Page 53 of Stolen By Dragons

“I never thought we’d actually be bonded with them. I can feel it, in some strange way, like we’re connected.” Aria's smile widened, and I felt that strange warmth in my chest again.

“We had our suspicions that you would become bonded with them, but we weren’t sure,” I admitted. “Now, I need to go speak with our Council. I will come back once I know what our next move is.”

“Okay.” She nodded and turned away, entirely focused on the little beast in her arms.

As she walked away, I found myself watching her go. The way she moved, the quiet strength in her bearing - it was captivating in a way I hadn't expected.

I shook my head, trying to clear these confusing thoughts. I had more important things to focus on. The future of Dracaria hung in the balance, and these infant dragons, miraculous as they might be, were still not the solution we had hoped for.

My gaze moved to Elowen nearby, who looked up from inspecting a small green dragon with one of the earthlings. She arched a brow at me, having noticed my moment with Aria, clearly.

Not that it was anything she’d really care about. We knew where our loyalties lied, and how our lives were set once this war was over. If we survived.

“Stay with them, make sure no one gets horrendously injured. I’ll speak with the Council.”

She nodded, not arguing about her presence being needed at the Council.

“They’re awakened, we need to focus on that and stay hopeful,” she said, and I sighed.

And yet, as I turned to leave the Great Hall, I couldn't shake the feeling that something fundamental had changed. Not just in our plans, not just in the nature of our fight against the Void, but in me as well.

Whatever lay ahead, one thing was certain - nothing would be as we had planned. The dragons had been reborn, not awakened, and with them, the future of Dracaria had been irrevocably changed.

For better or worse remained to be seen. And my unexpected reaction to Aria... well, that was another mystery to be unraveled.

20

ARIA

My heart was still racing from the near-miss with the electric bolt. If it hadn't been for Eirian's quick action, I might have been seriously injured, or worse. As the adrenaline began to subside, I found myself face to face with a very naked Eirian.

I quickly averted my eyes as heat rose to my cheeks. But not before I caught an eyeful of his chiseled physique. Were all shifters so... well-endowed? The thought made me blush even harder. I'd seen my fair share of attractive men before, but Eirian was on another level entirely. His body was a perfect blend of strength and grace, honed by centuries of dragon shifting, I supposed.

But then there was his… third leg. Something I had not seen too many of.

When I dared to look up again, Eirian was giving me an odd look, his brow furrowed as if he was trying to solve a particularly complex puzzle. There was something in his eyes I couldn't quite decipher - curiosity, perhaps? Or maybe something more?

“Are you alright?”

Alright was not the word for right now. I was holding a baby dragon, had just been saved by a dragon shifter, and seen one hell of a dick on display before me.

But I nodded and thanked him, and he then focused on addressing us all as I stared down at my dragon, still stunned by the little creature in my arms. It was happily cradled against my chest, watching the other dragons quietly.

Questions were asked, and Eirian did his best to answer, but when everyone started to move around the room once he’d told us we were to remain here, he found me once more.

“How are you feeling?” he’d asked, his tone rather soft, surprising me.

I admitted how I felt, and he explained their suspicions, before giving me an odd look and informing me he would be speaking with the Council.

I took that as my cue, not to mention there was some strange feeling I was getting around him now, and I wanted to focus on the little dragon instead.

But I did turn after I heard him speak with Elowen, watching him as he gave the room of fluttering dragons one last, uneasy look before he strode out of the hall, leaving us alone with our new companions and a handful of watchful Dracarians.

I turned my attention to the tiny dragon in my arms. Its scales were a shimmering white, catching the light and reflecting it in a rainbow of colors. It was unlike anything I'd ever seen before - more beautiful than the most precious gemstone, more alive than any creature I'd known. But it was its eyes that truly captivated me - a deep, swirling purple that seemed to hold all the mysteries of the universe. As I gazed into those eyes, I felt the connection, something deep and primal that I couldn't quite explain.

“Aren’t you pretty, little one,” I murmured, gently stroking its head. The dragon chirped in response, nuzzling into my hand. The touch of its scales was surprisingly warm, almost electric. It sent a tingle through me, a reminder of the magical nature of this creature I now held.

Around me, the other newly bonded pairs were getting acquainted. Chris's earth-toned dragon was already attempting to manipulate small pebbles, making them dance in the air. The sight was both amusing and awe-inspiring - this tiny creature, no bigger than a house-cat, wielding elemental magic with such ease. Zephyr's silver dragon flitted about his head, stirring up miniature whirlwinds. The fae's laughter echoed through the hall as he played with his new companion, his usual mischievous grin even wider than normal.

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