Page 28 of Bound by Fire and Scales (The Dragons of Earis #1)

I never imagined that having a mate could feel like this, so fulfilling, so grounding, yet so freeing. Every example I’d seen growing up painted the mating bond as a trap, a slow death for the omega, something that bound you in chains and bled you dry. But this? This felt like life itself. Being so close to him, feeling his emotions thread through my own, reading the subtle shifts in his mood as if they were my own heartbeat, it felt anything but a prison.

He had me entirely, wrapped in his arms and wrapped around his very soul. Our scents mingled and filled the air like a silent vow, a signature only we knew. I touched his face, feeling the warmth of his skin, looking into those green eyes, knowing that they truly saw me. Through our bond, I knew now he thought I was brighter than the stars, more radiant than the moons. I felt his love sink into my skin, reach deep into my heart, and awaken every sense within me.

Our bond—warm and unbreakable—binded me to him. This was where I was meant to be. I was home. He was my mate, my love, mine. Zephyr and I were one in every sense of the word. I wanted nothing more than to stay here, wrapped in the safety of our bed, sinking into the warmth of his feelings and forgetting everything beyond these walls. But I knew this peace couldn’t last.

A shout, then a clamor of voices echoed outside. Zephyr stiffened, his hold on me tightening. My own heartbeat picked up as the noise swelled, growing louder with each second. A sudden flash of alarm in Zephyr’s eyes mirrored what I felt. Some kind of chaos had erupted right on our doorstep.

“Stay here,” he whispered, but I was already on my feet, throwing on a cloak and following him to the door.

“Like hell I’m staying,” I muttered, and he didn’t argue, his face grim as we opened the door together and hurried into the corridor.

The shouts echoed through the fortress, louder and sharper now. The anger carried on every word, slicing through the air. We rushed down the stone corridors, Zephyr a few steps ahead of me, his face set, his expression hard as steel. When we reached the entryway, the sight before us stopped me in my tracks. The courtyard was packed. Soldiers, the high-ranking families, and the council members, all of them stood there, a mass of bodies thick with tension and rising anger.

Among them, I spotted the Iceclaws dragons, Morlav and his son Vlastov, standing firm and alert, their faces tense, while Enrik leaned against a wall, arms crossed, his expression indifferent, as if the uproar were some passing distraction. But his gaze caught mine, and his eyes flicked to the red-purplish bruise at the base of my neck, the spot where Zephyr had marked me, our bond imprinted on my skin for everyone to see that I belonged to him now. He arched an eyebrow, clearly amused, but I ignored him, my attention shifting to the center of the courtyard.

There, standing like a queen with her court of silent puppets, was Loryr. The council members flanked her, each with arms crossed, their faces taut with displeasure. But Loryr, had her eyes fixed on us, and in their cold depths, I saw the fury beneath her composure. Zephyr had been right. They had come for him.

I stepped forward, taking Zephyr’s hand into mine. His grip on my hand tightened, and I could feel his pain as he watched the people he’d sworn to protect turn against him. And then, Loryr’s voice rang out over the chaos, commanding silence.

“Zephyr,” she called, her voice thick with contempt. “How fitting that you show yourself, finally, after nearly tearing your own clan apart, burning your own village, and wounding your own dragons!”

I stepped forward, feeling Zephyr’s hand slip away as I locked my gaze onto Loryr, a fierce glare that could have cut through stone.

“You’ve forgotten your place, little girl,” Loryr spat, her words dripping with disdain. “A human has no business meddling in dragon affairs.”

“It’s my place now, because I'm the mate of the leader of this clan,” I replied, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me.

“Your mate’s status barely matters anymore,” Loryr shot back, a smirk creeping onto her lips. “He won’t be the Firescales leader for much longer.”

Her words hung in the air like a death knell. A chill ran down my spine, but I stood my ground, unwilling to let her intimidation sink in.

“Is that what you want?” I challenged, my voice rising above the growing murmur of the crowd. “To see him fail? To tear apart everything he's worked for?” I could see the flicker of uncertainty in some of the council members’ eyes, but Loryr remained unfazed, her expression as cold as ice.

“Zephyr has proven today that he lacks the strength to lead this clan. He destroyed our village. He can’t control his powers.” The words hit like a physical blow, echoing through the chamber with a chilling finality.

