Page 18 of Realm of Flames (Reborn 3)
As we neared the portal, Marco and Henry both stepped through first as I closed my eyes, preparing myself for what I knew would probably be a bumpy ride. After all, the Dreki realm wasn’t exactly a quick trip, and that wasn’t even including the massive shift in magic that it would cause. I could only hope that it would go by quickly.
The magic from the doorway jolted through me as Maya let out a gasp, her magic instantly wrapping around both Croy and I, causing my eyes to widen. That was before we were submerged in darkness, everything turning silent and black around us.
I honestly didn’t know how to explain portaling, except that it felt like you were simply suspended in air. I could feel Maya’s magic wrapped around me like her hand, but I couldn’t see or hear her or Croy. There was just nothing, and there would be nothing until we arrived and were jolted from this state. It was honestly somewhat terrifying, and I was hoping that Maya wasn’t scared. I shook myself from that thought process and instead tried to imagine what the Dreki realm would appear like to someone who had never been there. How Maya was going to experience it for herself the very first time.
Objectively, it was without a doubt beautiful. Smaller than some of the larger realms like Earth or Fae, but uniquely spread out in a way that you didn’t notice that to be the case. Mostly because it didn’t really consist of a linear geology. Rather, the realm had two large sky geographical regions that each consisted of smaller, more broken-up islands on opposite sides of the realm. There were no interconnected roads or paths, so you had to fly everywhere, and everything was made to fit dragons. Which, for those that didn’t shift, as with many of the ‘half-breeds’ that existed, it could be frustrating as hell. I mean, shit, even in human form, the insane size of shit was annoying to me.
The first region was considered the Fire Lands, and the island consisted of the royal guard as well as the majority of the Dreki realm citizenship. The Air Guard, small islands floating around it, were far more rural and provided a majority of the food and products for the larger city, but everything between the two of them was mainly run by the crown. The other region consisted of the Water Lands and the Earth Tribes. The first was where most of the militant academies were, a large portion of the youth spending their years there before coming back to the Fire Lands, while the Earth Tribes on the outer edges of the Water Lands were where many of the ‘half-breeds’ lived. Considering they couldn’t fly, it was a bit difficult for them to change location once settled, so they either provided products and farmed for the academies or worked at the academies themselves. Honestly, despite the reputation it received, I had far more positive memories in that region than my parents’ lofty estate in the Fire Lands.
I knew in our short time here we would mainly be in the Fire Lands, which was a damn shame, because not only was it my least favorite, but it would probably be overwhelming for Maya, considering it was a large urban center. Then again, it was possible I was simply projecting because Maya would no doubt take everything in stride. The white and gold gilded structures and large flame like towers would probably be beautiful to her, rather than represent a dark past I was trying to escape. The militant nature and rigid formality would probably annoy her, but the pomp and circumstance around the crown would probably be somewhat exciting the first time around. Maybe. Honestly, I knew I was very jaded, but then again, no one could deny that this realm was stuck in the past.
It couldn’t even be fully blamed on the crown, either. They had just been around long enough that they didn’t see the need to change in their ways, and while it was possible their sons could make a difference… it was unlikely considering they had also been trained within the military. I frowned, wondering who would take the throne when the queen decided that she no longer wanted to rule. I imagine one of her sons, considering there was no blue phoenix to take her place.
That nervous tug in my chest had me feeling almost dizzy, and not because of the void I was floating through. No. It was because of the obvious concern that I’d been ignoring regarding Maya’s shifted form. Phoenixes didn’t normally look like that. I may not have met any outside of our queen, most of them gone by the time I was in school, but I’d seen pictures. Portraits. They weren’t that stunning blue color normally… except for one type. That concept meant far more trouble than even we knew what to do with. It didn’t change anything about Maya’s place in our life, but it did put her in danger. My dragon snarled aggressively in my head, but it was right as the portal came to a dead stop, my hand tightening around Maya’s as I felt everything surge forward after a slight pause. I groaned as everything spun around us, making me know we were close.
I inhaled sharply as Maya’s magic expanded out and grew, causing my dragon to push forward past my control. I tried to hang onto some level of hold, but I ultimately failed, and right as we hit the border into the Dreki realm, everything spun and my control snapped completely, the bastard inside of me just having waited until I was distracted enough to break free.
As we fell forward, I instantly tugged Maya against me. We landed roughly on the hard ground, her body cushioned by mine as I heard Croy let out a low, pained groan. I squinted my eyes, trying to see past the burst of light surrounding us, distantly hearing Marco and Henry. Why the fuck was it so sunny here? The sound of the voices around us had me rolling us so that Maya was hidden underneath me and protected.
“Ledger?” Maya’s soft voice had my cock hardening as I pulled back, finding her face happy and surprised. Safe. She was safe. My dragon let out a low growl as her eyes flared and her hands gripped me tighter. I watched a flush invade her face as I tracked the way her pulse quickened and her desire filled the air. I swallowed down a low groan right as my dragon pushed forward again, taking me off guard because I’d never tapped down my control again.
Which was the only excuse I had for when I sunk my teeth into the soft skin of her neck, puncturing her pulse so I could finally taste her blood.
