She sits, and in the sliver of light that peeks through the broken window, I allow myself a moment to take in her beautiful features. Her long black hair is pulled into a tight braid that hangs over one shoulder, and her green eyes have the tiniest gold flecks sprinkled around them. Even in her human form, her skin is speckled with faint blue scales. I bet when she’s a dragon, she’d be the most majestic creature I’ve ever seen. She’s my enemy, yet there’s something captivating about her, something that stirs a strange mixture of enmity and attraction. I feel my trousers tightening at the thought of…
“You’re staring.” Her remark brings my thoughts back to the present. I must get control of myself. We are enemies. There is no chance of anything more than that.
“Apologies,” I murmur, averting my gaze.
“I suppose you’ve never seen a dragon before?” she says.
“It’s not that,” I reply, shaking my head. “You’re just... you’re very lovely, is all.”
“‘Lovely?’ I don’t think anyone’s ever called me that.”
“Well, you are,” I protest.
She looks away, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
I clear my throat and take a seat behind my desk. “Let’s get back to the matter at hand,” I say, trying to refocus the conversation. I take a deep breath, gathering my thoughts before I continue. “Astryl, I brought you here because you have the potential to stop the Shadowlord, as I said. But I also believe you deserve to know more about who you are, about your heritage.”
She raises an eyebrow. “My heritage? You mean the part where you think I’m half angel?”
“Yes, precisely,” I affirm.
“And what makes you think I’d use these ‘angelic’ powers to help the likes of you?” she challenges.
Before I can respond, a servant enters with a tray laden with food. I insisted that she eat before we proceed. She hasn’t eaten in quite some time, and I can see the hunger in her eyes, though she tries to hide it behind a mask of pride. “I’ve had some food brought in. You should eat before we continue,” I say firmly.
She eyes the tray warily but doesn’t move.
“Astryl,” I add more softly, “you need your strength. We can’t afford for you to be weak now.”
Reluctantly, she reaches for the food. I watch as she begins to eat, her movements initially hesitant but growing more assured as the hunger takes over. Only once she’s finished do I continue. “Now, I will tell you what you need to know about your heritage.”
She narrows her eyes, suspicion mingling with curiosity. “Fine. Speak.”
“I know it’s a lot to take in, but you need to understand that your unique lineage gives you abilities and strengths that no one else possesses. I can help you unlock those powers, and help you understand them. In return, I ask for your trust and cooperation in our mission to save Veridale and countless other realms—including your Enchanted Forest—from the Shadowlord’s tyranny.”
Astryl leans back in her chair, clearly contemplating my words. Her fingers tap nervously on the armrest as she processes the information. “So, what you’re saying is, you’ll help me discover more about myself if I agree to join your cause?”
“Exactly,” I confirm, nodding. “I’ll personally guide you through the process of discovering your angelic heritage, your abilities, and how they can be utilized against our common enemy.”
“That’s quite the bargain,” she says, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Perhaps,” I reply. “But the fact remains, you’re our best option, and we have no one else to rely on.”
She looks thoughtful, her eyes narrowing slightly as if she’s sizing me up. “And how do I know you’re telling the truth? How do I know you won’t just use me and cast me aside once this is all over?”
Her words sting, but I can’t blame her for her skepticism. “I understand your concerns, Astryl. And I won’t lie, our kingdom’s survival is at stake here, so our primary focus is on defeating the Shadowlord. But I genuinely want to help you. Your heritage is important, and you have a right to know about it. I can offer you my word as a leader and as a fae that I will stand by you and assist you in discovering your true self.”
Astryl’s gaze softens, the skepticism in her eyes replaced by a hesitant curiosity. “And what exactly does this ‘discovery process’ entail?”
“You have the potential to wield powerful magic, and I can help you harness those abilities and strengthen them,” I explain. “The more you know about your origins, the better equipped you’ll be to face the Shadowlord and defeat him.”
“I can’t believe I’m about to do this,” Astryl mutters under her breath. “Don’t mistake this for trust. I’ll consider your proposal, but know this: I don’t make alliances lightly, especially not with fae.”
“Fair enough,” I acknowledge, attempting to soothe her nerves.
“Understatement of the century,” she grumbles, rolling her eyes.
“I can understand that,” I reply, offering her a reassuring smile.
