Chapter 127

Chapter 127
Allissa

I squeezed my arms around Lyle as I hugged him tightly. “Be safe.”

“Don’t worry, I will be. I’ll be back before you know it. You just take care of that niece or nephew of mine.”

He pulled back from me and Darren wrapped him up in a big hug. He pressed his forehead into his, and I could tell he was communicating with him. I walked over to Dayanara, who had summoned her griffin.

“Dayanara, don’t take unnecessary risks.” I listened as she laughed.

“Don’t worry. I won’t. And … I’ll keep him safe,” she whispered, giving me a small smile. “I don’t know what I want to do about this bond, but I do know that he’s someone who will always be special to me. I’ll be following him closely in every battle. Not just for your sake, but I don’t think I’d be able to cope with his loss, especially in the limbo we’re in now. I want to give him a proper answer, it’s just—”

“I get it. Honestly. You know about my last mate. At the time, I didn’t know he was brainwashed. I just thought it was all his doing. And it hurt, but for some reason, I didn’t get stuck there. Though those scars haunted me at times, loving Darren has been a blessing. I think Lyle is your blessing, and I’m not just saying that because he's my brother-in-law. I know he will be a wonderful mate. I always hoped he would find someone worthy of him, and he has. I wholeheartedly approve of you. Not that you need my blessing or any pressure, but it would be amazing to have you close by.”

“You’re saying I should accept the bond just so I can live in the Lycan Kingdom with you?” Dayanara laughed with a genuine smile on her face.

“I won’t object to that.” Lyle grinned as he came up behind her. Dayanara snapped her head to look at him.

“Even if it isn’t for you?”

Lyle shrugged. “It might not be for me at first, but it would end up being for me.”

“Is that a fact?” She snorted, but a small smile rested on her lips. I think she liked his confidence even if she pretended she didn’t.

“Yes, it is, because I will treat you so well … love you so deeply that you will never want to be anywhere other than my arms. That is your home, Dayanara.” He held out his arms. “Right here, and you can take as much time as you need. Your home isn’t going anywhere, and when you’re ready, these arms will be here to hold you.”

That was the sweetest thing to say. I looked at Dayanara and could see she didn’t have a witty reply to it. She looked genuinely touched as well. She pursed her lips and then cleared her throat.

“We need to get going. We will be traveling with the dragons and need to let the king and queen know about the drows and drangels joining the battle.” She turned and looked at me. “This will be putting the nail in the coffin. The demons will have no answer for the force we’re about to drop. The drangel have never joined the war efforts … their magic and power are not to be trifled with. They were outnumbered by the dragons and still almost won the battle.”

“And yet the dragons remain arrogant.” Toril scoffed as she walked up over the hill, having gone down to give orders to the warriors. She was some type of leader, but I was not sure to what extent. “You should all go before nightfall. There is something evil gaining power, and it’s worse at night. As if darkness aids its magic … a poison to the earth … one we will destroy.”

Dayanara nodded and jumped onto her griffin. Lyle wasted no time in joining her. This time he looked more comfortable, scooting in close to her.

“I better hold on tight. I don’t want to fall.”

Lyle could be cheeky, too. Had it not been for the situation, I would have laughed. But they were leaving for war, and no matter the odds … war was a thief. It could rob you of any and every life that was precious to you. There would be casualties on both sides. The question was, who?

Darren placed his arm around me as he saw Lyle off with a brave smile. “Keep your wits!” he called out as the griffin flapped his powerful wings.

“I’ll be right back.” Lyle waved as they ascended to the sky. We watched them until they were a tiny speck. I felt anxious. I wish I could be there to protect him.

“It’s your turn. You need to leave as well. Get back to the protection of your barrier.” For someone who was supposed to be vicious and a killing machine, she really did seem to care about others, in her blunt way.

