A Court of Smoke and Shadows (An ACOTAR sequel fanfic)

Chapter 48 - Come fly with me

He sat drumming his fingers against the leather surface of his desk to an unknown beat in his head. His eyes were trained on the impressive set of double doors that led into his office, waiting for them to burst open at any moment with a flurry of white hair and blazing violet eyes that lit his soul aflame. He smiled to himself just thinking of her. The past months have been the most enjoyable of his life. Granted, he had done a few things he regretted, but she would not be here now by his side if he had kept still. Already he could feel his heart beating slower and more sluggishly as the sun continued on in its oblivious cycle day by day. Draconis looked outside and frowned. Soon, she needed to break his curse soon.
A neat pile of ash lay on the corner of his ornate desk, incinerated in a small fit of anger. His father had written demanding to know of his progress. Draconis snorted, ironic that a millennium old dragon with monstrous wells of power still wrote letters. It amused him how many human ways they kept as a race despite how ancient they were. He supposed they were the ones to start them.
Draconis sighed, resting his head back against his chair. He missed his home. He missed the rays of the twin suns that warmed his scales during his flights, the towering mountains with their rocky cliffs and endless pits, roaring waterfalls cascading from their edge. He missed his lair, filled with cavern upon cavern of treasure amassed over the centuries for his future family. His current base in Prythian was nothing compared to his home.
He let his eyes flutter to a close and breathed, sending out threads of whispering magic down the hallways of his castle. He could feel the life force of his subjects, each like a fluttering of leaves in the wind. They were nothing compared to the glowing warmth and life that pulsed from her. Calling to him like the sun. His magic purred as it brushed near her. He could never really wrap it around her, not completely like he could with others. Perhaps it was the nature of what they were that they could never share or use each other's power like the Fae could. Any locks he placed on their magic was always external and inevitably breakable. Draconis scowled, just like how the High Lords had gotten away. He should have just killed them when he had the chance. But his almighty father had wanted them alive. Who knows what use for them he had in mind.
Rhiannon's magic moved, and Draconis smiled. She travelled fast through the castle, spearing towards him like a hunter looking for prey. Could she sense him like he could? Or was it his scent?
Draconis sucked in his magic, letting it settle comfortably back into his bones. He shifted in his chair, spreading his wings comfortably behind him.
The doors swung open and there she stood in all her glory. He couldn't help but take her all in. Every time he saw her, power and life shone from her so strongly that he wondered if she ever knew. The molten silver of her eyes caught his breath every time, but it was the mesmerising violet that had him enchanted. He had never before seen a dragon with such colourful eyes.

"Draconis." She purred. She wanted something from him then.

He kept his shoulders straight and inclined his head. "Yes, my heart." He lilted as she stalked towards his desk. No wings today he noticed. Such a shame, he found them so beautiful with their white membranes and marbling of black veins. A fleeting moment of loathing for his desk crossed him for it blocked her from him. His heart ached and strained to be near her completely, to feel alive. He could feel his claws itching to manifest but he held them at bay.

"You cannot demand Tyrus be my general when your little hoards of demons do not obey me let alone him. How can he lead them?" She huffed.

Draconis stifled a laugh of surprise, an unexpected complaint. "You're upset that they don't listen to you?" He said slowly, "Have you tried disciplining them?" He asked casually, carefully watching her reaction.

She smirked, self-satisfaction rolling from her, "Maybe."

Draconis nearly rubbed his face with his hands. She was so temperamental he could never tell. "You killed your own people." He said, making his voice cold, make her think he cared. He didn't really, hadn't even wanted to be in charge of them, but his father had thrusted them upon him and his father said goes.
He could see the words aching to burst out from her, lining her muscles with tension, "They are not my people." He was inclined to agree, they were not his people either, merely pawns in this unfortunate game they were all forced to play.

"My heart, if you remember, you were the one who begged mercy from me saying I would have no-one left to rule over if I kept killing." He watched her right eyebrow twitch ever so slightly, a tic he started to notice when she became annoyed. He rose gracefully from his chair, approaching her with the care one would take towards a wary animal. He tucked his wings in behind him. It did not escape his attention how her gaze shifted to them, so different to her own.
"I have to leave for a few days." He wasn't sure why he was telling her this. Her violet eyes widened in surprise at the volunteered information.
"Where are you going?" She asked tentatively.
"I need to..." He wasn't sure if he should admit it. In truth, he was aching to transform. It was manageable keeping control but whenever she was near, that leash strained and strained.

Her eyes narrowed in suspicion, "Need to slaughter more innocent people so that they bow down to your tyrannical reign?" She said with venom.

Draconis stiffened, "No." That would be a sticking point between them for awhile, maybe a long while.

"Then?" She demanded.

"I need to fly." He admitted. It sounded stupid saying it out loud.

A flash of understanding crossed her features before it was replaced almost instantly by a devious smile. She sidled up to him and poked him in his chest, right over his heart. It thumped with an ache at her contact. "Big king Draconis starting to feel the weight of his crown?" She cooed.
Any other female who treated him as she just had would have found their tongue in his talons within seconds.
"I think you of all beings would understand that need." He wrapped a gentle hand around her slim wrist as he jibed back at her.

He didn't miss the clenched jaw or the smile that never reached her eyes. "I'm not the one stopping you from being free." She said coldly before she turned to leave.

He cursed internally. "Rhiannon," he strode after her before she could exit the room. "Rhiannon, wait."

She halted, cast him a sidelong glance sharp enough to weaken his knees.

"Fly with me?" Draconis offered while he cursed himself internally for being at the mercy of his emotions. This was never a problem back home.

Silence weighed heavily between them as she decided. He could almost see what she was thinking. The most hurtful of them being whether he had laid a trap for her. He didn't have the best track record with that but he was working to change.

Her gaze narrowed and she turned back to him. Crossing her arms she surveyed him with a stern look, "No tricks?"

He shook his head a fraction.

"No traps, no schemes, no one gets hurt." She advanced towards him.

He cocked his head, "Hurt depends on how well you fly."

She scowled at him, "I fly perfectly well thank you very much."

"Then see you tomorrow night at the highest tower." He waved a hand towards the door.

She scoffed, "The highest tower?" She arched a silver brow, "Does the tower have a name or direction oh great evil one?"

He rolled his eyes, "East wing. Just ask someone."

"Insufferable males." She huffed then clamped her lips shut, hurt shuttering her previous sarcasm. Without another word she spun on her heel and exited with the same speed she had entered.

He felt the emptiness crowd the room the minute those double doors snapped shut. Draconis slumped onto the desk and rubbed a hand over the left side of his chest. His attention slid to the elaborate ivory grandfather clock that ticked in the darkest corner of the study. He needed more time.

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Tadah! I'm so so so sorry it's taken me this long! Life has been chaotic and I hit abit of a slump.
Thank you for all of you who have followed Rhiannon and Gabriel all this time <3