Chapter 31

31

ARIA

T he morning sun bathed the Dragon Keep in a warm, golden light as Elowen led us down to the courtyard. My dragon, perched on my shoulder, chirped excitedly, its purple eyes wide with wonder at the new sights and smells. I could feel its tiny heart racing with anticipation, mirroring my own excitement.

"You've all been granted access to the Keep's grounds," Elowen announced, her voice carrying a hint of pride. "But remember, you cannot venture beyond into the kingdom. Your dragons deserve to stretch their wings properly, to feel the sun on their scales."

A ripple of excitement passed through our group. After weeks of confinement within the Keep's stone walls, the prospect of open air and freedom was intoxicating. I felt a surge of joy, mingled with a touch of nervousness. This was the first time we'd truly be out in the open since arriving in Dracaria.

As soon as Elowen gave the signal, our dragons took to the sky. The air filled with a chorus of joyful chirps and the whoosh of small wings. My own dragon hesitated for a moment, nuzzling my cheek before joining its brethren in the air. I watched it go with a mixture of pride and anxiety.

I watched in awe as the tiny creatures danced through the sky, their scales glittering in the sunlight. It was a breathtaking sight, one that made my heart swell with a mixture of pride and wonder. For a moment, I forgot about all our troubles – the Void, the prophecy, the complicated tangle of my personal relationships. In that instant, there was only the beauty of our dragons reveling in their freedom.

Glancing around, I spotted Ossian and Valeria, their eyes fixed on their airborne dragons. Curiosity overcame my hesitation, and I made my way over to them, my heart quickening slightly as I approached Ossian.

"Have you heard anything about Marcus?" I asked, trying to keep my voice neutral despite the memory of his attack still fresh in my mind.

Ossian shook his head, his dark eyes meeting mine with an intensity that made my breath catch. "Nothing yet."

Before I could respond, Eirian joined our group. The dragon that had once belonged to Marcus was perched on his shoulder, looking oddly at home. Eirian had adapted to the weight, walking with ease despite the creature.

"The vampire is imprisoned for attacking another," Eirian stated, his voice firm but tinged with something I couldn't quite identify. "As for his dragon... well, if a dragon rejects someone, it can't be good."

Ossian's lips quirked into a small smile. "It looks like you've gained your own dragon, Eirian."

Eirian's brow furrowed, a mix of confusion and intrigue crossing his face. "So it seems," he murmured, reaching up to stroke the dragon's scales.

The peaceful moment was shattered in an instant. High above us, the sky seemed to tear open, darkness swirling out like spilled ink. My heart leapt into my throat, fear coursing through me like ice water in my veins. I stood frozen, my eyes locked on the impossible sight above me.

As the darkness poured through the rift, shapes began to form. Shadow dragons, their forms barely distinguishable against the inky blackness, emerged from the void. They were unlike anything I'd ever seen or imagined. Their bodies seemed to be made of living shadow, constantly shifting and roiling like storm clouds. Where our dragons were solid and vibrant, these creatures were ethereal and terrifying.

I watched, transfixed, as one of the shadow dragons unfurled its wings. They stretched impossibly wide, blocking out the sun and casting the courtyard into an unnatural twilight. Its eyes glowed with an unholy light, pinpricks of malevolent fire in its insubstantial face. As it opened its maw, I saw not the flames or elements our dragons produced, but a yawning abyss that seemed to devour light itself.

Terror gripped me, rooting me to the spot. My breath came in short, panicked gasps, and I could hear my heart thundering in my ears. This was the Void we'd been warned about, the darkness that threatened to consume everything. And it was more horrifying than I could have ever imagined.

The shadow dragons moved with a fluid grace that defied physics, twisting and coiling through the air like living smoke. Their very presence seemed to dim the air around them, leeching color and hope from everything they passed.

I wanted to run, to scream, to do something, but my body wouldn't respond. It was as if the mere sight of these creatures had severed the connection between my brain and my limbs. All I could do was stand and stare, my mind struggling to process the impossible horror unfolding before me.

Eirian's voice, sounding distant and muffled through my fear-induced haze, finally broke through my paralysis. "Everyone, back to the Keep!"

The command snapped me back to reality. I tore my gaze away from the nightmarish spectacle above, my eyes frantically searching for my dragon. Our baby dragons, sensing the danger, dropped from the sky, hurtling back to their bonded humans.

My gaze landed on the small white one spiraling down to me with frantic chirps, and I reached out, sweeping her up in my arms.

As I ran towards the Keep, my dragon clutched tightly to my chest, my heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears, my breath coming in short, panicked gasps. The world around me seemed to blur, fear and adrenaline narrowing my focus to a single goal: reach safety. My legs burned with exertion, but terror pushed me forward.

I slammed to a halt, my heart skipping a beat as a shadow creature materialized before me, its form shifting and undulating like smoke given life. I stumbled back, a scream caught in my throat as fear paralyzed me once again. The creature's eyes, if you could call them that, were bottomless pits of darkness that seemed to pull at my very soul. Its body writhed and twisted in ways that defied natural law, making my stomach churn with a mixture of horror and revulsion.

I wanted to run, to fight, to do something, but my body refused to obey. It was as if the mere presence of this abomination had severed the connection between my brain and my limbs. All I could do was stand there, trembling, as the shadow creature loomed closer.

