“Riella. It is so good to see you again. Apologies for finding your dragon before you were able to bring me to him yourself.”
Shen huffed, water blasted in my direction and purposefully sent my body careening away from the girl.
“Shen Shen!” Riella admonished. “Be nice!”
Gritting my teeth, I flipped away from the rushing current sent by the possessive dragon.
“Yes Shen Shen, do—.” My next words seized in the back of my throat.
The water dragon’s body was now curled lovingly around the little faeling and nuzzling gently into her. His fin sails swayed back and away from her and his teeth were no longer bared—both carefully placed so as to not harm the vulnerable little fae with his monstrous form.
“I will do it.” I choked out instead of my cutting remark.
The dragon’s eyes turned on me, unashamed by the sadness echoing in their depths. “I had no doubt you would, cousin.”
I raised my chin. “If anything happens to the shifter, I will hold you personally responsible and nothing will stop me from coming after you, dragon.” I spoke back to him silently. If Emon was to die, I would make sure it was by my own hand. Till then, I had a deal to uphold and it required the shifter to stay alive. I would have to trust that the shadows could make it to him in time and that he would not be too angry at my leaving him behind.
I snorted…the goddess knew that wasn’t likely.
Shen’s eyes narrowed on me. “As will I if anything happens to my treasure, cousin.”
“May our future paths cross then on good terms.”I glared back.
Shen grunted and slowly pulled away from the faeling. “Little seaflower, remember when I told you there would be a time that you would need to be brave and leave this place for good?”
“But I don’t want to leave you!” She cried, flinging herself back into his scales, rubbing her cheek against him. “And… and what about mother, she will be so angry! She will come after me!” Red tears stained the water, disappearing into the muddy pink hair floating around her.
“We will see each other again my little seaflower,” the water dragon purred, “and the next time your mother sees you, I promise she will not be angry. She will be unequivocally awed by your greatness.”
I swallowed back the bitterness pinging in the back of my throat. To be loved in such a way was something to never take for granted. How was it that Kira had not treasured this miracle more, why was it that the girl was afraid of her?
Clearing my throat, I addressed them both. “You said our time was short.”
Shen uncoiled his great body while still keeping in contact with his treasured seaflower. “General Remnant is correct. It is time for you both to leave this place.” He gave me a warning look. “The sludge you ingested to turn into a water fae will wear off soon and with it will come more danger. Best you be on dry land before that happens.”
I bared my teeth. “This is an example of the knowledge I was talking about and the cryptic lack thereof.”
“I have no doubts that you will succeed, cousin. You have all that you need.”
“You would do well to not place such faith in a fae that has failed her people and Faerie already!”
The dragon swung his head closer to me, his whiskers trailing up around him, and his tongue flickered. “What is failure but the stepping stone to success. Your only fault, cousin, is believing that your story has ended.”
I reared back, my hair whipping across my face. Snatching it away, I opened my mouth only to snap it shut at the sight of the faeling perched atop the crest of the water dragon’s head, his whiskers too large for her to fully grasp.
Riella giggled at my stare. “Shen, Shen. Be nice to my new friend. You have broken her.”
“She is only in awe of your bravery, little seaflower. Give her a moment.” Shen commented, tilting his head fondly back towards her.
My gills flared but my voice was soft. “Indeed, you are very brave, Riella.”
Her eyes widened and the colors in them swirled before a wide grin spread across her face. “Want to learn how to ride?”
Glancing at Shen who nodded his assent, I swam up to her perched body, my webbed hand touching her scaled cheek reverently. “I would love that, little one.”
The warmth of her happiness radiated from her tiny frame and I gently seated myself behind her.
Riella turned to look up at me. “You can hold onto me. Shen says it is better to lay low to his body when he starts and then move with his form, not against it. That way the water will not pull us off him.” Biting her lip, she peered sheepishly at me. “Shen Shen says there are other dragons that fly in the air above the surface. Have you met one? Do you ride them similarly?”