“How dare you?” I demanded, my voice rising above the murmur of the crowd as I scanned the faces of the council members, one by one. I stood my ground, fueled by a mix of outrage and protectiveness.

“How dare any of you treat him this way after everything he’s endured? After what you forced him to face? He carries dark magic in his veins—magic that was born from your decisions, your failures! He was still a child when he allowed you to use his body to end the war, and this is how you repay him?”

My heart pounded in my chest, every beat a reminder of the injustice unfolding before me. “Now, after losing control, something you failed to fix, you dare cast the blame on him? You think he chose this? The true enemy isn’t Zephyr; it isn’t your leader,” I said, turning to the crowd. “Can’t you see? The real enemy are the mages!”

The weight of my words hung in the air and I watched as a flicker of uncertainty danced in the eyes of some council members, doubt slowly creeping into their faces. I felt my anger mingling with my desperation as I fought to make them understand. Zephyr was not the villain here. He was a victim of circumstances. A victim of the war.

“It doesn’t matter,” Loryr spat back. “What transpired today was not the mark of a true leader. His own people stand against him, his own people want him gone. Zephyr has been steering this clan toward its own destruction for far too long, and the council will not permit him to bring the Firescale clan to its knees.” I could see the flicker of triumph in her eyes as she pronounced his doom. Her disdain for Zephyr, for everything he stood for clear in her face.

“That is not true,” a soft yet firm voice broke through the tension, emerging from the crowd gathered at the gates. As whispers swirled among them, they began to part like waves, creating a path for someone to approach. My breath caught in my throat as Kislav stepped forward, followed closely by Anphyr, who led a surge of people behind her. More than half the clan moved in solidarity, the villagers flowing as one.

Anphyr stood with her chin held high as she faced the council. “Loryr, you cannot assume the entire clan wants Zephyr out without truly considering the will of the people. Why are the villagers’ voices being dismissed? Are they not part of this clan? Are they not part of the Firescales too?”

She then turned to the sea of faces that had come in support of her brother. “I asked all of you to come here today to express your thoughts as well. I know that many of you believe in Zephyr. I know some of you might fear him, and that others might have mixed feelings, but look around. You've been living peaceful lives since the end of the war, and that peace is because of him. He's worked tirelessly to rebuild the trade market with other clans. His leadership has been the bedrock of this clan’s revival. Are you really willing to throw away all the good because of an evil mage?”

Her words hung in the air, urging the crowd to reflect. The spirit of the Firescales was more than just about one leader; it was about unity, resilience, and the strength of the bonds they shared. I was taken aback by her influence. Anphyr had rallied nearly all the villagers to support Zephyr. It was incredible to see how she wielded such a quiet power over these people. Kislav had once called her the people’s princess. I guess he knew what he was talking about.

The crowd stirred, a murmur rising, when a small, sturdy woman pushed her way to the front. I recognized her immediately. It was the same vendor who had sold Zephyr the firebomb fruit when we’d visited the village. Her hair was pinned back tightly, and she wore the same determined expression as she had that day, though now her eyes held a fierce fire.

“My name is Ada,” she said, her voice ringing out across the courtyard. “Many of us have lived through countless seasons in this clan, watched leaders come and go, and survived the war years together.” She held her ground, looking directly at the council. “You talk about destruction, about Alpha Zephyr’s mistakes, yet you ignore the peace and prosperity this village now knows because of him. ”

The council members shifted, but she wasn’t done yet. “Alpha Zephyr didn’t just bring us order; he brought us a life worth living. Before, we were constantly afraid, always looking over our shoulders. But he changed that. He ended the war.”

She turned to the crowd, her voice swelling with pride. “I know that some of us fear him; some of us wonder if he’s as dangerous as they say. But think of everything we’ve built, think of your homes, your families! We owe so much of that to him. I've raised my children in a safer world because of his strength, because he was willing to face horrors we never even saw.”

Turning back to the council, she crossed her arms defiantly. “If you want to cast him aside, ask yourselves if you truly know the strength it takes to carry a clan on your shoulders. I, for one, won’t let fear erase everything he’s done. And if anyone here agrees, speak now.” I watched as some villagers exchanged glances, murmuring in agreement, and even some of the more skeptical faces softened.

Loryr’s lips curled into a disdainful sneer as she stepped forward, her gaze sweeping dismissively over Ada and the other villagers. “The opinions of shopkeepers and fruit sellers carry little weight in matters of leadership,” she scoffed. “We’re not here to coddle those who have no real understanding of what it means to command. What could any of you possibly know about the responsibilities, the burdens of safeguarding an entire clan?”

