She breaks down completely into tears, no longer able to speak.
I wrap Jyn up in my arms, allowing her to press her face against the crook of my neck. “It’s okay, Jyn. Thank you for telling me.” It’s more than enough for now—I had almost forgotten this is just as difficult for her to navigate.
We remain there for a while longer, with only the sounds of the distant sea waves, the sounds of the villagers going about their usual business, Jyn’s quiet sniffles, and the rapid beat of my heart. An eventual calm blankets us, insulating us both from the world and its madness. I have my Fated One and she has me, and in this moment, that’s all we need. We hold each other tight—maybe too tight, as though a force threatens to tear us apart without notice.
I breathe her in while I allow her words to sink in.
Dragons. Reincarnation. Our fated souls, finding each other once again.
It’s overwhelming, to say the least.
Overwhelming and utterly miraculous.
I expected to run the family teahouse my whole life, perhaps match a few interesting couples in town, but now I’m farther than I have ever been from home, learning I am part of a legacy that may have shaped all of humanity.
Iam the red dragon of old, the one from all the stories of my childhood. I was once king of the skies! What other memories of mine are locked away? Why is it that I can only recall fragments, and so few? My mind reels, the sheer magnitude of it leaving my body numb. It would be easy to panic in this moment, to deny everything outright. But I know deep within that Jyn has spoken the truth.
Besides, I promised not to take it poorly.
Every answer has begotten so many more questions. But with time, I’m sure all of them will be addressed.
Eventually, Jyn’s soft sobs taper off. She wipes at her eyes before turning her attention to me. “How are you feeling? Don’t let the huntress get under your skin.”
“You’re right,” I admit, my hands still trembling lightly from the shock of how I behaved. “It was an ugly feeling, Jyn. Terrifying. I couldn’t stop myself. What if… what if I transformed right there and then? I could’ve killed Feng. Gods, I could’ve hurt the children.”
Jyn cups my face and holds my gaze, her emerald-green eyes both tender and determined. “Calm yourself, Sai. Nothing will happen, as long as you maintain control. Deep breaths, my lo—” She stops herself, but leans forward to tap her forehead to mine. “Deep breaths. All is well.”
“The huntress,” I murmur. “She saw my eyes.”
“I told her you were ill.”
“There’s no way she’ll believe that.”
“She’ll have to.”
“Or what?”
“I’ll eat her alive,” she says, deadpan.
I give her a pointed look. “Do you find that funny?”
She shrugs. “Just trying to lighten the mood.”
At the very least, I can appreciate her attempt, given how little Jyn jests. She holds me until my breaths come easier, my heart returning to a steady cadence. Her cool fingers graze my cheek, the tip of her nose bumps lightly against mine. My soul finds ease in the tickle of her breath against my lips and the heat of her skin.
“There we go,” she whispers, looking into my eyes to inspect them. “Back to normal.”
“Thank you,” I whisper back.
“We have to be more careful from here on out.”
“You mean I need to temper my temper?”
Jyn huffs in a pretend pout. “Yes, as best you can.”
“Then you’d best stay near, my lady.”
“I’ll stay with you,” she promises.
