Enslaved

Chapter 34

Ryuu arched his wings in the direction of the caves, his ears ringing slightly. He knew he was being reckless by leaving Kaida without a guard but if he had stayed he would have flown away with her so far that no human could ever find them again. He had to question the spy further. How did he know Kaida? How did he know that Kaida was his soulmate? What else did they want with her? Ryuu couldn't remember telling anybody except the save few guards he had told after Valik had been attacked. Why did the Emperor want her? Ryuu snarled and pushed his wings harder, glancing at the caves before redirecting his flight toward the top of the falls where he knew Kajeel had taken Valik. He could see the top of the falls when he heard the wingbeats behind him and stopped, turing around midair to see who was following him. His heart dropped when he saw Kaida struggling to keep up with him, her wings pulling her through the air sloppily but steadily. He closed his wings slightly and dropped down to her, causing her to turn her ascent into a hover as he came to a stop right in front of her.

"What are you doing, little dragon?" Ryuu asked her, not being able to keep the exhaustion completely out of his voice. "You should be on the ground getting some rest."

She shook her head, her hair falling in front of her face for a second before she pushed it back.

"You need to rest." She was breathing hard but her voice still held an air of authority that Ryuu didn't know she had in her. "You look exhausted, Ryuu. It isn't smart to interrogate someone when you are too tired to remember what they say."

Ryuu's heart skipped a beat slightly as he shook his head.

"I slept yesterday night, Kaida."

She frowned just as her wings faltered and Ryuu grabbed her arms, nearly having to hold her in the sky.

"You need to get back to the ground before you fall there, Kaida. Your wings are not used to flying yet and you have overexerted them in trying to keep up with me."

Kaida just stared at him before reaching out and brushing her fingertips underneath his eyes, sending sparks through him. Her own eyes widened just as Ryuu's did, almost as if she had done that unconsciously. She didn't move her hand away though.

"Promise you will rest when you can." She whispered, resting her hand just under his eye on his cheek. "You need to sleep."

Ryuu shuddered, taking his hands off her arms and carefully pulling her hand off his face, holding it for a fraction longer than he should before letting it go.

"I promise that I will if I get the chance." Kaida opened her mouth to retaliate but Ryuu shushed her. "You have to get back to the ground. I do not want you to strain your wings, Kaida."

They stared at each other before Kaida looked down and nodded, back flapping before she turned in the air and started a slow descent toward the ground. Ryuu watched her until she landed and folded her wings in tight behind her before he tore his gaze from her figure. She had followed him up here. Could she know about their bond? Ryuu shook his head to clear his thoughts. Now was not the time. He was grateful that she even counted him as a friend.

He pumped his wings hard, feeling the strain on the joints and membranes as the wind tore at him. He erupted above the top of the falls and stopped to a hover, his eyes scanning the floor until he spotted where the two males were and Ryuu's eyes narrowed when he saw Valik lunge at Kajeel and Kajeel deftly dodge, sending Valik tumbling into the dirt. Ryuu rolled his shoulders before aiming toward them and landed in between the two, blowing their hair back as he did.

"May I ask what is going on here?" Ryuu's voice was cold as he glared at his second in command. "You had better have a good explanation. Valik is still recovering."