“In Nevaehun,” Aurelius added.
CHAPTER 4
The City of Embris
DELILAH
The taller, slender male, Aurelius, took my hand in his and looked me in the eyes. They were filled with wisdom, a striking contrast to his youthful face. He spoke calmly.
“I know you are scared, but you are very seriously injured. The only way we can save your life is to take you to the nearest high healer, in the city of Embris, the capital of the Kingdom of Flame.”
His words were meant to comfort me, but the more I learned, the more confused and overwhelmed I became. Sensing this, he asked,
“What is your name, my lady?” I began to shake.
“Delilah,” I replied.
“What a beautiful name. It sounds like a song,” he said with a warm, calming smile. Then he continued, “I am Aurelius, Master of Dragons for the Kingdom of Flame. This is my student, Prince Rexius, heir to the Flaming Throne. We were in the middle of a flying lesson when we heard your cry for help.”
Prince. Dragons. Flaming Throne. My brain could not keep up with the insanity of it all.
“I’m sorry,” I said slowly. “Did you say dragon? Is that some sort of helicopter?”
The prince looked at me with a mix of impatience and disbelief. “I think Lady Delilah might have taken a blow to the head,” he said smugly.
Aurelius shot Rexius a sharp look before turning back to me. “Lady Delilah, if you wish to live, you must come with us at once. Do I have permission to carry you?” he asked.
Still shaking, on the brink of death, and with no other option in this strange world, I nodded. He gently slid one arm beneath my knees and lifted me as if I weighed nothing. After retrieving the swords, the prince followed close behind. Aurelius carried me with one arm, my hands looped around his neck, while he parted the brush with the other until we reached a clearing. It became clear that these beings were far stronger than any human I had known.
I heard them before I saw them. A low, thunderous rumble vibrated the pebbles beneath us, traveled through the earth, and settled deep into my bones.
Two dragons stood before me, each one the size of a bus.
Holy. Shit. Actual fucking dragons.
One had scales of deep sapphire and green, so dark they were nearly black, catching the sunlight like shattered glass. The other was larger, with wings the color of molten bronze and eyes that glowed like embers. I should have known after the lake monster and the mermaid that dragons would not be a stretch. Still, they were a sight to behold, and I would never have believed it had I not seen them with my own eyes.
Part of me wanted to run. Another part wanted to kneel before the great beasts in reverence. I could do neither with my injury. They were terrifying, yes, but also majestic, sacred, and strangely beautiful. Though they wore saddles and gear, I somehow knew in my heart they were never meant to be tamed.
The smaller dragon turned its massive head and locked eyes with me. Not with menace, but with curiosity. As if it saw something in me worth remembering. It did not seem bothered by my presence. If anything, I had the distinct impression that the scaly beast was just as awed by me as I was by it. It lowered its head slightly in a subtle bow as I was brought closer. Even the two males appeared taken aback by the gesture.
Did it just… bow to me?
Aurelius lifted me into a saddle designed for two and secured me carefully in front of him on the smaller blue-green dragon, taking great care not to disturb my injured leg.
I watched the way the Master of Dragons interacted with his mount. Despite everything happening around me, I could not help but be captivated. There was a deep bond between them. They moved as one, as if sharing the same thoughts and emotions.
I glanced over at the young prince, Rexius. He clearly did not share the same connection with his dragon. If anything, he seemed apprehensive as he approached it, and the beast, though it tolerated him, appeared annoyed. I did not blame him for his fear. His dragon was larger and, overall, far more intimidating than the other.
The instructor’s large body behind me framed my own in the saddle. Because I was wet, cold, and in pain, I welcomed the warmth of his body heat and leaned back against him. He did not seem to mind.
“You are freezing. Here, take this,” he said, wrapping me in a blanket he pulled from a saddlebag.
“Zephyros, this is Lady Delilah,” he said by way of introduction.
The moment my hand brushed against the dragon’s warm scales, a strange tingling sensation flared—warm and electric—crawling up my arm and into my chest. The shimmering beast let out a throaty rumble of acknowledgment that vibrated through my bones.
That was weird.
