Chapter 84 Drakon's Apology
Drakon's POV
"The forest fire!" I roared. "How fast is it spreading?"
"Too fast!" The messenger gasped. "The wind carries it toward the refugee camps. We have maybe twenty minutes before it reaches them!"
Thousands of innocent people. About to burn alive because of Morgana's cruelty.
"All dragon shifters to the sky!" I commanded. "We'll use our wings to create wind breaks. Ice faeries, start making firebreaks in the forest path!"
Everyone scattered to action. I started to shift when Elara grabbed my arm.
"Wait! I can help!" She raised her hands. Ice flickered weakly in her palms. "My magic is coming back."
"You're still exhausted from stopping the bomb. You'll hurt yourself..."
"People are dying, Drakon!" Her eyes blazed with determination. "I have to try!"
She was right. We needed every bit of power we could muster.
"Together then," I said. "Like with the bomb. We'll combine our magic."
We ran to the wall facing the forest. Flames danced in the distance, growing closer every second. Smoke choked the air. Screams rose from the refugee camps.
"On three," I said, taking her hand. "One, two, three!"
I breathed dragon fire upward, creating a wall of heat. Elara sent ice magic down toward the ground. Where our powers met, they created a barrier, hot air rising, cold air falling, forming a protective dome over the refugee camps.
"It's working!" Thorne shouted from below. "The flames are being pushed back!"
But the effort drained us both. Sweat poured down my face. Elara's hands shook violently.
"Keep going!" She gasped. "Just a little longer!"
My vision blurred. Elara collapsed against me but kept her hands raised, ice still flowing weakly.
Then the Dragon Queen arrived. She and ten other dragon shifters created a massive windstorm that pushed the flames away from the camps. Ice faeries froze entire sections of forest, creating firebreaks.
Within minutes, the immediate danger passed.
Elara and I both collapsed on the rampart, breathing hard.
"You saved them," I managed. "Those refugees are alive because of you."
"Because of us," she corrected weakly. "We did it together."
The mating bond pulsed warmly between us. Growing stronger with each shared trial.
Thorne appeared with water. We drank gratefully. Below, refugees cheered and cried in relief.
"They're calling you the Ice Queen," Thorne said to Elara, smiling. "The queen who saved the enemy."
"They're not enemies anymore," Elara said firmly. "They're just people who need help."
Pride swelled in my chest. This woman, this brave, compassionate, powerful woman was my mate.
And I'd almost killed her.
The thought hit me like a physical blow. I'd ordered her execution. Put her on the block. Would have murdered her if the battle hadn't interrupted.
"Elara," I said quietly. "We need to talk. Privately."
She looked at me with concern but nodded.
We found an empty tower room. Lily was safely with Faye. Just the two of us.
"I need to apologize," I started. The words felt inadequate. "For almost executing you. For not listening. For letting my hurt and anger control me."
"Drakon..."
"Please. Let me finish." I took a shaky breath. "When I learned about your lies, I felt betrayed in the worst way. My trust shattered. But instead of trying to understand why you lied, I just reacted. I sentenced you to death out of pain and rage."
Tears filled Elara's eyes.
"I was hurt and I wasn't thinking clearly," I continued. "But that's no excuse. You deserved better. You deserved a chance to explain properly. Instead, I almost murdered you." My voice broke. "I'm so sorry, Elara. So incredibly sorry."
She was crying openly now. "I understand why you did it. I lied to you for weeks. Every morning we woke up together, every kiss, every moment, I was deceiving you. You had every right to be angry."
"Angry, yes. But not murderous." I moved closer. "There's no excuse for what I almost did. If you can't forgive me, I understand."
"Of course I forgive you." She touched my face gently. "We both made terrible mistakes. We both hurt each other. But maybe that's okay. Maybe perfect relationships don't exist."
"What exists instead?" I asked.
"Real ones. Where people mess up and apologize and choose to keep trying anyway."
I pulled her into my arms. She came willingly, resting her head against my chest.
"Can we start over?" I whispered into her hair. "Slowly this time. Honestly. No more secrets. No more lies. Just... us."
"I'd like that." Her voice was muffled against my shirt. "We'll rebuild trust one day at a time."
"One day at a time," I agreed.
We stood like that for a long moment. Just holding each other. The mating bond warmed between us, healing bit by bit.
"Drakon?" Elara pulled back to look at me. "There's something I need to tell you. Another secret. But this time, I'm telling you by choice."
My heart clenched. "What is it?"
"My magic. The ice power I've been using." She bit her lip nervously. "It's stronger than I let on. Much stronger. I've been holding back because it scares me. When I defeated Sir Marcus, I felt this ancient power inside me. Something old and powerful and..."
"And what?"
"Dangerous." She looked at her hands. "What if I can't control it? What if I hurt someone by accident?"
"Then we'll figure it out together." I took her hands. "I'll help you train. Teach you control. You're not alone in this."
"You'd do that? Even though you barely trust me?"
"I'm learning to trust you again." I squeezed her hands. "And part of that means believing you when you say you need help."
She smiled through her tears. "Thank you."
A knock interrupted us. Faye's urgent voice called through the door.
"Drakon! Elara! Come quickly! Lily's having visions!"
We ran to Lily's room. She sat on her bed, eyes glowing white, speaking in a voice that wasn't hers.
"They come on wings of shadow," Lily intoned. "Mother and daughter united in darkness. They seek the heart of winter and the soul of flame. When the blood moon rises in three days, they will strike. And this time, only true love's sacrifice can stop them."
Lily's eyes returned to normal. She blinked, confused. "What happened? Why are you all staring at me?"
"You just delivered a prophecy," Faye breathed. "About Morgana and Celestia's next attack."
"In three days," I said grimly. "During the blood moon."
"And they need something from us," Elara added, her face pale. "The heart of winter, that's my ice magic. The soul of flame, that's your dragon fire."
"They're going to try to steal our powers," I realized. "And use them for something terrible."
"The prophecy said only true love's sacrifice can stop them," Faye reminded us. "What does that mean?"
Elara and I looked at each other. The same terrifying understanding in both our eyes.
One of us would have to die to save the kingdom.