Among Dragons (Editing)

Chapter 22

Cold, refreshing air gently wafted across my face like a caress as I stood with my eyes scanning the brightly lit night sky. The stars were so much brighter and more alive here. I could even see the spiraling waves of galaxies and their different hues. The moon was also full, and it cast a pale light to wash over my skin. I closed my eyes and breathed in the fresh air.

I could hear the gentle sound of classical music playing through the cracked  open french doors behind me, and the occasional sound of chatter as the sound swelled and receded in volume.

It was nice to get out of the stuffy ballroom, its atmosphere laden with the various smells of food and fragrances that the highborns seemed to almost bathe in. What was the most unnerving wasn’t the smell, though.

It had been weird for me to look at so many women and men dressed in clothes that I considered modern or normal. Apparently my arrival had sent a wave of inspiration over the designers of the realm, so suddenly wearing clothes from the realm of logic was  all the rage.

I had to constantly be reminded of home, and thus forcing the thoughts of if I was to return home or not plagued my brain all night. As much as I wanted to go back to the life I had become so accustomed to, one that was safe, the idea of doing it without Niram made me feel off, like I’d be going back with a piece of me missing.

Watching the highborns constantly congratulate Niram over his bravery and success in stopping the King made me sick as well. Just seeing his face each time, the way it discreetly broke in pain. Having to kill your own father was hard enough, but having to constantly be reminded and even congratulated for it was another.

I exhaled slowly. The stone railing of the balcony was cold. It sent a cooling wave to calm down my shaking nerves and unsettled stomach. No matter what I tried, though, I still couldn’t get away from how the King’s blood felt on my skin, and the raw pain that I heard in Niram’s cry. It kept haunting me, making me feel hollow.

A familiar scent of brown sugar and cinnamon suddenly surrounded my senses entirely. It was hard not to smile when I opened my eyes to see Niram leaning on the balcony next to me, his eyes trained on the garden below and his shoulder nearly touching mine. I could feel the heat from his body rubbing against my own.

“How are you feeling?” I asked him tentatively.

“I’m managing.” Was his response. His eyes continued to stay trained on the ground, and the only sound shared between us was the sound of our breaths and the chirp of crickets in the garden below.

My eyes traced around the humble, dark silver crown that contrasted with his black hair. It was very different from his father’s, which had been decorated with expensive jewels and accents of gold. Niram’s crown was basically just a circle with a few fleur de lis serving as points. It fit him well, even though he looked uncomfortable in it.

Niram finally shifted his eyes over to look at me. The color was a deep, forest green in the pale lighting. The freckles on his cheekbones were almost highlighted, as was the scar that lined his jaw. There were dark circles under his eyes. “I can’t help but keep thinking about all of the good memories of my father. I can barely even remember the bad ones. I-it’s just so hard to come to terms with what I’ve done that I’m doubting whether or not I should have done it in the first place.” His voice cracked. “I should have just knocked him out like I did Everett, I don’t understand why I had to kill him.”

I set a hand on the side of his face tentatively. Niram closed his eyes and leaned into it. “Your father was trying to kill me, and you saved my life by doing that. There was no other choice.” I cupped the other side of his face so that his gaze wouldn’t move away from mine, and would only flicker back and forth between my eyes. “If you hadn’t done what you did, I wouldn’t be here right now and everyone inside would still be living in fear of your father punishing them for abandoning the kingdom. You did what was right.”