Page 22 of Dragon Claimed

Enzo took hold of her hand, "Don't think like that. Now that the barrier is shut down, you guys can schedule a time for everyone to come here to see each other."

"If we manage to get things figured out and live to tell the tale," Kaida snapped.

Arlo looked at her and gave a small smile of encouragement. "Don't think like that, Kaida. If anyone can bring order to our world, it's you."

"You have a lot of confidence in someone who just received their dragon and magic. I have no idea how to use my magic properly, and I only know enough to defend myself."

Esen chuckled. "That is basically what war is, though. You'll be defending yourself left and right."

"Speaking of such things, I think we need to figure out a plan of attack here. Gemar knows we know about him now. Things aren't exactly easy," Beckett pointed out.

Kaida bowed her head and groaned. "As if this day can get any worse."

Esen was the first to speak. "Sorry, but it isn't like you didn’t know this. The whole point of you breaking that barrier was so we could reclaim the kingdom. This is everything that we have been working for since we made that deal."

Kaida frowned at him. "That is one of the reasons why I opened that barrier. Another was so my friends could go home and warn their people. There is so much more going on than you even know. Adrien has things happening that I’d never even heard of."

They all stared at her blankly. Kaida took the opportunity to dive into what happened while she was with her friends. They all growled when she got to the part where Adrien gained abilities. Kaida held up a hand to make them stop. She could feel through the bonds that they didn't like the idea of an even more powerful witch walking the world. Dragons don't get along well with the other species on the best of days. Now, someone with more power could potentially be on board. That made them all uneasy. She reminded them that Adrien was one of her best friends, which could benefit them. They only receded when she drove it home, and Adrien could have killed her at any time when her dragon hadn't emerged. If Adrien were evil, she wouldn't have waited this long to do it.

"It's not just that. Someone with that kind of power can fall into the wrong hands. Adrien has been away from her kingdom for a year or more now. That long away could make her a target of her own people. Witches aren't like us. They could see her as an enemy," Arlo tried to explain, but it only made Kaida rub her temples.

"Arlo, you didn't listen well to my story. She already knows she will be hunted down. If she stayed here, she would have been an easy target."

Arlo frowned at her. "I forgot that tidbit. But that's why we don't like this. If anyone finds out you are someone she cares about, that could put you in danger."

"I agree with Arlo, but I also know something. It doesn't matter. We have our issues to deal with right now. We need to figure out our next move here. We need to do something before Gemar does," Beckett contradicted.

Kaida shook her head. "I have no idea what any of this means. I am no warrior here. I was a daughter of a council member. I was practically royalty. If you four want to make battle plans, then by all means, make them. I am no good there. I can tell you that storming the beach is not a good idea because I think Gemar would expect you to go that way. After all, that is usually the main way to Dragaal."

Enzo nodded. "I agree there. I can tell you what my father has told his army before during possible attacks. I attended a few of those meetings with the generals."

"Good. We will need that information to plan."

Beckett looked at Kaida again. The lines in his face were telling. The bond flared to life as his concern washed over her. She didn't think going through heartache over her friends returning home would cause concern, so she scratched that off the list. Nothing came to mind of why he would be concerned, so she needed to ask.

"Start talking. What's on your mind?"

"Well. We are discussing the fact that we plan to storm the gates and take over the throne. We have no idea if all of us will make it through this. I know for a fact that there is something that all of us need to consider, but mostly you."

Kaida shifted her shoulders until she was more comfortable. "And that is?"

"We need to get your bond with Blaze fixed."

Kaida growled. "Ugh. Didn't I already say this day couldn’t this day get any worse? What do you want me to do, Beck? He doesn't want me. He avoids me at any cost. If we are face-to-face, we blow up at each other. I don't know how to really move on from that and fix the bond. Especially since he is the one that doesn't want it to be open in the first place."

Beckett sighed. "I just feel like it would be a good thing. I can feel it. This weird space inside of our bond with you. I can literally feel the space that he is supposed to make up. I don't really know how to explain it. It just feels like..."

"Like he is missing," the other three finished.

Kaida stared at her mates for a moment. Did they all feel this? She wasn't the only one who could feel how Blaze's bond felt like a piece of herself that was missing.

"You can feel it, too?" Kaida whispered to them.

They all nodded. Enzo put his arm around her shoulders and let her lay her head on it.

"Yeah. We feel it, too. From what I understand about bonds, it can eat away at you. There is a reason why most will come back to claim their mate after rejecting them. The other half of your soul is missing after it was found. I spent so many nights just wanting to scream because of this aching hole in my heart that I couldn't piece it back together. After I fixed the bond with you, it went away a little. Now I feel it again. It's not as strong as it was with you, but a dull ache. It must be worse for you if it is dull for me."

"So, you think I must mend my bond with Blaze before we take the throne?"

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