13. Kyeria

CHAPTER 13

Kyeria

T he Dragon caves, while dark, were lit warmly with half-burned candles covering the floors and on the walls held by iron sconces. She felt her magic hum, jittering awake. Kellian led her slowly to another room. Long draping fabric hung from the stone walls, and a large bed of straw with red blankets lay in the middle of the room. It was, however, empty. Kellian sighed and turned. Sure enough, a small black Dragon with purple and pink and black reflective scales flew overhead, much too close, and landed in front of Kyeria. Kellian took a small step in front of her, claiming her from the Dragon.

"You have come," the Venille Dragon spoke. Her voice was feminine and sweet.

"Hello, I am Kyeria." Kyeria smiled and bowed her head.

"I am Ameline."

"Do you know your syers, Ameline?" Kellian stepped forward. The Dragon ignored him. His eyes bored into the side of the Dragon's head and horns.

" You are hurt ," the Dragon announced, taking a step forward, but Kellian matched the step, putting himself between the two.

"It's okay," Kyeria assured.

"She is hurt from the Dragon fire," Kellian answered.

" Guardians are not able to be hurt by Dragon fire."

Kellian shook his head. "She is not of the Guardian line."

"I am fae, from the lands of NorHaven," Kyeria replied. Her magic was alight, buzzing so loudly she could barely hear her own thoughts. Kellian moved further in front of Kyeria.

"You are not my Guardian, prince," the Dragon spoke, casting him an angered look.

"I do not understand," Kyeria spoke, looking Ameline in the eyes. She was small, and her scales looked like they were made out of blood under the firelight. Ameline rose to her full height then, standing nearly double the height of Kyeria and a head taller than Kellian.

"Ameline." Kyeria squared her shoulders. "I am new to this land. I do not know its customs and am slowly learning its history. It is an honor to be in your presence." Kyeria stepped in front of Kellian and bowed her head. Ameline in turn bowed her own head, leaving Kyeria feeling like the air had left her lungs. Kyeria knelt to the ground and pushed her magic into the stone. Ameline had a feline way about her, and she let out a content purr at the magic.

"You are that of the earth, " Ameline stated, looking directly at Kyeria.

"I am," Kyeria replied.

"My line has not been here in centuries. Long we have slept. Only a few eggs remain. I am the last here in the Ash Mountains," Ameline explained. "My ancestors, we are not connected to the Galanis line. We are instead tied with the fae folk. Much older in name and history. We are bonded with those of a specific line of fae folk—yours. The Greenburrow family were bound to the Venille line centuries ago, as the Galanis line was bound to be guardians." Kyeria glanced at Kellian. An unreadable expression laid on his face. Kyeria reached for him, taking his hand and squeezing it once. He looked over, his gaze softening.

"You will not harm her?" Kellian asked.

"It was never my intention. Those who are bonded are bathed in Dragon fire, this is how it is done. The same way we are brought into the world is how we claim what is ours. There should be no pain, only the mark of the Dragon and their bonded." Ameline turned to Kellian. "I do not wish to insult you, prince. But I do not answer to you or the Galanis line. The Venille Dragons are of their own laws."

Kellian nodded. "I would never assume to rule over any dragon." He bowed his head, then continued, "Have you taken flight?" The Dragon shook her head.

"Not yet," she replied and looked at Kellian closely. "I should like to go with you when you are back in your Dragon form."

Kyeria's head snapped to Kellian.

Dragon form.

Kellian's golden eyes looked to Kyeria's in worry. He simply nodded. "I will leave you be, if that is what Kyeria would like."

Kyeria's head felt fuzzy. She didn't love being this far underground, felt as though the sky and the wind were so far from her, it felt suffocating. But she took a breath, steading herself and nodded to Kellian—she was okay. His eyes lingered and he walked out of the room of caves.

Kyeria was left with the Dragon the color of night and blood staring at her.

" How hurt are you? " Ameline asked gently. Kyeria didn't know it was possible for a Dragons tone to soften, and yet it did.

"I will heal." Kyeria shook her head. "But my magic shut down, slowing the healing. There is not much known of Dragon fire effects, as it usually causes fatality." Ameline nodded, dropping her head again.

"Tell me about the Venille Line," Kyeria asked.

"Let's go outside," Ameline said. "I hate it down here."

Kyeria smiled. They both needed the sky and the wind and the open land. Anwar wandered over, and bowing to Ameline he presented a leather harness with holds on the side and top.

"This is a rider's seat," he explained. "Do you feel strong enough to hold on if I show you how?" he asked. Kyeria's eyes went wide. She shook her head—no, she did not feel strong enough to ride a Dragon, the thought itself, seemed unreal. A dragon rider, she had never heard such a thing.

"I can not fly carrying a rider quite yet, " Ameline answered, as if reading her thoughts. Kyeria eyed the Dragon in question.

"I can read your thoughts, yes," she replied again, making Kyeria still. How was that possible?

"You are my bonded rider," Ameline said. "Anwar cannot hear me right now. I am only projecting to you, and not the both of you."

"How do you do that?" Kyeria thought instead of speaking.

