The grass instantly browns in the circle of doom I’ve created. I scream and scream as it leaves me, and only when I can finally breathe again do I look at the surrounding bodies.
Chest heaving, saliva sprays out between my clenched teeth. The blisters and wounds will heal, but I don’t know how I’ll heal the broken mess inside Atticus’s chest.
My eyes wander around the people huddled together, every pair of eyes stationed on me. With a blip of a thought, green smoke pours out of my palms, healing the scorched surface beneath my touch.
“Are you alright?” I didn’t hear Atticus approach, but his languid steps ease into my bubble, like you would for a rabid animal.
“Yes,” I clip, agitated with myself for the carnage I’ve caused. Just when the grass is back to its normal state of dried brown and patches of green, the other villagers begin piling back into their homes.
It starts slow. The leaves begin to rustle, and a slight chill starts to seep throughout the town. Shingles on roofs shake, and the remaining people outside look up toward the onyx night to find the source. I feel it, like the storm is settling right on top of me as wind cascades straight down on my sensitive skin.
“I told you I would find you,”Voraxis’s voice booms inside my skull. Turning my head toward the night sky, a flash of white appears. As the figure descends down onto the village, my eyes brim with unshed tears at the sight of him.
Screams of horror go off as Voraxis lands in a field just behindthe remains of Atticus’s home. I can’t believe he found me. After everything that’s happened, I didn’t know I would feel relief ever again. But the organ in my chest feels like it’s going to burst as my little burnt marshmallow stares at me from across the way.
Sprinting to where he stands, uncaring of the pain that shoots through me with each step, I brush past Atticus and plow over anybody else that stands in my way.
“That foul beast!” someone yells.
“Everybody hide!” another sounds, and I make a mental note to blast anyone that decides to talk bad about my dragon.
Just before I’m in reach, Voraxis bows his head, letting it rest on the ground. I waste no time flinging my arms over his big, white snout and let the tears coat his scales.
“I can’t believe you’re here. I thought—”My admission is interrupted by a choked cough.“I thought I’d never see you again.”
“No matter where you go, I will always be with you.”Despite everything, a smile breaches my face, and I let out an honest chuckle. Giving him one last squeeze, I reluctantly let him go.
Immediately, smoke spews from his nostrils, and his eyes turn into slits. Confused, I look behind me to find Atticus pointing a sword in his direction. Voraxis lets out a growl of warning, and I spread my arms out, trying to maintain the peace.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Atticus, put that away,” I command.
“Kallie, step away.” It’s like I’m having déjà vu.
Taking a step toward him, Voraxis stomps a foot down, shaking the surrounding area. “This is Voraxis. He’s my bonded dragon,” I explain, and the look he gives me tells me he isn’t buying it.
“I can take care of this. Just say the word,”Voraxis promises.
Not taking my eyes off Atticus, I respond out loud, “I have this under control.” Voraxis sweeps his tail out, keeping it placed between Atticus and me, in a way of protectiveness.
“Seriously, put it down.”
Not taking his eyes off Voraxis, Atticus says, “Right. Dragons only bond with royals. So tell me, are you lying, or am I missing a piece to the puzzle?”
I feel the color leech from my face before regaining my composure. “Neither. Let me show you,” I insist.
Not waiting for a reply, I side-step over to Voraxis’s shoulder and rest my hand on him, like I’m consoling a toddler.Let me on.He lowers his head in response, still keeping his eyes trained on Atticus. I climb on like it’s second nature, struggling a bit from all the days in captivity. All the muscle I had is long gone, instead leaving me with shaking limbs, but in time I get up.
Sitting atop him, I let the familiar feeling sink in, like I’ve found another missing piece to the puzzle. Without another thought, I screech with joy as he kicks off the ground. The song of his wings beating puts me at ease, and the wind brushes against my cheeks.
Looking down, I see the people file out of their homes, staring up in amazement at the show we’re putting on for them.
“Let’s give them something to look at,”I suggest wickedly. Voraxis starts blowing fireballs, and I let us gain speed before opening the middle, and we fly through. He lets out two more, and I keep them suspended in the sky, moving them about the night.
Snuffing them out, Voraxis lands back in the field, and behind Atticus, a crowd forms, all of their faces mixed with different emotions.
“No harm will come to him. If I find out that anyone tries anything, you will have me to answer to.” I let the shadows whip around me for a second before gaining back control and shutting them into their cage.
Voraxis insists that we leave tonight, but I refuse. The thought of simply leaving after the wreckage I caused doesn’t sit right.
