Page 24 of Eluvonia (Rift of Ages #1)

AERIS

B y the time evening arrives, I stand outside Tura’s hut, watching as Kaida and Declan prepare to leave.

Declan’s massive Dragon form gleams under the fading light, his golden scales catching the sun’s last rays.

His tail swishes restlessly through the sand while Kaida stands nearby, arms crossed, his sharp gaze pinned on the horizon, but flicking occasionally toward me.

I take Tura’s hands in mine, her fingers warm and calloused, her grip steady. “Thank you,” I say, my voice soft but sincere. “For everything—your kindness, your shelter.”

Tura gives a small smile, patting my hands lightly. “It’s a healer’s duty, child. No thanks needed.”

I start to pull away, but she tightens her hold, her expression growing serious. Her brow furrows, and her eyes fix on mine. “You have a dark and dangerous path ahead of you,” she says, her voice low, almost a whisper. “Something about you… is different. Be careful who you trust.”

The weight of her words settles uncomfortably on my chest. I shift on my feet, my hands falling away from hers. “What do you mean?” I ask, my voice quieter than I intend.

She shakes her head, her lips pressing into a thin line. “I can’t say more,” she murmurs, her tone tinged with regret. “It’s just a feeling.”

My jaw tightens, and I exhale through my nose, brushing a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “Well, that’s vague,” I mutter, more to myself than her. “Thanks for the warning, I guess?”

Tura lets out a soft, knowing laugh, the sound warm but distant. “Go, child,” she says, giving me a gentle push toward the waiting Dragons. “And trust your instincts—they’ll serve you better than any words I can offer.”

Kaida’s eyes flick toward us as I approach. His jaw tenses, and he takes a step closer, his crimson gaze narrowing. “What did she say to you?” he demands, his voice sharp and biting, as if he already expects trouble.

I pause, meeting his glare with a casual shrug, masking the unease simmering beneath my skin. “Nothing important,” I reply, a faint, almost mocking smile tugging at my lips. “Just that Dragons are dangerous.”

Kaida’s gaze lingers on me, his sharp features unreadable, though his fingers twitch slightly at his side, and his shadows twist and whip at his feet. After a tense beat, he snorts and looks away, muttering under his breath. “At least she’s honest.”

Without waiting for an invitation, he steps closer, his hands firm on my waist as he lifts me onto Declan’s back, getting me high enough for me to grab onto his protruding horns and scale myself up the rest of the way.

His grip is steady but impatient, and the brief contact sends a jolt of annoyance through me.

“Don’t fall. I won’t catch you this time,” he says, his voice smug as he watches me reach the top of Declans back and settle into the dip between his wings and neck.

I roll my eyes, my fingers curling tightly around the cool, curved horns on Declan’s neck.

“Thanks for the concern,” I bite back, my tone dry.

Declan rumbles softly, the sound vibrating beneath me as he crouches, his powerful muscles coiling like a spring. Without warning, he launches into the air, the force nearly throwing me backward. I cling tightly, my heart pounding as the wind tears past, whipping my hair into wild tangles.

Kaida’s black wings slice through the sky as he follows close behind in his Dragon form, his movements smooth and effortless. Beneath us, the ocean stretches endlessly, its surface shimmering under the pale glow of the moon.

Declan dips lower, his wings skimming the salty air. I lean to the side, the cool mist brushing my face as I peer down. The water ripples, and sleek shapes move just beneath the surface. One leaps gracefully into the air, its silvery form arcing before vanishing back into the depths.

A small smile tugs at my lips, unbidden. For a moment, the beauty of it all consumes me, softening the ever-present edge of tension in my chest.

Declan glances back briefly, his golden eye meeting mine, and he rumbles again, the sound almost approving.

After hours of flight, we land in a grassy clearing near a lively trade center.

The towering wooden fence and the warm glow of lanterns cast long shadows into the night and across the ground.

Voices and laughter drift toward us, mingling with the faint clinking of metal and the earthy smell of smoke and wood.

I toss a pack of clothes given to us by Tura, toward Kaida as he shifts back into his humanoid form. Trying to dismount Declan with a semblance of grace, my foot catches on one of his horns, and I pitch forward with a startled yelp.

Before I hit the ground, strong arms catch me, pulling me upright. My palms press against Kaida’s chest, the warmth of his skin startling against the cool night air.