“Eira.” I heard Sven’s voice from behind us. Squall and Eira were in a secluded spot, taking time to talk and get to know each other. I remember the beginning stages of the bond. It’s intense. “Remember everything you’ve been taught. You were never just a servant to Toril … you know that. She only claimed to have formed the bond to save your life … don’t forget that. You have a special bond with the drangel and the drow now. You can educate your kind once you return to them. End the division and repair relationships. That is your responsibility.” His eyes pierced hers with a small frown. “I don’t like that your bond has been changed. You’ve been just as much a part of my life, and I want to see that you’re taken care of. If you ever need anything, Toril and I will help you. If your mate mistreats you—”

“I would never!” Squall came up behind Eira and put a protective arm around her. “She’s my reason. You will never have to worry about how I treat her.”

“We shall see.”

“A dragon’s word is not something we consider concrete.” Toril’s voice was cold and her glare was even colder. “It was a dragon who struck first blood among our kind.”

“Perhaps it was, but only because your ruthless bullying was unchecked.”

I watched as darkness flickered in Toril’s eyes. “Our ruthless bullying? There is so much you don’t understand. Partly because you can’t see past that blinding ego. Tell me … who is stronger, a dragon or a drangel?”

“It depends on who’s older and their set of skills,” Squall answered, and I saw a small smile reach Toril’s lips.

“Perhaps there is hope for you. At least you will have Eira around to remind you of that. She has knowledge of the war … things your side has conveniently forgotten.”

“You speak as if you were there during the war against the dragons. You were.” Squall breathed out and I noticed his body seemed to tense with caution. “How old are you?”

“Old enough that I do not fear any single dragon.” Toril then looked at Eira. “I’m sorry that you had to grow up in a different time. The blood bond was the only way to protect you.” She then looked at Squall. “Eira’s blood was frozen during the bond. She was just an infant and her body reacted badly to it. You should know that Eira was around during the war but as a baby. It wasn’t until a couple decades ago that her body resumed again. She grew up in this age, but little is known about her family. She may have distant relatives alive now, and I entrust you to help her find them, if she wishes. Eira was bonded to me as my servant, but I raised her to be an obedient child. Respectful of her elders. Respectful of ancient magic, and to seek the truth with wisdom. She doesn’t boast the arrogance of the dragons. The reason this is all important is because, like you said, strength is often linked to age. Eira may mentally be your age, but magically, she is untouchable among your species. The oldest … youngest dragon alive.”

“Eira, I will come and visit you. Take care of Allissa. Take care of her child.”

Eira nodded her head respectfully to Toril. I could see the emotion in her eyes. It was the first time I put it together … that she loved Toril like a parent. She was the only mother she had ever known. Toril wasn’t her master—she was family. A vicious monster would not have treated an enemy with such grace. Perhaps there was a lot more to the drangels, more than we had ever known. I looked at Toril with interest. I hope she did visit. I wanted to know more about them … about her. She had lived for a long time, and I wanted to know the world through her eyes.

There was a loud bellow in the distance. One that shook the trees and made the birds erupt into the sky, seeking refuge. Toril snapped her head and curled up her nose.

“It’s emerged.” Sven turned his cold gaze toward the sound of the beast.

“Get out of here. We will deal with this menace.” Toril looked at me. “Quickly!”

There was a tone in her voice that sounded concerned for us. Whatever this creature was, she didn’t want us here when it showed up.

“Squall.” Darren looked at him with a nod and he swiftly shifted into his dragon. Darren lifted me in his arms and hopped onto his back.

“Eira?” I looked down at her. She was staring at the distance and was torn. She wanted to stay and help.

“Protect her, Eira.” Toril’s voice was soft. She gave her a small nod before she turned and hopped onto Squall’s back as well.

“I’m a water dragon … I can fly, but not as fast as he can. Squall … quickly.” Her voice was soft but commanding. I could feel the confident energy that came from her. It wasn’t meek like I had thought, but calm and well calculated … like the drow and drangel.

As we left the earth, I looked down. Toril and Sven were already gone. They wasted no time assembling their army.

“It’s weird. I’ve never been apart from Toril before,” I heard Eira murmur.

“Eira, she will be okay. Someone who has lived as long as her will have the knowledge to survive. You’ll see her again.”

“I know. Because knowledge is power, and Toril has more knowledge than most.” She turned her head to the front and her face changed. She looked like a leader and not a child being torn from her parents. “Put some force behind your wings, Squall and put some distance between them.”