Page 23 of Bound by Fire and Scales (The Dragons of Earis #1)

The dungeon’s cold, damp air hit me the moment we entered, wrapping around me like a heavy shroud. My skin prickled, not just from the chill but from the weight of what we were about to confront. The flickering torch light cast shadows on the walls, and each step we took echoed ominously down the stone corridor. I was no stranger to dark places, but this was different. This time, I wasn’t just an observer. I was part of it.

The mage sat in the center of the room, chained to a chair. His face was bruised and bloodied, but despite the clear signs of a beating, there was a defiance in his eyes that made my stomach turn. He didn’t care. He had done what he wanted, and now he was paying for it. There was something twisted about the calmness on his face, like he knew something we didn’t.

Enrik stood over him, his massive form radiating fury, his platinum hair pushed back and his hands bloodied from the interrogation. He didn’t turn when we entered, but his voice was a low, dangerous growl. “Took your damn fucking time getting here.”

“We had some things to discuss,” Zephyr replied, his voice as cold as the room. He glanced at me, a silent question in his eyes, but I stepped forward before he could stop me.

The mage’s eyes flicked to me, narrowing slightly. He didn’t look surprised to see me, and that only made my anger boil hotter. My scent. My body. He had used me like a tool, like I was nothing more than a means to an end.

I stepped closer until I was standing right in front of him. “Look at me.”

The mage didn’t move, didn’t flinch. His lips curled into a smirk, and I could feel Zephyr bristle beside me, his dragon stirring. But I wasn’t afraid. Not of this man.

“You triggered my heat,” I said, my voice low, steady. “You made me lose control of my own body, and for what? To manipulate me? To manipulate them ?”

He sneered, his voice hoarse from whatever Enrik had done to him. “Omegas exist to serve alphas. You were just a tool. Your body was made for it.”

My father’s face flashed through my mind.

You’re a worthless omega, only born to be bred.

The fury that surged through me was like nothing I had ever felt. My hands shook, not with fear, but with the overwhelming urge to lash out, to make him feel a fraction of what he had taken from me. But I forced myself to calm down. I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of seeing me lose control. Not again.

“You think you can take someone’s choice away like that and not pay for it?” I spat, my voice trembling with rage. “You think you can use me and walk away unscathed?”

The mage laughed, a bitter, ugly sound. “You think you have power, little omega? You’re nothing without an alpha. ”

Zephyr took a step forward then, his voice a low growl. “Watch your useless mouth! She’s more than you’ll ever be.”

I glanced at Zephyr, feeling his fury radiating from his body. His eyes were blazing, and I knew that if I didn’t act now, this would turn into something much worse. So I turned back to the mage, forcing my voice to stay calm.

“You’re wrong. I don’t need an alpha to make me strong. I’ve fought for myself long before you ever tried to use me. And now, you’re going to answer for what you’ve done.”

Enrik stepped forward, his expression dark. “This piece of filth already spilled everything we needed. Amazing what a little motivation can do, right buddy?” he said, spitting at the mage. His fury mirrored mine, catching me off guard. “The mages are behind the attacks on the borders. We still don’t know what they’re after, though.”

The Iceclaw’s leader, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. “We should not wait any longer. The past has shown us how fast mages can move. Whatever they’re planning, it won’t be anything good.”

Zephyr’s eyes darkened, his voice hardening as he turned to Enrik. “We leave as soon as possible. The gryphons and the mages won’t wait for us to prepare. We have to strike before they can.”

I watched as the men around me nodded in agreement, already shifting into battle mode. But something inside me screamed that this wasn’t enough. That I needed to be part of this, I couldn’t just stand by while they fought the ones who had manipulated me.

Zephyr turned to me, his face softening slightly, but I knew what was coming. “Sabrina, you’re not going with us. It’s too dangerous.”

I shook my head, stepping forward before he could continue. “No. You can’t make that decision for me. I deserve to be there after everything that’s happened.”

“Sabrina—” he started, jaw tight, but I cut him off.

“Do you really think I can just sit here and wait? After what they did to me?” My voice shook with fury, the anger flooding through me like wildfire. “They controlled me, used me! And you expect me to just stay behind while you go after them?” My eyes locked on his, daring him to understand. He knew my past, knew why this fight mattered so much to me.

“I understand, Sabrina. Believe me, every time I think about how they violated you, I can barely contain my rage.” He stepped closer, his hands gripping my shoulders. “But I need you safe. You’ve fought before, but this? We’re facing gryphons and mages, and I can’t bear the thought of you getting hurt.”

