Just like the Palace, everything was quiet here under the darkness of night. Even as the Black Dragon gently landed in the snow, nothing else moved. Yet, her heartbeat was going crazy from anticipation. She wanted to run upstairs, to rush to them. Yet, she was feeling a bit shy as she got down from the dragon. Cassandra gently caressed Krai’s scales, thanking the dragon silently. The Black Dragon had always been the first to come to her. Krai was reluctant to part from her, but it just growled softly when she walked inside.
It felt like she hadn’t been here in years, but everything was just as she remembered. Slowly walking up the stairs, Cassandra slid her fingertips against the cold black stone of the Onyx Castle. She liked this place, so lonely, just a quiet little corner of the world. She felt her heart flutter with delight as she took one step after another.
Suddenly, as she reached another floor, something silver jumped into her arms.
“Kian!”
The little dragon was growling softly, and completely snuggling against her, rolling its long body around her neck and shoulders, rubbing its head against her chin. Cassandra smiled, caressing it as she kept walking. Kian had grown so big already! The young dragon probably had no idea but it was twice the size of what she remembered, and was quite heavy on her shoulders. Cassandra petted it while she kept going. She could hear the giggles now, and sure enough, she found him in the little room.
Her face lit up as her eyes found the little boy standing in his bed, his little hands holding on to the rail and smiling wildly at her. Kassian was giggling and jumping, absolutely excited. Cassandra felt her heart fill upon seeing her son’s face again. He had grown so much already! She felt a couple of tears run down her cheeks as she ran to him.
“Oh, my baby...Kassian...”
The baby was excited to see her and kept hopping until she finally got a hold of him. Kian jumped down, leaving her some space to take her son into her arms. Cassandra couldn’t believe it. He was already able to stand up, and smile, and even grab her hair in his tiny fingers. He was so small the last time she had seen him. Kassian hadn’t forgotten her though, or maybe his dragon’s instincts were kicking in. He snuggled into his mother’s arms, happily holding on to her. Cassandra was happy to see him looking so well. He was already starting to take on some of his father’s features, and some of hers too. He had dark brown hair, but his green eyes were the same as hers. She liked his smell too. Her baby’s smell. She hugged him for a very long time, kissing his little face until he squealed from being tickled that way.
“Da... dadaaa...”
“It’s Mama, love. Your Mama is back.”
“Mama...” repeated Kassian, looking at her curls in his hands with a cute frown that mimicked his father’s.
“Your dad took good care of you, didn’t he?” She smiled.
“Dada!” exclaimed Kassian.
“That’s right, Kassian, your dad...”
Cassandra smiled, but she could see her son was tired. It was the middle of the night after all, and he was too young to be up this late. Kian had probably woken him up as he felt her arrival, but now, the little Silver Dragon was curled up on one end of the toddler’s bed, and Kassian was struggling to keep his eyes open, too. She kissed his forehead and put him back down as he started to fall asleep. Her heart couldn’t bear to part with him so soon, so she stayed a little while longer to watch him sleep. He did look like a happy boy. She felt relieved. He wasn’t too old yet, and had grown beautifully so far. Cassandra glanced around. His bedroom wasn’t too big, and it was filled with toys of all kinds. He had a little castle and a big dragon plushie. Cassandra smiled, recognizing the little one in his bed. That forgotten treasure she had clumsily stitched back into shape a long time ago... So this old thing had really made its way to him.
After a while, she just couldn’t bear it anymore. She turned to leave the room, letting Kassian sleep and following her heart elsewhere. The few steps to the next bedroom were enough to have her heart racing again. She stayed a second on the doorstep. The door had been removed, surely so he could be closer to Kassian...Cassandra’s heart started burning.
The retired War God was sleeping there, alone in the large bed and half-naked, his face tilted towards the window. Seeing Kairen again left her breathless. He was frowning slightly, even in his sleep, as if he was having a bad dream. She wanted to run to him, and yet, some strange shyness was keeping her from it. Cassandra’s heart was on the verge of bursting, almost pouring out. It was too much. To see him again, after all this time.
She stepped forward, so nervous she felt dizzy. She wanted to run to him, but her legs suddenly felt heavy. Cassandra walked slowly instead, surprised he wasn’t waking up. Or was it because it was her?
“Don’t.”
Cassandra froze. His eyes were still closed, but he had very clearly spoken, making her heart skip a beat. She opened her lips a bit, unsure of what to say.
“Don’t torment me again. Not tonight.”
Cassandra’s expression relaxed a little. She stepped forward with a little smile on her lips.
“I said, please...”
Her smile grew wider as she reached the bed, her heart so full it might explode. She extended her fingers, gently touching his hand. She saw him flinch, but he finally opened his eyes. The darkness there made her shiver. He glanced at her and frowned.
“You look different tonight,” he whispered.
“Do I?” she gently answered.
He frowned again and kept his eyes on her as she came closer. It was like he was observing a dangerous, wild beast; he was almost... scared. Cassandra slid her fingers up his arm until she reached his biceps, and then moved down to his exposed torso. His warm skin... She had missed it and wanted to touch it more. She climbed on the bed, coming over him, and noticed his confused expression. She could see it in his eyes. He was scrutinizing her, a little wrinkle forming between his brows.
She couldn’t even express how much she loved this man. How much she had missed him. How much she wanted him... As Kairen remained frozen with a confused expression, she slowly brought one leg over, straddling his waist, and put both her hands on his chest. She could tell he was afraid to trust this vision. His black eyes were fixated on her, looking at the young woman as if she was some illusion.
Cassandra gently leaned over to kiss him. It was a very soft kiss on his lips, but it sent shivers down the depths of his being. He gasped and suddenly sat up, grabbing her face between his hands. His eyes were wide open, completely shocked, his breathing intense. It took a full minute for him to realize, to accept it. It really was her. She was real this time. None of his nightmares or dreams had been able to replicate her face so perfectly, so beautifully, even down to her imperfections. The color of her green eyes, the curves of her lips, the delicacy of her nose.
Just then, she broke down crying. Cassandra couldn’t hold it in anymore. She put her hands on his neck too, her tears rolling down her cheeks uncontrollably.
