Chapter Thirty-Three
Elek
Blood and disinfectant surrounded me as I returned to the infirmary.
I love you.
Thinking of her face in the void, her determination to help keep me alive, stirred and brought to the surface emotions that had always been there. They had been there for thousands of years as I waited for her return. And now, I needed to go to her.
Sitting upright, I took note of the occupied beds that filled the room. How many more died while I was unconscious? Guilt slipped through my mind. They needed me and I wasn’t there. A clap to my shoulder pulled me away from the carnage.
“Welcome back to the living.” Huri said, relief in their eyes.
“I almost didn’t make it back. How is it outside?”
I stood to my feet, swayed for a moment, and then began to walk up towards the wall.
“Reinforcements finally made it and the other forts are secure as well. The enemy has withdrawn completely, for now at least.”
“Good, now let’s go and bring my wife home.”
Time was not a luxury. She was so frail and beaten.
“She may not wake up.”
The goddess disclosed the reason behind Sera’s appearance and how she helped heal me regardless. As her astral form rested on my lap, mirroring the physical one.
Bruises were speckled all over her, clumps of clotted blood clung to her back. Dark rings around her wrists and ankles were nearly too gruesome to look at. Knowing she was still in the hands of the fairies had me beat my wings harder. The bond acted as my way-finder, and any stray enemy soldier I saw along the way was swiftly dealt with.
“What’s the plan?” Huri raised up beside me.
“I can find her easy enough. We’ll sneak in and I’ll hand her off to you. Once she’s safe with you, I’m going to make sure they won’t come for our border or her again.”
Huri nodded in understanding, not that I would have minded deliberating further of exactly what I was planning. Tearing Oberron to ribbons with my talons would be a fair start.
Seventy soldiers lay waiting behind us for my signal as Huri and I moved forward alone. The sun sank far below the trees as we landed on a tree-like spire that rose from the castle. Without the rings, I had a clear map of where she was being held and some imagery of what she endured. They only came in bits and flashes, as her emotions were so strong at the time the memories left imprints on her. Hamish would suffer greatly.
Using the shadows to our advantage, silently we made our way through their guard posts, taking out any soldiers we happened upon. One tower stood apart from the rest, with a singular large window the only entrance point from the outside. Stretching out my wings I ascended to the window sill and found the room empty of all life with the exception of her.
Somehow she appeared worse than in the void. Yet, as I lifted my fingers to caress her icy cheek, she was still the most beautiful creature I had ever encountered.
“She’s going to need extensive medical care.” Huri said, peering around my shoulder at her limp form.
Only the light rising and falling of her chest indicated that she may be saved.
“What if I shared some of my power with her?” I had asked the goddess and black dragon that came before me.
“There’s no guarantee. She may stay comatose forever. She wasn’t able to truly unlock her powers.” Belinha explained.
But I had to at least try. If she woke up then I could go into battle and die willingly knowing she had a chance to finally be free from all those who kept her locked away for so long.
Leaning over I lowered myself to graze her ear with my lips.
“Come back to me.” I pleaded.
Pulling back slightly, I bit my bottom lip to draw out blood. Sucking a substantial amount into my mouth, I lowered my lips onto hers and forced her to swallow it all. Once it was all down I lingered for a moment memorizing her lips. They were soft and fit against mine perfectly.
Fingers feathered up my chest and a palm rested on my cheek. When I looked up her bright green, gold flecked eyes fluttered to focus on me and a small smile formed that mirrored my own.
“Finally.” She whispered, pulling for me to meet her again. I did so readily.
“We should get going before they notice their missing guards.” Huri said, heading towards the window.
“Huri is going to take you back to Maleko. You’ll be safe there.” I said, holding her cheek in my hand.
Her brows knitted in confusion.
“Are you not coming?”
Shaking my head, I rose to my feet, cradling her in my arms as I moved towards Huri.
“I have some work to do here.”
In a blink, she rolled out of my arms and rose to her feet.
“I can help.”
“Absolutely not.”
I went to reach for her, but she backed away.
“Sera, you are injured and need a doctor. I can’t effectively protect you if you’re putting yourself in unnecessary danger.”
Her cheeks puffed out as she gave a frustrated huff of disapproval. Within seconds half of her bruises had faded away and she moved without issue. Inspecting our surroundings she spotted a small rack of elven blades, picking up a gladius.
“I’m my own doctor and I can protect myself.” She paused before me, a grin widening. “Actually, I don’t know what it is but I feel amazing. It’s as if I still have the ring to enhance my power and then some.”
Expelling a long breath she closed her eyes. Massive white feathered wings sprouted from her back, stretching and flexing. It was as though I were viewing a celestial being, though I suppose in a way I was. The glint in her eyes displayed her determination. I looked over at Huri, hoping for assistance to talk sense in her.
Their eyes were wide, staring at Sera’s wings. Then Huri fell to one knee before her.
“Truly magnificent. If the goddess, herself, wants to fight and right wrongs, I am not going to be the lowly dragon refusing her.” They said, bowing their head.
Sera gave a lighthearted giggle.
“I’m no goddess, Huri. It’s still just me that you see, and honestly I’m not that much more awakened than before.”
“Perhaps, but today is still the birth of something truly extraordinary.”
Huri rose and gestured towards me to come closer. As they did on the night of the Binding Ritual, they laid my hand on top of hers. The warmth from her hand spread through mine, causing my heart to clinch.
“For generations, the line of Thanatos passed down the tale that the goddess and black dragon would return. We knew that our line would be crucial in their appearance with the black dragon waiting for the goddess. Now you two will be able to live the lives you were robbed of all those thousands of years ago.”
A small hand covered mine.
“So let’s fix this together.” She offered, eyes sparkling up at me.
