Ember of Hope

Sarah was sleeping and Damien was with her so Raegan took Valiance’s hand and pulled him towards the main hall that lead to her room in her host’s house. She knew he was too polite to ask her to leave her friend even if he wanted her with him alone as much as she needed it. And she could see the relief on his face when she took the lead and didn’t make him ask her. Noble fool.

Once inside her bedroom, she crashed into him with all the ferocity of a tornado and kicked the door shut, rattling its hinges. Oops. Their lips melded together, trying to quench the yearning of past weeks. Valiance pulled back after a while to look at her and asked, “Tell me everything”.

“It can wait” she answered, tracing his lips with her tongue.

“Raegan”.

“Shhh I just got you back, besides I’m not ready to remember all that”. She murmured and placed a soft kiss on the corner of his mouth.

“I couldn’t come find you because they had locked me up so that I wouldn’t do anything stupid, because that’s what I’d become. Stupid and reckless with fear and anger. It’s not a good combo for any one, especially not a dragon. I was barely able to breathe through all that panic for what might have happened to you. That I might have lost you again”, he choked on the last sentence and a full body shudder passed through him. “In my heart I knew that you were alive but I couldn’t get rid of the nightmares playing on loop in my head”. There was so much pain in his voice and eyes that she closed hers for a bit to stop the tears that were on the verge of flowing down. It wasn’t only her that had suffered, he was right there with her; living his worst nightmare. But now wasn’t the time to break down. She had to show him she was alright. So she took his face in her hands and kissed him once more and poured all her love in that kiss to reassure him that she had returned to him. “Shhh I’m here. I’ll always find my way back to you Valiance… because you’re my home. And I love you” she placed soft kisses on his eyes and continued her path down his face. She still couldn’t believe he was in front of her. “I love you so much. I need to make sure you’re real Val and not just another figment of my imagination” she whispered over his lips.

“I’m very real sweetheart. I’m here”. He took her face in his hands so delicately like she was a glass doll and the warmth of his hands brought tears of joy to her eyes. Picking her up, Valiance took her to bed and lay her down gently. Standing above her, he just looked down at her for a moment, as if ensuring himself that she was real too… as if he’d been dreaming about her too. She sat up slowly and pulled him closer, tugging at his shirt, “take it off please” she demanded softly, taking her own t-shirt off in one movement. Valiance bent over her and nuzzled her neck; inhaling deep and froze. When he didn’t move for a moment and kept inhaling deeply near her neck, she pulled her head away to look at him. His eyes were confused.

“Val what’s wrong?”

He shook his head, as if to clear it, “your scent”.

“What about it?”

“It’s changed. I can smell…” he paused again as if to make himself understand what he had smelled on her.

“Dragon?” she asked, her eyes focused on his face; still where her neck was moments before.

His head whipped up to look at her and his eyes narrowed, “Yes. I can smell it, but how?” he was so confused.

Raegan sighed and sat up, “Well, shit. I was hoping you’d tell me”.

“Tell you what?”

“That how did I turn into a fucking dragon overnight?” she threw her hands up in exasperation. “I was hoping to postpone this conversation but I guess it was asking for too much”.

“Tell me what happened”, he had stiffened predictably and his voice turned cold in anticipation of what she was about to tell him. Valiance was by far the most sensible and cool-headed mated dragon male she had met. When it came to their mates; dragons in general – male or female – tended to lose their shit over the most trivial of things. And she loved Valiance for his calm and for the way he gave her all the space she needed. But even he had his limits and she knew she was about to test those.

And by each passing moment and every little piece of her story that she shared with him, he became more and more still. His features turned stone cold and sharp. His beautiful eyes that she found tranquil like the calm ocean were now showcasing raging storms. But he was still the most beautiful creature she had ever beheld. And she hadn’t even gotten to the worst part yet.

“Valiance. I need to make something clear before we continue”.

And his eyes narrowed. He knew something bad was coming and that she was trying to prepare the ground for it. But like the thoughtful person he always was; he nodded at her to continue. And she fell a little more for him in that moment. If it was her in his shoes; God only knew she’d be beating down on Titan’s door right about now.

“When we seek retribution from that motherfucker… we’ll be standing side by side. We won’t leave each other’s side. And we sure as hell won’t be alone. If he wants war, we’ll give it to him. And make no mistake, that’s exactly what he wants”. She took both his hands in hers and placed them over her heart, “Promise me Val, you won’t leave me behind”.

He looked in her eyes for a long moment, his jaw hard, eyes burning with cold fury, and nodded once. It was all she needed and she believed him.

“Just remember where we are right now” she warned him beforehand, lest he made a mistake they’d regret later on, “So, because I killed one of his men, he wanted revenge. So he took it. He tortured me every day and made sure I’d take everything silently by threatening Sarah. He made her watch every single thing he did to me. And neither she nor I could do anything”.

“What did he do?” Valiance growled.

“He liked to carve his name in my flesh. And some days he just made haphazard gashes. He liked breaking bones. And every day he sent in a healer who’d heal me to go through it all over again” her jaw clenched hard with anger. “I’d like to return the favor myself… with you by my side Val”.

“And I promise that you will. Soon”, his dragon self was riding his tone hard and his words were almost indecipherable. But maybe Valiance had realized it too… ripping apart their gracious host’s home in his rage won’t be a very good way of paying him back for his kindness.

“And then one day” she blew out a long breath, “One day after he was gone and the healer had done what she could, they chained me up. And that night I turned into a dragon and we ran”.

Valiance shut his eyes tight and his breaths were ragged and it looked like he was in pain… so much pain. She touched his face softly, “Val what’s wrong?”

“The first shift is always too painful and dangerous for young dragons. Some die during their first shifts and you were all alone and tortured and bound. And I wasn’t there for you when I should’ve been”. His head hung low and hands fisted the sheets. He was sitting on his knees in front of her and his hair hid half of his face. He looked like a fallen angel and she wanted to paint him. She placed gentle fingers under his chin and forced him to look at her, “Look at me Val” his eyes were tortured when they met hers, “you would’ve been there if you could. I know that with all my heart. And you know what? I breathed easier knowing that you were home, safe. It would have killed me if he’d gotten his hands on you… if he’d so much as hurt a hair on your head… I would’ve died if anything had happened to you Val”. Even saying it was hurting her heart.

“What do you think happened to me knowing that you were in trouble? And I couldn’t save you… couldn’t help you?”

“Just know that I will fight till my last breath to find my way back to you. Not even my first shift could’ve taken me away from you Val”.

“I had a sister” he murmured so softly that if she hadn’t acquired her new dragon hearing; she would’ve missed it. “What?”

“My sister died during her first shift. Even though all of us were there to help her through it… she didn’t make it”.

Oh… oh… he’d lost someone to the first shift… and knowing his mate went through it alone had scared him… he might’ve lost her.

“Oh Val, I’m so sorry”. She got up on her knees and wrapped him in her arms. She felt wetness on her chest and realized it were his tears soaking her skin. Her arms tightened around him and she kissed his head again and again, “baby I’m here. I’m not hurt” she assured him and when his arms pulled her closer still, she let him… she let him take however long he needed to assure himself that she was safe and in his arms.

………………………