Page 6 of Bound by Fire and Scales (The Dragons of Earis #1)

Zephyr led me through the dark corridors of the fortress without saying another word to me. He halted before massive double doors, each carved with golden dragon wings that gleamed in the dim light of the corridor. With a simple push, Zephyr swung them open effortlessly, the heavy wood groaning as they parted.

He stepped aside, allowing me to enter first. It was an oval chamber bathed in the soft glow of gold. Once I stepped inside, Zephyr slammed the doors behind us with a loud bang, the sound echoing through the room. He turned toward me, green eyes burning with a silent fury that made my inner omega want to submit to him immediately. But I shook it off, crossing my arms over my chest, refusing to let him intimidate me.

“Do you have a death wish?” he growled, his voice low, barely restrained as he tried to control his temper. I knew this was coming—I knew he would be furious.

“What was I supposed to do? Refuse to do what every other mate before me has done?”

“Yes!” he roared, his hands raking through his fiery red hair in frustration. “Do you have any idea what you’ve just agreed to? Do you even understand what you’re risking?” He stepped closer, his voice rising, the heat of his breath brushing my face as he towered over me, his frustration boiling over.

“No, I don’t! Because you dragged me into this without explaining anything to me!” My words echoed in the room, my chest heaving with emotion.

Zephyr stepped back, eyes widening slightly at my outburst. “I didn’t want you to be dragged into this. This wasn’t supposed to happen. The ritual, the council... none of it was meant for you.” His fists clenched at his sides, as if battling with something he couldn’t control.

“You can’t expect me to stand by and let that awful woman talk about me like that! I’ve fought my whole life to prove myself, and I will not back down just because this isn’t part of your plan.” I stopped, an eyebrow arched. “By the way, Zephyr, what is your plan again? Right! You don’t know yet because you didn’t think it through!”

Zephyr’s eyes softened, but his jaw tightened. “I’m sorry to bring you into this, Sabrina,” he said, his voice rough. “But this ritual… It's not just a test. It’s dangerous, Sabrina. It’s fire, it’s magic, it’s something even dragons have barely survived. You’re—” He stopped, the words catching in his throat.

“I’m human,” I finished for him, stating the obvious. “There’s nothing we can do to change that now, can we? The best I can do is to try and pass this ritual.”

His green eyes were full of worry as he stared at me. “The Soulfire Ritual is one of the most ancient rites of our clan. For generations, it’s been a trial reserved only for the mates of our clan leaders, or those marrying into our bloodline. It’s not just a test, it’s a way to show that your spirit is truly in harmony with the fire element that runs through our veins. But you… you’re human. And that changes everything.”

His voice grew rougher, tinged with a fear I hadn’t heard from him before. “You’re not bound to fire the way we are. There’s no telling how the magic will react to you. You could lose more than just your connection to the world, you know. You could lose your humanity, your sense of self. Or... your life.”

Zephyr’s gaze locked onto mine, his eyes pleading for me to understand. “This ritual has never been attempted by a human. There’s no way of knowing what the fire will do to you.”

I lifted my chin, meeting Zephyr’s gaze, and I knew he wanted me to give this up. Maybe it was the smarter thing to do. But I couldn’t do it. “You’re asking me to pretend to be your mate, to give you an heir, but how can I do that if I don’t face what other mates before me faced? How can I be your mate if I refuse to prove myself in your world?”

Zephyr’s expression darkened further, his jaw clenched. “This isn’t about proving yourself, Sabrina. This is about keeping you safe. Keeping you alive. I don’t care what the council thinks. You don’t have to risk your life for some ritual to prove anything to them.”

I took a step closer, forcing him to hold my gaze. “Maybe you don’t care,” I whispered, “but I do. I’m not just going to stand on the sidelines while everyone else questions my worth, questions why I’m here. I’ll survive this, Zephyr. I have to.”

His breath hitched, and for a moment, his resolve seemed to waver. “You don’t understand what you’re asking for. If you lose yourself in that ritual, there won’t be anything I can do to save you.”

His words hit me hard, and a lump formed in my throat. For the first time, real fear crept in. What if I lost myself in the fire magic? What if it wasn’t just death waiting for me but something far worse—being trapped in some twisted form, conscious but no longer myself? I shivered at the thought, and hoped that if I failed, it would be a quick, clean end, rather than being stuck in a weird dimension or something. Could I change species through this? Could I come back as a dragon? What if I came back as an orc? That would be fun.