" I will teach you. Anwar will put on the harness. Hold on to the side and I will walk you. The night of the ritual I fell into a sleep alongside the time you slept. But when I woke, Anwar explained what happened and that you were burned heavily. So I had him make a rider's seat to assist you before you and I are able to fly, " she explained.

Kyeria felt her chest warm, taken aback by this gesture. Ameline looked to Anwar and nodded. He came forward and began fitting the rider's seat to Ameline's scaled back. After, they walked through the caves, until sunlight was streaming through and stone and dirt turned to a grassy meadow, a bright sky and few clouds hanging above them. Large pine trees littered the corners of the meadow. Ameline guided them through before pausing where the sun hit them unobstructed before curling her tail under and sitting in the meadow. The long grasses peaked around her, and as Kyeria sat, small flowers sprouted up around them. Her magic was happy, humming brightly, the trees were singing gently, even the wind felt at ease, as if everything was just right. Kyeria with her feet on soil, surrounded by nature, with a small Dragon whose eyes were closed, head tilted to the sky, the wind whisked by in response.

Welcome home, the wind sang.

"So, you and I are bonded," Kyeria said slowly. Kyeria didn't really know much about such a thing. She knew the Galanis line were fated to be the Dragon Guardians, long ago binding the souls of the Galanis line to be able to protect and serve with the Dragons. This Kyeria had come across many times in the texts she and Esmeralda had combed through in the library.

" Yes ," she said simply. Ameline began to explain about how hatchlings can live for centuries in their eggs, slightly aware of the life around them, but time moves differently for them, as they are magically protected. So while her body was smaller and she looked like a baby Dragon, she was really over one hundred years old. Kyeria asked so many questions, and her mind felt clearer out in the meadow. It seemed like Ameline knew this would be. The Dragon looked as content as Kyeria did out in nature. Kyeria laid back and looked at the sky, the few clouds floating by.

"I wonder what it is like to fly," Kyeria said with her eyes closed, focusing on the wind floating by them before peering over at Ameline.

" I have a feeling you will love it ," Ameline purred. She swore if a Dragon could smile, Ameline was smiling. Kyeria took in her appearance. In the sunlight her scales had more red and some deep purple hues, glowing in the daylight.

" I had some scales shed when I was sleeping—very common for new hatchlings. I had Anwar save them for you. It is custom for the bonded to have armor made of their Dragon. Nothing can pierce Dragon scales but a Dragon itself. And on my honor, as your bonded, I will never engage to hurt or harm you. " Ameline bowed her head, the red and black scales glimmering under the sun. Kyeria breathed in the sweet wildflowers and let her hands push into the earth. The wind responded.

" You have a very strong magic about you ," Ameline commented.

"Do you have magic?" Kyeria asked.

" Not like your own. I have Dragonfire, and will be able to shift into human form if I wish soon. I can sense magic, but in human form I will not be as strong or able to protect us as I can in Dragon form ," she replied. Kyeria turned her head, looking at the Dragon again.

"You said Kellian can fly." It wasn't really a question. Kyeria felt her heart lurching, pounding at the truth that hung in the air. Aura wasn't able to become a shifter, the magic passing over her due to her illness as a child. But their grandfather was one, so maybe the magic jumped back to Kellian. She wasn't sure she understood why or how, but how had she not noticed?

" He is of the Galanis line. They take the form of a Dragon, " Ameline said as if it was a common fact.

"Does it ever skip generations?"

" It does not ," Ameline replied. " Kellian's father was able to take Dragon form, so does his grandfather Fendiah. There is a gap for me; the last of the Galanis line that I recall hearing about was a queen named Ophelia ."

"The Dragon Queen, yes." Kyeria nodded. She had read of Ophelia, the great-great-grandmother of Kellian and Aura. A few paintings were centered around her in the castle, Kyeria had searched out the texts from her time, as Ophelia's closest confidant was a descendent of the Winter witches who served at her side and helped create the magic that kept the Hollow safe and kept the humans and outside world away, and seemingly someone from her own line of the Greenburrow's as well. That ancestor would have been the last Dragon rider. Kyeria listened to the wind, the trees, the earth beneath her and she couldn't ignore a truth nagging at her now, so she said it out loud, let the wind and the trees, the earth and her Dragon hear them.

"Kellian is a Dragon,"

"He is a shifter, no Dragon," Ameline replied, sharp in her words.

"Sorry," Kyeria muttered back. She didn't want to offend Ameline, she was simply trying to understand. How could she have gone this long around him and not known? Though a part of her mind, of her soul pulled at her. Somewhere deep inside her, she knew. The magic that enveloped Kellian was unlike any other, and far too similar to that of his grandfather's for it to be a coincidence.

They stayed in the meadow until sunset. Talking and getting to know another. Ameline explained some of how the bond worked and helped her practice blocking off her thoughts. The magic was easy for her, simple compared to her own. As if willing it made it simply be. So they laid in the meadow, Dragon and Dragon rider.

