Ashes Embraced

10

The main cavern felt too large again.

Cara stepped carefully from the smaller cave into the open nest.

Morning light spilled in through the cavern mouth, washing the stone in pale gold. Most of the dragon-borne were asleep—curled in loose coils of wing and limb, tails draped over one another, slow breaths rising in synchronized rhythm.

It was almost peaceful.

Almost.

She moved slowly along the outer edge of the cavern wall.

Her feet were nearly healed now. The cuts had sealed. The soreness remained, but she could walk without limping.

Her arm, though—

She paused and lifted it.

The bandages had been removed earlier. Clean skin stretched tight over healing flesh.

But beneath it—

Four long claw marks.

Deep.

Angled.

Vyrisa's.

They would scar.

The realization did not frighten her the way it should have.

She traced the edge of one lightly with her fingertip.

Permanent.

A reminder.

Of what?

Punishment?

Possession?

Or—

Survival.

A shift in the shadows made her still.

Across the cavern—

Lyris was awake.

Not lounging.

Not pretending.

Watching.

Her violet scales caught faint slivers of light as she leaned against a stone outcropping near the wall. Her wings were folded tight. Her posture lazy.

But her eyes—

Glowed faintly.

Not red like Vyrisa's.

But bright enough in the dim cavern to be unmistakable.

Unblinking.

Assessing.

Cara straightened slowly.

Lyris did not approach.

She did not need to.

The distance between them felt intentional.

Calculated.

A line drawn in invisible ink.

Cara felt it.

That line existed because of Vyrisa.

Lyris would not cross it.

Not yet.

"Do you always stare?" Cara asked quietly.

The words felt reckless in the stillness.

Lyris's lips curved faintly.

"I watch what threatens my queen."

"I'm hardly a threat."

Lyris's gaze dropped briefly to the scars along Cara's arm.

Then back to her face.