A murmur of outrage rose from the crowd, but Loryr only lifted her chin higher, her voice cutting through the gathering like a cold blade. “You see Zephyr as a hero because you're shielded from the truth. What do you know of the losses we’ve suffered because of him? His recklessness has cost lives, yet you're clinging to him like sheep! You think you’re safe because you live behind walls and gossip in your little market stalls. But it’s your council who has protected you, despite Zephyr’s incompetence. Not him. And we'll continue to do so, with or without your misplaced loyalty.”

The crowd rippled with unease, but I saw the villagers exchange determined glances, their loyalty only hardening in the face of Loryr’s contempt.

Zephyr’s voice was like steel beside me as he confronted Loryr. “You speak of loyalty and responsibility, Loryr,” he said, each word heavy, cutting through the tense air. “But tell me, where was the council’s protection when this clan was on the edge of ruin? When the mages threatened everything we held dear, who among you dared to fight? Who bore the scars?”

A quiet murmur swept through the crowd as the villagers stood taller, pride sparking in their eyes. I could feel their loyalty to him, their belief that Zephyr had done more for them than any council decision made in secrecy.

As Zephyr’s voice cut through the tense silence, I kept my gaze on Loryr. Her face was sharp with fury, but it wasn’t her expression that caught my attention this time. Her sleeves had slid up slightly, just enough to expose the faint, unnatural marks coiling up her wrists, deep purple tendrils snaking like bruises, winding beneath her skin. A chill prickled at the back of my neck as it hit me. I’d seen them before. A memory flashed through my mind. That mage’s body twisted with the same purple, unsettling lines carved across her flesh.

I took a step forward.

“Loryr!” I called out, pointing an accusing finger in her direction. “Why do you have the same marks as the mage?”

A collective hush fell over the crowd. All eyes snapped to her, widening with shock and suspicion, while her own gaze locked onto mine, narrowing in fury. She took a step back, her fingers twitching as if to pull her sleeves down, but she didn’t. I felt Zephyr’s presence tense beside me, and his focus shifted to Loryr.

“What are you talking about, you foolish girl?” Loryr snapped, her voice brittle and biting, but it was too late, there was no unseeing it now.

I held my ground, the confidence of truth flooding through me. “Those marks on your arms,” I continued. “The mage who attacked us wore the same. She was touched by dark magic, and now I see it on you, too.” I looked around, catching the faces of the villagers and council members, their shock transforming into a growing disbelief and suspicion.

“Are you meddling with dark magic, Loryr?” one of the council members asked, his voice trembling with a mixture of revulsion and fear. The doubt in his tone spread through the gathered crowd, and more of them shifted away from her, faces hardening in the grim realization.

Loryr’s sneer deepened, and a flicker of something dark and dangerous passed over her face. I watched her eyes narrow, her fingers curling in a subtle gesture, and a chilling prickle danced along my skin. “Oh, you stupid, stupid, little omega,” she said, as a dark energy began to pulse from her direction, faint at first, but then growing stronger. “I knew I should have ended your pathetic little life the moment you walked into this clan.”

It happened in an instant. Her hands twisted, the purple marks on her arms darkening, and suddenly, the air around her began to pulse, thick with magic.

A sickly, violet glow emanated from her hands, swirling with shadows that crackled and hissed. I took a step back, feeling the ripple of her power rush toward me like an icy wave. She’d been hiding her true strength all along. Gasps erupted from the crowd as villagers stumbled back, their fear mounting as Loryr’s magic whipped through the courtyard.

“Loryr...” Zephyr’s voice was low, warning. “Don’t.”

But Loryr just smirked, her lips curling into a twisted mockery of a smile. “You’ve been blind, Zephyr. Too caught up in your little fantasy of this human, too distracted. It’s time you see the truth of your weakness.”

Before anyone could react, the shadows around Loryr shifted. Her hands moved with unnatural grace, weaving through the air as dark vines of magic curled and crackled around her. The other council members recoiled, eyes widening in shock. I felt a chill against my skin like icy fingers crawling up my spine. Something was wrong. Terribly wrong.

“You think you’re strong enough to stand by him, omega?” Loryr’s voice was a whisper, but it carried through the room like the hiss of a snake. “Let’s see how strong you really are.”