Esmeralda came to collect Kyeria from the caves that night, helping her walk back to her rooms. Kyeria shared what she learned and Esmeralda promised to find more information about the Venille Dragon line in the library for them to read through. Kyeria could tell she was buzzing with excitement. Esmie loved any excuse to dig into the library, especially the farthest floors with the oldest documents.

Aura was out on a tracking mission with Nox and wouldn't be back until tomorrow. Kyeria could walk again, albeit not far, but it was something. She was ready to not be trapped here any longer. She itched to explore, to fly. Once back in her room, she was greeted with a warm fire already burning and a washroom that held a steaming bathtub. She knew it was Kellian who sent a servant to have them ready, and her heart warmed at the thought. He had seemed withdrawn after the night of the ball, as if he was afraid Kyeria would break with any sudden movement. And while Kyeria appreciated the care, there was nothing she hated more than feeling weak. She survived Dragonfire after all, she had a bonded Dragon—she was anything but weak. She washed away her doubts, her frustrations, and fear with the water. Miss Bells appeared to help her after some time had passed and she was grateful for the assistance. Miss Bells had a way about her, and being fae, Kyeria felt so deeply comfortable with having someone from her homeland around. Few words would pass between them sometimes, but the steadiness of her, the way she treated Kyeria, was a great comfort.

Kyeria went down to the caves every day to visit with Ameline. They entered into a routine of walking to the meadow, Ameline recounting the history she knew to Kyeria and Kyeria filling in the gaps with what she had learned through her research with Esmeralda. A week passed like that, her voice was strong again, and only a hint of soreness remained in her limbs. The burns were healing, albeit slowly, and likely to leave scars. But Kyeria did not mind it, for they were her markings, that she was Dragon-bound. Claimed by fate, a Dragon rider .

It was the middle of the night when Kyeria woke for the fourth time. She twisted and turned in her sheets, the cool air was wafting through the night and the wind was restless. She felt her magic hum, she felt as restless as the wind itself. Kyeria could not shake the feeling, the awakeness of her mind. She closed her eyes again and tried to settle herself. Thought of open fields, and golden sun rays warming her skin. Of her future and fate here. Her mind continued to wander, refusing to quiet.

Cracking open her eyes again, she stared into the starry sky. The moon was high and bright, lighting the night. Kyeria threw off her blankets and let her bare feet drop to the cold floor. Dressed quickly in simple training clothes and boots before walking out her room, down the halls, and out to the back gardens. She had the route memorized by now, her feet moved easily without much thought, taking her to the dragon caves outdoor entrance. The large stone carvings that revealed the cave entrance was ahead, flaming lights on either side. A monk stook guard at one end and as Kyeria walked through her favorite meadow that separated her from the caves, she spotted her dragon.

Ameline's scales looked black under the moonlight, making her seem like a shadow in the night.

"You're awake," Ameline commented, turning her head to Kyeria.

"Couldn't sleep," Kyeria responded, running a hand through her copper hair.

"I think I am ready," Ameline said after a beat of silence. Kyeria paused and looked to her Dragon.

"To fly?" she barely whispered. And Ameline responded in her mind.

" To fly."

Exhilaration ran through Kyeria. One of the monks had fitted Ameline with her rider's seat before going back to the caves. Kyeria now stood looking at Ameline, fitted and ready to take flight. For the first time, together.

"Are you ready?" Kyeria asked, trying to bite back her smile.

"Are you?" Ameline asked back. Kyeria only smirked in return earning a contented Ameline who looked just as eager. Kyeria climbed up Ameline's front leg, swung a leg over the leather seat, and let her hands fall to the small hand pieces on either side.

"Volano." Kyeria commanded in old elvish.

Fly.

Kyeria's grip tightened on the rider's seat as Ameline passed the lower clouds and shot past them. The moon's light guided their way among the dark sky. The stars were gleaming and so clear past the clouds, Kyeria now understood Kellian's fascination with them. Why he spent hours charting them and figuring out how to use them to navigate your way through the realm.

The stars went on for as far as she could see, different arrangements and clusters. Ameline stretched her wings, the dark purple scales glowing under the bright moonlight and stars. Kyeria's magic rushed through her, tingling at the end of her fingers. It was content here. Up high above the clouds on her dragon. Ameline didn't say a word while they flew together, as if also soaking in the experience.

When they landed again in their favorite meadow, Kyeria felt like she was floating through the grass as she walked back next to Ameline. She walked her back towards the mouth of the cave, a goodnight muttered into the wind before she headed back to the castle.

Kyeria let the moonlight guide her back through the trees. She walked slowly, happy to be among them, the wind was happy tonight, the trees content. This land was so magical, she hoped to spend her lifetime here. She pondered how different her life was not that long ago, making the decision to run into the mountains that were sung about, and warned about the horrors of trying to enter them. All the lore that flitted across the realm in warning to never cross the Ash Mountains. And here she was among the very trees just past the mountains. Her wandering thoughts stopped when she heard a twig snap nearby. She paused, holding her breath. Kyeria had been so in her head she had barely even paid attention to her surroundings. Who would be up at this hour? This early in the dawn that it was practically still the night?

