Ashes Embraced

28

The lake held its breath.

Smoke drifted low over the water.

The scent of scorched rope and iron lingered in the air.

Elias still stared at her.

At the blade in her hand.
At the mark burning along her skin.
At the dragon towering behind her.

Cara did not waver.

Slowly—

Deliberately—

She stepped backward.

Not toward the trees.

Toward Vyrisa.

The water lapped softly at her ankles as she moved.

The men shifted uneasily.

Steel lowered just enough to show doubt.

Cara did not look up at Vyrisa.

Did not ask if she was injured.

Did not flinch at the blood streaked dark against red scale.

She simply moved closer.

Until the heat of her queen warmed her back.

Until shadow fell over her shoulders.

Then she spoke.

"If you return again," she said evenly, eyes never leaving Elias, "I will not ask her to stop."

The words were not shouted.

They did not need to be.

They settled heavy in the space between them.

Elias swallowed.

"You would let her kill us?"

Cara's jaw tightened.

"I would let her defend what is hers."

A flicker of molten gold shifted above her.

The bond pulsed.

Not hunger.

Recognition.

Mine.

Elias shook his head slowly.

"That isn't you."

Cara finally looked at him fully.

"You don't know what 'me' is without your fear."

Silence.

The blade lowered slightly in her hand.

Not surrender.

Control.

She stepped fully back now.

Close enough that Vyrisa's wing brushed her shoulder.

The contact was not accidental.

Not protective.

Positioning.

Cara turned then.

Not away in retreat.

But toward Vyrisa.

She slid the dagger into the shallows at her feet.

Let it sink.

And without hesitation—

She wrapped her arms around Vyrisa's neck.

Not clinging.

Not trembling.

Claiming.

The dragon stilled completely.