“I’ll survive,” I said after a long pause.

After all, I had survived worse.

Zephyr’s gaze locked onto mine, a deep, serious intensity behind his eyes. I knew what he was doing, he was doing the alpha stare, trying to intimidate me to change my mind. My omega wanted nothing more than for me to throw myself on my knees in front of him and submit. But I wouldn’t. Instead, I held on to his stare and after a beat, he gave me a single nod, a silent consent, though it didn’t look like he approved at all of my decision. He didn’t have to say anything, the weight of his stare spoke volumes. Then, without another word, he turned away, his attention shifting back to the massive room we were in.

“I suppose I should show you where we’ll be staying,” he said, his voice tight as he moved toward a pair of tall white doors at the far end of the room. His steps were deliberate, the tension still thick between us. When he pushed the doors open, the sight took my breath away.

The room beyond was unlike anything I had ever seen—opulent and breathtaking. A grand four-poster bed dominated the center, its deep red satin covers shimmering in the soft glow of the firelight. Rich tapestries adorned the walls, draped with dragon patterns in black and gold. To the side, a giant window stretched across the far wall, offering a panoramic view of the isle and the village below, bathed in the golden light of the setting sun. The ocean sparkled in the distance, and I could see the rolling hills and the bustling life of the village, so small from this height that it almost seemed like another world.

“This will be our room,” Zephyr said, his voice a touch distant, as if he wasn’t fully present. “You can take the bed.”

I blinked, turning to him in surprise. “Why? I mean… we’re supposed to be mates, right? We’ll have to share, eventually.”

His frown deepened, tension creeping into his posture. It was almost like the idea of closeness unsettled him. “I’d rather sleep on the couch in my office,” he muttered, shifting uncomfortably.

I raised an eyebrow, teasing. “Is the big dragon scared of me?”

He scoffed, brushing off my jab with a wave of his hand. “It’s not that. I just think it would be more comfortable—”

“More comfortable?” I cut him off, a soft laugh escaping my lips. “Zephyr, we’re going to be sharing a bed sooner or later. Why put it off?”

His gaze hardened, but there was something vulnerable beneath it. “I don’t use the bed much. I rarely sleep these days.”

I stared at him, my curiosity piqued. “Dragons don’t sleep?”

“We do,” he replied, his tone clipped. “But I don’t. Rarely. I’m always… occupied.”

A small frown tugged at my lips. “Occupied? Or avoiding something?”

His jaw clenched, but he didn’t answer, turning away as if to close himself off. “It’s just how it is. I have responsibilities. Things to take care of.”

I crossed my arms, refusing to let it go. “Well, sorry to break your cold-warrior act, but you’re going to have to start sleeping. We need to get used to being around each other if we’re going to pull this off.”

His eyes met mine again, flickering with something I couldn’t quite place. “You need rest, Sabrina. You’ve had an eventful day, and tomorrow Loryr expects you at dawn. Don’t waste your energy on things that don’t matter right now.”

The deflection was clear, and for a moment, I wanted to push more. But the weight of the day was catching up to me, pulling at my body and mind. I gave a small nod, though the unease still sat between us. “We’ll start slow then,” I muttered, not completely convinced but willing to let it go for now.

“I’ll be in my office if you need anything,” he added, his voice quieter now. Without waiting for a response, he turned and slipped out the door, closing it softly behind him. The silence that followed felt heavy, like the room itself was holding its breath.

I sighed, looking around the massive space. It was bigger than anywhere I had ever lived before. The bed alone could have fit half the people who rented rooms at the inn. And now, this opulent room, with its dragon tapestries and sweeping view of the island, was supposed to be my home.

I dashed toward the bed and threw myself onto it, landing on my back with a laugh. The soft mattress seemed to catch me mid-fall, holding me and a low moan escaped my lips as I sank into its softness, the kind of comfort I’d never known before. It felt too luxurious, too foreign, like I didn’t belong in such a place.

I sprawled across the bed, my body sinking into the rich, silken embrace of the red satin covers. As I rolled over, pressing my face into the luxurious softness, an intoxicating scent hit me—a scent that was all Zephyr. It seeped into my senses, thick and potent, wrapping around me like a warm, invisible hand. My heart stuttered, racing as the scent deepened, unfurling in layers of smoky heat and the barest hint of spice, tugging at something primal within me.