When she cast out her magic however, a familiar essence was just beyond the next few trees where the palace gardens began.

"Aura?" Kyeria whispered through the night.

"Goddess above, what are you doing out here?" Aura asked, rushing towards her. Kyeria moved from behind the trees blocking her, a wide smile sitting comfortably on her lips. She took in Aura, in training clothes she could have sworn she saw her in yesterday. Her normally perfectly braided hair was in a slight disarray. Kyeria bit her lip.

Oh .

"What were you doing?" Aura asked, raising an eyebrow.

"What were you doing?" Kyeria bounced back at her. They both eyed each other before bursting out into a fit of giggles. They walked back to the castle together and Kyeria beamed recounting her first flight with Ameline to Aura. They walked, arms linked until they reached two halls. Kyeria waved goodnight, walking down the hall that held her own chambers and Kellian's. But instead of opening her own door, she stood outside Kellian's.

She hesitated. There were no guards out tonight. The ones patrolling were likely not back yet, so she reached out to the doorknob and twisted. Shockingling, it turned and she slipped inside.

Kellian did not stir until she slipped into the bed. Pulling the covers over her and curling into him.

"Are you alright?" Kellian whispered. She hummed her response, leaned in and kissed his lips. Half asleep he pushed into her in response.

"Go to sleep," she whispered back and let herself drift off. Her mind finally still and calm.

|| THE TWELFTH MOON OF SPRING ||

"When are you headed out next?" Kyeria asked Aura at dinner with everyone, the next night.

"Day after next, Nox can't come though so I might postpone, since this one disapproves of me going out alone." She pointed her fork accusingly at Kellian.

"Because if you are dying, I would rather someone around that can drag your ass home," he grumbled, pushing around the food on his plate. Aura smirked—she loved getting under his skin. Kyeria bit her lip to hold back a laugh and shared a look with Esmie instead, who recklessly let out a giggle. Kellians eyes snapped up.

"Do you both have a problem with me worrying about my sister's life?" he asked glaringly, but Kyeria knew he didn't mean it. The soft glimmer in his eyes told her differently.

"What if Kyeria goes with you?" Esmeralda offered, met with Kellian slamming his own fork down on the table.

"Absolutely not," he growled. Kyeria shot him a glare.

"I can speak for myself." She squared her shoulders and Aura smirked.

"Yeah," Aura added. "Then she can drag my ass out of so-called danger."

"She is still recovering," he snapped. "This is not a discussion."

"Excuse me?" Kyeria tried to hold back the gasp. " Once again, I can speak for myself, and you, Your Royal Highness, do not speak for me." Kyeria felt her chest filling with unsteady breaths—she was not going to be told by anyone what she could or could not do. She had been stuck in her rooms for far too long. She was restless, she needed to go, to be helpful, to do something, anything.

"Aura, I would love to accompany you on the next tracking." Kyeria sent a blinding smile towards the princess, who smirked at her brother knowingly.

"Absolutely not," he said standing.

"Oh relax, brother." Aura laughed. "I am only tracking, not interfering with or confronting the beast. We are tracking the movements and how the magic of the borders reacts to it. We will stay at a safe distance, there is practically no danger."

"It is a beast we know little about, sister, and I would rather the woman who has just begun being able to move around the castle without having to stop and catch her breath not be in further danger."

"Kel," Aura sighed and stood at the other end of the table. "I think we will do as we want." She turned and walked out of the door. Kyeria nodded and continued on eating her food. After moments of uncomfortable silence, Esmeralda excused herself, and it was only the two of them, sitting, eating silently in the grand dining room.

"What is really going on?" Kyeria asked softly, breaking the silence. Kellian's shoulders fell.

"I–I was out, on a scouting flight, and the monster is stronger than we understand, and while I know you are capable, seeing you—" He paused and met her gaze. "Seeing you hurt again, I don't think I can bear it." He closed his eyes. Kyeria stood and walked over to his chair, kneeling down and resting her forehead on his.

"I am okay," she whispered. "I am here."

His hand gripped the back of her head holding her to him. He let out a shaky breath. She pulled away and looked at him levelly.

"Is this why you've been distant?" she asked.

"I have not been–"

"You have," Kyeria cut him off. "You've been shut off, I've seen you every day Kellian, but your eyes rarely meet mine. You are keeping yourself at arm's length and I cannot understand why. What have I done?" she asked, pity nowhere in her tone.

"You nearly died," he said, his voice cracking. "I held you in my arms and you did not breathe Kyeria, and I felt my own heart dying, I can't explain it fully, I—" he fumbled.

"I know," she whispered. "Your soul has known mine," she said, quoting an ancient poem.

"You—" He looked up. "You have heard the Goddesses Proverb?"

"I have been reading," she said, sitting in the chair next to his. "Have you heard of soulbonds?"

"Yes," he whispered, "my mother would tell us stories as children. That there are people whose souls know each other for more than a lifetime, that they find each other in each, sometimes early, sometimes too late, but they are pulled together, bound."

"When I first saw you—" Kyeria shook her head. "My heart… it felt like something deep in me snapped, like the entire world shifted on its axis."

