Page 78 of Stolen By Dragons

But my awe quickly turned to horror as the dragon thrashed, managing to tear Lydia away and yank free from Ossian’s grip. Time seemed to slow as I watched Lydia fall, her lithe body twisting in the air. She hit the ground with a sickening thud that I felt in my very bones as I was lifted higher into the air.

To my horror, the impact forced her back into her human form. Lydia lay motionless on the ground, vulnerable and broken. The sight shattered any remaining sense of wonder I had, replacing it with cold, hard fear. This wasn't a display of power or a demonstration of magic. This was war, and my friends – my family – were in real danger.

"Lydia!" I screamed, terror gripping my heart. Tears streamed down my face as I watched my friend lie still on the ground below. The beautiful, powerful panther was gone, replaced by a fragile human form that looked so small against the chaos around us.

All around us, baby dragons were unleashing their elemental powers on the shadow dragon. Fire, water, earth, and air combined in a dazzling display of raw magic. The shadow dragon let out an unearthly shriek before exploding into wisps of darkness.

I fell, the ground rushing up to meet me. A scream tore from my throat as I plummeted, certain I was about to break bones.But before I could hit the ground, strong arms caught me. Ossian set me down gently, his cool hand lingering on my arm for a moment before he stepped back. I was shaking uncontrollably, adrenaline and fear making it hard to stand.

The shadow creatures were retreating, diving back through the closing rift as more Dracarian shifters joined the battle. Eirian and Elowen, in their magnificent dragon forms, led the charge, driving the invaders back. The sight was awe-inspiring, but I had no time to marvel at it.

I ran to Lydia's side, my heart in my throat. She lay naked and bloodied, her body bearing deep claw marks that I could now see. Zephyr dropped down beside me, his face grim.

Zephyr called out in a language I didn't recognize. A fae appeared, their hands glowing with magic as they knelt beside Lydia. Healing magic. Thank god.

"It's going to be okay, Lydia," I said, my voice shaking as I gripped her hand. Tears fell freely down my face, mixing with the blood on Lydia's skin. "You have to hang in there. Your kids need you. We need you."

Chris, now in his human form, joined us. "Come on, Lydia. You're stronger than this. Your family is waiting for you."

Lydia's eyes fluttered open, a weak smile crossing her face before it contorted in pain. She coughed, blood staining her lips. Each labored breath she took felt like a knife in my heart.

As the fae worked their healing magic, I looked up at the sky. The rift had closed, leaving no trace of the chaos that had just unfolded. But the peace we had enjoyed moments ago was shattered, replaced by the terrible reality of the war we were now undeniably a part of.

My dragon nuzzled against my cheek, its presence a small comfort in the face of the destruction around us. As I held Lydia's hand, surrounded by my friends and allies, I knew thatnothing would ever be the same again. The Void had made its move, and we had no choice but to rise to meet it.

Whatever came next, we would face it together. We had to. The fate of two worlds depended on it.

32

ARIA

The cold stone of the infirmary wall seeped through my clothes as I sat huddled outside, waiting for news about Lydia. The chill seeped into my very bones, a physical manifestation of the fear and uncertainty that gripped me. Chris and Zephyr flanked me, their presence a small comfort in the face of our shared anxiety. The corridor was eerily quiet, the usual bustle of the Keep muted in the aftermath of the attack. The silence felt oppressive, as if the very air was holding its breath, waiting for news.

My dragon, still small but now alert and watchful, was curled up in my lap. Its warmth did little to ease the chill that had settled in my bones since watching Lydia fall from the sky. I stroked its scales absently, the repetitive motion helping to calm my frayed nerves.

"Zephyr," I whispered, my voice cracking as I broke the tense silence, "will the fae healers be able to help her completely?" The hope in my voice sounded fragile even to my own ears.

Zephyr's face was grave as he shook his head. The seriousness in his expression made my heart sink before he even spoke. "Fae healing magic doesn't work quite like that, I'm afraid. It can accelerate natural healing and stop immediate threats like bleeding out, but..." He trailed off, his eyes fixed on the closed infirmary door.

"But what?" Chris pressed, his voice hoarse with worry. The tension in his body was palpable, like a coiled spring ready to snap.

Zephyr sighed, the sound heavy with resignation. "But it can't instantly heal severe injuries. The healers likely saved her life by stopping the bleeding, but surgery will be her only option for full recovery now."

The weight of his words settled over us. I clutched my dragon closer, seeking comfort in its steady heartbeat against my chest. The reality of our situation crashed over me anew – we were in a war, and wars had casualties. The thought that Lydia might have been one of them made me feel sick.

Footsteps echoed down the corridor, and we looked up to see Elowen approaching. Her usual grace was marred by a slight limp, and a nasty gash marked her cheek. Despite her disheveled appearance, her eyes were sharp and alert as she surveyed us. The sight of her, battle-worn but standing, was both reassuring and terrifying – a reminder of what we'd faced and what might still be coming.

"How are you all holding up?" she asked, her voice gentle but tinged with exhaustion.

Zephyr managed a weak smile. "We're okay. It's good to see you made it through, Elowen. Were there... were there any casualties?" The question hung in the air, heavy with dread.

A shadow passed over Elowen's face, and my heart clenched with fear. "Yes," she said softly. “Eirian was taken."

"What?" The word burst from my lips before I could stop it, shock and disbelief coloring my voice. "How?"

Elowen's gaze met mine, filled with a mix of sorrow and determination. "He was fighting alongside his newfound dragon. They were both seized by a shadow creature and pulled through the rift before we could reach them."

The news hit hard as my heart sank. Eirian, with all his power and knowledge, taken by the Void. It seemed impossible, unthinkable. If even he could fall to the darkness, what hope did the rest of us have?

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