The rational part of my mind whispered that I should push the covers away, that I shouldn’t let his scent linger like this. But that voice was easily drowned out by a darker, more eager part of me—the omega part that purred in delicious, helpless contentment. I pressed deeper into the covers, letting them pull me under, relishing the warmth of his essence as it wove into my skin, so thick and powerful it nearly made me tremble. The scent was like a heady drug, all smoke and sweet cinnamon, a raw, seductive pull that made my body relax. I closed my eyes, fingers curling into the satin, drawing it closer as I nuzzled into it, my breaths coming faster, each inhale sending a shiver of pleasure down my spine.

For a moment, I was lost in him, surrounded by his rich deep scent, my mouth parting as I took it in, almost tasting it, feeling it sweep over me in waves. It felt like Zephyr was right here, so close I could feel the heat of his presence, his scent filling the air, filling me. And all I could do was surrender, reveling in the way it made me crave for more, made me spark with joy. His scent was addictive.

The scent curled around me like a lover’s embrace, filling every inch of the room until it felt as if Zephyr were lying beside me. My breathing slowed, and I sank deeper into the bed, wrapping myself in the satin covers as though they were his arms, strong and protective.

I nestled into the pillow, his scent a lullaby that softened the edges of my thoughts, making me feel drowsy and safe. Every breath I took was heavy with him, lingering on my tongue, settling into my skin like a gentle warmth. I clutched the blanket tighter, tracing my fingers over the silken fabric, imagining the way his touch might feel, rough and yet so careful, tracing over my body in the same way I held the covers now.

With his scent swirling around me, my mind drifted, hazy and relaxed, as if he were whispering in my ear, his presence anchoring me. My body melted into the bed, my heart slowing in rhythm with the rise and fall of my breaths. “Zephyr…” I whispered his name softly, letting it linger in the air, savoring the warmth it brought to my lips. Then, finally, I drifted into sleep, safely wrapped in his deep scent. For the first time in my life, the omega within me sighed in pure contentment.

???

A sudden, heavy knock shattered the silence, pulling me from sleep with a rush of adrenaline. I bolted upright, heart hammering, my hand instinctively reaching for the familiar grip of my daggers. The fog of sleep clung to me as my mind raced. Was the inn under attack? An alpha trying to force their way in?

It took a few slow heartbeats for the world around me to come into focus. My gaze swept over my surroundings. Taking in the sunlight filtered through the towering windows, casting long, golden beams across the dark, volcanic rock, its surface almost glossy under the light. The light danced over the green velvet armchair by the window, making the fabric shimmer.

I wasn’t in the cramped room back at the inn. I was in Zephyr’s room—no, our room now. I was in the Fire Island. I had crossed the magical barrier to the dragon lands, something few humans could claim. The barrier that separated the dragon lands from the rest of Earis had parted for me, and here I was, a stranger in a place where humans didn’t belong. Where I didn’t belong.

“Lady Sabrina?” a soft voice called from the other side of the door. “I’m coming in.”

A small girl stepped into the room, her youthful face revealing she might be around my age—or even younger. She was slim, with short, light copper hair that framed her delicate features. Her small frame gave away immediately that she was an omega as well. She wore a simple gown of gray and dark blue. She stood at the door, her wide eyes fixed on me, waiting expectantly, as if waiting for me to give her orders.

I stared at her, concerned that she was lost. “Can I help you?”

For a moment, she looked puzzled. “My lady, I’m Panryr. I’m here to help you prepare for your meeting with Lady Loryr,” she replied, her large brown eyes blinking up at me with anticipation. There was something endearing about her, a certain cuteness reminiscent of a curious bunny.

I chuckled at her words. “Lady? Please don’t call me that, just Sabrina. I’m not a lady.”

Her brows knitted together in confusion. “No, my lady, that’s not proper. You’re Alpha Zephyr’s mate, which makes you my lady,” she pointed that out as if it was obvious. “Alpha Zephyr appointed me as your handmaiden to get you ready for your meeting with Lady Loryr.”

“That’s ridiculous. I’m old enough to dress myself,” I insisted.

She regarded me for a moment before glancing at a back door I hadn’t noticed until now. With a firm push, she opened it to reveal a closet that was nearly as spacious as another bedroom. I rose from the bed, captivated by its size. It was probably as large as the old guild bar. Inside hung a stunning array of gowns in a kaleidoscope of colors, fabrics, and patterns I had never encountered. I didn’t need to be a fashion expert to recognize that these dresses were crafted on a different level than anything I’d ever worn; the cost of even one would far exceed what I could earn in a single C-level quest.

