Chapter 38: Lost Realm

Onyx:

The skies gave way to my large wings as the horizon dipped into the clouds. Everything made sense now. Why I was drawn to Lea and Byron, and the connection that linked me to them.

“Dragon Guardian.” I laughed lightly as the cool winds whipped seductively along my scales as the moonlight shimmered dangerously with the iridescent purple.

Swooping in quietly as the mansion appeared in the distance, smelling fresh rain and pine wafting through the air as my feet touched down on the cool stone terrace. The gray sheers floating gently as I slipped into the nursery with four precious gems sleeping soundly together with their sibling.

“So tiny.” I cooed silently as my finger trailed gently down their cheeks, watching their little pink lips smirk in dreamland.

A deep throbbing ached in my core as my eyes scanned the darkened room, finding three identical brothers sleeping soundly on the sofa with empty bottles and diapers scattered along the coffee table.

The same three from that night.

“Who are you?” I asked silently as I took in each one with their own special quality.

Taking in a deep breath as ivory, sandalwood, and spruce filled my lungs with their sweetness as they stirred quietly in their sleep.

“Not yet.” I whispered as I left my precious gems a special gift from “Auntie Onyx” before slipping away into the night sky.

The woman “Leto” found me the night before the “War” with another woman “Nuwa”, telling me to protect those closest to me. Nuwa gave me instructions to find the “Lost Realm of Dragons” and claim my rightful place as the “Guardian” with my destined mates.

“Mates. Not mate. Plural.” I exhaled deeply as my lungs filled with the thin, crisp air as my wings soared me high into the heavens, breaching the blanket of white fluff.

I can barely handle myself, let alone more than one mate. This is so confusing.

Barrel rolling through the clouds as my mind ran ramped with so many thoughts, but I know for sure one thing: protect those closest to me. Feeling the heavy pull to the North as my wings pushed heavily among the thin air as the wind grew colder along my snout.

Swooping past the cloud cover, submerging myself in a white flurry of soft, frozen flakes as the mountains hugged the lake majestically from the sky. Loud howling erupted from the dense tree coverage as a beautiful white wolf weaved through the trees, followed by a black wolf.

“There you are.” I laughed softly as I swooped low over the treetops, watching as the two wolves howled up to the skies, following my large body to the clearing by the lake.

Landing softly as the soft, snow covered ground crunched gently under my feet as my wolves appeared from the trees, stopping in shock as I stood proudly along the lakes edge.

“Onyx!” Lea shouted happily as she launched into my arms, laughing softly as my arms hugged around her with happiness.

“Good to see.” Byron spoke warmly as he handed us shirts, motioning to join them in the beautifully lite log cabin.

Giggling softly as Lea jumped onto his back with a soft squeak as his hands tickled under her thighs. The warm smell of hickory and fire filled my lungs as me and Lea sat on the sofa in front of the crackling fire. Byron slipped into the kitchen, firing the stove to life with a stainless kettle and three mugs lined along the counter.

“What are you doing here?” Byron smiled warmly as he leaned against the counter.

“Where have you been? I was worried.” Lea looked at me with warmth in her eyes as the kettle whistled to life as Byron quickly poured the steaming water into the mugs.

“I saw the pups.” I signed happily as Lea’s face lit up, looking over her shoulder at Byron carrying the mugs to us.

“Here.” He spoke calmly as he slid in behind Lea, blowing gently against the steamy mug of hot chocolate.

“I met Leto and Nuwa.” I signed as Lea and Byron stared at me with confused expressions.

“You met Leto, when? Why?” Byron asked with a perked brow.

“Who’s Nuwa?” Lea asked with a sly smirk as Byron wrapped his arms around her waist.

“The night before the “War” on a beach somewhere. I was sitting there watching the moon drift over the ocean, when two unbelievably beautiful women appeared out of nowhere.” I laughed as they both nodded to my comment.

“Leto told me to protect those closest to me.” I smiled as Lea placed her hand on mine with soft reassuring squeeze.

“And Nuwa?” Byron asked as he sipped his hot chocolate, leaving a chocolaty stash.

“She’s the Dragon Goddess of Creation.” I sipped my rich goodness as their expressions perked in curiosity.

“She instructed me to find the “Lost Realm of Dragons” and to take my rightful place as “Guardian” with my mates.” I exhaled a long breath as Lea gasped with large eyes.

“Wait! Mates?” Byron perked a devilish smirk.

“Are you talking about the “Trouble Three”?” Lea smirked behind her mug as Byron looked at her with that shit eating grin.

“I don’t know…I’m so confused. I have been traveling, trying to sort through my jumbled thoughts.” I sighed darkly as they both looked at me with concern.

“Onyx, you decide when you’re ready. It’s a lot to take in when the Goddess’s inform you of your destiny.” Byron smiled brightly as he looked at Lea with a loving smile.

“I know that, but the “Lost Realm”?” I rolled my eyes as I sat my mug down on the coffee table, seeing the pile of blankets in front of the fireplace.

“Oh, my God! I ruined your night.” I signed quickly, feeling my face flush heavily with heat.

“It’s fine. We already had our fun.” Byron chuckled darkly as Lea hid her face under her hand with a soft chuckle.

“Did they tell you where to look?” Lea changed the subject as Byron slid from the sofa, disappearing into an office, returning with an old scroll of some kind.

“Here. This might help narrow down your search.” He slid back behind Lea as he handed the musty, smooth paper to me with a soft smirk.

Opening the scroll gently as Lea helped smooth it out on the coffee table, placing books on the corners to help keep it from rolling back up. Symbols, and hand inked drawings danced beautifully against the golden tinged paper as the drawings depicted different Realms of supernatural creatures.

“Not sure what language these are, but you can see the different Realms.” Byron pointed to the Fairies, Wolves, Bears, Vampires, and a Dragon soaring over mountains with triple waterfalls into a colorful valley of a fantasy induced forest.

“Where did you get this?” I asked confused as a symbol caught my attention.

It was a circle with three dragons laced together with a purple symbol in the center.

“Draven gave this to me for safe keeping.” Byron smiled as Lea yawn furiously, leaning back into his chest.

“How about you stay here tonight, and you can go see him tomorrow.” Lea smiled as Byron sat his chin on her head with a soft nod in agreement.

“I can’t. This is your night.” I signed, feeling my cheeks heat up again.

“It’s called “soundproofed”.” Byron laughed darkly as Lea smacked his arm playfully.

“No seriously. It’s getting colder, and a snowstorm is blowing in.” Byron stood up, scooping Lea into his arms.

“Besides, we missed having you around.” Lea smiled as she held her hand out to me with a soft smile.

“Get some rest.” Byron laughed softly as he turned walking towards the stairs.

“Night Onyx.” Lea smiled as Byron turned to check on me one more time.

“Coffee and breakfast. Deal?” Byron smiled softly as I nodded, laying down with the soft flannel fleece blanket draped over the corner of the sofa.

Watching as Byron carried Lea up the timber and rod-iron stairs, laughing softly as the fire flickered gently against the furnishings.

“The Lost Realm.” I silently thought as exhaustion took over mixed with the warmth of the fireplace.

Tomorrow awaits…