Just as I thought it was over, a blur of fur and muscle leapt in front of me. For a moment, I couldn't comprehend what I was seeing. A massive wolf, its fur a rich brown streaked with hints of gold, stood between me and the shadow creature. It took me a heartbeat to realize – this was Chris.

I'd known, intellectually, that Chris was a werewolf. But seeing his wolf form in person was something else entirely. He was magnificent, power radiating from every line of his body. His muscles rippled beneath his thick fur as he snarled at the shadow creature, his teeth gleaming in the strange half-light.

As Chris attacked the creature, his dragon joined the fray with a burst of earthy power. The sight of them fighting together, wolf and dragon in perfect sync, was awe-inspiring. For a brief moment, I forgot my fear, lost in the raw beauty and power of the scene before me.

Relief and gratitude surged through me, but there was no time to dwell on it. The battle was far from over, and danger still lurked all around us.

Lydia appeared at my side, dragging me away from the battle. "Come on, we need to get inside!" Her voice was tight with fear and urgency.

But fate had other plans. A shadow dragon swooped down, its talons closing around my arms. I screamed as I was lifted into the air, my own dragon slipping from my grasp. Terror unlike anything I'd ever known gripped me as the ground fell away. I kicked and struggled, but the dragon's grip was like iron.

"Aria!" Lydia's cry was filled with fury and fear. Her eyes glowed golden, her form blurring as she began to shift.

Then, in a blur of movement, Ossian was there, his pale hand gripping the shadow dragon's leg. The creature shrieked, trying to shake him off, but Ossian held firm. I looked down at him, our eyes meeting for a brief, intense moment. Despite my terror, I felt a spark of hope.

In an erruption of golden fur, Lydia entered the fray. Her panther form was a sight to behold – sleek, powerful, and utterly deadly. Her coat gleamed like polished gold in the strange light, muscles rippling beneath her fur as she moved with a grace that seemed almost impossible for a creature her size.

For a moment, I was transfixed. I'd never seen Lydia's shifted form before, and the reality of it was far more impressive than anything I could have imagined. She was beautiful in a wild, primal way that took my breath away.

Lydia launched herself at the dragon's face, her claws raking across its shadowy form. The sight was both terrifying and awe-inspiring – this creature I called friend, now a powerful predator, fighting against a being of pure darkness.

But my awe quickly turned to horror as the dragon thrashed, managing to tear Lydia away and yank free from Ossian's grip. Time seemed to slow as I watched Lydia fall, her lithe body twisting in the air. She hit the ground with a sickening thud that I felt in my very bones as I was lifted higher into the air.

To my horror, the impact forced her back into her human form. Lydia lay motionless on the ground, vulnerable and broken. The sight shattered any remaining sense of wonder I had, replacing it with cold, hard fear. This wasn't a display of power or a demonstration of magic. This was war, and my friends – my family – were in real danger.

"Lydia!" I screamed, terror gripping my heart. Tears streamed down my face as I watched my friend lie still on the ground below. The beautiful, powerful panther was gone, replaced by a fragile human form that looked so small against the chaos around us.

All around us, baby dragons were unleashing their elemental powers on the shadow dragon. Fire, water, earth, and air combined in a dazzling display of raw magic. The shadow dragon let out an unearthly shriek before exploding into wisps of darkness.

I fell, the ground rushing up to meet me. A scream tore from my throat as I plummeted, certain I was about to break bones. But before I could hit the ground, strong arms caught me. Ossian set me down gently, his cool hand lingering on my arm for a moment before he stepped back. I was shaking uncontrollably, adrenaline and fear making it hard to stand.

The shadow creatures were retreating, diving back through the closing rift as more Dracarian shifters joined the battle. Eirian and Elowen, in their magnificent dragon forms, led the charge, driving the invaders back. The sight was awe-inspiring, but I had no time to marvel at it.

I ran to Lydia's side, my heart in my throat. She lay naked and bloodied, her body bearing deep claw marks that I could now see. Zephyr dropped down beside me, his face grim.

Zephyr called out in a language I didn't recognize. A fae appeared, their hands glowing with magic as they knelt beside Lydia. Healing magic. Thank god.

"It's going to be okay, Lydia," I said, my voice shaking as I gripped her hand. Tears fell freely down my face, mixing with the blood on Lydia's skin. "You have to hang in there. Your kids need you. We need you."

Chris, now in his human form, joined us. "Come on, Lydia. You're stronger than this. Your family is waiting for you."

Lydia's eyes fluttered open, a weak smile crossing her face before it contorted in pain. She coughed, blood staining her lips. Each labored breath she took felt like a knife in my heart.

As the fae worked their healing magic, I looked up at the sky. The rift had closed, leaving no trace of the chaos that had just unfolded. But the peace we had enjoyed moments ago was shattered, replaced by the terrible reality of the war we were now undeniably a part of.

My dragon nuzzled against my cheek, its presence a small comfort in the face of the destruction around us. As I held Lydia's hand, surrounded by my friends and allies, I knew that nothing would ever be the same again. The Void had made its move, and we had no choice but to rise to meet it.

Whatever came next, we would face it together. We had to. The fate of two worlds depended on it.