I folded my arms, lifting my chin, meeting his gaze with defiance. “I’m not some fragile flower, Zephyr. I’ve survived worse than this. I walked through lava for you. Or have you forgotten already? I can handle myself in a fight.”

His expression shifted, the hardness in his eyes softening, but only slightly. “I know you’re strong. Stronger than anyone gives you credit for. But it’s not just about your strength, Sabrina. Our customs forbid omegas from going into battle. This isn’t something you can simply step into. The risks are different this time.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “Against your customs?” I echoed, the irony heavy in my voice. “That’s news to me.” My chest tightened as the anger simmered beneath my words. “Funny how it wasn’t against your precious customs to force an omega to walk through fire, to risk her life by connecting with an element she was never born to wield. Didn’t seem like being an omega was a problem, back then.”

Zephyr’s hands tightened on my shoulders, his eyes filled with something that looked like pain, but I wasn’t sure if it was for me or for himself. “Sabrina, it wasn’t my choice to put you through that. I never wanted you to take on that kind of risk.”

“But I did it, Zephyr!” I shot back, the words fierce and raw. “I did it for you, for this clan, and I survived. I don’t regret it, not for a second, but don’t you dare tell me I’m too weak to stand beside you now. I’ve proven myself—again and again. Yet, when it comes to stepping into battle, suddenly the rules matter?”

He looked torn, his jaw clenched in frustration. I could see how torn up he was between wanting to protect me and knowing I had a right to fight.

“You’re not weak, Sabrina. I never thought that. But these battles... they’re different. They’re brutal, relentless, and I’m not sure I can protect you from all of it. Not this time.”

“I’m not asking for your permission,” I shot back. “I’m telling you I’m coming. You might be used to making decisions for everyone else, but this is my fight, too! It became my fight the moment they used me.”

Zephyr stared at me, his eyes flickering with something I couldn’t quite place. Frustration, yes, but also something deeper—something that made my chest tighten. He took a deep breath, his hand running through his dark red hair in frustration.

“Sabrina…” His voice was hoarse now, like he was struggling with something inside himself. “You don’t understand. I can’t lose you. I can’t.”

His words hit me harder than I expected, my anger faltering for a moment as I saw the fear in his eyes. He was afraid. Afraid of losing me. Afraid of what could happen if I went with them. It was a vulnerability I hadn’t expected from him. My heart tightened in my chest as I realized that he genuinely cared about me. The visions the fire had showed me flashed through my mind. Zephyr and I mated. Zephyr and our child. And for a moment, I nearly wavered, tempted to give in just to erase the pain from his eyes.

But I couldn’t let it go.

If I stayed behind like an obedient omega, it would betray everything I stood for.

“You won’t lose me,” I said, my voice firm but gentle. “But I can’t just stand by while you fight this battle. They used me, Zephyr. I need to be there.”

He was silent for a long moment, his jaw clenched, his hands flexing at his sides. Finally, he let out a long breath, his eyes softening as he looked at me.

“Fine,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “You can come. But you have to stay close to me the entire time. If anything happens—”

“I can take care of myself,” I interrupted, though the tenderness in his eyes made my heart ache.

“I know. But I’m still going to watch over you. Whether you like it or not.”

There was no more argument after that. Zephyr turned to Enrik and Kislav, his voice sharp and commanding as he ordered them to gather the others. Eight dragons from the Firescale clan would go with us, and we would strike against the gryphons and mages before they could do any more damage. I knew this battle would be far more dangerous than any other quest I had ever been on before, but I wasn’t afraid. I had survived on my own before. I had fought for my freedom. And now, I would fight again and this time, with Zephyr at my side.

I glanced at Zephyr. His eyes met mine, and in that moment, I knew that no matter what happened, we were in this together. Bound by more than just a contract, we were now bonded by fire.

???

The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the fortress entrance where the dragons were gathering, preparing to leave. I took a moment to breathe in the crisp air, letting it fill my lungs and ground me. I had changed back into my guild attire after weeks of wearing only beautiful gowns and posing as a proper lady. It felt good to wear my own clothes. The worn blue pants and tunic moved easily with me, a welcome change from the restrictive gowns. I strapped on my belt, securing my collection of knives—sleek and balanced, their edges honed to razor-sharp perfection. Among them was Zephyr’s gift, the iron dagger.

As I stood waiting for the signal to leave, my eyes drifted to Kislav and Anphyr, where they said their goodbyes near the entrance. Even from afar, the bond between them was undeniable. Anphyr would remain behind, and as an omega, she couldn’t go into battle. The traditions of the dragons were as old as they were unbreakable. But now I knew how she yearned for a life beyond those rules, and I wished there was something I could do to help her. I watched as Kislav’s hand brushed against Anphyr’s arm, and her smile lit up her face.

