Page 32 of Elven Oath

You’re stubborn...

I swallow hard, holding his gaze.

You haven’t seen stubborn yet.

The bond between us pulses again, stronger this time. It wasn’t just words in his mind. It was something more, a sense of shared strength, as if I was lending him mine.

I could feel the weight of his dragon soul, ancient and powerful, and in that moment, I wasn’t afraid of it. I welcomed it, embraced it.

Time stretched on, every second feeling like an eternity.

Finally, after what felt like a lifetime, Drago reappeared, a glowing purple plant cupped gently in his hands.

"I found it!" he shouts, rushing toward us.

I breathe a shaky sigh of relief, my grip on Aodhan tightening as I whisper into his mind one last time.

Hold on, help is here.

I’m trying...But the poison... it’s strong...He says.

So are you.I whisper as I move to take the plant from Drago and get busy boiling it over the fire.

This is something that I am most definitely good at. My teacher always said I was the best pupil she’d ever taught the ancient ways of plants to.

Chapter 11

Aodhan

The pain had dulledto a constant throb in my side, a reminder that I had been closer to death than I cared to admit. I shifted in my saddle, testing my strength. I was still weak, but I could finish this journey.

Drago's quick retrieval of the Eldara root had saved me, and for that, I was grateful, though I hadn’t been able to shake the strange sense of what had happened back there. Something had tugged me back, something more than just my willpower.

I glanced at Vevina, riding behind me. She was quiet, but the way her blue eyes darted around, told me her mind was busy, racing with thoughts.

I hadn’t forgotten the way I’d heard her voice in my mind during the fight for my life. At the time, I had been so deep in the haze of pain and poison that I thought I’d imagined it. But now? Now I wasn’t so sure.

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