The smaller cave held heat differently.
It was not the open warmth of the nest.
It was closer.
Contained.
The stone curved inward as if listening.
Vyrisa stopped near the center.
Did not sit.
Did not lean.
She simply turned.
"You wished to speak."
No softness.
No indulgence.
Cara stepped fully into the space.
Not hesitating this time.
"I am not weak."
The words came steady.
Vyrisa's gaze sharpened slightly.
"I did not call you such."
"You allow them to."
A flicker of heat moved through the air.
Subtle.
Contained.
"I allow them to think what they will."
"That is not the same."
Silence.
Cara's pulse beat hard in her throat.
But she held her ground.
"You shelter me," she continued, voice level. "You lift me. You place me. You decide where I stand."
"I am queen."
"Yes."
The agreement was immediate.
"And I am mortal."
Another agreement.
"But I am not fragile."
The mark warmed faintly.
Responsive.
Vyrisa's tail shifted once against stone.
"You are alive because I control your environment."
"I am alive because I endure it."
That landed.
Vyrisa's jaw tightened slightly.
Cara stepped closer.
Not crowding.
Not invading.
Just closing distance.
"You hold me at arm's length."
The heat spiked.
Controlled instantly.
"I do not."
"You do."
Silence again.
Longer this time.
"You keep me close when others watch," Cara said quietly. "You claim me. You protect me."
Her voice did not tremble.
"But when it is only us—"
She swallowed once.
"You shut it out."
The words hung between them.
Vyrisa went very still.
"Explain."
"You feel it," Cara said.
Not accusation.
Not pleading.
YOU ARE READING
Ashes Embraced
FantasyA Dark Sapphic Romantasy A century ago, the Red Dragon Queen burned Frairdale to the ground. Now she rules from the cliffs above the lake-untouched, unchallenged, and unrepentant. When Cara steps into dragon territory, she expects death. Instead, sh...