"I felt it too," he said, reaching for her. "But—" he began, and Kyeria could feel her heart stutter. He had been so far, so distant, she didn't want him to pull away, she needed him.

"No, Kellian." She took his hand in hers and squeezed. "We cannot run from this."

"You were hurt because of me. I could have kept you safe. It's my fault." He sagged, shoulders slumped like the weight of the five kingdoms laid on his shoulders.

"Come back," she whispered. "Come back to me." Her voice was raw, so deeply vulnerable. She held back a tear from slipping out as Kellian pushed forward, crashing his lips to hers. After so many days, weeks without his touch, it felt like breathing again, like air being pushed into her lungs. He slid a hand around her back, tugging her body close to his. When he pulled back, he looked to her with darkened eyes,

"I could never leave you, not if the weight of the world was tying me down, I would move the Heavens and this earth, swear to any gods or goddess. Do not fear, my love, I will never leave. My soul is yours."

"Kellian," she gasped, crashing her lips to his in return. Kellian devoured her, holding her like she would wither to the winds if he let go. He pulled her up, pushing the dishes and letting them clatter aside, and sat her on the large wooden table.

"Not touching you has been torture," he said, voice gravelly and raw. She pushed away, letting herself catch her breath, resting her forehead against his. His chest was heaving heavy like hers, like trying to come down from a high.

"Kellian." Kyeria sobered herself. "When you go on flights," she began, keeping her eyes shut, "you're not riding a Dragon are you?"

A beat of silence passed. "No," he finally said.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, feeling small.

"It is not a secret," he said and she shook her head.

"It is not spoken freely," she rebuked. He sighed, his warm breath hitting her.

"It was meant to be Aura," he said.

"The magic had passed me, but the goddess herself blessed it upon me on my twelfth birthday," he started. "My grandfather was elated. After the passing of my parents, and none of the heirs being able to shift, he was worried—about what it meant, for the magic binding us here. What it meant for the kingdom and the treaties we have with Dragon kind." His hand drew non-existence shapes on an exposed part of her thigh, the fabric having been pushed up during their romp.

"My father was a golden one, they are rare and typically of a royal bloodline, that or the greybacks as Fendiah is."

"But you are white," Kyeria said. She had filled it all in, all the pieces had fallen days ago. She had asked Ameline, but she insisted it was not her information to share.

"Yes." He nodded.

"At the Ball, you were right there," she said.

"Yes, I watched it happen. I shifted and ran to you as fast as I could." He swore under his breath. "That night—" He swallowed. "That night is something I will not forget. I never wish you to be in harm's way." Fingers tightened on hers. "But this life, it is not meant to be safe. We are intertwined with Dragons for goddesses sake."

"As am I, Kellian." She let her hand rest under his chin, tipping it up to her. "I am bonded with the very one. She will not hurt me, she never meant to." Her chin wobbled with emotion and he nodded.

"I know that, logically I know that. But–"

"But you are placing all of the blame of that night on you, when it didn't have much to do with you at all." She said it kindly, but firmly. "Kellian, Ameline and I are bonded, it was written in the stars long before I was on this land, long before even you. The bonds of a Dragon and fae are ancient."

"As are those of the Galanis and the Dragons," Kellian added, his eyes seeming somber.

"As are you. I appreciate your care, and all you have done." She took a steading breath. "But I have survived on my own for a decade. I am Fae, not human. I am not fragile bodied or minded. I am capable of taking care of myself. And while I am thankful to you, your people, and your family, I will not be caged."

"Kyeria." Kellian paused, his brows creasing and genuine sadness filled his features. "I would never wish for you to feel as such."

"I will be going with Aura on tracking missions, I will be flying soon with Ameline. I will be fine," she said softly.

"I never wish to hold you back, please know that," he said, and Kyeria nodded. "You are free to do as you wish, always." His gaze softened. "I only ask I can be by your side when you'll let me." He smiled.

"You could have just said you were feeling left out of tracking missions." Amusement laced her words. If Kellian's soul truly yearned for hers the same way hers did for him, she did not doubt his worry came from a place of honesty.

"I never wish to be parted from you," he said, eyes softening. Kyeria paused, really looking at him. His eyes gleamed at her, full of pure adoration, and something else forming, something she couldn't quite identify. She felt the pull, the soulbond in the deepest inner-workings of her tugging and dragging her to him. She leaned forward, placing a soft kiss on his lips.

"Well now." She sat up straight and pushed herself off the table, her heels hitting the stone floor. "I would love to formally meet the white Dragon, your highness."

"Right now?" Kellian looked caught aback.

"Mhm." She smirked.

"As you wish." He took her hand in his, raising it to his lips, and led them to the gardens outside. Candles and fire lit the path, but unnecessary, as the moon was full in the sky. There was an essence of wonder floating through the castle grounds. The air whispered to Kyeria as it floated by, the trees were humming. Kyeria felt her shoulder relax, easing the weeks of tension from healing so slowly, from being in her room for so long. The crisp night air was a welcome feeling on her cheeks. She had tied her hair back in a braid, but the pieces framing her face were free and flowing in the wind. She let herself smile—she and the wind were happy, this land was so deeply content. Here, where magic was free and the land was respected and cared for. Kyeria tilted her head up, gazing at the stars. Silver and golden ones stood out to her, in a long sword-like shape.

