossian was clutching his injured arm, his normally pale skin an angry, blistering red where the flames had touched him, his tee burned and singed. His dark dragon fluttered anxiously around his head, letting out distressed chirps that seemed to echo its master's pain.

"Are you alright?" I asked, reaching out but hesitating to touch him, afraid of causing more pain. "It'll heal quickly, right? I mean, you're a vampire..." I trailed off, the words sounding hollow even to my own ears. The injury looked severe, far worse than anything I'd seen before. The blisters were ugly and already showing, and he gritted his teeth.

Ossian's eyes met mine, filled with a pain that seemed to go beyond the physical. He shook his head slowly, his voice strained. "No... not this time."

"What do you mean?" I pressed, fear gripping my heart. "Why won't you heal?"

But Ossian didn't elaborate. His jaw clenched, whether from pain or reluctance to explain, I couldn't tell. The sight of him, usually so composed and aloof, now vulnerable and in pain, made my chest ache.

"Here," Lydia stepped forward, conjuring her water magic and soothing the angry burn as best she could.

Her little dragon fluttered around her, watching curiously.

"Thank you," Ossian hissed as he closed his eyes, his face pulled tight.

Lydia shot me a distressed look, one that told me even for a vampire, this injury was bad.

I looked around desperately, hoping to see someone stepping forward to help. "Does anyone have healing magic? Can someone help him?"

There was an uncomfortable silence. I knew some of the fae possessed healing abilities, but none of them stepped forward. The tension between the vampires and the other supernatural beings had never been more apparent than in this moment. It was like an invisible line had been drawn, with Ossian on one side and everyone else on the other. Save for Lydia and the shifter he'd protected. She looked distressed, and I recognized her as one of the other feline shifters Lydia sometimes hung out with.

"Please," I begged, looking from face to face. "He's hurt. Can't someone do something?"

But no one moved. Ossian's face hardened, a mix of pain and resignation in his eyes. "It's fine, Aria. I'll manage," he ground out through clenched teeth. The words seemed to cost him, each syllable laced with pain. "Lydia's water magic is… welcome."

"But it's not healing magic," Lydia muttered. "I know one of you damn faes has healing magic. Help him!" she snapped, but still, no one moved, and she shook her head.

I looked around at them, appalled at their unwillingness to assist. Ossian had never done a single one of them wrong, and yet, they were alienating him when we were all supposed to be in this together.

One of the Dracarians approached, his expression neutral. "I'll take him to get medical attention," he said, gesturing for Ossian to follow. I watched as Ossian straightened, his face masked, and Lydia stepped back, wincing at the ugly blisters she'd been trying to soothe. Even injured, he carried himself with a dignity that was almost painful to witness.

As Ossian turned to leave, his dark dragon trailing behind him, I felt a surge of anger and disappointment towards the others. How could they just stand by and watch someone suffer like this? Weren't we all in this together?

Zephyr stepped closer, his voice low. "Healing magic isn't common among the fae," he explained. "There are only two here who possess that ability, and well..." he trailed off, looking uncomfortable.

"And they won't help because he's a vampire?" I finished, unable to keep the bitterness from my voice. The words tasted sour in my mouth.

Zephyr had the grace to look ashamed. "I'm sorry, Aria. Old prejudices die hard, I'm afraid. But try not to worry too much. Vampires are resilient. He'll recover... eventually."

I nodded, but I couldn't shake the feeling of unease. As Ossian was led away, his dragon fluttering after him, I couldn't help but wonder about his cryptic response. Why wouldn't he heal quickly this time? What was different about this injury? Was it because it was from a dragon? Did he feel that it was different?

The incident cast a somber mood over the group, a stark reminder of the potential dangers we faced, even from our own newly hatched companions. The excited chatter that had filled the hall earlier was now replaced by hushed whispers and worried glances.

I found myself wandering to a quiet corner of the hall, my dragon still nestled in my arms. I sat down on the cool stone floor, settling the little creature in my lap. It looked up at me with those mesmerizing purple eyes, and I felt a wave of protectiveness wash over me.

"What a day it's been, huh?" I said softly, running my fingers along its sleek scales. The dragon chirped softly in response, as if agreeing with me. "I wonder what you can do? What makes you special?"

The dragon tilted its head, considering my words. But unlike the other dragons, who had been displaying their elemental abilities throughout the day, mine remained quiet and still. No glow, no sparks, no elemental display of any kind. Just those intelligent eyes, watching me with what seemed like curiosity.

"It's okay," I whispered, trying to hide my disappointment. "Maybe you're just shy. You'll show us what you can do when you're ready." I tried to inject confidence into my voice, but inside, doubts were gnawing at me. What if my dragon didn't have any powers? What if I had somehow done something wrong during the awakening?

Chris must have noticed my concern because he made his way over to me, his earth dragon perched on his shoulder like some exotic parrot. He sat down beside me, his warm presence comforting in a way I hadn't realized I needed right now.

"How are you holding up?" he asked, his eyes full of concern. The gentleness in his voice made my throat tighten with emotion.

I managed a small smile, though it felt forced. "I'm okay." I looked down at my dragon, who was now curled up contentedly in my lap. "I think we're going to be alright. Even if my little one hasn't shown any powers yet."

Chris nodded, reaching out to gently stroke my dragon's head. The creature leaned into his touch, letting out a soft trill of contentment. "Don't worry too much about that. They're all different, just like us. I'm sure your dragon's abilities will manifest when the time is right."

"You think so?" I asked, unable to keep the hint of worry from my voice. "What if... what if I did something wrong? What if it doesn't have any powers because of me?"

"Hey, none of that," Chris said firmly, his hand moving from the dragon to squeeze my shoulder gently. "Look around. Every dragon here is unique. Yours might not be breathing fire or manipulating earth, but that doesn't mean it's any less special. And it definitely doesn't mean you did anything wrong."

His words were comforting, and as I looked around at the other newly bonded pairs, I realized he was right. Each dragon was as individual as its human counterpart. Some were loud and boisterous, others quiet and observant. They came in a rainbow of colors and a variety of shapes. Who was to say what was "normal" for these magical creatures?

"Thanks, Chris," I said, feeling some of my anxiety ease. "You always know just what to say."

He grinned, bumping his shoulder against mine playfully. "That's what I'm here for. Well, that and my rugged good looks, of course."

I laughed, the sound echoing in the vast hall. It felt good to laugh, to let go of some of the tension that had been building since the awakening. My dragon stirred at the noise, looking up at me with those mesmerizing purple eyes. Powers or no powers, this little creature was mine to care for now. And I was determined to do my best by it, no matter what challenges lay ahead.

As we sat there, surrounded by the soft chirps and occasional elemental bursts from the other dragons, I couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging. The little creature in my arms felt like a missing piece I hadn't even known was gone.