The Touch of Salvation

38: Kronos

ADALIND

Lucian retreats to my side as we watch the scene unfold before us. "How," he breathes out as Goliah approaches the reptile.

I can't find my words as my mate reaches out to touch the snout of a dragon - his dragon. The dragon, brilliantly black with dashes of silver carvings, lowers his head and nuzzles within the scarred palms. I can hear Goliath's breath hitch.

Wings expand, large and proud, barely fitting within the confines of the nest. Wind picks up, blowing Lucian and me a step back. I instinctually grab Lucian and he reaches for me. Goliath's eyes snap to me to make sure I am okay and I nod. "I am fine," I smile brightly. "Be with him. I must go."

Another chuff from the dragon, angry and harsh. Another one, telling me to leave this place. The dragon wants to bond with its rider and wants all others to allow them to do so. I understand, Asha was the same. I nod at the shadow dragon and Lucian and step back again. We bow our heads and lower ourselves to our knees to show respect.

"Don't-"

"I must," I interrupt Goliath. "I can't be here right now. You need to be together and bond." The thought makes my blood run cold. I needed him to calm me. He helped me. "Listen to that dragon, Goliath. He will protect you."

He takes a step toward me as if to follow and then stops, his hands going to his ears #s as if he heard something in his head. Wild, bright eyes turn to look at the dragon again.

"They can't leave," I say. "He will want to fly but he cannot. Nyx has put up a ward around the entire hoard. I'm sorry, Goliath."

It's the last I speak before Lucian and I escape. As we come to the others, I can feel Lux's inquisitive eyes land on me like daggers.

"What's happened?"

"Goliath - he's bonded to a dragon," Lucian answers, bewilderment lacing his tone.

"That's impossible," Daario says. "Only descendants of House Nyght or House Dae can bond with them."

I nod, my eyes blurring from the news. "He wouldn't be from our House unless..."

"Unless what," Lux says, her eyes snapping to the entrance and then back to me. "One of his parents was from our House and we didn't know? How wouldn't we know that one of our people produced the Royal Beta?"

"Maybe they hid it," my Grandrider says.

"And for what reason? Great esteem would befall them," Daario sighs.

I shutter a breath. "He could be a descendant of House Nyght as well. It would make sense given his abilities."

"But he has sterling white hair," Lux sighs. "Only House Dae produces fae with white hair. I knew...I knew he couldn't just be all wolf."

The mere mention of his species causes Daario to sneeze into his arm. He curses. "Anyone have a cure for a fae allergic to wolf dander?"

"Can we get back to the topic." Lux's annoyance is bitter as she rolls her eyes. "If he's bonded to a Shadow Dragon, that means he's a descendant of House Nyght."

"Not necessarily. There have been instances that scribes have written of some individuals from both High Houses being able to bond with dragons from the other."

"It doesn't matter," Daario interrupts, sniffling and blowing his nose into the handkerchief. "If he's bonded with a Shadow Dragon that means he belongs in House Nyght which means Adalind's mate belongs here. What will we expect of him when we all return home and his dragon has to remain here? They can't be parted for long and Light and Shadow dragons have never cohabitated before."