"That is the north sword constellation." Kellian pointed to where her eyes were locked. "The last star is red and points north. You can always orient yourself that way." His hand squeezed hers.

"Neat trick." She smirked, remembering their first night they met in the cave, when he had commented the same thing to her lighting a fire. It felt like a lifetime ago now. Before she even knew what this land was. Before she laid eyes on the stone castle with flowering vines climbing most of the towers. Before Aura, and Esmie, when she thought she was destined to wander, to never find a home.

They continued their walk to the far east end of the grounds, beyond Kellian's mothers garden to a grand lawn. He let her hand go and put distance between them. She tried to contain her excitement, but her fingers tapped on her skirt, and she could feel her magic seeping into the earth. The wind picked up, delighted in receiving the magic.

"Are you ready, love?" he asked with a smirk. He knew her small movements, the tap on her fingers while she tried to contain the excitement. His gaze zeroed in on them. She beamed back at him, eyes creasing, and nodded. He stripped off his shirt, tossing it aside. Kyeria did her best to keep her heart calm, but there wasn't much use. The moonlight glistened off his skin. Small scars ran, connecting a large one on his chest. She had traced it that night in the tower. But he had yet to share the journey that led to it.

He kicked off his shoes and smiled wickedly before raising his arm in a mist of shadow. Her breath caught in her lungs as the human form of Kellian disappeared, and from the mist, a gleaming white Dragon stepped out. He was enormous, towering over her. He knelt his head down to meet her, closing the space between them. She reached out a hand as she would do with Ameline and set it on the scales between his piercing golden eyes—the exact same eyes he had in human form, twin to his sisters and grandfather. It was the one physical feature that remained in this form, and she knew it would be his distinguishing factor aside from the white scales. He was magnificent. He bowed his head down further and shot a look over his shoulder. Leaning down, his tail swished, pushing a gust of wind towards her, making her hair fly back. She let out a laugh and shook her head. Her magic hummed deep in her chest. She felt it reaching out, swirling out around her, invisibly wrapping around them. Kellian shivered and his golden eyes bore into hers.

"Want to go for a ride?" the voice appeared in her head, the same familiar low thick tone she knew so well.

"You are in my head," she said out loud in disbelief.

"I am." The Dragon form of Kellian's body shook as if he was stretching a long-needed muscle. She wasn't fully surprised at this, since the other Dragons could mind-speak, but this felt different, as if a thread of the soulbond itself.

" How would I stay on without Rider's gear?" she asked, confused.

"I won't let you fall," he said simply. His wings rose and slowly came back down, the wind whipping at her again.

"Okay," she said, slightly uncertain and walked towards his massive leg.

"Just climb up," Kellian said in her mind, amusement lacing his words.

"Yes, that looks very easy." She shot him a playful glare and began climbing. With some effort she situated herself on the back of the Dragon.

"Ameline and I have not flown yet, she is still too young, " Kyeria said, feeling the nerves settle.

"Then think of this as practice," Kellian replied. His voice in her head made chills erupt on her skin. It felt so deeply personal, and her magic swelled at the feeling, accepting it happily.

"Practice," she muttered to herself. "Seems easy enough."

"Hold on tight," Kellian said before his massive wings began to move. He took off gently and slowly. She held on as tight as she could, horns placed in the perfect spot for her hands to wrap around and hold onto.

"Have you ever had someone do this before?" she asked silently, projecting her thoughts to him as she had done with Fendiah in the past.

"Never," he replied, his tone thick. Adrenaline shot through her as he picked up speed. They were not too high above the castle, gliding towards the mountains. She could see a few castle attendees and guards walking the grounds, and they looked so small from up so high. The light in two of the towers was bright, candles burning even in the windows. Kyeria found the red glow of a lower tower window and knew it was Esmeralda in her workshop. She smiled at the thought.

They flew past the castle, and into the Ash Mountains. Gliding over the lower peaks, Kellian flew higher and higher, Kyeria's heart picking up speed alongside the height.

"There's the lake, where I saw you for the first time." His words broke through her racing heart beat, immediately calming her. Below them was a great and glimmering lake, surrounded by mountain rocks and the mouths of caves. She smiled at the memory.

Flying was the most freeing thing Kyeria had ever experienced. Seeing the world from such a high vantage point was surreal. They only flew for a few minutes, Kellian insisting that he didn't want to go too high without a rider's seat for Kyeria. After Kellian landed, she climbed off of him and he shifted back into human form. His smile was so broad and bright it was blinding. He reached out an arm and tugged her to him, kissing her deeply.

"Your highness! Your highness!" A flutter of light bursted towards them. Kyeria recognized Ember from her rosy glow in the night.

"Ember, are you alright?" she asked immediately.

