Page 79 of Redeeming the Dragon

“And I am more than happy to give it,” he replied, drawing me back down for another kiss.

Chapter 47

Just like that, it was over. The Scraggen was gone, mysteriously defeated by her own magic. Kidron said defeated by my magic, but I truly thought she’d been snared by her own perfidy. Atora assumed control of Moonswept, stepping into the role with ease. The servants responded to her, the guards answered to her, and she ordered the room cleared and cleaned, her mother’s body taken away to be buried, and then a meal, fresh clothing, and supplies provided for Kidron and me. She assured us that she’d released us from any obligations, and sent us on our way. I tucked the blue gown back into my pack, vowing to wear it later as a wedding gown, and was happy to be gone.

Outside the walls of Moonswept, I turned to my dragon prince, boldly pressing my hand into his.

“Well,” I said. “I hardly know what to do now that the curse is lifted and we are free. Where do we go?”

“Home, I suppose,” he answered honestly. “We find Nightflame, and we go home.”

“Nightflame?” I echoed, puzzled.

“My dragon.” Kidron gave me an odd look. “He and I are no longer bound by the curse.”

“Oh. Of course!” The idea hadn’t occurred to me. “Aye, your dragon! Where is he, Kidron?”

“Not far,” he grinned. “Wait.”

I stood next to him while he lifted his face to the sky, loosing a strong, low whistle. I didn’t think it was something that could be picked up, unless one was very close, but a Warkin’s bond with his or her dragon was a mysterious thing. Within moments, I spotted a black shape in the sky, wheeling about on the updrafts high above the castle. Had I not known better, I would have supposed it an eagle, a hawk, or a falcon. However, it was so high above and still so large, that could not be the case. I watched in astonishment as the black shape descended on leathery wings, growing larger with each second. Although I’d met the beast many times before—including in Moonswept’s halls, where the Scraggen had tried to use it to kill me—my mouth was still agape when it landed lightly on the road before us.

Kidron released my hand to approach the massive beast, whose black, green, and orange scales glistened in the sunlight. The dragon bent its head towards his rider’s. Kidron lifted his face to the dragon’s, his eyelids closing. Their faces nearly touching, they stood there, an oddly matched pair—the dragon with his scales of black and orange contrasting wondrously with the Warkin prince with his tan skin and nearly black tattoos. Kidron spoke no words and the dragon puffed short breaths, but they were plainly communicating, reuniting as dragon and rider now that the spell was undone and both were finally free.

Several minutes elapsed before Kidron opened his golden eyes. He turned to me, lifting a hand.

“Lorna,” he said. “Meet Nightflame.”

Cautiously, not having forgotten the great beast shooting fire at me, I walked closer, accepting Kidron’s hand, allowing him to draw me protectively against his side.

“Nightflame,” he said, stroking the dragon’s snout with his palm, “this is Lorna.” He spoke words in a language I didn’t comprehend, with rolling R’s and sibilant S’s. Then he smiled at me. “I told him you are my mate. He will carry you through the skies and guard you with his life, even as he does me.”

“Hello, Nightflame,” I said, my voice a little tremulous. Would I never cease to be overwhelmed by the sheer size and power of this creature?

To my surprise, the serpent dipped his head in deference before gently pushing his face into my palm as a horse might do.

“He is thanking you,” Kidron interpreted gravely. “In freeing me, you freed him, as well.”

“And in freeing you, I freed myself,” I responded, daring to gently scratch the dragon’s snout with my fingers. “I did not know I was capable of bravery or self-sacrifice or traveling Aerisia. Certainly, I didn’t know I was capable of wielding magic. You have freed me to be the woman I was meant to be.”

“My savior,” Kidron said firmly, planting a kiss on top of my head. “And my dragon’s.”

For a span, we stood in contented silence, both of us stroking the animal, Kidron’s arm still about my waist. I leaned into his shoulder, wondering how any woman could be so lucky. At last, Kidron said, “I suppose it’s time to go home now.”

“Aye,” I agreed. “Though, where home is, I am not sure.”

“The Warkin lands?” Kidron suggested.

“Or the Jeweled Isles,” I laughed. “Oh, Kidron.What will we do?”

“We have the rest of our lives to determine that,” he said. Turning to face me, he planted his hands on my hips, lifting me high in the air above his head, holding me aloft. I gasped at the ease with which he swept me up. He only grinned up devilishly into my face. “The rest of our lives to determine it, and a dragon to take us wherever we wish to go!” he said, then tossed me gently onto Nightflame’s back.

I’d scarcely had time to settle into my familiar spot before he’d leapt up behind me, securing me with an arm about my waist.

“Ready to fly, my queen?” he asked.

I gazed out over the landscape. At the mountains, hills, forests, and Moonswept itself—tall, imposing, beautiful, and delivered from the Scraggen’s tyrannical rule. A deep sense of pride and joy filled me at all we had accomplished. For the people who dwelt east of the sun and west of the moon. For Aerisia itself. For those who had helped me along the way. And most of all for each other.

“Aye,” I said, nestling back into his chest. “I am ready to fly.”

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