Without warning, a wave of jagged shadows with a razor- sharp edge lunged towards me. My instincts screamed at me to move, but before I could react, Zephyr was there, faster than I’d ever seen him. He leapt in front of me, his own fire-infused power flaring to life, colliding with the dark energy in a furious explosion of light and shadows.

“She’s using dark magic!” a voice shrieked, cutting through the tense silence. Instantly, the courtyard exploded into chaos, shouts and accusations filling the air as panic spread across it.

Zephyr growled low in his throat, his dragon’s fury barely contained as flames danced across his hands, battling against the darkness. The fire around him blazed with intensity, casting long shadows across the room as his dragon threatened to break free. But Loryr’s magic surged forward again, this time with greater force, the black vines snaking toward me like venomous vipers. Zephyr roared, his flames flaring brighter, but Loryr’s twisted grin only grew wider.

“She'll be your downfall, Zephyr!” Loryr spat, her voice filled with a dark glee. “Your love for this weak human is your undoing!”

I felt the force of the attack rushing towards me, but before it could reach me, Zephyr unleashed a torrent of fire, consuming the shadows in a burst of heat. The clash sent shockwaves through the ground beneath us.

“Loryr!” Kislav’s voice cut through the chaos, his eyes narrowed with cold fury. He stepped forward, ice crackling around his skin as his power surged to life. “You dare betray the clan with dark magic?”

But Loryr didn’t flinch. If anything, she seemed to revel in the accusation, her grin widening. “Betrayal? No. I'm saving this clan from the likes of you. From weaklings who don’t deserve to lead.”

The room plunged into darkness as Loryr’s power swelled, a swirling storm of shadows that threatened to consume everything in its path. The other council members watched, frozen in shock and disbelief, as Loryr revealed the depth of her corruption.

Zephyr growled low. His eyes flicked toward me, softening for a moment before hardening with resolve. “Stay behind me, Sabrina!”

I wasn’t about to stand by and let him fight this battle alone. I had fought for this clan, for him, and I wasn’t about to let Loryr be the one to tear us apart. My hand tightened around Enrik’s pendant. I might not have dragon fire, but I wasn’t defenseless. I had an idea.

Loryr’s dark magic surged again, this time splitting into multiple streams, aiming not just for Zephyr, but for Kislav and the others, too. I could feel the energy building, growing darker and more dangerous by the second.

“You can’t win, Zephyr!” Loryr laughed, her voice echoing through the courtyard. “You’ve grown soft. Weak. You’ve let this omega drain the life from you!”

Zephyr roared in defiance, his dragon’s fury finally breaking free. His form shifted, scales erupting across his skin, his eyes glowing intensely. The room exploded with heat as massive globes of flames erupted from Zephyr’s mouth.

But Loryr was ready. Her magic met Zephyr’s attack head-on. Fire and shadows clashed in the center of the room, their power sending shockwaves through the yard, cracking the stone walls and shaking the ground beneath us.

Kislav joined the fight, his ice-infused blasts cutting through the darkness, freezing the air with each strike. His power collided with Loryr’s shadows, slowing their advance, but the dark magics still kept coming. I watched as Zephyr unleashed another wave of fire, burning through the shadows. But Loryr was too fast. Her magic wrapped around Zephyr, constricting, trying to smother the flames.

“Zephyr!” I cried out, panic rising in my chest.

He turned his head toward me, his dragon eyes blazing with determination. “Stay back!” His voice was rough, distorted by the growl of his dragon.

But I couldn’t just stand by and watch him struggle.

I had to do something.

With a surge of adrenaline, I darted toward Loryr, using the chaos of the battle as my cover. She was too focused on Zephyr to notice me slipping through the shadows. The ground shook with the force of their powers clashing, but I kept my eyes locked on Loryr, my pulse racing.

I was close enough to see the twisted satisfaction in her eyes, the dark magic coiling around her like a serpent. Her focus was entirely on Zephyr, the fire and shadows swirling in a deadly dance. She didn’t see me coming.

I lunged forward, gripping Enrik’s pendant tightly and thrusting it toward her. The pendant responded, flickering to life, and then, just as it had with the mage, it began to levitate, glowing with an intensity that felt almost alive. Its light pierced through the dark air, a searing brightness that flooded the entire courtyard, illuminating every shadow Loryr’s magic tried to hide behind.