A twinge of concern flickered in my chest as I noticed how easily they connected, and I decided it was best to give them some privacy. I scanned the crowd for Zephyr, spotting him locked in a serious conversation with Morlav. I chose not to approach, fully aware that their discussion would revolve around battle strategies, and having spent the last couple of hours listening to all the million different formations that the dragons could attack the gryphons, I had no more patience left for any of that.

I turned away, my gaze falling on Enrik, who stood a few paces away, eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of danger. His platinum white hair falling messily over his eyes, partially obscuring his sharp gaze. His arms crossed over his chest, fully exposed beneath his black tank top. For the first time, I noticed the black tattoos marked into his skin. They coiled around his forearms, a mix of sharp lines and swirling patterns, like winding serpents. Neither Zephyr nor Kislav had tattoos like these, but then again, Enrik always seemed different from the two of them. There was something edgier, more unpredictable about him.

He arched an eyebrow at me when he finally noticed me staring. “Not one for planning, are ya?” Enrik said, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips as he leaned casually against the armory wall.

“Yeah, something like that,” I replied, my voice flat.

He chuckled darkly, his eyes shifting back to the sky as I stepped closer to stand by his side, joining in his sky watching. “The planning part is always a bore. If you ask me, we should just go and fry down those bastards.”

“If I were a dragon, I would just do that. Why are they planning, anyway? ”

From the corner of my eye, I caught a glance from him, his expression shifting as he assessed me. “Are you going to fight too, tailchaser?” The nickname rolled off his tongue with a mix of teasing and challenge. I rolled my eyes, irritated. “Thought Zephyr would keep you locked away in his dungeon.” Just when I thought we might be finding common ground.

I was exhausted from constantly feeling the need to prove myself here. “Just so you know, I was part of a guild! I’ve fought before!” The words came out sharper than intended, frustration bubbling over. The only response I received was a raised eyebrow, a clear sign that he didn’t take me seriously.

“Are you going to stick to Zephyr during the entire battle like a good little omega?” His voice held that familiar edge, but today there was something off, tension in his stance that hinted at an underlying seriousness. The usual cocky bravado felt muted, almost fragile.

“I’m going to fight with everything I have,” I asserted, my voice softer than I had meant. “I might not be the most powerful and I’m just human, but I can take care of myself.”

For a moment, his stormy grey eyes locked onto mine, and I saw something shift, an unspoken understanding passing between us.

“You think I don’t know that?” he replied, his tone dropping, more sincere. “For an omega, you’re different. Different from any other I’ve met.” His words caught me off guard, feeling almost like a compliment, and I blinked in confusion.

His gaze lingered on me before letting out a sigh. His hand slipped into one pocket of his pants, drawing out a necklace, a thin chain that cradled a stone, dark and glinting with flecks of gold. He hesitated, his fingers brushing the pendant with uncertainty, before turning to face me fully. Slowly, almost cautiously, he extended his hand, holding the necklace out toward me.

“You might need this,” he said, his voice low and serious. “This has been in my family for generations. It’s... it’s the only artifact I have from the thunder dragons.” He paused, letting his gaze drop to the pendant, his fingers curling protectively around the stone for a brief second before he lifted it again. “They say it casts a protective spell around the one who wears it.” A soft, bitter laugh escaped him, a quiet scoff at his own words. “Hells, I don’t even know if any of that is true. Might just be some ancient bullshit.” He shrugged, trying to brush it off, but there was something vulnerable, almost raw, in the way he held it out to me. “But... it doesn’t hurt to try, ya know?”

I looked at him, then back to the pendant resting in his palm. Since the moment I’d set foot on the Fire Island, he’d met me with nothing but a wall of cold suspicion. Yet here he was, offering me a piece of his heritage, something precious enough that his voice trembled by even talking about it. Why was he now acting like he cared?

“Why… why are you giving it to me?”

Enrik’s gaze held mine, devoid of sarcasm for the first time since we’ve known each other.

“Think of this as an apology,” he said, his voice low but edged with frustration. “Because I’m so fucking tired of feeling guilty for losing control when you went into heat. Fucking hells!” With a frustrated sigh, his hand shot up, combing roughly through his platinum hair. “I’m not some dead-brained alpha who loses his mind at the first smell of dripping slick !”

“Enrik… it wasn’t your fault,” I said softly, choosing to ignore his vulgarity because I understood he was just as angry as me for losing control of his own autonomy. We both had been victims of that mage. “That mage forced me into heat in a room full of alphas. He knew exactly what he was doing.”

