Page 34 of The Silent Mountain
“YES!” Cassie exclaims, pumping her fist into the air, as if Favian just gave her the present of her life. Stefan’s stare of disbelief at her would have been funny if I didn’t feel so sick.
I don’t hear the rest of the conversation, finally making it to the balcony. Barbara closes the door behind us. “I’m feeling sick.”
“Just let it out,” Barbara says, her voice warm and encouraging.
I take a few short breaths to stop my stomach from revolting. “I… can’t.”
“Alana, we are incredibly high up here, and there is no one living down there at the bottom of the mountain. It's a completely empty wasteland.”
I have no control anyway. Before she has even finished, I bend over the balustrade, emptying my stomach. Barbara pulls my hair back, gently rubbing my back. “I’m so sorry,” I mutter.
“Are you kidding? If a creepy, hairy monster rode my chest and sucked my life energy at night, I would be feeling sick too.”
My stomach is still revolting at the mere thought of that malicious creature invading my body during sleep, but her words make me chuckle. “You are one of a kind,” I say.
“Ludwig says the same,” she grins.
“So, you and Ludwig, huh?” I tease. “Is there something we should know?”
She smiles. “Truth be told, I like him, but we aren’t mates. I… I don’t know. Maybe Ludwig will find his second chance. He is still very young, and I have no idea what Aengus has in mind for me. I just don’t know what to do. But yes, I do like him.”
For a moment, I am reminded of my own story with Ita, although Barbara is much more vocal about her feelings. There is no right and wrong in this decision, it’s hers to make. “Whatever you choose,” I say. “It’s fine. I am feeling better now,” I add.
“Come,” Barbara leads me across the balcony to the second door. Instead of leading us back to the bedroom, it leads us to Favian’s private living room. That way, I manage to get to the bathroom and clean my mouth without the others seeing me.
When Barbara and I finally return, the creature and Cassie are gone. The windows and the door to the balcony are wide open, allowing the smoke and stench to leave fully. “She really took the creature with her?” I ask.
“Yes, not without precautions, though. We made sure it’s sedated and kept locked in. Though I am not comfortable with it being around the clan at all,” Favian says. He takes my hand. “Especially not around you.”
“You were right, nevertheless, we might still need it,” I say. “Who knows what Cassie will discover through it?”
“Do we believe it’s a coincidence?” Stefan asks. “That a mare appears here, and we have a bunch of cursed birds dropping dead.”
It’s silent for a while before Favian shakes his head. “I don’t believe in coincidences.”
“Me neither,” I agree.
“What worries me is that we have the ceremony coming up soon.”
The ceremony. The one event all the dragon shifters have been looking forward to. It’s the moment Favian, with Favia’s powers, blesses the dragon shifters and connects them to their dragon spirits. It’s the moment they receive their beasts and will be able to shift. Werewolves receive their wolf spirit naturally, not all at the same age, but they all eventually receive their wolf.
The dragons are different. Because each of them has a special tendency towards one element, they receive their dragon spirits when they turn sixteen or seventeen. Elio was the huge exception because he was Favian’s brother. To make sure their kingdom would survive, Favian blessed him much earlier than others.
With the war, Favian being locked up, and the dragon shifters almost being wiped out, many of them haven’t received their dragon spirits yet, especially those who hid in the human realm. I know Favian has blessed those who initially returned to the Silent Mountain and the clan, but now that more and more dragons return home, he wants to bless them in the ceremony they deserve.
It’s going to be a huge event, one that so many of them look forward to.
“Our warriors are prepared,” Stefan says.
“I need everyone to be available that day,” Favian says. “Everyone is on duty.”
“Of course,” Stefan nods.
“Moreover, Alana has asked for help from the werewolf kingdom,” Favian adds, successfully surprising Stefan and Barbara.
“I did,” I say. “My brother, the king, is going to send a number of elite warriors, and the neighboring packs are helping too,” I smile. “I bet they are secretly overjoyed to be able to see this mysterious ceremony.”
“I am aware that I’m truly indebted to the werewolf kingdom,” Favian says. “But I will pay them back one day.”