My heart skips a beat, and for a brief, dangerous moment, the thought crosses my mind—how it would feel to run my hands down his torso, to feel the taut muscle under his skin, the heat radiating off him.

I bite my lip, forcing the thought away, my face flushing with the mere idea.

It’s the bond twisting my thoughts, making me feel this way. Focus . I remind myself.

His gaze locks on mine, his blue eyes sharp but unreadable. For a fleeting moment, something softer flickers in them—a crack in the armor—before his usual guarded expression returns.

“Are you going to stop groping my chest anytime soon?” he asks, his tone dry, though there’s a faint edge of amusement that makes my cheeks burn.

I jerk away, my hands dropping as I stumble back. “Thanks,” I mutter, brushing nonexistent dirt off my tunic.

Kaida grunts, turning away with a dismissive shrug. “The last thing I need is you twisting an ankle. You’re enough of a headache as it is.”

Glaring at his retreating back, I stick my tongue out at him like a petulant child, earning a soft rumble of laughter from Declan behind me .

“Come on, Fae,” Kaida calls without looking over his shoulder. “We don’t have all night.”

With a frustrated sigh, I follow, the glow of the trade center drawing us closer. Tura’s words cling to my thoughts, a whisper of unease as persistent as the wind that stirs the trees.

We walk from the grassy area near the town, the dirt path winding gently through the rolling hills. The trail stretches on for less than half a mile before we reach the town itself. There are no buildings lining the path, just open space with the occasional rustling of leaves in the breeze.

As we draw closer to the trade center, a massive wooden gate stands tall and sturdy in front of us.

Two guards, armored and unmoving, stand at attention in front of the gate, their expressions cold and unreadable as they watch us approach.

Kaida strides ahead of me, his sharp gaze fixed on the guards. When we close the distance, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a shining medal. It gleams in the fading light, and as the guards spot it, their posture stiffens.

“Sir!” one of the guards exclaims, snapping to attention with a swift salute—his arm pressed firmly against his chest. “Welcome, sir!”

The other guard steps aside without a word, gesturing toward the open gate.

Kaida gives a curt nod and strides through. Declan and I follow closely behind.

The village unfolds before us like a chaotic, vibrant tapestry. Built entirely of wood, its streets wind like veins through a body, narrow paths flanked by wooden homes with slanted roofs jutting toward the sky.

Some houses are modest, single-room dwellings, while others sprawl with balconies draped in flowering vines.

Wide, rounded windows gleam with etched glass, catching the light in shimmering patterns.

The air is thick with the warmth of firewood, mingling with the rich aroma of fresh bread and spices.

I take a long breath, cataloging the scents, the sights—the Dragons . Some in their human forms, wings tucked neatly behind them, move freely through the marketplace. Others haul carts laden with barrels or baskets of bread, their voices carrying over the din of bartering and conversation.

“This place is… lively,” I mutter, eyeing the market stalls overflowing with goods.

“Lively,” Declan snorts. “That’s one word for it.” His gaze flicks to a display of glistening fish, their scales catching the light, then to a pile of exotic fruits almost too vibrantly colored to be real. “At least they eat well.”

Kaida keeps his stride even, his grip firm on my arm. “Keep your mouth shut. Don’t act out. ”

I huff and scowl up at him, but keep quiet.

We pass a stage near the center of the village where a male Dragon is setting up some kind of display, though no one seems to pay him much attention.

Off to the side, a group of Fae—small and slender—shuffle behind Dragon families, their heads bowed, their simple, tattered clothing blending into the background.

They don’t speak, don’t make eye contact. They exist on the edges, their presence a quiet hum beneath the village’s bustling energy.

A sour taste curls at the back of my throat. I glance at Declan, who watches them too, his expression carefully blank.

“See something interesting?” Kaida asks, his tone deceptively light.

I meet his gaze, my voice just as even. “Just taking in the atmosphere .”

He leans in slightly, his breath warm against my ear. “Good. Keep taking it in, but don’t interfere .”

I roll my eyes. “You really think I’d do something that stupid?”

Declan coughs, poorly disguising a laugh.

Kaida’s smirk is slight but pointed. “Yes.”

I grit my teeth but keep my mouth shut. For now.

We come to a stop in front of a large building with strange symbols etched into its wooden doors. Declan leans in close to my ear. “It says ‘inn’,” he explains, his breath warm against my skin.

My cheeks heat, but before I can say anything Declan places a hand on the small of my back, gently guiding me inside.