“Tsk. You think I don’t know that?” he spat bitterly. His hand shot out, holding the necklace in front of my face. “You’ll need this. You need all the help you can get. You want to fight? Then fight. But don’t you dare lose this.” I swallowed hard, reaching out slowly to take the necklace. The moment my fingers closed around the golden thread, a shiver ran through me.

“I promise I’ll return it to you,” I murmured, slipping the necklace around my neck, feeling the cool weight settle against my skin. My fingers brushed over the pendant. I had never seen such a beautiful stone before. “But you know? I think you might be starting to grow on me.” I glanced up, a faint, uncertain smile tugging at my lips. “Maybe you’re not as impossible as I thought.” The words came softer than I intended, as if testing the fragile truce forming between us, wondering if he felt it, too.

He scoffed lightly, though there was no malice behind it. “Don’t get too sentimental, tailchaser. It doesn’t suit you.” Yet, his gaze lingered a moment longer on me, and I caught a flicker of worry in his stormy eyes. It caught me off guard to see him like this—vulnerable, his usual uncaring asshole aura slipping away.

“Enrik,” I said before I could stop myself. “Thank you.”

He waved me off, rolling his eyes at me. “Don’t make me regret it.”

Just as he turned to leave, a deafening roar ripped through the sky. I flinched, heart pounding, my gaze shot upward, scanning the clear blue sky above us. There was nothing there. But I knew that sound. It was the unmistakable call of gryphons calling one another.

Enrik was instantly alert, his posture shifting to one of readiness.

“Damn it, we’re under attack.” His voice was tense as he turned back to his army, and I hurried to follow behind him.

“Firescales! Let’s show those bastards not to mess with us!” A loud roar came from the army while they ran across the courtyard, already shifting into their dragon forms. Flying into the sky.

It all happened fast. In a moment, the skies were clear from attack and in a flash, gryphons popped up surging toward the land, their attacks directed down at the village.

“No!” I screamed out loud when I saw a gryphon getting too close to the colourful tents, where I knew the villagers had their daily market. But just as the gryphon touched down in one tent, a dragon attacked, his sharp teeth gripping the gryphon by its neck while the creature shrieked loudly until the dragon brutally separated its head from its body .

I watched a gryphon plummet toward a dragon, but the dragon twisted in the air, countering the attack with a swipe of its claw. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, and I instinctively took a step back, my heart pounding in my chest.

“Sabrina, focus!” Enrik screamed at me, snapping me out of my paralyzed state. He had already transformed into his dragon form. “Get on my fucking back or get inside!” he said and I didn’t think twice before sprinting after him as the ground trembled beneath us. With a leap, I mounted onto his back, and without hesitation, he launched into the air.

I watched as a dragon unleashed a torrent of flames; the heat washing over me like a wave. The fire engulfed a gryphon, but out of nowhere a buzzing ball of energy streaked through the sky, colliding with a dragon mid-flight and sending it spiraling down with a bone-chilling roar.

Where had that come from?

It hadn’t come from the gryphons.

The battlefield erupted into chaos as gryphons soared overhead, their screeches piercing the air. My heart raced as I spotted a pair of them swooping low, their eyes wild with aggression. “Hold on tight to me, Sabrina!” Enrik snarled to me, as he took in speed, spiraling through the sky and firing jets of lightning, striking down four gryphons at once.

Below us, the battlefield was chaos, a whirlwind of wings and talons, each creature fighting for dominance. The gryphons screeched, their cries mingling with the roar of powerful flames. That attack alone had engulfed four or five gryphons into smoke and ash, leaving only their feathers behind. Turning the sky darker where they had just been flying.

I turned, caught in awe, searching for the source of that immense power shaking the air. Then, I saw him—Zephyr in his full, breathtaking dragon form, finally descending into the heart of the battle. My chest tightened, my pulse quickening as his presence commanded everything around us. From Enrik’s back, it was unmistakable: Zephyr was larger than the others, his scales more vibrant, his power undeniable.

“Enrik! Watch out!” he snarled, and I barely had time to brace myself, when Enrik twisted mid-air, narrowly avoiding a gryphon who surged against us. A shiver ran down my spine when I saw a group of gryphons making their way to the ground closer to the village.

“Can you bring us closer to the ground?” I asked Enrik, an idea forming in my mind. Without hesitation, he dipped lower, seeming to understand exactly what I had in mind as we flew just above the ground, tracing the gryphons that were closing in on the village. I took a steadying breath and leaped from his back, bracing myself for the impact. I rolled as I hit the hard ground, then sprang to my feet, sprinting with everything I had. I focused hard, reaching deep to connect with the fire within me. I could do this. I wouldn’t miss.

