Page 185 of Golden Queen
"They are soul-bonded—just as people bond with their mates. Freya's rider lives in Antiope, but Freya lives in Dragon's Reach because there is no world in which they could bear to be parted for long."
The silvery dragon had reached us. She wheeled around coming up alongside, and the pair roared at each other again.
Io reached his hand up to cover my ear, pulling my head against his chest to protect me from the sound that reverberated through my entire body. "Calm yourself, beasts. You'll shatter Sera's eardrums! We are nearly there."
And we were. The Fortress was just in front of us.
I could see balconies jutting off from hundreds of different castle sections, long walkways stretching between towers where people could be seen milling about, windows of colorful stained glass that looked taller than all of Albiyn castle.
The stonework on the castle was detailed—nearly every wall, every window, every facet, carved with some kind of flourish or face—long dragons in relief, wings extending from the corners of the balustrades, battle scenes, monsters, and myths.
It was the most beautiful building I had ever seen. The sheer amount of work that had to go into making all the fine details must have taken hundreds, maybe even thousands of years.
It made the hulking monstrosity of Albiyn castle look absolutely primitive in comparison—like something children had cobbled together.
Veles angled to the side as we reached the fortress. I heard shouts from one of the balconies. People had recognized Io, I realized. They were waving their arms in greeting.
Veles banked again, and I saw a huge carved platform on the side of the mountain attached to the fortress. The castle itself rose above it, curving around and up to the top of the mountain.
Veles aimed for the platform. A layer of fine powdery snow kicked up under him as he halted above the flat rock, beating his wings, and lowering to the ground.
A group of people was already coming from a wide set of doors at the top of a massive, sweeping staircase.
One small figure raced out in front, her pale, bluish gray hair streaming out behind her.
Io handed me down and took my hand. The air was bracingly cold, but the contact with his hand warmed me quickly.
The girl ran headlong into Io's chest with a thud, and he momentarily released my hand to embrace her. "Fyr," he said, smiling. "What in the hell are you doing here?"
"I had Anghur bring me with Eyildr. It was much too crowded in the palace with the lords and generals gathered, so we wanted to stay here. I didn't think you'd be home for ages!"
Io released his sister and turned to me. Fyr's brows drew together in confusion. She had not noticed me standing behind him. "Fyr, this is my Aelia—soon to be Lady of Darkwatch."
"Mother's bones," she breathed, eyes going wide as saucers. She was strikingly pretty with light brown skin under that pale blue-gray Withian hair. She turned back to Io. "Are you serious?"
"Very serious, Fyr." He drew his brows together and nodded gravely, though his half smile was in place as his eyes slid back to me.
"It's very nice to meet you, Princess," I told her, extending my hand and smiling at her astonished expression.
It only took another heartbeat before Fyr's smile returned, making her beautiful face light up. She had Io's features, but in her they were softened and delicate.
She threw her arms around me and hugged me tightly. "Welcome to the family, Aelia. There is absolutely no doubt that anyone my brother loves, I too, shall love. He is so damned picky about his friends that I know you must be absolutely delightful company."
She released me, narrowing her eyes slightly. "You're not…” She turned to Io. “She’s not…Aelia of Windemere?" she demanded.
"She is," Io said at the same time I gave her a rueful smile.
Fyr turned back to me, steepling her fingers in front of a mouth still hanging open in shock. "Well fuck me sideways," she said, earning herself a disapproving look from Io.
Fyr frowned at his look. "Have you got her pregnant?" she asked.
"Fyr!" Io said sharply.
"No," I said definitively with a shaky laugh.
"So...you just…” she looked between us again before settling her pretty lilac-colored eyes on me. “You just love each other then?" Her grin returned as her eyes warmed with the idea.
"Yes, Fyr. We just love each other." Io told her.
