Scott was staring at him, completely pale, a million emotions playing across his face. Casian knew that his sudden resurrection would be shocking, but this was not quite what he'd been expecting. A hug... a welcome back... it all would've been very nice. He'd at least expected to see joy, or happiness. He was back from the dead for the sake of the gods. The situation called for a celebration.
Casian still didn't quite understand all the schematics of it, but honestly, he didn't really care. He was alive and damn him if he wasn't going to make the most of it. Besides, it had taken him at least a few hours to get here, hours of walking through the dense forests of Gynae. At least becoming a dragon lord had given some more speed or else the journey would have taken him days.
He just had to deal with Scott's jaw that was nearly hitting the floor.
"You could look a little happier to see me, Scott," he said with a slight frown.
Scott composed himself, barely. There was a girl by his side, and she stared at Casian with a mixture of shock and... hatred? How had he managed to already anger someone? He had barely been alive for a couple of hours. Around the table there were several more people, none of which Casian recognized. It seemed like Scott had been able to make friends after all. Or... perhaps they were there because of Kalen.
"How?" was all response Scott gave, his midnight eyes staring straight at Casian.
Casian shrugged. "It's difficult to explain, but it has a little to do with this little guy." Right on cue Ember plopped himself down next to Casian, his eyes wide as he scanned the room. He rubbed his head affectionately against Casian's leg.
Scott's eyes shifted to Ember. "Is that...?"
"A baby dragon, yes." Casian petted the dragon's head. The woman who'd been standing next to Scott was in front of Casian in a second, kneeling down to be level with Ember. Her blue eyes were beaming, like Ember was the most adorable thing she'd ever seen.
"So... cute..." she murmured, extending a hand to pet the dragon. Ember eyed her warily before looking up at Casian.
When Casian just shrugged, Ember moved into her hands, making that weird purring sound again.
"How does a baby dragon explain you being alive?" Scott asked, his voice strangled, yet demanding, drawing Casian's attention again.
"I asked that very question. Turns out I'm a dragon lord and that this little guy 'chose' me many years ago. And when he hatched, I was revived because my life is tethered to his." Casian spoke casually, his eyes going back to where the woman was playing with Ember. He arched an eyebrow.
Scott sunk down in his chair again with a heavy sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. "So you are a dragon lord with a baby dragon and you are alive because of it. This all makes complete sense. And of course this will happen today. Because the world hasn't shifted enough yet." Scott's voice was weary, almost exhausted. Casian pulled out the nearest chair to him.
"It makes little sense to me too. All I know is that I'm supposed to protect Ember, and as long as he's alive, so will I be."
*****
He was... the single most adorable thing she had ever seen.
She rolled across the floor, wrestling with the tiny, sleek, serpentine creature, scratching his scales and placing soft kisses on his head. He purred, causing her to grin more widely than she had in... ever.
When she heard the man--the dragon lord, he'd called himself--who had once been Andreas' heart's brother give a brief explanation of how he was alive, confusion swirled in her--though she didn't remove her attention from the baby dragon in her arms.
YOU ARE READING
Shadowburn (2)
Romansa~It's hard to tell in the dark, if you've lost your soul or lost your heart.~ "She didn't appear to believe him--but she hadn't pulled away, her legs still around his waist, her arms still around his neck. Thorn kissed her again, long and deep, befo...
