Page 37 of Stolen By Dragons

With that ominous warning, Valeria turned and left, leaving me alone with my thoughts once more. As I prepared to head to the meeting, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were balancing on a knife's edge. One wrong move, and everything could come crashing down around us.

The dining hall was buzzing with tension when I arrived. Everyone clustered in their chosen groups, their voices a low murmur of anticipation and anxiety. My eyes immediately sought out Aria, finding her standing with the werewolf, Christopher, the panther shifter, Lydia, and the fae, Zephyr.

Elowen stepped forward, her presence alone commanding silence. Beside her, Eirian looked equally grave.

"Thank you all for coming," Elowen began, her voice carrying easily through the hall. "It's time we explained the true purpose of your training."

A hush fell over the crowd as she continued. "Within each of you runs the blood of the ancient Dracarians. This blood, this heritage, is why you are here, which you are well aware of.”

“Long ago,” Elowen went on, her voice carrying a weight of ancient sorrow, "our realm was protected by the ancient dragons – beings of immense power and wisdom. These magnificent creatures used their magic to create a barrier, shielding our world from the encroaching darkness of the Void."

She paused, her eyes sweeping across the room. "But as the ages passed, even the dragons' immense power began to wane. The threat of the Void grew stronger, pressing against the weakening barrier. In a final act of sacrifice, the dragons turned themselves to stone, pouring the last of their magic into reinforcing the shield between our worlds and the creeping shadows."

Eirian stepped forward then, his voice deep and resonant. "Now, after centuries of silence, we face a grave crisis. The dragons' magic, once thought eternal, is fading. We can feel the Void pressing against the boundaries of our realm, seeking entry. The stone dragons that have stood as silent sentinels all this time now represent our last hope."

His gaze hardened as he continued, "These petrified guardians stand in the Great Hall, waiting. It is there that your true test will come. For we believe that you, with your unique bloodlines, may hold the key to reawakening the dragons and finally destroying the Void once and for all."

Valeria gasped beside me, and hushed murmurs rolled through the hall.

So it wasn’t just us that were supposed to fight the Void. Of course there was a bigger piece at play, a great reason we were here.

“Dragons, actual dragons? How big do you think they are?” Valeria asked excitedly as she turned to me, and I shrugged. Thedragon shifters that had rounded us up were the size of buses, some a little bigger than others.

I found my gaze drawn once again to Aria, curious as to how she’d respond. From across the room, I could see her face had gone pale, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and shock. In that moment, I was struck by how fragile she was, how unprepared for the weight that had been placed on her shoulders.

The sweet little human amongst all us monsters.

I smirked inwardly at the thought. Even the fae had been given a bad rap in some lore, as beings who stole children and made dirty deals. To a human, we were all monsters, and yet she’d taken it in her stride.

I watched as Christopher placed a protective arm around her waist, drawing her close. Zephyr leaned in to say something, while Lydia was shaking her head. Even from this distance, I could see the slight tremor in Aria's hand as she nodded in response to whatever was said.

A complex mix of emotions surged through me – concern for her wellbeing, a twinge of something that felt uncomfortably like jealousy at Christopher's closeness, and an overwhelming urge to protect her from what was to come. But I remained where I was, knowing that my presence would likely only complicate matters further.

I shouldn’t have felt any of this for her, but ever since I’d fed from her, I’d felt something inside me, something I’d not felt in a long time. She’d stirred something, and now she had me intrigued.

Valeria was right, she was at risk, especially with how I was drawn to her. The other three vampires would find it a fun challenge if they learned of it.

I forced myself to look away, and my gaze moved to the three vampires on the other side of Valeria, to how Marcus was staringhard at Aria, seemingly unbothered by this revelation, his mind focused on one thing only.

The only human.

The dissatisfaction with the animal blood, the pressure of our circumstances – it was all coming to a head. And I had a sinking feeling that before this test even began, we might have a very different kind of problem on our hands.

As Eirian's voice cut through the hall once more, his words sent a ripple of tension through the crowd.

"Prepare yourselves," he announced, his tone grave. "The Trial of the Stone Sentinels will begin in a few weeks. Use this time wisely to hone your skills and strengthen your connection to your Dracarian heritage. The challenges ahead will test you in ways you cannot yet imagine."

The announcement of a few weeks' preparation time changed the atmosphere in the room. Relief mingled with anxiety as people realized they had time to prepare, but also more time to dwell on the enormity of the task ahead.

I watched as Aria and her companions huddled closer, no doubt overwhelmed and shocked by this news. The other groups in the room began to disperse, murmuring amongst themselves.

I watched Marcus and the other two vampires. I needed to keep a close eye on them now. I needed to make sure order was kept and they didn’t do something reckless, putting all of us at risk.

Valeria arched a brow before glancing to her side and realizing what was going on. She looked at me, her lips set in a grim line.

This wasn’t going to be easy.

Whatever came next, whatever challenges we faced, I silently vowed to do everything in my power to keep Aria safe. Even if it meant watching from afar. Even if it meant going against my own kind.

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