Chapter 76 Recovery
Elara's POV
Pain woke me. Sharp pain that spread through every muscle.
I tried to move. My body refused. Everything felt heavy, like I'd been buried under stones.
"Don't try to sit up yet." Faye's gentle voice came from nearby. "You've been unconscious for three days."
Three days? Panic shot through me. I forced my eyes open. Bright sunlight made me wince.
"The battle," I croaked. My throat felt like sandpaper. "Drakon...is he..."
"Alive." Faye pressed a cup of water to my lips. "Drink slowly."
The cool liquid soothed my throat. My vision cleared. I lay in a healing room, white walls and the smell of herbs everywhere. Bandages wrapped my sword arm.
"What happened? After I collapsed?"
Faye's expression turned serious. "The battle reached a stalemate. All three armies pulled back to regroup. Queen Morgana and Princess Celestia are camped on opposite sides of the valley. We're trapped in the middle."
My stomach dropped. "How many died?"
"Too many." Faye looked away. "But it would've been worse without you. That ice magic you used gave our forces time to reorganize."
I didn't feel heroic. I felt tired and scared and useless lying in this bed.
"Where's Drakon?" I asked. "He must be leading the defense..."
"He just left actually. About ten minutes ago." Faye smiled softly. "He's been here the whole time, Elara. Three days straight. He'd battle for hours, then come right back here. Barely slept. Wouldn't eat unless I forced him."
My heart squeezed. "He stayed with me? Even after everything?"
"Even after everything." Faye took my hand. "He saved your life multiple times during the battle too. Carried you to safety while fighting off enemies. Used his own dragon magic to keep you warm when your body temperature dropped dangerously low."
Tears burned my eyes. "But betrayed him..."
"You protected your sister. He understands that now." Faye squeezed my hand. "I think he finally sees the real you, Elara. The brave, selfless woman who'd sacrifice everything for the people she loves."
"Does he still love me though?" The question hurt to ask. "Or does he just pity me?"
Before Faye could answer, voices erupted outside. Shouting. Running footsteps.
Faye jumped up and ran to the window. Her face went pale. "Oh no."
"What? What's wrong?"
"Lily. She just ran out of the castle gates." "What? Why would she..."
"There's a white flag on the battlefield. Someone requesting negotiation." Faye's voice shook. "And Lily's running straight toward it."
I threw off my blanket. Pain exploded through my body but I ignored it. "I have to stop her!"
"You can barely stand!" Faye tried to push me back down.
I shoved past her. My legs trembled. Each step sent agony through my muscles. But Lily was in danger. Nothing else mattered.
I stumbled into the hallway. Guards tried to block my path.
"Move!" I ordered. Queen voice. It still worked.
They hesitated, then stepped aside.
I made it to the courtyard. Drakon stood there in half-dragon form, about to shift and fly. He spun when he heard me.
"Elara! You're awake!" Relief flooded his face. Then anger. "Get back to bed! You're not healed..."
"Lily ran onto the battlefield," I gasped. "I'm going with you."
"Absolutely not. You can barely walk."
"She's my sister!" Tears streamed down my face. "Please, Drakon. I can't lose her. Not after everything."
Something in my voice broke through his anger. His expression softened.
"Fine. But you stay behind me. Understand?"
I nodded. He swept me up in his arms and launched into the sky before I could protest the indignity.
Flying felt different this time. Safe. His arms held me tight against his chest. The .mating bond thread pulsed between us, stronger than before.
Below, I spotted Lily's small form running across the battlefield. Bodies littered the ground from three days of fighting. She dodged around them, heading for a white flag held by.
Queen Morgana herself stood under that flag. And beside her, Princess Celestia.
"It's a trap," I whispered. "They're working together."
"I know." Drakon's voice rumbled in his chest. "But if I don't go, they might hurt Lily to draw us out anyway."
We landed between Lily and the two queens. Drakon set me down gently but kept one arm around my waist. I sagged against him, hating my weakness.
"Lily!" I called. "Get behind us!"
My sister skidded to a stop. Her face was streaked with tears. "Elara! You're awake!"
"What are you doing out here? It's dangerous!"
"They sent a message!" Lily held up a piece of parchment. "They said if I came alone, they'd end the war. No more fighting. No more people dying."
Queen Morgana smiled coldly. "Smart child. Unlike her foolish sister."
"Let her go," Drakon growled. Smoke curled from his nostrils. "Your fight is with us, not a twelve-year-old girl."
"Oh, but she's the perfect bait." Princess Celestia stepped forward. "We knew you'd both come for her. How touching."
The ground beneath our feet trembled. Magic, dark magic rose around us like a cage. We were trapped in a circle of power.
"What is this?" I tried to summon my ice magic. Nothing came. My body was too weak.
"A binding spell," Morgana explained. "You're quite drained, dear imposter. Your magic won't work for weeks. And Drakon?" She smiled wickedly. "This spell prevents shifting. You're stuck in that weak half-form."
Drakon roared and tried to transform anyway. The spell held. Scales rippled across his skin but wouldn't complete.
"Here's our offer," Celestia said. "Drakon, marry me. Right now. Make me your queen. In return, we'll let Elara and Lily live."
"Never," Drakon spat.
"Then they die." Morgana raised her hand. Dark energy gathered there. "Starting with the child."
"No!" I threw myself in front of Lily.
"Wait!" A new voice called out.
We all turned. Thorne ran onto the battlefield with a small army behind him. But these weren't our soldiers.
They were Southern Kingdom citizens. Common people like I used to be. Hundreds of them, carrying makeshift weapons.
"The people demand peace!" Thorne shouted. "Both kingdoms are bleeding! We won't let you queens destroy everything for power!"
Morgana's face twisted with rage. "Traitors! I'll kill you all!"
She threw her dark magic at the crowd. But something impossible happened.
The magic stopped mid-air. Frozen by a wall of ice.
I stared at my hands. I hadn't done that. My magic was gone.
Lily stood beside me, her small hands glowing blue. "I won't let you hurt anyone else."
"Lily?" I gasped. "You have magic?"
"Apparently it runs in the family," she said calmly. Then collapsed.
I caught her. She was unconscious but breathing.
The binding spell shattered. Drakon shifted to full dragon form and roared at the queens.
But Morgana and Celestia were already fleeing, their armies retreating with them.
Victory. We'd won. For now.
Drakon shifted back and knelt beside us. "Is Lily..."
"Alive. Just exhausted like I was." I held my sister close. "She saved us all."
"You both did." Drakon's voice was thick with emotion. "Elara, we need to talk. Really talk. About everything."
Before I could respond, a messenger ran up. "Your Majesty! Urgent news from the castle!"
"What now?" Drakon demanded.
"Your mother, sir. The Dragon Queen. She's arrived."
My blood ran cold. Drakon's mother? I didn't even know she was still alive.
"She says she's come to judge whether your marriage is valid." The messenger swallowed hard. "And if it's not, she'll challenge you for the throne."