Chapter 173 Chapter 173
Chapter 173 Chapter 173
The world around us stilled. Silence settled heavily, swallowing the hum of magic and the distant howl of the wind outside—and for the first time in what felt like forever, my dragon stilled too. One word, one name spoken aloud, and the beast within went perfectly, utterly quiet.
Veyrith.
How long had it been since anyone called him… us… by that name?
The name hung in the air, ancient and familiar, and something deep in my chest ached at the sound of it.
My clawed hands curled into fists at my side, the sharp tips of the talons pressing deep into my palm, but I barely felt it.
“If you really want to save the girl, do not become the one thing she needs saving from.” Her voice softened, but I still felt the edge, sharper than her talons dragging across my scaled skin.
I looked down at my own hand and winced at the tremor running through it. I had always prided myself on my control. Now I could barely recognize the creature wearing my skin.
Even Veyrith had been understanding of our situation right from the very beginning. But now? I was ashamed at how much I’d allowed Crystal’s absence affect me far worse than if she were by me. And for the first time, I realized I wasn’t the only one hurting as I took a look at the people standing around.
My dragon stirred in my chest. Nayara’s words had hit him too, and he’d gone quiet but not gone.
Like a beast lowering its head to acknowledge what was before him.
The scales on my arms slowly receded with this understanding, and the fire dimmed — but never died.
“Which way?” I demanded calmly this time around.
“North.” Aquila stepped forward as he spoke, the horns curling proudly from his forehead receding smoothly back into his skin, his fangs shortening until they were just barely visible. He looked less like a monster of legend and more like the brother I’d grown up with.
“How far?” I asked him.
“Several miles, but the trail fades near the ridge.”
I looked toward the Seth, then at the window. Rain lashed the glass and darkness pressed in.
“I’m still going.”
Nayara stepped directly into my path with a hard expression, and I frowned. “Don’t try to stop me, Naya-”
“Who said anything about stopping you?” She cut me off, and I closed my mouth. “No. I’d be more comfortable with you going if I knew you wouldn’t lash out at Aquila and Seth.”
“I won’t,” I argued, but she didn’t buy it. How could she? The air still smelt faintly of burnt flesh, and I looked down at her arm. Sensing my gaze, she gently rubbed around the edges and looked up with a smile.
“Flesh wound. Nothing I haven’t dealt with before,” she said so casually, but it didn’t help with the guilt.
“I think I would feel better if you got mad about that,” I said under my breath with a thick frown knitting my brows together.
“If Nayara says she’s fine, then she’s fine, Asher,” Aquila said, his tone almost lighthearted, and I turned to meet his gaze that turned icy in the next moment. “But Asher, if that happens again, I’ll be the first to cut you down.”
The corner of my lips twitched at the threat, but I never smiled, because I knew he was dead serious. As much as I’d hate to admit it, on a good day and with enough motivation, Aquila might actually be able to beat me. Especially if Nayara was involved.
We stood there for a long moment, staring at each other, neither of us backing down, neither of us giving an inch. It was a threat, yes—but more than that. It was a promise. A boundary. A reminder of what we were, and what we weren’t allowed to become.
“I don’t doubt it even for a second,” I said.
Aquila and I… we were practically brothers. Different blood, different species, different lives—but the same path, forged side by side since we barely knew the world for what it was. We grew up together. Learned together. Fell together. Rose together. And most importantly, we survived.
We knew each other’s strengths and each other’s weaknesses, each other’s monsters and each other’s grace. And we knew—better than anyone—when not to cross the other.
"Good." The hard edge in his gaze softened, just a fraction, and a real smile touched his lips. “Let’s go find your woman.”