Page 53 of The Silent Mountain
My confidence grows with every step I take, my gaze pinned to my mate, who has made his way through the guests and just stares at me through wide eyes. I have never seen him look at me like that. He looks surprised, fascinated and veryhungry.His eyes turn to yellow reptile eyes for a brief moment, just making Ros’ and my excitement grow. His gaze seems to burn itself on my skin, making it tingle slightly.
I don’t even notice what the others are saying or doing. I thought I would maybe bask in their attention if I received a positive one, but now that it’s happened, I couldn’t care less. All I care about is how Favian looks at me. Once down the stairs, he walks towards me, reaching out his hand. With a smile, I take it, confidently walking next to him.
“You look fantastic,” he says, not minding that everyone can hear him. “You are like a fire that is burning in the Silent Mountain and keeps us all alive and going.”
I don’t know much about the dragons yet, and certainly not about their royalty, but even I can tell that hearing these words from the Dragon King in person means something. I peer at him, noting how fabulous he looks. His clothes are silvery and white, going well with his silver hair and his piercing blue eyes. “I will happily be the fire of your lands,” I say. “If that is what your land wants.”
I have no idea what got into me when I said that, but the effects of my words are all too visible. Elio, who has walked next to us, stares at me with his mouth open. In Stefan’s eyes, I can see surprise but also a glint of joy, while Barbara and Ludwig just look happy.
Apparently, for a werewolf princess to say what I just said means something.
“You chose the perfect moment,” Barbara mutters to me a couple of minutes later, when Favian has taken his position in the middle of the hall to grant the new clan members their dragons.
“How come?” I whisper.
“We have a lot of new members joining today,” she says. “It was important for them to see their king with a strong and committed mate. They have heard about you, but now they have seen you and your confidence.”
“But… it was just… I don’t know, I don’t want to call it a game, but…“
“It doesn’t matter,” she reassures me. “To them, it meant something, and it proved that they are making the right decision to return to their clan. They know we can defend ourselves now, even with the danger that still lurks around us. Just look.”
I turn my attention back to the ceremony, watching how the first dragon shifter steps forward. She walks confidently, briefly glancing at me while she does so, and my heart makes a jump for joy. If I managed to give her a little confidence, then Barbara is right; it was worth it.
She is a woman in her early twenties, born shortly before the years of war, and grew up while still in hiding. I watch in fascination as Favian holds a round, polished crystal in his hands. It’s white, but there seem to be strings of light wandering through it. The young woman reaches out her hand, placing it on top of the crystal. For a while, nothing happens, then the color of the crystal changes, slowly turning from translucent to a beautiful gold-bronze.
For a moment, it’s silent, then cheers erupt in the hall, and everyone applauds.
“Congratulations, Carola,” Favian says with a smile. He puts the crystal away before resting his hand on the woman’s head. For a fleeting moment, I can see Favia coming forward, but only briefly. Strings of light leave Favian’s fingertips, moving around his hand for a time before circling the young woman. Favian pulls his hand away and takes a step back, while the light around the woman turns into the same bronze shade as the crystal ball and keeps surrounding her until I can barely see her.
A couple of minutes later, the light subsides, disappearing into the woman’s chest. She has her eyes closed and opens them with a gasp, revealing reptilian eyes to us. More cheers fill the hall, and Carola clasps her hand to her mouth. Her eyes turn back to normal, now brimming with tears.
“An earth dragon,” Favian says. “We don’t have many of those left.”
“Here is one!” Barbara exclaims.
When Favian nods his approval, Barbara dashes forward and hugs Carola. “Earth dragons are the best,” she whispers with a bright smile.
Carola beams, resting her hand on her chest. “I didn’t know what I was missing,” she admits.
Her words seem to work like magic on the rest.You don’t know what you miss when you don’t have it.
When Favian takes out his crystal again, there are suddenly many more new clan members who are eager to be next in line. I can feel through the bond how happy it makes him to have them all so eagerly want their dragon spirits, to see them lose their fear and anxiety, or trying to overcome it. They are placing their faith in him as their king.
This is his victory.
The ceremony is a long one, as Favian takes his time for each new member, the way they deserve. He also gives them each a moment with their fellow clan members to congratulate them and have them feel welcomed. It’s long but not boring. No matter how often I watch him bless them with their dragon spirit, it’s fascinating each and every time.
Hours later, the ceremony is wrapped up and the buffet is served, a huge feast for everyone who attended. I make sure to mingle with the new clan members so that they get to know me, and to my surprise, they don’t seem to be taken aback by me being a werewolf.
“They know it was you who helped save us,” Favian tells me. “They also know that while everyone forgot we existed and thought we were dead, you still believed in us.” He gazes around and watches the dragon shifters–the commoners–mingle with the royal guards and with our guests. “Times have changed,” he says. “For the better.”
Favian and I are still chatting when Shayan approaches us. “I apologize for interrupting,” he says in a low voice.
Favian and I are both instantly on guard at the tone of his voice. “Did something happen?” Favian asks.
“No,” Shayan mutters. “But the harbinger is asking for you to meet him outside.”
Cù Sìth?