"Oh yes! But um—" She paused. Kellian placed a hand lazily on Kyeria's waist, holding her to him, sending a chill through her.

"Lady Esmeralda sent me! It's about that beast!" Ember shook her head as if disapproving of the existence of said beast.

"Tell us." Kellian's expression sobered.

"She said she found a potion recipe in one of the ancient texts that can make one's power stronger. If Aura's light can be amplified, then no darkness should survive it."

"Where is Esmeralda?" Kyeria asked after her gaze darted to Kellian. If they could finally rid the land of this shadow beast, then they could work to restore the magical barrier, to keep the mountains and sacred land safe.

"There's another message," Ember whispered. Kyeria nodded her on. "Aura has left."

"What?" Kellian's voice boomed. Kyeria's arm reached out to steady him.

"What do you mean, Ember? Why?" Kyeria's voice was even and sure.

"There are raiders, your majesty. On the eastern border of the Dragonier Forest. She had gone to protect the border."

"Of fucking course she did. Not bothering to tell anyone."

"She told me!" Ember spoke up, little hands on her glowing waist.

"Did Aura have anyone with her?" Kyeria asked.

"Obviously," Kellian sighed, running a hand through his wind blown hair. Kyeria looked to him then spoke in her mind, wondering if he could still hear her in human form.

"Care to share what that means?"

He cleared his throat, a look of shock passing his face for only a sliver of a moment before he said out loud, "Nox would be with her, or he would be defying direct orders."

"Kel–" Kyeria's voice turned soft, worrying for her friend. "What orders?"

"He's her personal guard." Kellian waved it off like this secret was nothing. Not knowing of the feelings Aura was obviously harboring for Nox, how she spent all her free time training with that one specific high guard. Aura only thought him in charge of her training. She thought he enjoyed going with her tracking. She had confided such in Kyeria.

"She doesn't know this," Kyeria stated rather than ask.

"No," Kellian said, face stealing. "We must go get more information from Esmie about this potion." He dropped his hand from her waist and began walking away. Kyeria spun on her heel, shocked at his dismissal, and looked to Ember who only shrugged.

"Do you know the way they went? Which path?" Kyeria asked the light sprite.

"Yes Miss, I can take you." She smiled, knowing that was exactly what Kyeria intended to do.

"Meet me in the training court in a few minutes." Kyeria nodded and ran after Kellian.

"You think a potion will be the key to all of this?" Kyeria asked, slowing to match his pace. Kellian nodded but did not answer.

"We have had more border issues in the last year than we have had in decades. The border is shrinking and the Evanthians are traveling farther and farther into the Hollow territory. The magic of this land seeping into theirs, the ramifications of something like that—" He paused. "It is unknown and it is powerful, and not something Evanthia should ever have. Not with the Mad King on the throne, and certainly not fueling their land. He had witches on his council, while magic might be outlawed in those lands, your own kind hunted if found, he had his own."

Kyeria lost her footing, tripping over her own feet at the information.

"He—" she stuttered. "The Mad King has those of magical descent? In his court?"

"No—not his court." His eyes dropped to the stone floor as they crossed the doorway into the castle. "They are not free, they are under his every will and whim."

"Kellian—" she gasped. "How do you know this?"

"We have spies in the court." Kellian shrugged, again like this was simple unimportant information.

"Goddess Above, the Mad King, the one that this very place is protected against has enslaved fae and witches and Goddess knows what else?" She was yelling now. "And you haven't done a thing about it?"

"It's not that simple, Kyeria." He was too calm for this.

"Of course it is!" she yelled back. "Those are my people, Emeralda's people, your people."

"I have a plan in place," he said, stopping and turning to her, "but the borders shrinking puts that plan in jeopardy. The kingdom cannot have resources split right now. We are doing everything we can to get them out, and we have aids in place to keep them as safe as possible given the circumstances. Kyeria, my love, I will go to the ends of this earth for my people." His voice was steady and stern. The confidence eased Kyeria's worries a fraction, but she spent the rest of the walk to Esmeralda's potion room rambling off questions.

She learned that about five years ago, Kellian found out that the Mad King of Evanthia had stolen three witches, two fae women, and a guard from the Hollow itself. They had been on a small materials trip to the small western Evanthian villages, to visit some of the witches who lived in the woods. They had their own magical barrier, weak compared to the one that guards the Hollow, but enough to avert the gaze of passerbyers. Unless they were looking directly at the house, they could not see it. The house had been surrounded by so many trees it was nearly a maze to get to it. But raiders found them out and accepted an egregious amount of gold in return for outing the witches to the royal guard who brutally took them all into custody. A light sprite had been notified and followed them. A group of the light sprites sneak messages back and forth now, keeping Kellian informed. It is nearly impossible to penetrate the Evanthian castle, but Kellian has a knight there undercover.

While most of the walk was filled with this information reveal, the last minute was a swollen silence. Kyeria tried to put together all the pieces, trying to figure out what could be done to get them out. She could not imagine what the past five years had been like for them, trapped in enemy territory.

