Page 48 of Eluvonia (Rift of Ages #1)

AERIS

T he air feels thin in the high altitudes, and every breath comes with a faint sting of cold.

Declan’s golden wings beat rhythmically, though I can feel the strain in his arms as he holds me.

His muscles are taut, trembling slightly under the weight of exhaustion.

I blink against the rushing wind, my body heavy, my mind swimming somewhere between lucidity and darkness.

Time has become a blur, and the horizon ahead feels both endless and impossibly far.

“We need to stop and rest,” I say weakly.

Declan glances down, his jaw tight. The exhaustion is plain to see in the set of his shoulders and the slight furrow of his brow. Despite his weariness, he offers me a small, cocky smile. “You worried about me?”

I manage to scoff, though my voice is more of a rasp. “Maybe. But only because your arms are about as comfortable as a pile of bricks. Too much muscle. ”

His chuckle rumbles through his chest. “Noted. I’ll start skipping arm day just for you.” He repositions me slightly in his arms, careful not to jar me too much. “But you’re right. We need to stop and rest. Kaida!”

Kaida veers closer, his black wings cutting through the cold air with precision.

He looks no worse for wear, despite the day’s chaos, though his expression is grim.

“There’s a cave system in the Thaldrim Mountains,” he calls out.

“I used it once during a mission. Got stuck there in a blizzard. It should still be secure.”

Declan nods. “Lead the way.”

Kaida banks to the right, his wings dipping gracefully. Declan follows, though I notice the strain in every beat of his wings. I press my cheek against his chest, the rhythm of his heartbeat grounding me even as the cold bites at my skin.

The mountains loom closer with every passing minute, their peaks cloaked in mist and snow. The air grows colder, snowflakes swirling around us like ghostly whispers. Kaida gestures toward a dark opening on the second-highest peak, barely visible against the shadows of the setting sun.

We land with a crunch of snow, the sudden stillness jarring after hours in the air. Declan’s knees bend slightly as he absorbs the impact, his grip on me steady. Kaida folds his wings against his back and moves toward the cave entrance, his movements cautious.

“Stay here,” he says over his shoulder, disappearing into the darkness.

The wait feels longer than it is, the only sounds are the faint whistle of the wind and Declan’s heavy breathing. Finally, Kaida emerges, his expression unreadable as he gestures for us to follow. “It’s clear. ”

Declan carries me inside, his steps careful but firm.

The cave is vast, the ceiling high enough to echo even our softest movements.

Jagged stalactites hang like teeth, and the ground is littered with small stones and patches of moss.

The walls shimmer faintly with mineral deposits, catching the flickering light of the fire Kaida soon sparks with broken twigs and pieces of wood he finds scattered amongst the cavern.

Declan lowers me onto the ground, and I can’t help the sharp hiss that escapes me as pain shoots through my body. “Sorry,” he murmurs, his eyes flicking over me with concern before he stands and stretches. “I’ll find some game. Kaida, can you check her wounds?”

Kaida nods, his expression serious as Declan heads out of the cave. Once the golden-winged prince is gone, Kaida approaches me, his movements slow. He kneels beside me, his gaze softening. “May I?”

I nod, unable to form words through the ache that courses through me.

Kaida moves behind me, his fingers brushing lightly against the tatters of my shirt.

The fabric clings to the dried blood, and when he gently peels it away, I can’t help the sharp intake of breath that escapes me.

I try to focus on anything else but the pain — like the warmth of his touch or the steady sound of his breathing — but the chill of the cave suddenly creeps into my skin.

A shiver wracks my frame, and I bite my lip to keep my teeth from chattering.

“Hold on,” he murmurs, standing abruptly. He disappears outside and returns moments later with a silver pan filled with snow.

“Where’d you get that?” I ask, arching an eyebrow despite my weariness.

He pats the large sack slung over his shoulder. “I packed a few things. Just in case.”

The corners of my mouth twitch into a weak smile. “Practical. I like it.”

Kaida sits behind me again, and I feel the weight of his breath before the cold shock of melted snow trickles down my back. I jolt, biting back a curse.

“Sorry. Should’ve warned you,” he says sheepishly.

I glare at him over my shoulder, and he offers a crooked, apologetic smirk. “I need to clean the blood away to see your wounds better.”

“Fine,” I mutter, turning forward again.

The cold water stings as he works, his hands surprisingly gentle as he probes the gashes along my back. His touch contrasts sharply with the freezing water, the warmth of his fingers both soothing and unsettling. He doesn’t speak much, though I catch the occasional hum of concentration.

I exhale shakily, trying to ignore the way my body involuntarily leans into his touch.

After a moment of silence, my gaze drifts to his leg that is spread out next to me — the one I swore I saw get torn open in battle.

The image of his blood streaking down his leg, his expression twisted in pain, flashes through my mind.

Yet now… nothing. His leg looks completely untouched.

My brow furrows. “Your leg…” I start, my voice hoarse. “I saw you get hit. That thing’s claw—”

“It’s fine,” he cuts in, his voice unusually dismissive.

I blink. “Kaida, I saw the gash. It was deep—”

He exhales through his nose, like he’s mildly annoyed. Without a word, he stops working on my back and hikes up the torn fabric of his pants, and reveals his leg. My breath catches .

It’s healed. Completely. The skin where the gash should be is smooth, not even a scar remaining. No trace of injury.

“What the hells…” I whisper, staring wide-eyed at his leg.