She turned to me, an eyebrow raised. “Can you select the right gown for your meeting, my lady?”

I felt flustered, well aware of my inexperience and rather my inability to choose clothes that flattered me. “What’s wrong with my clothes?” I asked, glancing down at my worn white blouse and blue pants, which I knew had been hastily mended after a previous tear. From Panryr’s expression, I sensed she noticed their poor condition but chose not to comment on it.

With a determined nod, she stepped into the closet, disappearing momentarily before returning with two gowns in hand, presenting them to me. “Please, my lady, just choose one of these.”

I hesitated, staring at the gowns she held. Each was exquisite, adorned with intricate details that made my humble attire feel even more inadequate. One gown was a deep red dress, flowing with delicate layers that seemed to shimmer in the light. The other was a black, embroidered with golden thread that sparkled like stars against the twilight sky.

“Just pick one?” I echoed, feeling overwhelmed.

Panryr’s eyes sparkled with encouragement. “Yes, my lady. You can’t go to your meeting in those clothes.”

I bit my lip, the anxiety gnawing at me. “What if I choose wrong?”

She stepped closer, her tone gentle but firm. “Trust me, my lady. These are the leader’s colors. You can’t go wrong by picking either gown. Lady Loryr will expect you to represent yourself well as Alpha Zephyr’s mate, and I’m sure you’ll look beautiful and make the right impression on her.” Was she rooting for me?

With a deep breath, I reached out to touch the deep crimson gown, feeling the softness of the fabric against my fingertips. It seemed to call to me; the color reminded me of Zephyr, of his scales in his dragon form. The skirt flowed with layers of black lace, intricately dotted and shaped to resemble flickering flames. “I’ll wear this one.”

“An excellent choice,” Panryr said with a bright smile. She carefully draped the gown over my arm and guided me toward the back of the closet. “Now, let’s get you ready. You need to look your best.”

I had never been one for fancy clothes or formal meetings, but I guess that being the clan leader’s mate was a position that was more important than Zephyr had led on and I had to look at least presentable, I didn’t want to embarrass him in front of his clan. I had to play my part well for this to work.

“Here,” Panryr said, pulling out a pair of delicate shoes that matched the gown perfectly. “You’ll need these.” I took the shoes, marveling at their craftsmanship. I slipped the beautiful black shoes on and they fit perfectly.

“How did you know my size?”

“That’s my job, my lady,” she replied with a satisfied smile.

“How do they allow you to work here?” I asked, still confused that an omega could do this kind of job. Omegas weren’t allowed to hold positions near important figures. Or almost any job, really. And yet here she was, serving the leader of the clan.

“What do you mean?” she replied, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

“You’re an omega, aren’t you? We don’t have many job opportunities beyond being homemakers.”

A look of understanding crossed her face. “Omegas can work here, my lady. As long as it’s not on the battlefield or in physically demanding roles, we’re free to take on various tasks.”

For so long, I had been taught that omegas were only meant to breed children and manage the household. It seemed the dragons offered a level of freedom that was unthinkable in the human world.

“Now, we must hurry, I still have to do something about your hair.” She studied my unruly locks with a keen eye. “Just a moment.”

Before I could respond, she vanished back into the closet, returning moments later with a small brush and a selection of hairpins that glinted like jewels. I watched, fascinated, as she worked deftly, pulling my hair back and securing it into a neat style that somehow felt both elegant and comfortable.

“There,” she said, stepping back to admire her handiwork. “You’re ready.”

I looked at my reflection in the ornate mirror hanging on the wall, hardly recognizing the girl staring back at me. The gown had a heart-shaped neckline that framed my collarbones beautifully, while the silk ribbons laced in the back were pulled tight, hugging my breasts together, giving my figure a perfect hourglass shape.

My usually tangled blonde hair was skillfully arranged with a multitude of pins that Panryr seemed to make disappear into my locks as if by magic. A golden brooch secured a couple of locks at the back of my head, while soft waves cascaded gracefully around my neck, framing my face with a touch of elegance.

“Thank you, Panryr,” I said, gratitude swelling in my chest. “I couldn’t have done this without you.”

She beamed, her confidence in me shining through. “Now remember, my lady. If Alpha Zephyr picked you, it’s because you belong here. Go meet Lady Loryr and show her the incredible person you are.”

My heart swelled with warmth as I looked at her. She was truly rooting for me, and that knowledge was so comforting, especially knowing that Lady Loryr wouldn’t go easy with whatever she had in store for me.