Once they arrived at Esmeralda's room, they found her hunched over a glass jar, buried between glowing potion bottles, golds and green and purples and blues, some looking like they were mid-movement, others were as dark as an angry sea.

"Esmie," Kyeria greeted. She popped up, nearly knocking over the glass bottle in front of her, a small spoon in her hand dripping with translucent liquid.

"Oh!" she startled, her dark curls were tied back haphazardly. Her long golden earrings in place and her red robes with half burned sleeves.

"Are you alright?" Kellian asked zeroing in on the sleeves, his gaze sweeping over her for any damage, but her dark skin was unmarked, and free of any burns.

"Oh yes! I just mixed up a potion earlier! Put in the fire leaf instead of lyre leaf!" She waved around a deep red leaf. "They look nearly identical and I must've forgotten to label the jars the last time I was foraging for the pair," she explained, wiping her forehead and leaving soot behind.

"Ember found us."

"Oh thank the gods, I sent her over an hour ago!" she exclaimed.

"We were busy," Kellian said simply, making Kyeria's cheeks flush.

"Did you hear Aura ran off too? That girl, sometimes I swear she just jumps into action before even telling anyone, I only caught her in full armor as she passed my door." Esmie looked rather concerned, her brow was furrowed and the bags under her eyes were more evident then Kyeria had noticed in the past.

"Ember said something about a potion?" Kyeria asked gently.

"Oh! Yes." Esmeralda spun and dug through the sky high cabinets behind her, pushing aside journals and scraps of paper before moving to two other piles and a grey leather bound book with gold embellished writing on the front was in her hands. She cleared room on the table and opened it.

"Here, this is an old edition of the Winter Witches Magic Helms, one that has since been rewritten by someone maybe two decades ago, but this original version dates back to when the magical barrier was put in place, during the Dragon Queen's rule." She pointed to a sketch of a beast and the small writing next to it.

"Here." She tapped the golden and worn page. "When they were first creating the borders, forming the magic and connecting the pieces around the Hollow, they encountered a being that fed off the magic. As the border is many pieces intertwined, they had to build it in stages, and the beast was eating away at it. It is said to have taken on a shadow-like form, growing larger and darker. Giving off a dreary cold feeling when near. Consuming the magic into itself and draining the land under its feet. They mixed two rather common potions together but added in a Merstone gifted to them by a friend, which made the potion change entirely. Thus giving the user of the potion an unlimited amount of amplification of their magic. I think, based on how the Beast reacts to Aura's magic, that if hers is amplified, it would ultimately destroy the beast. The light burns away the magic the beast has consumed, and it will wither away back to harmless shadows." She snapped the book closed when she was finished reading. "So all we need is a Merstone," she announced.

"And what is a Merstone?" Kyeria asked.

Kellian huffed. "Only a rare gemstone that must be gifted by a mermaid of the isles. One stolen will curse your family for generations, and one taken under persuasion will either kill or deeply injure you. It can only be given of free will and good intentions." His voice was rather annoyed for finding out the solution for a beast plaguing his kingdom.

"And?" Kyeria pushed.

"And requesting an audience with a mermaid is not exactly easy." He rested his arms on the table as he leaned over it to point at a map next to them. "We are here." He tapped the forest and mountains and a green area to the west of them. "The isles are here." He tapped just north, where many small islands scattered across the northwest side of the map.

"West," Kyeria whispered. There were other islands charted, a large one to the far west on its own. She pointed. "These are the fae lands." It was unmarked on the map, only a sketching of the mainland.

"Where are you from?" Esmeralda gazed at her in wonder. She turned, picked up a pen and tipped it in ink. "The fae lands?" she confirmed, and Kyeria nodded and watched as Esmie wrote the title in stunning script on the unnamed island.

"Do you have ships?" Kyeria asked, eyeing Kellian. They were not near the ocean. A large body of water lay southwest, but the northern seas were a trek away from her understanding.

"No." Kellian shook his head. "But I know someone who does—who owes me a favor." He smirked. "To the isles then?" he asked, eyes gleaming with anticipation towards Kyeria.

"And Aura?"

"As long as Nox is with her, she will be well," he said simply. Kyeria scowled.

"I will send Ember to check on them. If they need reinforcements, they will be able to get to them quickly."

"Send them now," Kyeria insisted.

"The soldiers?" Kellian's brow rose.

"Yes," she said firmly.

"As you wish." He smiled. "Pack your bags, my love, we are going on a quest."

"I'll pack you some essentials," Esmie announced, fluttering around her workshop and grabbing handfuls of leaves, salves, and a few potions.

"Make sure you keep this one dry," she started, holding up each resource while she explained to Kyeria. "These leaves when wet can be placed over a wound. This potion will make you invisible for an hour. This one is a healing elixir and will numb pain and quicken your healing. I only have one made, so use it only if necessary."

Kyeria nodded along, making mental notes on all the information. Emseralda piled them together and pulled out a red velvet pouch to stow them inside. "Keep this close to you," she said firmly.

"Please be safe," Esmeralda said, squeezing Kyeria's hand as she passed over the small bag of magic.

"Always." Kyeria smiled and squeezed her hand back.