Page 14 of Oath of Betrayal
Another of the joys of mountain life, the extensive field was covered in lush and vibrant green grass after the spring floods, the warming sun melting the alpine snow and creating a temporary lake at the town border. However inconvenient it may be, it was a great boon for the farmers, as the fresh grass that grew here after the waters receded kept their animals well-fed.
It was a long walk, but I hoped to see the dragons on my way to the town square, maybe even the blue-eyed creature that haunted my dreams.
A powerful gust of wind surprised me and I had to shelter my eyes from flying debris until it died down. Only then did I notice the cause: a familiar-looking dragon. With black scales glinting and blue markings capturing my attention, the magnificent creature settled down, and my heart stuttered with awe as I watched.
My dragon was here. Whether it was my wishful longing or pure luck, the subject of my dreams was right before me, folding away enormous wings and shaking the moisture from his head. Once he was finished, the dragon turned to me, his verticalpupils widening before he lay his head on the grass, making the strange growling-whistling noise he made the last time we met.
‘Oh, hello, handsome. I was hoping to see you! I think it’s time we had a little chat.’ I grinned, raising the hem of my dress and marching towards him through the soft grass. It was strange how seeing him made me so ridiculously happy.
A warm breeze caressed my skin, and the soft murmur of a babbling brook made the moment feel surreal and illusory. I’d seen dragons a few times at university, but never in a field full of flowers, and never one I’d felt a connection with.
During our schooling, all battle mages worked with various military formations to learn how they fought so that we’d be more effective and accidental casualties could be kept to a minimum; that education also included the legendary dragon riders and the theory of fighting spectrae.
I still remembered the uproar when two of the beasts and their riders had landed in the university yard to facilitate that training … It was safe to say that both mages and the young riders enjoyed the educational exchange in more ways than one.
I had already joined with my Anchors and was more interested in the creatures than their riders by then, and my eagerness to learn earned me a few strange looks. However, I’d learned that dragons were knowledgeable, sentient beings with their own personalities and thoughts.
Most of them still soared through the skies, unbothered by other races. Occasionally, they bonded with humans in a similar way to a battle mage unit. As for their thought processes, most of our knowledge was secondhand, as we had to rely on their riders for communication.
I always treated them with respect but had never felt the desire to get too close; I didn’t know what was so different about this one. I should have been afraid, or at least wary, instead of charging towards the dragon as if he were my long-lost sibling.
‘Who are you?’ I whispered, leaning towards the beast while he nuzzled his snout into my hand, rubbing the polished scales over my palm. The dragon was so gentle, barely moving and observing me with such focus that I had to hold myself back from throwing my arms around his neck and embracing him. His warm breath enveloped me like a caress, making me sigh. I closed my eyes, feeling a strange sensation blossoming in my chest.
Happiness. It took me a moment before I realised it wasn’t just me who felt it, but the impressive beast as well. It was exactly like my dream—the sensation that he missed me, the feeling of belonging once again.
Is this how dragon riders feel? Is this why they’re ready to sacrifice their freedom to be with the dragons who choose them?
With those thoughts came another …Why do I feel like this?Women couldn’t bond with dragons. It just didn’t happen. Besides, I suspected this one already had a rider. Otherwise, why would he have landed on the floodplains on the outskirts of town during Maiden’s Day?
When my hand slid towards the corner of his eye, something inside of the beast rumbled, and I gasped, stepping away. I didn’t get far before being pushed closer by the tail that had somehow coiled around me.
The dragon gave me a long stare as if he was trying to say something, and then he pressed his head closer, closing his eyes. He clearly knew what he wanted, but I had no idea. Hesitantly, I touched him again, and when he didn’t instantly bite off my hand, I chuckled.
‘Is that all you wanted? Do you like me stroking you? I didn’t know dragons could be so gentle … and so needy,’ I said as he pushed harder into my hand. ‘You are worse than a tavern cat.I wish I could keep you, but I suspect your rider would strongly object,’ I cooed while petting him, and he rumbled again.
‘What’s this noise you’re making? Is it good or bad for you, my lovely? Gods, I wish we could talk,’ I murmured, lost in the moment, trailing my hand over the bumpy, raised ridge of his brow.
‘He is purring for you, my lady,’ a deep voice answered from behind me. My hand stilled, and I cursed myself for allowing anyone to sneak up on me. I turned quickly, meeting the gaze of a gigantic man.
He wasn’t just tall—he wasmassive, and the wet linen of his shirt hid nothing of his physique. Broad shoulders, firm thighs, and a torso covered in scars that were clearly visible under the see-through shirt. Wherever I looked, there were muscles—nothing but a wall of oversized, bulging muscles.
The stranger’s eyes shone with amusement when he noticed my wandering gaze. He ran his hand through the wavy jet-black hair that fell to his neck—clearly freshly washed—leaving a few strands plastered to his forehead. Most impressive were his eyes, their slightly upturned corners and irises a deep mossy green speckled with gold flakes.
He stood tall and proud, almost … posing,cheerfully, during my inspection. That kind gaze, with its hint of curiosity, made me feel comfortable, giving me time to compose myself. Once I had settled, the corner of his mouth tilted, and he stretched his hand towards me.
‘My lady, may I?’ He said, reaching for my hand.
The dragon wasn’t at all disturbed by the male’s presence, which, along with how relaxed the man was, must mean they were a bonded pair. Out of sheer curiosity and maybe influenced by his smile, I let him take my hand.
For a moment, he didn’t do anything else, just waited until he was sure I was comfortable, and I admit, his restraint charmedme. I was being held gently by the calloused hand of a warrior and couldn’t have felt more powerful than I did at that moment.
As a smile teased my lips, the rider guided my hand to the dragon’s eye, sliding it over the scaled ridges. ‘This is the most vulnerable place for a dragon and one of the few spots they always strive to protect. Blinding a dragon is the easiest way of incapacitating them. I’m surprised Vahin let you touch him here, but he is an excellent judge of character. For some reason, it seems he is fond of you,’ he murmured, again trailing my fingers along the ridges of the eyelid towards the corner of the eye, and the great dragon rumbled louder.
‘Stroking the eyelid is one way a rider can soothe their dragon, and it’s a source of great comfort to them both,’ he continued, his body so close to mine that I felt the warmth radiating from his skin. Yet, he didn’t touch me in any other way than holding my hand.
I knew he was here for the Maiden’s Day selection, but I couldn’t bring myself to feel hostile towards him. Maybe it was because of the dragon or because he was providing answers to questions I hadn’t even known I wanted to ask, all while guiding my hand over the dragon’s vulnerable eye.
The physical contact between us felt natural yet intimate, as if the pleasure of the moment was weaving its own special kind of magic. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d touched anyone without wariness or lust … it was a simple, joyful moment, being held in a way that seemed to comfort us both.
