Page 43 of Stolen By Dragons

The next morning, I awoke feeling more refreshed and focused than I had in days. As I made my way to the training area, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. Today would be different, I decided. Today, I would start taking a more active role in helping Aria unlock her potential.

I arrived early, hoping to catch Elowen before the others arrived. The Dracarian woman raised an eyebrow as I approached, clearly surprised by my uncharacteristic punctuality.

"Zephyr," she greeted me, her tone cautious. "Is everything alright?"

I flashed her my most charming smile. "Everything's fine, my dear Elowen. I was just wondering if I might have a word with you about our training methods. Specifically, about helping those who might be... struggling a bit."

Elowen's eyes narrowed slightly, but she nodded. "Go on."

As I outlined my ideas for incorporating some fae techniques into our training regimen, I couldn't help but feel a spark of hope. Maybe, just maybe, this would be the key to unlocking Aria's dormant magic. And if it brought us closer in the process... well, that would just be an added bonus.

Elowen nodded and worked with me on how to make the techniques fit with Dracarian magic, going over ideas with me. She appeared rather pleased with my thoughts and suggestions, and her wisdom definitely helped in shaping to work with Dracarian magic.

The sound of approaching footsteps cut our discussion short, but we’d come up with a few strategies and techniques. I turned to see Aria entering the training area with others, her face set in a determined expression that made my heart skip a beat. Our eyes met, and she offered me a small smile that seemed to light up the entire room.

Yes, I thought to myself. Today was going to be different indeed.

16

ARIA

The day following the incident with Marcus was eventful in ways I’d not expected. To my relief, the vampires seemed to be keeping their distance, though I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched.

I had noticed Zephyr in deep conversation with Elowen before our training session. Whatever he had said must have made an impact because our exercises took on a new dimension. Elowen introduced techniques that she said were inspired by fae magic, designed to help us connect more deeply with our elemental abilities.

To my surprise and delight, these new methods seemed to be working today. For the first time since we began our elemental training, I felt a flicker of something within me. Energy formed in the palms of my hands, a strange white mist unlike anything I'd seen from my companions. Though it dissipated before I could truly wield it, the mere fact that I had produced anything at all felt like a monumental victory.

"Did you see that?" I gasped, still disbelieving I’d actually conjured up anything.

Zephyr, who had been nearby, grinned broadly. "I knew you had it in you, Aria. Keep at it!" His eyes had twinkled, and I couldn’t stop grinning as I continued working at it.

Despite this small breakthrough, I couldn't shake the nagging worry that we were running out of time. The Trial of the Stone Sentinels loomed ever closer, and I still felt woefully unprepared. So I spent the entire day working on my magic, and by the time night fell, I was too exhausted to spend time with anyone, despite Chris wanting to have some time together.

The following days were much the same, honing the magic I’d finally awakened, although it fizzled out often before I could do anything with it, but my wispy white magic had drawn attention, and Zephyr speculated if it was like air, while Elowen found it truly fascinating. They wondered on which element I was wielding, since no one else had anything like it. Cloud magic? A mix of water and air? Air and fire? Mixed elements wasn’t something any of the others had gotten, but my group and even Eirian were perplexed by it.

I spent so much time working on my magic, that I was too tired for anything else by the time the day was done. We were all training to our full efforts, and many of us were exhausted. One of the nights, Chris had come back to my room with me after showering at his, wanting to chat with me more, but had proceeded to fall asleep as he lay sprawled on my bed. We’d barely even kissed before he’d succumbed to exhaustion, and I didn’t mind too much as I’d curled up beside him and followed suit.

I had been avoiding the communal area since the night of Marcus's attack, which meant I hadn't seen much of Ossian. Part of me missed our late-night conversations, the way he could make history come alive with his stories. But another part wasrelieved to have some distance. My feelings were complicated enough without adding a centuries-old vampire to the mix.

After a particularly tiring training session one afternoon, Lydia invited us all back to her room for tea. As we settled into her cozy space, the sweet aroma of various herbal blends filling the air, I was struck by a sudden pang of homesickness. My mother had always enjoyed burning incense as I’d grown up, the house always smelling of some sweet fragrance.

Lydia had said she’d requested some teas, and the Dracarians hadn’t disappointed with providing her with a selection, all of which she was having fun trying. It was her way of relaxing and unwinding.

Zephyr sat on the edge of her bed, while Chris had taken the armchair in the corner, and I stood closer to Lydia by the small kitchenette, offering help however I could.

“This one is so nice, it’s a sweet one, unlike anything I’ve ever had at home. Maybe a little like honey, but that’s the best I can relate it to,” Lydia said as she began pouring the teas.

I wondered if the Dracarians would provide me with a cute little teapot and cups if I asked, but I knew it was pointless. I wasn’t a huge tea drinker.

“I wish we could leave the Keep, explore Dracaria a little. It’s a whole new world, and we’re confined to this one place. The most outside time we get is on our balconies,” Chris said with a sigh. “I need to shift. All us shifters do.”

“That’s true. They’re getting restless at being confined. Caging animals is never a great idea,” Lydia agreed, but I noticed her hands trembling slightly. When she turned to hand out the cups, my stomach knotted at the tears glistening in her eyes.

"Lydia?" I said softly as I touched her arm. "Are you okay?"

She tried to smile, but it crumbled almost instantly. "I... I miss them so much," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Myfamily, my children. They must be so worried, so confused…I’m trying to stay distracted, but…”

The dam broke then, and Lydia's composure crumbled completely. She sank onto the bed, sobs wracking her body. Without hesitation, I moved to her side, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

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