With a fierce yell, I charged at a gryphon, both my old dagger and the one Zephyr had crafted for me, gripped tightly in my hands. I moved so fast that the beast didn’t have a chance to react. I drove my blade right into the center of its skull, and it crumpled, tumbling lifelessly onto its back.

“Nice, tailchaser!” Enrik exclaimed, his dragon form towering above me as he snapped at the other gryphon.

“Keep moving! We need to flank them!” I urged, moving closer as I retrieved my daggers from the dead creature’s body, adrenaline pumping through my veins.

The remaining gryphon unleashed a piercing shriek. Its sharp, predatory eyes locked onto me, pupils narrowing with lethal intent. I saw the muscles in its massive wings tense as it angled toward me, talons extended and ready to strike. It was coming for me, fast and unrelenting.

Together, Enrik and I pressed forward, moving in sync as we worked to distract the creature. Enrik unleashed a powerful blast of thunder, forcing the gryphon to retreat momentarily, its wings flapping wildly. Enrik swooped down, roaring with fury. His size made the ground tremble as he unleashed another blast, burning the creature into ashes. It let out a deafening screech before plummeting to the ground, defeated.

“Who knew a little omega like you could fight?” he said, his voice rumbling through the air.

“Let’s keep fighting! There are more out there!” I urged. We’d taken down so many already, yet the creatures just kept coming, wave after wave, like an endless tide. How long could we keep this up? If this continued, how much longer could we protect the villagers? Sure, some of them could fight; they were dragons, too, fierce and strong. But my mind raced to those who couldn’t—the children, the elderly, the ones who’d have no chance.

I felt a rush of wind and a sudden weight behind me. I got distracted and didn’t notice another gryphon had found its way through the fray. I stood preparing myself for the attack as it swooped down faster, talons extended, aiming for me.

In a heartbeat, Enrik was upon me, his massive body blocking the gryphon’s attack. Enrik collided with the creature mid-air, their bodies crashing together in a thunderous roar that echoed through the battlefield. The force of their impact sent them both spiraling, and I watched in horror as Enrik tumbled to the ground, grappling with the gryphon.

“Enrik!” I screamed, panic flooding my veins.

I watched his powerful jaws snapping just inches from the gryphon’s neck, but the creature was relentless, twisting and turning, trying to break free. I had to do something. I couldn’t stand here and let him face this alone!

Without thinking, I rushed forward, dagger in hand. I knew I would have only one chance, and that I had to get out of the way quickly. I ran, throwing myself at the back of the gryphon, gripping its wings and impaling my dagger in its neck. The creature let out a shriek of pain, staggering back and allowing Enrik the moment he needed to regain control. I jumped out from its back, taking my dagger with me, rolling onto the ground. With a fierce growl, Enrik seized the opportunity, launching himself at the gryphon and sinking his teeth into its shoulder. The creature thrashed wildly, but Enrik held on.

“Now, Sabrina!” he roared, his voice booming with urgency.

I ran with my daggers ready, piercing through the creature’s neck without mercy. The gryphon faltered, its body collapsing to the ground, defeated. Breathing heavily, I rushed to Enrik’s side as he transformed back into his human form, his face smeared with dirt and sweat, but his eyes shone with fierce gratitude.

“You saved me,” he said, a grin breaking through the chaos, his gray eyes widening with surprise as they locked onto mine.

“I guess you owe me one now, huh?”

I looked up just as Zephyr and Kislav unleashed their combined power, twin blasts of fire and sharp ice ripping through the sky. The deafening roar of their power echoed across the battlefield, and in the next instant, dozens of gryphons plummeted to the ground, their charred forms disappearing into the chaos below. I frowned, noticing how the gryphons were suddenly retreating.

But I didn’t have time for that now. I grabbed Enrik’s arm, trying to steady myself as much as him. “You need to get that treated,” I said, eyeing the deep gash on his biceps, blood dripping on the dark ground under us.

“Nah, I’m good. I heal fast—dragon, remember?” He flashed a grin, but I wasn’t convinced.

“Don’t even think about waving it off—” I started, but my words died in my throat as a heavy thud echoed across the battlefield. My head snapped up in alarm, my gaze darting toward where Zephyr and Kislav stood moments before. Confusion tightened my chest as a shadow moved, parting the smoke and darkness to reveal a small figure. Definitely human, not a dragon, not a gryphon.

I narrowed my eyes. Who had just walked out of the chaos?