Chapter 170 Chapter 170

Chapter 170 Chapter 170
... FLASHBACK...

Rain soaked the mountains that night.

The ground had turned to mud beneath my boots, every step threatening to pull me under, but I pushed on for the sake of Aquila. His fever had climbed higher by the hour, and I feared the worst of it.

Barely two years since we left the refugee settlement, and I already thought I was going to lose the only family I had left.

I couldn't let that happen.

Not after everything we'd survived.

So I searched.

Until I found the cottage.

Smoke curled lazily from its chimney.

Behind it...

Rows of medicinal herbs.

Enough to treat a dozen illnesses.

I waited until dusk before climbing the low stone wall.

I recognized only a handful of the plants.

Feverfew.

Willow bark.

Yarrow.

And a few others I couldn't name. But surely, they would do.

I knelt and began filling my satchel.

"If you're going to steal, make sure you know who you're stealing from."

I froze.

The voice came from behind me.

Calm, but chilling.

My hand was already on the dagger at my belt before I turned. But there was only a young woman. She stood a few paces away holding a lantern.

Long raven-black hair spilled over one shoulder, and despite catching a stranger trespassing on her property, she looked more inconvenienced than frightened.

Her eyes drifted to my satchel.

Then to the herbs lying on the ground.

"You pulled them up by the roots." Her face twisted into contempt.

I said nothing, and she sighed dramatically.

"Do you have any idea how difficult it is to tend to this?"

"I don't want any trouble."

"That's interesting, seeing as you just murdered my plants." Her Crimson eyes blazed into something fierce before simmering down.

I tightened my grip on the satchel.

"I'll leave."

"Not with my herbs."

"But I need them."

"I don't care, boy."

Silence stretched between us.

She didn't move, and neither did I.

"Please." I'd never used that word before. But I was desperate. So, I held my ground and pointed my dagger at her. "I don't want to hurt you."

Her eyes widened, then a sinister grin spread across her face.

" Hurt me? Do I look like a damn owl?"

"What?"

Before I could understand her words, a sharp Talon hit my hand, and I let go of my blade.

"You have balls, I'll give you that, but it won't do you any good."

She crouched beside one of the herb beds.

She clipped several stems with a small knife instead of ripping them free.

"This one will make whatever you're treating worse. And that one is just decorative."

"How do you know I'm treating something?"

"Because I'm a Raven shifter. Not some stupid owl. You clearly went for the herbs, although they're the wrong ones. I, however, don't appreciate anyone messing with my granden..."

She said.

"Who are you trying to save?"

"My brother."

She nodded thoughtfully before placing the bundle into my satchel.

"Bring him here."

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't know you."

"Fair enough, but I take it you have no knowledge about medicine." She shot me a knowing look, and I frowned.
......

The memory soon faded with the dancing firelight, and Nayara's expression became wistful.

"You were so determined to shoulder the responsibility."

She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. The warmth left her smile, replaced by quiet seriousness.

"Your heart is in the right place, Asher. Unfortunately, when men like you begin to think with their hearts instead of their heads at times like these...things take a terrible turn."
She sighed, folding her hands in her lap.
"That is exactly why I can't let you walk out of here. Not like this."

Her crimson eyes met mine, steady and knowing.

"It's painfully obvious you love that girl. So much so that you're tearing yourself apart trying to protect her."
She paused before adding quietly,
"But you're trapped between two impossible choices. One half of you wants to keep Crystal as close as you can, while the other is fighting every second to keep your dragon from claiming her."

"And sooner or later..." Her voice softened. "One of them is going to win."
She reached over and rested a hand on my shoulder.

"So let Aquila bring her home. Then, when she's safe... you can decide what kind of man you want to be."