When the Rain Falls Silent

Chapter 5

The next morning, I joined the lovebirds in the dining hall for breakfast. Juniper and Kaida scrambled out of each other's arms as soon as they saw me.

"Evie!" Juniper greeted, cheeks pink with embarrassment.

"Morning, you two," I replied, smiling as if I hadn't seen a thing.

Kaida smirked as I sat down. "Good morning, Evangeline. We're just waiting on one more person. He should be here in a moment."

As if on cue, a half-fae, half-dragon walked into the room, a confident grin on his face.

"Good morning, everyone," he greeted. Kaida stood up, gesturing to him.

"Everyone, this is my older brother, Dane. He's the head of my royal guard, and he'll be joining you on your journey to Ironhaven." Dane bowed his head slightly.

"It's good to meet you both," he said, his gaze lingering on me for a moment.

Juniper broke the silence. "It's nice to meet you too, Dane."

"Dane, you already know my girlfriend Juniper, but this is Evangeline," Kaida introduced, and Dane's eyes met mine again.

"Evangeline," he said quietly, almost as if testing the sound of my name.

Dane was striking-tall, with shoulder-length black hair styled in a sleek mullet. Dragon horns rose from his forehead, and his dark wings were neatly tucked behind him.

"He's one of the best fighters I know," Kaida continued, "and his knowledge of the cities beyond Emberfall will be invaluable."

"I will do my best to keep them safe, Kaida," Dane said, bowing his head once more.

We gathered our belongings and met at the front of the palace.

"Be safe, Juni," Kaida said, holding Juniper close. "And don't overuse your wings."

Juniper hugged her tightly. "I promis, darling."

With one last kiss, Juniper and Kaida parted, and we set off toward our next destination.

Dane walked behind us, alert to any unseen dangers. "It'll take a while to reach Frosthold. We'll need to spend the night in the forest," he said.

"I can make a shelter with my powers," I offered.

"That's good. It'll also shield us if it rains," he replied, nodding in approval.

After a long walk, we found a suitable spot to camp, and as night fell, I used my power to create a shelter. The strain was greater than I expected, and as I finished, Dane approached me.

"Are you alright?" he asked, placing a supportive hand on my back.

"I'm fine-" I started, but the world spun around me, making me stumble. Dane caught me before I could fall, lifting me as my vision cleared.

"Have you ever used this much power before?" he asked as Juniper hurried over.

"No," I admitted, feeling dazed.

"You shouldn't have done that; it's left you weak," he said gently. "But you did great. The shelter is strong and big enough for all three of us."

He set me down slowly, and I mumbled a tired "Thank you, Dane," before my eyes drifted closed.

The night grew cold, and although the shelter kept us dry, it didn't keep out the chill. Juniper slept soundly, while Dane, half-awake, kept watch nearby.

One moment I was shivering, and the next I felt the soft warmth of a wing draped across my body. I rolled over to see Dane's gaze on me.

"I noticed you were shivering," he said quietly.

"Thank you," I whispered, a small smile forming as I closed my eyes again.

I was jolted awake by Dane's voice, his warm wing gone.

"Evangeline, Juniper, wake up," he whispered urgently.

"It's raining."