Page 107 of Beneath Scales and Shadows
The procession through the mountain passages took on ceremonial weight, the council forming a protective escort around Ignis and Sora. Through the twisted crystal corridors they moved, descending deeper into the mountain’s heart until the passages widened dramatically, opening into the vast cavern that housed the hatching grounds.
The space stole Sora’s breath, her awe hitting him like a bright, sudden rush as she took it in for the first time.
The cavern stretched impossibly wide, its ceiling lost in shadows hundreds of feet above. At its center lay a perfectly circular pool of opalescent water, luminous with internal light. Surrounding the sacred moonwell, terraced ledges rose in concentric circles, each housing cup-shaped depressions lined with shimmering crystal sand.
And occupying every available space—perched on ledges, hovering on powerful wings, standing in half-forms along the terraces—was his clan. Hundreds of dragons, their scales a living tapestry of color ranging from deepest obsidian to brightest gold, had gathered to witness this moment.
The collective intake of breath as Sora stepped into the cavern rose above the soft lapping of the moonwell’s waters. Ignis felt it ripple through the mountain like a living force—thick with awe, reverence, and fragile hope.
A ripple of Sora’s unease brushed against him, the press of so many watching eyes tugging at the calm she fought to hold. He sent back waves of calm confidence, his wing brushing hers in silent reassurance.
“They already love you,”he assured. “As I do.”
They stood at the edge of the sacred moonwell, the opalescent water reflecting their joined forms like a living mirror. Blaze and Enixa stepped forward, positioning themselves on either side of the pool. As the only other alphas in the clan, tradition demanded they acknowledge them first.
“Dragons of the Dralux Clan,” Blaze’s voice resonated through the cavern, amplified by the natural acoustics of living stone. "Before you stands your King, Ignis—last pure-blood of his line—who has at last claimed his queen."
“Behold Luna Sora,” Enixa continued, her emerald scales catching the sunlight streaming from above. “Dragon-blooded and blessed by the Moon Goddess herself.”
Ignis stepped forward, drawing Sora with him. “My clan,” he began, his voice carrying to the furthest reaches of the cavern without effort. “You have served with honor through generations of hardship. You have endured persecution, dwindling numbers, and forced isolation with dignity and courage that honors our ancestors.”
He swept his gaze across the gathered dragons, meeting as many eyes as possible. “Through your efforts, we have broken the evil that plagued our kind for centuries.” Pride swelled within him. “The corruption of omega essence has been purged. The Celestorian royal line that betrayed our ancestors has been held accountable for their crimes.”
A low rumble of approval spread through the crowd, wings shifting and tails swishing in collective satisfaction.
“None of this would have been possible without the arrival of my mate.” He drew Sora forward, presenting her to the clan with undisguised reverence. “It is her wisdom that guided our strategy. Her courage that saved countless lives. Her sacrifice that sealed our victory.”
Sora held her ground beside him, the flicker of earlier nerves fading into a steady, quiet dignity he could feel settle between them. The midnight silk of her gown caught the soft sunlight and turned her into something otherworldly.
Every part of her looked like a queen—his queen—and the entire cavern seemed to hold its breath at the sight of her.
“Together, we will rebuild what was lost,” Ignis continued, his wing curling protectively around her shoulders. “We will reestablish alliances with our neighbors. We will strengthen our clan through renewed trade and open skies.” His voice dropped, resonating with emotion. “And we will ensure that no dragon—or monster—ever again lives in fear of such treachery again.”
The approval rippling through the cavern grew louder, transforming into a crescendo of growls and rumbles that vibrated the very stone beneath their feet, making the mountain alive with their sound.
“None of this would be possible without my Luna, my queen, Sora.” He turned to her, emotion threatening to overwhelm his carefully maintained composure. “She has completed me in ways I never imagined possible. She has brought light back to our mountain after centuries of shadow. The flames of magic have returned to our land, a blessing from the Moon Goddess herself."
Ignis pulled Sora into his embrace, claiming her mouth in a kiss that silenced the cavern instantly. The possessive display broke draconic tradition, where such intimate gestures were reserved for private chambers, after the betrayal murder of Queen Vaelora, the last dragon-blooded omega queen.
Such displays showed weakness to their enemies—but he refused to hide his queen from the world she was brought here to save.
Yet as his lips moved against hers, as her arms wound around his neck in perfect acceptance, the silence transformed into something else entirely. A roar of approval erupted from hundreds of throats, echoing through the mountain with seismic force.
Mated pairs and pods embraced, displaying their own love to the clan—to the world in celebration.
When he finally released her, both of them breathing heavily, Ignis turned back to his clan with fierce pride. “Today, we celebrate! Today, for the first time in generations, we fly openly beneath the sun. We reclaim our rightful place in Artania’s skies!”
The responding roar threatened to bring down the mountain itself.
Ignis stepped back, scales rippling as he transformed into his true draconic form. The crystal light played over his ruby scales as he settled beside the sacred moonwell, wings half-unfurled, offering her a space at his back that was meant for her alone.
"My queen,"he sent to her, the words cutting through the roar of celebration.“Our first flight awaits.”
Sora approached without hesitation, her midnight gown billowing around her as she placed one hand on his scaled shoulder. With practiced ease—as though she’d been mounting dragons her entire life—she swung up onto his back, settling into the natural hollow between his neck ridges.
He refused to ruin this moment becoming jealous of a creature large enough to be a snack in his true form.
“Hold tight,”he warned, fierce joy surging as her fingers tightened around the ridge scales at the base of his neck.
