Page 75 of Stolen By Dragons

"You didn't pull away," he said, a note of wonder in his voice. "You feel something. I know you do. I'm holding onto that, Aria. I don't want to throw this away. What we have... it's special. It's rare. Even if you're not ready to complete the bond, please don't give up on us."

I touched my lips, still tingling from the kiss. My emotions were a whirlwind, making it hard to think clearly. Part of me wanted to throw caution to the wind, to embrace the certainty and passion Chris was offering. But another part held back, thinking of Ossian, of the spark I'd felt with him. He’d wanted to end it, shut down whatever had flourished, but then he’d beenthere right after the attack, appearing almost instantly, ready to handle Marcus.

Chris stood, his tall frame casting a shadow in the dim light of my room.

"I want to be with you, Aria," he said, his voice full of determination and a vulnerability that tugged at my heart. "If you choose me, I swear I'll make you happier than you could ever imagine. I'll work my ass off every day to prove it to you. We'll face whatever comes together – the Void, the dragons, all of it. Just... just don't close the door on us. Please."

His words touched something deep inside me, a part that longed for the certainty and devotion he was offering. But another part, the part that still felt drawn to Ossian, that still craved independence and choice, held me back from fully embracing his promise.

I remained quiet, torn between the warmth of Chris's affection and the complexity of my own feelings. How could I choose when I wasn't even sure what I wanted?

Sensing my internal struggle, Chris gave me a sad smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'm not giving up, Aria," he said softly. "But I'll give you the space you need. Just... think about what I said, okay?"

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. Chris turned to leave, pausing at the doorway to look back at me one last time. "Goodnight, Aria," he said softly. "Sweet dreams."

As the door closed behind him and his dragon, I sank onto my bed, my mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. My dragon chirped softly, nuzzling against my hand in a gesture of comfort. I stroked its scales absently, finding solace in its unwavering presence.

"What am I going to do?" I whispered to my little companion. "How can I choose when I'm not even sure what I want? When I'm not even sure who I am anymore?"

The dragon tilted its head, its purple eyes soft. But of course, it couldn't provide the answers I so desperately sought. This was a decision I would have to make on my own.

I lay back on my bed, staring at the ceiling. Chris's words echoed in my mind, intermingling with memories of Ossian's touch, of the intensity I'd felt when he'd fed from me. And underneath it all was the ever-present awareness of the larger conflict we were facing – the Void, the fate of two worlds hanging in the balance.

How could I focus on matters of the heart when the fate of everything we knew was at stake? But then again, if we were facing the potential end of everything, didn't that make these connections, these feelings, all the more precious?

I closed my eyes, willing sleep to come, knowing it would likely elude me. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new decisions to make. But for now, I allowed myself to drift in a sea of uncertainty, my thoughts a confusing mix of werewolves, vampires, and the comforting presence of my ever-loyal dragon.

I finally succumbed to exhaustion, my dragon curled protectively at my side. Tomorrow was another day, another chance to figure out my place in this world of magic and destiny. And maybe, just maybe, I'd find a way to reconcile the conflicting desires of my heart without losing myself in the process.

30

EIRIAN

The air in the council chamber was thick with tension as we gathered around the ancient seer, Elara. Her eyes, clouded with age yet sharp with inner sight, swept across our faces, lingering for a moment on each of us as if reading our very souls. My parents, King Alaric and Queen Isolde, sat at the head of the table, having returned from offering hope to the folk on the edges of our Kingdom. My father's jaw was set in a hard line, while my mother's fingers drummed a restless rhythm on the ornate armrest of her chair.

Elowen stood to the side, her usual composure marred by a slight furrow in her brow. I could sense her unease, a feeling I shared. The fate of our world hung on the words of this ancient seer, and the weight of that knowledge pressed down on all of us.

As Elara began to speak, her voice carried the weight of centuries, each word seeming to echo with the wisdom of ages past. "I have peered into the streams of time," she said, her words measured and deliberate. "And I have seen the path that lies before us."

I leaned forward, my heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and dread. The fate of our world, of two worlds, hung on her next words. I found myself holding my breath, every muscle in my body tense with anticipation.

"The dragons," Elara continued, her gaze unfocused as if seeing beyond the confines of our chamber, "they are not what we expected, yet they are exactly what we need. These hatchlings, born of ancient stone and new blood, will grow alongside their riders. Their bond will be unlike any we have seen before. As the dragons grow, so too will their power, more than any power they once held in ages past,” Elara went on, her voice gaining strength. "They will become the vanguard against the Void, our only hope in the coming darkness. The riders and dragons, together, will be the key to our salvation. They offer the only chance at saving our world.”

Murmurs rippled through the council. I caught my mother's eye, seeing a mix of hope and skepticism in her expression. My father remained stoic, but I could see the slight tightening around his eyes that betrayed his concern.

The seer's words painted a picture of hope, but also of tremendous responsibility. I thought of Aria and the others, thrust into this world and now bearing the weight of our survival on their shoulders. It seemed an impossible burden.

"But how?" my father interjected, his voice tight with barely contained frustration. "How can these dragons grow fast enough? We’ve been to the outer regions, and the Void is tainting the lands their, poisoning the water and claiming all life in its path. Our people have had to flee inward, but the timeline we have, is it truly enough?”

I could hear the desperation in my father's voice, a sound I had never associated with the strong, confident king I had known all my life. It was unsettling, a stark reminder of the dire situation we faced.

Elara turned to him, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "The strength of these dragons lies not in their size or their age, but in the uniqueness of their bond. The mixing of bloodlines, the combination of Earthlings and Dracaria, has created something new. Something powerful."

I thought of Aria and her tiny white dragon, of the unexpected power it had displayed against Marcus. Perhaps there was more to these hatchlings than we had initially believed. A glimmer of hope sparked in my chest, small but persistent.

"What of the battle?" Elowen asked, her voice steady despite the gravity of the situation. "Can you see its outcome? How will they fight? Will we need to be by their sides?”

We all leaned forward, eager for any glimpse of what was to come. But Elara's expression fell, a shadow passing over her features. "The future is... clouded. I see the clash of light and dark, the struggle of our world against the encroaching Void. But the outcome... it remains uncertain. Our fate hangs in the balance, teetering on the edge of hope and despair. We will need to fight alongside them, that much I know. Without all the forces combined, we have no hope.”

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