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He tilted his head, seeming to think.

“No, we do not feel things like this. Like I have mentioned previously, our magic is different. Our energy comes from within, and we use things like herbs, spices, and crystals to focus our magic to what we want, not because we need their aid. We do not do things that shift the world and unbalance it.”

Amalia brought her hand up to tap her fingers against her lips. “I do not feel like I do things to unbalance the world.”

“I am talking about dark magic. I have tried to use blood magic, but it does nothing because we do not need to. Our magic is usually stronger and therefore, it is a natural part of the world.”

“But some spells do not require items, I only need to chant.”

“That power comes from within, but if you wish to make those spells powerful, you must add to them.”

“Which is where the discovery of blood magic came from? The need to find a way to make those chants stronger?”

“Yes, and, for some reason, that taste of power corrupts your kind to want more.”

She continued to tap her lips.

“I must admit, having your magic inside me was quite energising, but I do not wish to seek more. Why does it corrupt others?”

He shrugged. “How am I to know the inner workings of your kind? Perhaps it has become a normalised thing and is not seen for how truly evil it is.”

“I do not think my mother ever used dark magic, but she would often tell me to worry of the moon.” This time she turned her face to it. “She said that sometimes new beginnings are not always a good thing, and if I did not want to get caught up in darkness, I should stay inside during those times.”

“She sounds paranoid. I would not listen to her advice,” he chuckled with a shake of his head.

“Do not be rude about her! What if she is right? What if the black moon is up to no good?” She reached for it.

He looked at her like he didn’t understand her while humour crinkled his large silver eyes. “Then let it be up to no good. No harm can come to you inside of my lair.”

She sighed while slumping her shoulders. “I fear tomorrow I will wake with pixies upon me again.”

“That... That I cannot save you from. I do not know how they always manage to get past my wards, but hopefully the new one I have in place will be better at keeping them at bay.”

He startled her when he stood and scooped her up in one of his paws.

“What are you doing?” she asked when he began to carry her down the tunnel.

“You have been speaking of strange things, and the hour is late.” He turned into her alcove. “You are to go to bed.”

“But I am not tired!”

She squealed when he tossed her through the air onto it.

“I did not say you will be sleeping,” he chuckled before blowing a ring of fire above his head.

Chapter 28

The following morning Amalia woke alone, like she often did when she knew Rurik had clawed under his riches to sleep. She did wonder if he would ever rest beside her, but she knew trust like that would have to come with time.

He does not want to be caught unaware.It made sense to her. If he wasn’t awake, his senses wouldn’t be able to pick up that there might be danger afoot.

She would often wake when it was dark since she wanted to eat before she sat in the sun for the very few hours it was available.

She walked to the food alcove to collect an assortment of vegetables. She carefully picked the right ones for a soup she could make now that she had herbs and spices she could add to the broth.

It was while she was sitting down to eat that Rurik poked his scaly head inside.

“I see that you are eating. I am going to fly down to one of the farms nearby and find my own breakfast.”