Ember of Hope

Sarah’s head was still a little fuzzy so when Raegan had told her about what’d happened after they ran from Titan, Sarah couldn’t believe the half of it. Raegan was a dragon – holy shit.

And they were in another kingdom now… in such a short time, they’d visited three dragon kingdoms already – not by choice though, but still.

And the other little piece of information Raegan had told her; she was still afraid to acknowledge. Even if she’d been feeling it for quite a while now. Not that that freaking Damien had said anything about it. She had a mate now – a freaking dragon mate… not a boyfriend, not a lover, and not even a husband… a mate. That seemed kinda permanent.

She had more bad relationships under her belt than she had clothes in her wardrobe; and that was saying something. What if she fucked it up too? Like she had done so many times in the past. Damien didn’t deserve that. And she liked him enough to not want to ruin what little friendship she had with him. So she asked herself once again, was she ready for something permanent? And how would it work exactly? As far as she knew, she was totally human and Damien was most definitely not. He was a dragon. With a long ass life span. What would happen when she turned grey and wrinkled? He’d hardly have aged by then. The guy looked fresh out of college even when he was nearly her grandfather’s age.

She wanted to be alone for some time to sort out her head so she asked one of Adriel’s guards to take her some place quiet. He’d offered to fly her there but she wanted to stretch her stiff legs so had politely asked him to walk with her. After almost ten minutes of walking through the streets lined with beautiful white and blue houses, here she was; at a beautiful little lake; secluded from the town. The guard had sheepishly told her that he came here sometimes to find some quiet when he needed peace from his duties and children. She’d smiled at that… at the simplicity and genuineness of these people – this world.

It wasn’t that she didn’t like her own world – she loved it. The early morning rush of people trying to reach their destinations on time, the clubs, the malls, even her college. But it was the serene beauty and peace of this world; the fact that despite having technology, they hadn’t succumbed to the bad aspects of it.

Though they had motor driven transport; they only used it when utter necessity called; like when with children or the elderly. Otherwise they used the dragon driven carts and those were really awesome. They had communication devices too but she hadn’t seen people with their noses buried deep in their mobiles. No, they talked to each other and used the devices only in times of need. They gathered around fires at night after a long day of work and shared their stories. It was refreshing to be a part of a place so clean and free from the slavery of technology.

She laughed at her own silliness when she remembered what she had expected this world to be like – a mythical world of magic with dragon-driven carriages click clacking on the streets lit with oil lamps hanging from posts to illuminate their way… their women in long flowy, frilly dresses with braid crowns on their heads carrying baskets of fresh bread through the streets of bazaars. And even though the clean streets were cobblestoned; they were nothing like she’d expected.

And she realized with quite surprise that she wanted to give it all a chance. The beautiful town of Ilya, the grand fortress that she now missed like home, even the woods that had felt so peaceful before all hell broke loose on her and her friend. Above all; she wanted to give herself a chance – with Damien – her mate, the other half of her soul.

She wanted him and she wanted to be happy. And the idea of not being with him after what they went through was more excruciating than the pain she had endured after her accident. So she would not be frightened of the what-ifs and she’d fight for her happiness and his.

……………………………………………

When Sarah had recovered from her deliriousness fully, her memory was a bit fuzzy, so Raegan had filled her in on everything that had happened to them since their escape. And she’d been quiet and distant ever since. Damien knew that too much had happened too fast for her to handle but he couldn’t help the doubt that had started creeping in his head slowly. And it only strengthened with each passing day that Sarah healed and spent avoiding him.

Maybe she didn’t love him the way he did her.

Maybe it was only a moment of confusion that she had given him her blood.

But she was his mate and the things she had said…

Maybe now that she was fully in her senses she was rethinking her decision.

No, he wouldn’t do that to himself. He’d seen Valiance beat himself up with the doubts before Raegan returned and he had seen the toll all those what ifs and maybes had taken on his friend. No he would talk it out with his mate like adults and if she didn’t want him; he’d let her go even if it killed him.

Which it might very well would because just the thought of letting go of Sarah was enough to drive him insane.

She wasn’t in the house when he’d returned after a flight to clear his head and upon asking; the guards had told him about the nearby lake she’d gone to. He’d set out to find her by using her blood coursing through his veins like a beacon to lead him to her. He didn’t know why but it gave him some peace that he could do that now that she’d gifted him with her blood. Now he understood why Valiance couldn’t trace Raegan’s path… the distance was too much between them to be tracked without completing the bond. And the thought of the girls being in Velar chilled him to his bones.

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