Loryr’s eyes widened in horror, her twisted sneer collapsing as she felt the pull of the pendant. Her scream tore through the silence, filled with rage and panic as the vines of her dark magic started unraveling, drawn irresistibly toward the pendant’s glow. The force intensified, latching onto her power and drawing it out like a relentless tide, and with each pull on her magic, it seemed to draw her life, too. Her magic faltered, dimming as the pendant absorbed it, drinking in the darkness with a relentless hunger.

“Stop!” she shrieked, her voice breaking as she staggered back, desperately trying to wrest control over the magic slipping through her fingers. Her hands clawed at the air, but the pendant’s pull was stronger than her, a vortex of light consuming every scrap of her power. Her face twisted with fury and terror, her presence shrinking, crumbling under the force she could no longer command.

My heart thundered as I held steady, pushing forward. I didn’t stop; I wouldn’t. Not until every trace of her dark magic was stripped away, until she had no shadows left to hide behind. And right then, with the pendant burning bright, I knew she had finally lost.

Zephyr chose this moment to step in, his body tensing as he released a roar that seemed to shake the entire island. The raw power in his voice carried years of pain, betrayal, and fury, rippling through the air like a storm. In a single, ferocious breath, he unleashed a torrent of fire, a blaze so intense it seemed to split the very night. The flames tore through Loryr’s dark magic, devouring it, burning away every trace of the shadowed power she had wielded.

Loryr’s scream cut through the air, a sound laced with terror and defiance as her magic unraveled, reduced to nothing but smoke dissolving into the night. As the last remnants of her magic faded, she crumpled to the ground, her body filled with a dark power just a moment before was now just a hollow shell.

I stood over her charred form, a swirl of emotions tightening in my chest. This was the same woman who had guided me through the Soulfire Ritual. It was a cruel irony that in the end, she had been the one consumed by the very flames she thought would burn me.

I closed my eyes, my heart heavy with conflicting feelings, and took a deep breath. Despite everything, I silently thanked her for training me, for the strength she had helped me uncover, even if her intentions had been twisted. Despite it all, she had played a role in my journey here.

I turned to Zephyr who had shifted back into his human form, his face slick with sweat. His eyes locked on mine. “It’s… it’s over,” he said, his voice hoarse, barely more than a whisper.

I clutched Enrik’s pendant tightly, marveling at how such a small stone could hold so much power. This small piece of jewelry seemed to be the key to combat dark magic. As my gaze drifted to Zephyr, I wondered for a brief moment if this pendant could help him tame the dark magic running through his veins. Could this pendant help him fight this magic that threatened to consume him?

It was tempting, but I shook my head, quickly dismissing it, sliding the pendant back into my pocket. It didn’t belong to me, and I couldn’t risk its power for my own desires. And I knew that some burdens were not mine to carry, and this one would soon find its way back to its rightful place.

I reached for Zephyr, a smile breaking across my face. “No, this is just the beginning. Now you can lead this clan as you were always meant to,” I said, my heart swelling with hope. I knew he was about to face a huge challenge in rebuilding the governing structure of his clan, but I believed in him.

Zephyr took a slow step toward me, his piercing gaze locked onto mine, something deeper than gratitude flickering in his eyes. My heart pounded as he drew closer, the space between us vanishing with each step. His expression softened, and I smiled at him, knowing that no matter what came next, we would face it side by side. As mates.

He reached for me, his hand cradling the side of my face, rough fingers brushing my skin as though I might disappear. His touch melted the remnants of fear and adrenaline, soothing me. Slowly, he lowered his head, his breath mingling with mine, and before I could speak, his lips claimed mine in a kiss that held everything; relief, passion, and the unspoken promise of a future we would forge together.

The world outside faded away, and for that moment, it was just us. “I love you, Sabrina,” he murmured against my lips, his breath warm and ragged. “My mate.”

My heart raced as I pulled back just enough to look into his green eyes. They were filled with an intensity that mirrored what I felt. His hand remained on my face, grounding me in the storm of emotions swirling between us. My chest tightened, overwhelmed by the surge of emotions that flooded me, our feelings intertwining and amplifying through our bond.

There was no more pretending. I belonged to him, truly and wholeheartedly. He was my alpha. My mate.

“I love you too, Zephyr,” I whispered, my voice trembling with the intensity of our feelings. “And I'm yours. For eternity.” Because the fire had bonded us and we would burn together through any challenge we faced.