Page 47 of The Scars Within (Twisted Thorn #1)

The sun had almost dipped beyond the mountain peak when Rhodes and I reached Dragon Valley.

The bleachers, tents, and remnants of the earlier trials were still intact, abandoned for the night.

The shocking discovery that I had bonded with a dragon while also being an air wielder must have delayed the cleanup until tomorrow.

But I wasn’t thinking about that. All I want now are answers.

The last few hours had been a whirlwind—a chaos I wasn’t sure I’d ever come down from. Through all of it, I hadn’t spoken with Shayde, and Rhodes had defied orders to stay in the dorms. But none of that mattered right now.

I was about to meet my dragon.

The night was closing in as I followed Rhodes deeper into the valley, further than I had ever ventured.

He was quiet as we left the castle, and I didn’t try to fill the silence.

The valley was vast, the Burn Trials setup fading behind us until we reached the last stretch of flat ground before the forest began.

Rhodes turned to face me, his hands taking mine, his voice low despite the emptiness around us.

“Close your eyes,” he instructed softly. “And imagine reaching for your dragon deep within your mind. It might feel strange, but you’re bonded now. Whatever presence you sense that wasn’t there before, lean into it.”

I did as he asked, closing my eyes and inhaling deeply. The cricket’s song filled the air, grounding me, while the warmth of his hands helped soothe the tension from the day. Slowly, the weight of everything melted away, leaving my mind more transparent than it had been in hours.

That’s when I felt it—a faint, tingling sensation.

My mind pictured me standing on a swinging bridge suspended between two jagged mountains.

I glanced down and instantly regretted it.

The sight of clouds covering the distant ground made my heart race, even though I knew I was safely on solid earth.

Forcing myself to look away, I focused on the path ahead.

The tingling intensified behind me, urging me to follow.

I stepped off the bridge and onto the flat ground of the mountain’s peak, where three more bridges stretched out in different directions.

Standing at the crossroads, I called out, hoping my body mirrored the action in reality, “Which way do I go?”

Rhodes’s voice echoed in my mind. “You could try whistling. Dragons have sharp hearing for that call. It might help you find your path.”

I cracked one eye open, giving him a doubtful look. “I can’t whistle.”

He let out a quiet laugh. “You can’t—? Alright, forget the whistle. Just clear your mind, trust your instincts, and let yourself be open.”

Rolling my open eye, I refocused and sank back into the dreamlike landscape. I stretched out my hands, took slow, deep breaths, and let go of the years of stress I’d carried. As I did, the sensation shifted—pulling me to the right.

I followed, crossing the bridge with steady steps until something caught my eye below—a village tucked away beyond the cliffs. My pace quickened, curiosity pulling me forward. But the vision blurred and went dark just before I could reach the other side.

Then, a deep voice resonated in my mind. “ I’m coming. ”

This time, without hesitation, I answered as naturally as if I’d spoken aloud. “ I’m here. ”

A thunderous clap of wings reverberated across the sky as the most enormous dragon soared above us.

His wings beat with authority, each powerful stroke lowering him closer to the earth.

In the darkness, his scales appeared black, though I knew better.

With each graceful circle, he descended further, his enormous wings stretching wide as if to make sure we took in the full magnificence of him.

He was showing off.

A grin tugged at my lips. I thought I saw Rhodes glancing at me out of the corner of my eye, but I couldn’t tear my gaze away from the majestic creature above.

The dragon landed with a forceful thud just ten feet away, and his red scales gleamed like polished armor in the moonlight.

His sharp, imposing horns arched from his head down the length of his powerful neck.

He stood tall, his posture regal, his neck held high, yet his piercing eyes focused on Rhodes and me.

Without thinking, I moved closer, my mouth hanging open in awe. The realization struck me like lightning—this magnificent being was mine, and I was his.

A beautiful, strong, powerful creature.

“ I am not beautiful. I am handsome. ”

A laugh escaped me, unbothered by the fact that he had either sensed my thoughts or emotions. “ My apologies—a handsome, strong, powerful creature. ”

With a snort, he exhaled through his nostrils, the gust of air blowing my braid over my shoulder. “ That’s better. ”

I heard Rhodes step up behind me as I reached out through our bond. “ I’m Scar. It’s nice to meet you, ” I said softly, raising my hand towards his snout.

He leaned into my touch, his enormous head angling downward, making it clear how massive he is—just from the tip of his snout to the back of his head is at least five times my size. “ Hello, Scarlet. I am Lakota, ” he rumbled, closing his eyes.

I whispered his name back to myself, “Lakota.”

A surge of emotion rushed through me, something both familiar and foreign. It felt like happiness, yet fear. Strength, but laced with worry. It was the same emotions I’d felt at Laney’s family home.

It felt like belonging.

My bottom lip trembled as the sensation overwhelmed me, but I quickly pulled myself back. Whatever this feeling was, I couldn’t let it unravel me. Not here. Not in front of this powerful, awe-inspiring creature.

Lakota pulled back from my touch, shifting his head towards Rhodes. My gaze flicked between the two, both silently studying each other.

The sudden sound of wings beating above us broke the moment. I glanced upward as a dragon soared into view, the silhouette cutting through the dark sky.

“That’s Noemi,” Rhodes said, his voice calm but firm.

“Is that your bonded dragon?” I asked, curiosity stirring.

“She is,” Rhodes answered.

“ She is, ” Lakota echoed in my mind simultaneously.

“She’s just being overprotective. As always,” Rhodes said with a slow shake of his head. There was no annoyance in his expression—just a quiet, affectionate understanding. “I will let you two have some privacy, I will be over here when you’re ready.”

I watched Rhodes walk away, my thoughts swirling, before returning to Lakota. So many questions crowded my mind, but only one managed to break free. “ Why me? ”

“ Why not you? ”

Of course. Cryptic, answering a question with a question.

I sighed. “ I’m nobody special. And I’ve already channeled an element.

What would a dragon like you want with someone like me?

I’m not sure the War Chief will even allow me to remain at Mageia.

After today’s events, you and I may be sent to The Barrens. ”

Lakota’s voice filled my mind, firm yet gentle.

“ It’s time you stop seeing yourself as unworthy, Scarlet.

You think you are but a speck of dust in this vast world, but in truth, your heart holds the power to save us all.

Your strength is like a match waiting to be struck. You are not simply an elemental. ”

I swallowed hard, his words pressing against the doubt I had carried for so long.

He lowered his head until his eyes were almost level with mine, his gaze piercing yet comforting. “ Every battle you’ve fought, every time you’ve risen after being knocked down, has led you to this moment. I chose you, but you chose me first. ”

I frowned, confusion swirling inside me as I shook my head. “ But the dragon chooses the— ”

“ You chose me, ” he interrupted, his voice steady. “ You chose me every single time you decided to get back up and fight your way out of the darkness that consumed you. ”

With that, Lakota turned, revealing a deep scar along the left side of his neck. Instinctively, I reached up and touched the scar on my left arm.

He raised his head and stepped back, his wings lifting as if preparing to take flight. “ You chose yourself. ”

And then he was gone.