Kaida shrugs like it’s nothing. “Perk of what I am. My body doesn’t stay injured for long.”

I blink, still unable to process it. “But that wound was… it should’ve—”

“Doesn’t matter,” he interrupts, his tone even. “I’m fine. You’re the one I’m worried about.” He says, and continues working on my back.

My mouth opens, but I can’t find the words. How could he just brush that off like it was nothing? That gash was deep—anyone else would still be limping from it, even normal Dragons don’t heal that fast. But Kaida? He acts like it never happened.

Another shiver crawls down my spine, but this time it’s not from the cold. What exactly are you, Kaida?

“They don’t look too deep,” he says eventually. “I packed some bandages and a spare shirt for you.”

“You thought this through, huh?”

The question lingers in the air before he finally speaks, his voice rough. “We didn’t know they started the execution early. We almost didn’t make it. I’m sorry.”

I glance over my shoulder, meeting his eyes. “You came. That’s all that matters.”

Kaida holds my gaze for a moment before looking away, busying himself with the bandages. I turn back around, and stare at the cavern floor. His silence feels heavier than the cave’s shadows. When he’s finished wrapping my wounds, he hands me the spare shirt.

I try to remove the remains of my old one, but every movement sends sharp, searing pain through my body. Kaida moves in front of me, his hand hovering near mine. “Let me help you,” he says softly, his eyes searching mine.

I hesitate before nodding. His touch is careful, his fingers brushing lightly against my skin as he peels away the ruined fabric. Once I’m free, I cross my arms over my chest, my cheeks burning as I glance up at him. He doesn’t look, his focus entirely on the shirt in his hands.

When he helps me into it, his knuckles graze my ribs, and I hear him suck in a breath.

“Something wrong, Kaida?” I tease, a faint smirk on my lips. “Never seen a female before?”

His eyes snap to mine, a smile forming slowly. “I have,” he murmurs. “But none like you.”

The air between us shifts, the flickering firelight casting shadows across his face. He’s close now, his breath warm against my skin. His gaze dips to my lips before returning to my eyes, and my heart stumbles in its rhythm.

He leans in, his lips hovering just above mine, his eyes searching for permission. I don’t move, barely daring to breathe as the space between us disappears.

The warmth of the fire flickers against the cave walls, casting dancing shadows that seem alive in the otherwise still cavern.

Kaida leans closer, his breath mingling with mine, his eyes half-lidded as they search my face.

My heart pounds so loudly that I swear he can hear it.

Just as I tilt my head toward him, closing the gap between us—

“Found a rabbit!” Declan’s voice booms as he stomps into the cave, breaking the moment like a rock crashing through glass.

I jump, startled, while Kaida straightens so fast he nearly topples over. He turns away abruptly, his shoulders stiff, and I clear my throat, running a hand through my hair. My fingers snag in a knot, and I hiss a curse under my breath.

Declan stands in the mouth of the cave, a rabbit dangling from his outstretched hand, his grin smug as his eyes flick between us. “Did I interrupt something?” he asks, the knowing tilt of his grin as infuriating as it is accurate.

Kaida turns toward him, his glare sharp enough to cut.

“I was tending to her wounds,” he grunts, striding over to snatch the rabbit from Declan’s grip.

Without another word, he stalks to the farthest corner of the cavern, pulls out a dagger, and starts skinning the rabbit with quick, almost aggressive movements.

Declan raises his eyebrows, still grinning, and joins me by the fire.

He tosses another piece of wood onto the flames, the embers crackling in appreciation.

“He’s fun to mess with, huh?” he says, nudging me with his elbow gently.

He waggles his eyebrows suggestively, his grin as wide as the Thaldrim Mountain range.

I roll my eyes and pull my legs closer to my chest, letting the warmth of the fire seep into my bones. “You have impeccable timing,” I say dryly, earning a laugh from Declan that echoes through the cavern.

Kaida, meanwhile, works in silence, his back to us, though I can see the tension in his shoulders.

The rhythmic scrape of the knife against flesh is the only sound for a while, save for Declan’s occasional snickers.

When Kaida finally approaches the fire, he threads the rabbit onto a makeshift spit and positions it over the flames.

The smell of roasting meat soon fills the air, making my stomach growl loud enough to rival a Dragon’s roar .

Declan laughs, handing me a piece of the cooked rabbit once it’s done. “Here. You sound like you’re about to eat one of us instead.”

I tear into the meat, the smoky flavor rich and satisfying.

The juices run down my fingers as I bite into the tender flesh, savoring the hint of wild herbs Kaida must have used.

“This is amazing,” I mumble around a mouthful, wiping at my mouth with the back of my hand.

“Who knew you were a decent cook, Kaida?”

Kaida glances up from his own portion, chewing thoughtfully. “At least you still have your appetite. That’s a good sign.”

Declan leans back, his face twisting in mock disgust. “Kai, chew your food first. Please, man, have some manners.”

I burst out laughing, nearly choking on my rabbit. Kaida snaps his mouth shut, a faint redness creeping up his cheeks as he avoids my gaze.

Declan pats my knee, his expression softening. “Go rest now. We’ll figure out what to do in the morning.”

I glance at the furs Kaida laid out earlier.

He really thought of everything, I muse as I settle onto the one closest to me.

The fur is softer than I expect, and the faint scent of pine clings to it.

The moment my head touches it, the exhaustion pulls me under like a riptide, and I slip into a dreamless sleep.