Page 34 of The Exiled Dragon

Upon entering, I saw Odessa standing over the fire. One of my tunics hung straight to her mid-thigh, and she had wrapped a loose leather binding around it, giving it the appearance of a short dress. Odessa’s legs were bare, and I noticed the small bit of hair that had gathered the past few days on her legs were clean. She must have bathed, using one of my razors. I would get her something better than those, one more suitable for her delicate skin. Odessa’s hair was tightly braided into a clean braid. Her smell was potent. I could smell her just outside the cave. She must have bathed for hours while I was gone.

Her humming attracted me the most. It was light, airy, carefree, and dare I say. It was a siren’s call to me. That’s all I wanted for her, to be happy and, most of all, be happy with me in my cave. As I neared her, my Dragon continued to hum “mine” inside my head. For a Dragon, being able to hear him inside my head took me off guard, so it must be important.

The more the minutes pass, the more I am convinced she must be my mate. Once Amora can confirm or deny these things, I will have to take my steps more cautiously because this means the Elders lied to my mother and me, if she is my mate. My Dragon will not stand treachery against our mother since she cried so many tears on my behalf.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Creed

Many Years Ago

Icircledthemountainfor the fifth time. The portal stood tall as the mirror-like structure glistened between the light sources. Shifting panthers lay in the trees, watching for any supernatural trying to pass through to the Earth realm.

It wasn’t my turn to be scouting the portal, it was my brother’s, but I had volunteered, trying to get along with my half-sibling. He complained his Dragon within him was pacing, and that he didn’t want to leave mother and father. I agreed quickly, which appeased my parents.

“Such a magnificent Dragon you are, Creed,” mother whispered, touching my forehead with hers. The darkened mood that Adam radiated was somber. My stepfather only stood in front of Adam, averting his gaze from me.

“Your brother continues to show you his love for you by doing this, making up for his mistake when he was younger. You need to accept his attempts to please you,” my step-father scorned him. My beast beamed, hearing the words of my mother’s mate. Father wanted the right thing for his mate. Watching me grow and obeying his and mother’s every word had proved to him I wanted his approval.

Father turned to me, his hand squeezing my shoulder. “I know you have done much for the tribe. I’m proud of what you have done to make up for challenging Adam over the years. You could challenge other tribes for an Alpha position if you wanted to. I think you would make a fine Alpha. You are a good Dragon, Creed.” The brief turn of my lip let him know I appreciated his words, my Dragon humming enough for him to feel the vibration under his palm.

Taking a heavy breath, I crossed my arm over my chest and bowed. Father’s Dragon chuckled. “None of that. Come here.” Father pulled me into his embrace, hugging me for the first time in as long as I could remember. My arms went around him, my face buried into his shoulder. Mother clasped her hands together, putting them to her lips. He backed up slowly, grabbing Adam and pulling him into an embrace.

“We are happy to have both of you. You both are blessings from the gods.” Mother’s tears brimmed in her eyes, adoring her mate. He had officially accepted me as his own. “Now, Creed, it is our tribe’s turn to watch over the portal. Return by dusk. Do not come home any earlier until the next Dragon from the neighboring tribe comes to relieve you, however.”

I bowed, taking my leave, feeling the daggers in my back. I don't understand why Adam continued to hate me, even when I was not at fault when we sparred. His lies as a child only grew larger as he explained to any Dragon that would listen. Many believed him only because he was the true heir to the Toboki Tribe.

I continued to circle the portal, my Dragon clawing at my chest. I couldn’t understand the feeling of uneasiness as I landed on the cliff. The panthers who stood guard came up to me, nudging my leg as I looked over the land. The Cerulean Moon Kingdom stood quiet; the King and Queen were a hot topic of discussion as to not having an heir to the throne. Many believed that Queen Eden was infertile and King Elijah should find someone else to bear his pup.

Little did anyone know; they were waiting for a sign from the Goddess Selene.

Smiling, watching them track through the small narrow garden, my Dragon took control, having me look towards home in the Northern Mountains. Smoke trails led upwards into the distance. My claws buried deep into the soil, wanting to take flight and fly home. My mind continued to bring up the order my father had provided me, to stay at the portal until the next Dragon arrived. It was imperative to ensure no rogue could enter, keeping the humans safe for another day.

I paced; the Shifters grew agitated while I growled in my chest. The fire burned the lining of my stomach more fiercely.

“Something is wrong,” my deep Dragon’s voice spoke to the Shifters. “I need to fly home,” our voice growled again. One Wolf from the forest shifted back into his human form.

“We will be fine. We will wait for your replacement. I have mind-linked more Wolves to be present.”

Shaking my head, smoke poured from my mouth and nostrils. “I cannot defy my Alpha’s order.” My wings pushed into the dirt.

“Something is wrong. I think you should go. The smoke in the Northern Mountains is large.” Growling, fire spilled from my mouth, dropping to the grass below. “My Alpha of the Warrior pack says he cannot go; it would take too long to arrive at the scene.” It would take several days for the Wolves to even find our territory; it was buried deep into the mountains with scent-cloaking herbs around it.

“I cannot disobey.” Wolves were exceedingly lucky to have a mind-link. They could link far and wide if standing on a mountain on a clear day. Dragon’s being able to talk in our beast form was not as lucky.

Night had fallen. My replacement never came. The stars twinkled in the sky. My Dragon and I lay in the dirt, making large holes in the purple moss. Small lights continue to fly into the air from the intrusion.

Just as I decided to leave, my replacement came. Huffing and puffing came from the purple Dragon’s mouth. “A battle,” his beast heaved with smoke. Large slashes on his torso bled onto my claw. “There was a battle in your tribe. You must go!” Not waiting for an explanation, bolting from the ground, my wings caught the wind. Never in my life had I pushed the air between myself and the sky so heavily.

Arriving in record time, a fire consumed the tribe below me. Several Dragons fought, tents and buildings burning into the night. Screaming women and their male children went from tree to tree to hide from the fire, ice, and acid leaking from the enemies’ mouths.

I roared into the night. Many stopped looking at my appearance. Dragons fled, flying into the night, never to be seen again. One Dragon hovered over a couple, scratching its long claws slowly across their torso.

“She was supposed to be mine to repopulate the female Dragons.” Acid dripped into the wounds of the naked couple lying on the ground.

Today was the day one of the male Toboki Dragons was to mate with a female Dragon from another tribe hoping to create more female Dragons. Something must have gone horribly wrong in the exchange.

“And you let her go to another species.” I leaped forward, pushing the Dragon away, once a loyal member of the tribe. My teeth found his neck and snapped it in an instant. He fell to the ground. My jaw clamped over its neck, ripping it from its body. Throwing its head to a nearby fire, my body turned to the couple lying on the ground.

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