Page 33 of Fire and Fate
My heart stutters in my chest.
"I pray that this is the answer," I whisper, more to myself than to Kaia.
Because if it's not, if we're wrong about this place, about these dragons, about the magic that's been calling to us, then we're riding straight into a trap. And Kaia, in the throes of her heat, vulnerable and desperate, will pay the price for my miscalculation.
But something in me, something deeper than logic or training or fear, knows that this is right. This is where we're supposed to be. This is what Kaia's been pulled toward since the moment we entered the Shadowlands.
So I urge the horse forward, heading not for the small cottage but for the castle itself. For whatever awaits us there. For whatever destiny has been calling to my princess since this journey began.
"Hold on," I tell Kaia again, though I don't know if she can even hear me anymore. "We're almost there. Just hold on a little longer."
Alessia
Iwatch from the tower window as the mist parts below, revealing two figures making their way through the mountain pass. My heart stops in my chest, and I reach out blindly for Zara's arm.
"Zara," I call, my voice coming out breathless and tight. "Zara, come here. Now."
She appears at my side within moments, her hand finding the small of my back as she peers down at the scene below. The warmth of her touch grounds me even as my entire body thrums with anticipation. "What is it?"
"Look." I point toward the figures, now clearer as they emerge fully from the pass. "Two women. One on horseback, the other walking beside her."
Zara's sharp intake of breath tells me she sees what I see. The woman on the horse sits tall despite her obvious exhaustion, her dark curls catching the afternoon light. The one walking beside her moves with lethal grace, every step measured and careful, her posture alert and protective. Even from this distance, I can see the way she scans the treeline, the way her hand rests near her hip where a weapon must be secured.
"They're heading toward the eastern clearing," Zara murmurs, her voice low and controlled but I can hear the undercurrent of excitement. "Should we send guards?"
"No." The word comes out more forcefully than I intend, and I grip her arm tighter. "No, just watch. Let's see what they do."
We stand there in silence, tracking their progress as they move through the landscape. The woman on the horse dismounts suddenly, her movements fluid despite what must be days of travel. Her companion stays close, positioning herself in a way that's clearly protective. They're examining something on the ground, and even from this distance I can see the tension in both their bodies, the way they move in perfect synchronization like they've done this a thousand times before.
"What are they looking at?" I wonder aloud, pressing closer to the glass.
Then the woman bends down, picking something up from the grass. Even from here, I can see the way the light catches it, the distinctive shimmer that makes my dragon sit up and take notice. The woman lifts it in her hands, turning it over, examining it with clear curiosity. Then she brings it to her face, and everything changes.
"Zara," I breathe, my fingers digging into her arm hard enough to leave marks. "That's one of your scales. She's holding your scale."
The moment the woman brings the scale close to inhale its scent, her entire body goes rigid. Even from this distance Ican sense the shift in the air, the way magic pulses outward in waves so thick and sweet and unmistakable that it makes my knees weak. The woman staggers, nearly falling, and her companion catches her around the waist with practiced ease. But something's wrong. The woman isn't steadying herself. She's trembling, her head falling back, her body going slack in her companion's arms.
"Oh gods," I whisper, my breath fogging the glass as I lean even closer. "Zara, that's her. That's our Omega."
"Alessia—"
"No, look at her." My hands press flat against the window, my heart pounding so hard I can feel it in my throat. "Look at what your scale is doing to her. That's not normal. That's not just any reaction. That's mate recognition. That's her body responding to yours. That's—"
The Omega collapses. One moment she's standing with the scale clutched to her chest, and the next her legs give out entirely. Her companion catches her before she hits the ground, but barely. The Beta is struggling under the Omega's weight, trying desperately to keep her upright while simultaneously reaching for the horse that's dancing nervously nearby.
"I need to go down there," I say, already turning toward the door. My dragon is roaring inside me, demanding I get to our mate immediately. "I need to help her. She's in heat, Zara. I can feel it from here, the magic is so strong. She needs—"
"Alessia, stop." Zara's hand on my arm halts my movement, firm but gentle. "Give them a moment. The Beta has her."
"But she fainted. She needs help. She needs—" I'm practically vibrating with the need to move, to act, to do something other than stand here watching.
"She needs her Beta to get her somewhere safe," Zara says firmly, her voice cutting through my panic with calm certainty. "Which is exactly what's happening. Look."
I turn back to the window, forcing myself to breathe, to think, to not just react on instinct. The Beta has managed to get the Omega back onto the horse, though it's clear the Omega is barely conscious, her body slumped forward over the horse's neck. The Beta swings up behind her with remarkable agility, wrapping one arm around the Omega's waist to keep her stable while taking the reins with the other hand. The way she moves speaks of years of training, of experience, of a protector who knows exactly what she's doing.
"They're coming toward the castle," I say, watching as the horse breaks into a gallop. The Beta guides it with obvious skill, keeping the Omega secure against her chest as they navigate the winding path. "They're coming straight here."
"Of course they are," Zara murmurs, and there's something in her voice that makes me look at her. She's smiling, soft and wondering. "Where else would they go? The magic brought them here. To us."
