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Chapter Forty-Five

A elia

Pulling the thick, velvet curtain back, I stood at the window staring out into the moonlit courtyard. A wispy tendril of shadow slid across the back of my neck, its familiar presence soothing. The sight of Sol, his enormous form bathed in glittering moonlight, with the backdrop of the tempestuous sea beyond, had my ribs tightening and emotion constricting my throat.

Why had I been so awful to him?

I searched my core for the shimmering bond that connected us and, for the first time in days, I felt the familiar pulse of his presence. Somehow, it lessened the ache at the absence of Reign’s. Which was a whole other issue to contend with. When I’d awoken to an empty bed, the disappointment had been visceral and… shocking. Despite the shadow messenger he’d left with me who offered a quick explanation of his departure and promised a speedy return, I missed him.

A silly smile spread my lips. I missed him . Which meant my feelings for Reign were returning. Or maybe I was forming all new ones. Or maybe it was a little of both?

Either way, I wanted to share it with someone. Glancing out onto the courtyard once more, hope blazed in my chest. No, not just anyone… Sol.

Opening the mental connection between us, I poked at the silvery strands. Sol ?

From across the murky night, I could see my dragon, perched on the cliff, visibly tense. His long, serpentine neck curled over his shoulder, piercing golden eyes meeting mine across the distance.

Yes, your Infernal Highness ?

The sound of his deep voice across my mind brought with it a sense of completeness I never could’ve imagined . Oh, gods, Sol, I’m so sorry. I’ve been an absolute wretch to you. Also, please don’t ever call me by that title again .

What should I call you then ? The snarky tone subsided a notch.

Whatever you want . Little Kin, Aelia, A … Anything really. Just please don’t block me out like that again .

He prowled closer to the manor, his thundering footsteps vibrating the cliffside . You weren’t ready to hear what I had to say, so I felt it was better for you not to know what I was thinking . Or risk damaging our relationship forever .

Good goddess, who knew dragons were so sensitive? I’m ready now, Sol. I understand that Helroth stole my memories and planted false ones to serve his purpose. He attempted to tear me away from all of those I love most: you, Aidan, my friends, Reign …

So, you’ve found your way back to your cuoré? He stood only a few yards away now, so close that if he stretched out his neck, I could reach his snout .

Not quite, but I think we’re making progress.

Good. It’s a start, at least . As if Sol had read my thoughts, which it was likely he had, he extended his neck so that his warm breath blew through the open window.

Tentatively, I reached out my hand until my fingertips brushed the end of his nose. When he didn’t immediately recoil at my touch, I ran my hand further up his snout, rubbing the warm scales until I reached the sharp crown of horns across his brow.

I missed you so much, Sol. Just the sound of your voice in my head… it has been much too long . Emotion tightened my throat so I could barely swallow, and I was so relieved I didn’t have to rely on my tongue to form words.

I missed you too, little Kin . A deep rumbling sound vibrated Sol’s throat, and a wave of contentment surged through our bond, confirming I wasn’t alone in my feelings. And I am pleased you have found your way back to your rightful cuoré .

“You are?” The surprise was so powerful I couldn’t help the words from blurting out. For some reason, I was certain you never liked Reign .

I was wary of him, Aelia. I knew the Shadow Fae harbored secrets, and I was right. But all this time that you were missing, I witnessed firsthand just how much he loves you . More than that, I can feel it through Phantom .

My heart soared, the affirmation from my faithful dragon meaning more to me than if spoken by anyone else—even if I didn’t want to hear it at first.

Wait a moment… You can feel Reign’s love through Phantom ?

Mmm .

Because you were dragon mates? Even after all this time?

Yes, as I’ve told you before, there is nothing flimsy or fickle about a dragon mating bond. It lasts forever, for every reincarnation, ad infinitum .

This shouldn’t have come as a surprise to me, but with my muddled thoughts, and after all I’d been through, I’d temporarily forgotten about my dragon’s love life. So, have you and Phantom been finding your way back to each other too ?

He snorted, plumes of gray smoke muddying the air between us. Let’s just say I’m beginning to see the events of our past in a different light .

