Page 63 of The Exiled Dragon

Shaking my head, I pulled the leather back out. ‘She won’t awaken.’

“You bit her down to the bone. Your Dragon released its venom. You marked her, sure, but you also gave her the gift of your Dragon,” she explained. I rubbed my forehead, pacing away from Odessa. I didn’t even ask if that is what Odessa wanted; she will be so confused when she wakes up. Amora shuffled to me, sensing my distress, putting her hand on my forearm.

“This is normal, it’s all right. Most Dragons won’t let their mates choose; they choose for them. Her being a human, though, it’s a blank slate. She is going to be a full-blooded Dragon.” Amora’s eyes drifted back to Odessa. “Good, gods, she will be a full-blooded female Dragon.” Amora stood back like I shocked her.

“No wonder you both were fated to be mated. She will bring back the magic to the Dragons.”

My fawn? She was to bring back the magic? It had been centuries since we had a full-blooded female Dragon come into existence, the magic slowly fading over time, and now my mate was to fulfill the loss that every Dragon Shifter has been feeling.

“Maybe this is a good thing.” Amora nodded her head, chewing on her nails. “Once her Dragon arises from her body and shifts, the magic could come back. Adam will not be as tense.” Her voice faded as she paced. “Maybe he will calm down.”

The way she began talking about Adam had me blowing smoke from my nose. The fire heated in my belly. More and more desire to end him had filled me.

“What is that?” Amora pointed back to Odessa. “May I approach her?” Her pleading eyes couldn’t let me say no. I walked with her, pulling her to the bed. Amora’s hand pulled the fur down my Fawn’s shoulder, the tattoo now dark and standing out amongst the lightness of her skin. “It’s so much darker than mine.” Amora rubbed her shoulder. “When I saw your mother’s, it was light, too. I thought it was the way Alpha’s tattoos were, but technically, your mother has Alpha blood in her lineage, so shouldn’t Odessa’s be lighter too?” I shrugged my shoulders, not sure of the answer.

I wasn’t taught anything about any bond; her asking me these questions made me more restless and agitated.

Amora absentmindedly rubbed her own shoulder. “Things are not adding up,” she shook her head, “and I am going to get to the bottom of it.” Grabbing her shoulder, I shook my head at her. She couldn’t get in trouble for my mate and me. If I had to, I would fly us somewhere else. There were many lands undiscovered and uncharted. I could find us a new home and live in peace.

“No, Creed, something is wrong. First, the elders mistakenly say you cannot have a mate, not even allowing you to know what a mate is. Then you find her, mate with her, and now your mother and my marks are different despite having Alpha blood,” she hissed. “I’ll be discreet, don’t worry.” Amora grabbed her cloak, throwing it back over her head.

“She will be out for at least three days. Her Dragon may not appear for many more since the Dragon spirit is so large. Keep her hidden, and you will need to visit Adam soon. He’s been looking for you. I can come tomorrow and watch her while you go.” Shaking my head again, she stared at me.

‘Not leaving her,’ I wrote. Adam would dare not to come into my cave.

“Fine,” she huffed. “I’ll hold him off. I’ll tell him you stopped by while he was gone patrolling. Be on the lookout for dark Fairies and Pixies. They are looking for your mate. I packed more yellowcress root to spread.” Amora tossed me the bag full of clothing, food, yellowcress root, and undergarments.

Amora was halfway to the exit of the cave when she turned. “Tell Odessa hello when she wakes up. I’ll be excited to gain a sister.” She smiled, now running down the echoing cave.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Odessa

Thewarmbodybesideme wasn’t near as hot as my usual heater. In fact, the lack of hair had me troubled as I quickly sat up before I even had a chance to open my eyes. The place where I sat wasn’t in bed but on a thick pile of emerald-green grass. Tall trees with vines and tiny leaves swept the ground, moving with the movement of the world I was now in. They swayed gently, tapping my bare feet and long white night dress I wore.

The purring behind me quickly reminded me I wasn’t alone and was dangerously close to whatever was behind me. It wasn’t as deep as Creed’s Dragon, and the heat of its breath blew out through its nostrils, causing my curly hair to twirl.

“Heckers, what am I into now?” I muttered, finally turning to see a bright purple eye with pearl-like scales surrounding it. Its pupil dilated a few times to catch a proper vision of me with my mouth hanging open. “H-hello?” My questioning greeting only made the large head back away. Scales moving underneath my lower back had me scooting away.

I had been sleeping upright on this massive pearl Dragon. The light that filtered through the trees hit the scales at such an angle. Small little iridescent rainbows lit up her scales. That’s right, her, because for some reason in my mind that was what I dubbed her as.

Her head leaned back, giving me the proper angles to see how big she truly was. Her lightly purple talons were massive; her scales rippled down her, similarly to Creed. The top of her head held massive spiraling textured horns. Small feather-like like tendrils went down her neck. Her wings were leather-like but also held patchy areas of small feathers.

She was beautiful, her head regal and proud. Her rumbling that I felt from her body radiated into my chest. My chest. I could feel her like she was a part of me. My sudden realization made her feather brows rise with surprise, and I felt that too. Her emotion. Surely it couldn’t possibly be that.

“Can I feel you?” I rubbed my chest to see if the feeling would disappear, but it didn’t. The Dragon nodded her head, her snout rubbing up against my forehead. “But why? Why can I feel you? And where am I?”

The surroundings were close to the forest on the mountain where Creed and I lived. Magical, all of it was magical. Even down to the purple moss that continued to let out lights while my new companion’s tail swiped around it. She watched the lights, snuffing her nose, causing the lights to disperse so quickly.

If a Dragon could smile, I think this was it. Her lip curled, and her teeth scratched an itch around her forearm. Watching her intently, I felt a range of emotions running through me. Excitement being the most prominent, and then love. It was the love that I felt for Creed, only magnified that much stronger.

“Did Creed do this to me?” Her excitement grew as she looked at the sky. A dark Dragon circling overhead left shadows around us. Letting out a roar, she snapped her large fangs a few times before the Black Dragon made a slow descent down to the thick trees that surrounded us. He landed with a thud, and with one glance into this matte black Dragon’s eyes, I instantly knew it to be Creed’s.

“Jiminy Cricket.” Creed’s Dragon walked forth. Its gentle footsteps walked towards the pearl one, which I just realized was mine. Both of their heads touched. My Dragon still kneeled on the ground as the Black Dragon purred and rubbed his face all over her. My heart felt ten times bigger. Could I feel the Black Dragon’s emotions too?

Covering my mouth, I watched them lovingly, preening with each other. “You are my Dragon.” I pointed to the pearl one now looking towards me. “And you are Creed’s.” Speaking out loud. “I have a Dragon now?!” I squealed, and both Dragons’ chests rumbled.

“She indeed is your Dragon, a beautiful one, too,” came a man’s voice from behind me that reminded me of my own fathering, and seeing this said man. It actually was him. His hands were in his slacks. He wore a typical ‘dad’ collared shirt, and his hair slicked back. He was younger, healthier, and livelier, and the smile on his face made the lump in my throat appear.

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