The Names We Shed

Chapter 4- Nothing will make me go back

Chapter Playlist- Material Girl- Kris Bowers & Saucy Santana, BOSS- The Carters, A country visit- Kris Bowers, Sit Still Look Pretty- Daya

Dance with me? He asks.

My armor reappears and I launch into the sky to join him, an answer to his question.

He flies toward me, spraying fire as he goes.

I raise my hands and slam a wall of power into it, dissipating it.

He whips his tail towards me and my power meets it, pushing him away from me.

I can hear the people on the ground, they can see me, the whole city can see me holding my own against the famed Duka, a fucking dragon.

Fire roars towards me and I erupt.

My power blankets everything. I freeze Duka in the sky.

I fly right in front of his face, peering into his eyes.

"Are you even trying?" I taunt.

He roars at me, breaking my magic and I see a glimpse of a fireball in the back of his throat.

I freefall.

My bones shatter as I hit the ground, but I roll and pull myself up, the bones rehealing themselves as I do.

I hate when you do that Duka whispers.

I know. I reply.

I break into a run, unsheathing my twin swords as I go.

I fly into Duka, expecting my swords to meet flesh.

Instead I'm thrown to the ground. I glare at Prince Belgrave as Duka is slammed down next to me. A river of sweat makes its way down his face, on his hand a ring with a golden colored stone sits, the stone of Asher.

He glares right back at me. "Stop this! This is not a boxing match and you are no longer children! Stop acting like petulant teenagers! Goddess! I'm not either of your parents!"

Duka and I exchange a brief annoyed look as we pull ourselves out of the desert sand. He switches to his fae form and I tuck my wings in and switch back out of my armor.

I walk away from him, heading back to the party.

He catches my wrist.

"You could've come back you know."

"I know."

I shake free of his grasp, but a memory is flashing before me. A night very similar to this one, only a hundred years ago.

The cool night air whips around me as I run, my feet barely touching the sand as I move. Duka chases after me, our laughter the only noise in the empty desert.

Duka launches into the sky, becoming his dragon form in a second.

I follow him and we fly side by side. After a few minutes, Duka slows enough that I can climb on his back, his scales preventing me from falling.

He lands then and in the middle of the desert we both pull out our swords.

"Dance with me?" He asks. I nod, eager for a proper opponent.

I slam my sword against his, before twirling it away and then faking left.

He keeps up with every single movement of my sword. I notice how exhausted he looks and I end the fight.

"I love you." I whisper, pulling him down into the sand. He sits down behind me, running his fingers through my hair to untangle it. He leans forward and I feel him press a kiss to the back of my head.

"I love you too, little warrior."

I shake the memory away, I can't think of Duka like that anymore. Like someone who can be loved. Let alone by me.

I walk away and behind Valerie. "Make sure you're ready, we leave tonight." I keep walking without any indication that she even heard me.

I approach Prince Mas and offer him my hand. "May I have this dance?"

He takes my hand and sweeps me out on the dance floor. I let him lead so I can talk.

"You need to get out of the city, take Calliope and leave."

"When?"

"Tonight. Don't waste any time."

"Get out of Asher as quickly as you can, then work your way to Tundra's capital. I'll find you there if I can. If not, I'll send you a falcon."

"Are you going to get back together with Duka?"

I shake my head. "No."

"Okay."

The dance ends and I turn to walk away, only I'm stopped by Duka.

"Care to dance?"

I take his hand and let him lead me through the steps.

"Are you leaving tonight?"

"Of course."

"Why?"

"Because you're here."

He lets out an annoyed huff. "Why do you spend so much time avoiding me?"

"The princes, the other royals, they all may be to shortsighted to see it but I see it Duka."

"See what?"

"You're collecting the stones aren't you? You want to make sure that no one will ever be able to put you on a leash again."

He leans close, kissing just under my ear. "Isn't that what you want? A world where you don't have to hide or keep your own power constantly hidden away... a world where you would be appreciated as a warrior and not shield away from."

I shrug. "I had that. For a while. But I believe it was you who ruined that for me."

"I thought you decided to forgive me."

"How many of the stones do you have?"

"I have two. Eden and Blackwell's."

The two countries with majority humans. Of course. The only two countries completely defenseless against a dragon.

"What are you going to do with them?"

He pulls me close. "Would you like to see little warrior?"