What does that mean ?

Nothing but silence streamed through our bond for an endless moment, and just when I was certain he would ignore the question all together, his voice once again filled my mind. When dragons are reincarnated, our memories are repressed. It takes a while for them to return, or sometimes a specific event can trigger their resurgence. Your disappearance was my trigger …

Oh. Oh!

As you may recall, I blamed Phantom for my demise in the war and the resulting death of my rider. But as it turned out, there was a missing piece to the story .

“And?” I blurted aloud once more.

The thunderous flapping of mighty wings spun both our gazes to the south. Phantom’s obsidian form sailed toward us, cutting in and out of the swathes of iridescent moonlight.

As Sol regarded the approaching dragon, his gaze grew distant for a moment before those gilded orbs slanted in my direction. I will have to put a pause to my tale for now, as I believe there is someone who may shed more light on your story .

“Seriously?” I squinted over Sol’s head, narrowing my gaze to make out the form on Phantom’s back.

Look closely, little Kin .

I expected Reign atop his dragon, but the possibility of the second figure had a thrill coursing up my spine. To ensure I wasn’t hallucinating, I called upon my rais until it simmered across my skin and lit up my fingertip. Drawing a celestial glyph in the air to amplify my sight, I focused on the approaching dragon. Tears pricked my eyes as the familiar form coalesced.

Aidan.

My feet were moving before my brain could process, spinning and racing out of my bedchamber, across the narrow corridors, and down the spiraling stairs. Aidan was here ! After all these months, I would finally get to see him, hold him, talk to him. My gods, there was a time I truly believed I’d never lay eyes on him again.

A suffocating ache filled my chest, and I couldn’t draw breaths fast enough. Aidan. Gods, when I considered everything he’d done for me over the years and compared him to my grandsire, my stomach revolted. How could I have even felt an ounce of loyalty toward Helroth? Aidan had been the perfect guardian, treating me as if I was his own. And because of the Night King, I’d nearly forgotten him. Guilt assaulted me.

When I reached the first level, I barreled through the doors, my gaze tipped to the sky. Solanthus stood a few yards ahead of me, his eager gaze following the onyx dragon. Phantom’s wing flaps began to slow, angling toward the earth and anticipation tightened my gut.

He’s almost here . Sol’s voice was like an anchor against the tempest of emotions he could surely feel roiling inside me.

I can’t believe it .

Those tears burned hotter as Phantom’s enormous talons finally hit the ground and Reign’s gaze locked onto mine. My knees trembled, and it wasn’t only from the force of the giant beast’s landing.

I sprinted toward them on wobbly legs, ducking beneath Sol’s massive form and emerging on the opposite side to where Phantom had landed. Aidan’s eyes met mine from atop her back, and his lip quivered.

And just like that, the dam broke.

Tears spilled over, first, one by one, and then in a deluge. Through the watery haze, I could just make out Aidan sliding down Phantom’s leg. She held it out gracefully, allowing my adoptive father a gentle descent.

His arms were around me a moment later, squeezing me against his familiar frame. A sob wrenched through my lips as I buried my face in his threadbare tunic. The scent of damp soil, fresh rain and chicken feed filled my nostrils, and memories of our home in Feywood surged to the surface.

“Oh, estellira , you’re really alive! And in my arms. Blessed be the gods!” He squeezed me so tight I could barely breathe, but I held on tighter just the same.

“Aidan, you don’t know what it means to have you here.”

“I think I do, my Aelia, I truly do.” He kissed the top of my head, his sturdy form reminding me of the great trees of Feywood Forest, stalwart and unyielding. “Thank Raysa, you’re safe.”

I could feel Reign’s piercing gaze as it simmered over us, watching every movement. Only this time, it didn’t raise the hair on my nape or rankle my nerves. It was oddly comforting. It was because of him that I’d finally been reunited with the only father I’d ever known. Over Aidan’s brow, I caught his eye and mouthed, “Thank you.”

His chin dipped, a rueful smile crawling across his face. A shadow peeled off his fingertip and snaked around my neck before gliding past my ear. “Anything for you, starlight.”