YES! Raziel answered his command.
The Black Dragon had never flown so fast. Later, people would claim that a meteor, brimming with fire, had screamed over their towns and villages and cities. That their windows had cracked and crockery had fallen from shelves as it had passed above them. That their homes had seemed to jump from their foundations and then settle back down again once it was gone. People woke up in confusion thinking that an earthquake had occurred.
The horizon was no longer black, but a line of red and gold. Raziel aimed for that rip in the night to the day. And in seemingly seconds they passed from dark to gray to bright sunlight.
That sunlight flowed over Raziel’s head and rolled over its broad back. It covered Caden and then Chione. Valerius felt as much as heard Caden praying over the Sphinx Shifter.
C’mon, Chione! We’re in the sunlight now! We’re here! We made it! Caden begged. Please come back. Please come back! Please…
Caden ripped the metallic blanket off her and it flew away. He was trying to make sure that every inch of her was exposed to the life-giving sunlight.
Valerius… I don’t think… I don’t think… Caden’s voice was clogged with tears.
Valerius let out a sob inside of Raziel. He felt the Black Dragon curl around him.
Please, Chione, come back to us, Caden continued. We weren’t fast enough, Raziel. Iolaire and I weren’t strong enough--
No, Little Dragon, you did all that could be done, Raziel assured Caden with a tenderness that Valerius would not have thought the Black Dragon capable of before.
Iolaire twittered softly and slumped in the lair. It thought that they had failed too.
Chione, Valerius said quietly and he thought he saw her pause on the deck of the boat. Chione, we will love you always. I will make you proud. I promise.
We weren’t enough, Caden sobbed. But then Caden let out a cry. What the Hell?! Oh, my god! She’s on fire! She’s on fire!
Caden?! Valerius cried.
What was happening to his mate? Raziel craned their head around but it could not see what was happening on its back. It felt no warmth from this supposed fire. Not that the Black Dragon would, but--
She’s--she’s burned up! Valerius… She's gone! All of her… ashes are floating away, Caden gasped. I don’t understand. The fire wasn’t hot at all. But she’s totally gone.
In front of them, a slender, dark-skinned figure appeared in mid air. Her long hair flowed around her head. Her eyes were closed. Her arms were stretched to her sides. She only opened her eyes as she started to fall.
CHIONE! Valerius cried.
Raziel plunged and grabbed her in mid-air. She gasped and blinked rapidly up at them.
“Oh, that was--was quite something. I haven’t reincarnated like that in ages!” she said.
Chione? Valerius asked, uncertain if it was her though it looked, sounded and smelled like her.
“Why are you smelling me, Raziel? Stop that!” Chione pushed the dragon snout away.
Is that Chione, Valerius? Caden asked.
“You thought you lost me, did you?” Chione cocked her head to the side and smiled. “I considered moving on. I really did. But then… Well, you did promise me a wedding, didn’t you? A big Dragon wedding! I couldn’t miss out on that.”
It is her, Caden, Valerius laughed, filled with more joy than he could handle. We’re all safe.
And having a wedding? Caden goggled.
I did promise her. You don’t mind, do you? Valerius asked. We did talk about it in Valinor.
We did and I… I don’t mind at all, Caden laughed, thrilled and ecstatic. My parents are going to love this. Not to mention Tilly! Oh, you’ve got to ask Illarion to be your best man and--
Yes, anything you want. Valerius smiled.
I just want you, Caden sighed. We did it, Valerius. We did it. All of us.
