Page 18 of Eluvonia
The older Dragon’s eyes darken, suspicion clouding his expression as he turns back to the male holding me.
“Kaida?”
He nods. “She is…defiant to say the least,”
I glance at him, Kaida—that’s the cocky bastard’s name.
“This is Commander Varek, head of the Dragon army, and Regent to the Dragon King” Kaida says, his voice cold enough to frost stone. His blue eyes bore into me, sharp and unyielding. “No Fae is worthy of meeting his gaze, least of all you.”
My lips curl into a scoff as I lift my chin, refusing to be cowed. “Exactly, He is Regent to theDragonKing and commander of theDragonarmy.” I gesture to my body. “Do I look like a Dragon to you? I don’t answer to beasts.”
Kaida’s expression sharpens, his jaw tightening as his nostrils flare. His hand rises swiftly, the motion precise and deliberate, and I instinctively flinch, throwing my arms up to shield myself. Before the blow lands, a familiar tingling sensation ignites beneath my skin.
A violent crack shatters the air as a thick root erupts through the nearby window, sending shards of glass clattering to the floor. It coils like a serpent, wrapping around Kaida’s ankle with an audible snap before yanking him off his feet and into the air.
Oh shit—was that from me?
The laugh bursts out before I can smother it, sharp and startled, the sound of someone who wasn’t expecting to find this remotely funny. But apparently, my body didn’t get the message. I clap a hand over my mouth, as if I can shove the sound back in, but it’s too late.
Kaida hangs there, suspended in midair like some kind of brooding bat, his expression a mix of exasperation and barely contained irritation. Shadows slither down the vine, thick and writhing, feeding off his frustration.
“Seriously?” he deadpans.
His stare pins me, and despite the situation, despite the very real danger of what he can do, I can’t seem to wipe the smirk off my face. It’s ridiculous, really. Him, the terrifying shadow-wielding Dragon, caught in this position. And me, standing here, barely holding back another nervous giggle.
Maybe I’ve finally lost it. Maybe the exhaustion, the stress, the fear, the sheer absurdity of everything has cracked something inside me.
Or maybe seeing him like this is the one sliver of amusement I’ve had in far too long.
Across the room, Commander Varek leans back slightly on the throne, his sharp eyes narrowing as he studies me with unnerving precision.
“You didn’t know you had magic?” Varek asks, stroking his chin with slow, deliberate movements.
I shake my head, my smirk fading, my fingers trembling as I clench them into fists. “No.”If I did, I would have killed you by now,I think bitterly.
He stands and steps towards me, his heavy boots echoing against the polished stone floor. His gaze gleams with something between curiosity and hunger. “Interesting,” he mutters.
Varek’s contemplative expression vanishes as he claps his hands together, the sound abrupt and final. “I’ve decided. You’ll become my son’s Líðr.”
Kaida jerks in the air, the motion making him sway slightly. “Father! That’s my decision!” he protests, his voice rising with indignation.
Varek’s head snaps toward him, his voice cutting like a blade. “You will do as I say. Understood?”
Kaida’s shoulders slump slightly. His lips press into a thin, angry line, but he finally mutters, “Yes, Father.”
I blink, trying to make sense of what I just heard. “What… What is a Leeth-r?”
Varek’s head tilts as he regards me with a humorless smile, his teeth flashing like the edge of a dagger. “By the sacred rite of my kind, Dragon’s are given one choice—one soul to claim as his mate, bound to him for eternity. A single bond, unbreakable and absolute. Regardless of their race or status, once chosen, they would remain by our side. Forever.”
“Like… a wife?” I blurt, the word tasting foreign and disgusting on my tongue.
Varek nods, the gesture dismissive, almost bored. “Or a lover—whatever he wants. But you will be joined, forever.”
His gaze snaps back to me, his eyes cold and calculating. “So now, you will be his Líðr. He will keep you close at all times.”
My chest tightens, my breaths quickening as I force myself to meet his gaze. “W-why?”
Varek steps into my space, the air between us seeming to drop in temperature. He tilts my chin up with one finger, his touch firm and unyielding. “You’re special, and you could be of use to us. Plus,” his voice drops to a chilling whisper, “I’m curious to see how you managed to tap into magic—and how that might benefit me.”
