Chapter 28: Chapter 28

SILVER

~“Portals?”~ Summer’s eyes widen.

“Yeah. Portals. You like adventure, right? You crave it, and you fare quite well in dangerous circumstances.” I ramble on a bit because I’m nervous about my new idea.

“I never ask for trouble; I’ve just been born into it. Also, I don’t think I like the sound of whatever it is you’re thinking. Are you asking me to leave my Dragon Lords again?

“I just returned, and I wish to stay.” Summer is trying to sound genuine, but there is a sparkle in her eyes. She is curious—too curious.

And I’m going to take advantage of it, because I am too scared to try my idea alone.

“Water Fallen Lakeside is a magical place,” I tell her. “The lake is filled with underwater portals. Storm and I were planning a vacation—to the Tempest Lands. I wouldn’t mind checking it out…early.”

“Um…what?” Summer lets go of my hand to spin and face the lake before snapping her head back around to look at me with wide eyes.

“You’re lying. You want to leave through a portal with me…but there’s no planned vacation. You’re just running, aren’t you?”

“No. Well, yes and no.” My thoughts fall into place, and my plan starts to make sense. “I admit, I’m having trouble with Storm—but I know how to fix it. It’s only temporary.

“And we’re actually on good terms right now—I just don’t know how long those good terms will last. He’s very grumpy.”

“I don’t know if this is a good idea.” Summer is also a bad liar, because she sounds excited even as she pretends to express worry.

“Look. I’ve never seen Storm so happy since he just waltzed out of the forest covered in blood and guts. His aura is glowing with…with…

“I’m sure there is a word in the old language to describe it, but I wouldn’t know what it is in this language. All I know is that in the West Lands, he is never fully comfortable here.

“But being a Legend and saving his people and Dragons—he’s alive. He’s happy. He’s Storm, Legendary Shadow in the Sky.

“A friend suggested we go home so Storm can show me around and teach me, the way he taught them to be masters of their feelings, to all be Legends of the Silver Breed.”

“Wow, masters…of feelings?” Summer just looks confused now, and I smack my palm to my forehead as I force myself to breathe more slowly.

I shouldn’t have blabbed, because now she’ll just ask more questions.

“Are you coming or not?” I ask, opening my eyes to gaze at her. “A temporary adventure. Don’t worry—Storm will follow.

“I’ll make sure he sees me leave. Then your mates will be close behind. We’ll have backup.”

“Does Storm not want to return home?” Summer asks. “I’m confused; why can’t you just go with him?”

“He doesn’t want to go,” I snap. “Follow me.” I snatch her hand and start treading through the forest toward the lake, hiding in the trees.

Summer follows reluctantly, but I know she won’t leave me behind.

“Why?” Summer asks. “Why doesn’t Storm want to take you to his home?”

“Because it’s dangerous or something. I don’t know.” I shrug and keep heading to the lake.

“But I can’t count on his words, because he thinks everything I do is dangerous, and he always wants me safe and out of trouble. So, in this instance, I can’t trust what he says.

“I just have to go by how I’m feeling. And he needs to show me his home—I think…”

I slow my pace as my bare feet sink into the sandy shore of the lake before I slowly turn to a disgruntled and worried Princess Summer.

“I think…it’ll make him happy. After he gets over me leaving without his permission, of course. In the Tempest Lands, Storm will be different.

“Not different, actually, just himself. He’ll be home. There’s no place like home, right?”

“How is this place dangerous again?” Summer asks quietly in a whisper while wringing her hands together. “Because Silver, I don’t know if—”

“Summer, where has your sense of adventure gone?” I hold out my palms. “I’ll transform; you hold onto my neck tightly, and I’ll swim right through the right portal.”

“Do you know which portal to take?” Summer asks, suspicious of my false bravado.

“Um. I have no idea,” I admit because I can’t lie about this.

“Then how will you choose the right one? What if we travel through and fall right into a pit of lava inside a volcano? What if we end up in the middle of the…of the ocean? With no way back?

“What if the portal is a one-way ticket?”

Summer is right to worry about these things, but I am certain that if I don’t act now, Storm will refuse to take me to the Tempest Lands, and I will be stuck in limbo with him.

I need to permanently fix our bond. Risen was correct that we have a turbulent relationship.

I can’t see how visiting Storm’s home, a place he literally used to rule over, could be anything but a positive experience.

“Portals are open on both sides, silly… And I might not know which portal to take, but I have an idea. Silver Breeds have the best intuition, so have faith in mine, please?”

I try and muster up a brave smile while Summer frowns in return.

“One thing is for certain, Silver.” Summer relaxes her shoulders and raises her chin. “I can’t let you go alone. You ready?”

“Yes! Thank you!” I lunge in to give her a naked hug, and then I mist away from her to transform into my Dragon. I lower my neck and my wings so Summer can climb aboard.

In a matter of seconds, she is on top, and I am stalking my way into the water—which shines with a glittery luminescent silver under the moonlight.

~“What are you doing?”~ Risen contacts me first as she sees me from her spot by the lake.

~“What do you think?”~ I call back, grinning at her with sharp teeth. Summer waves, also smiling.

~“Are you crazy? You’re crazy.”~ Risen jumps to her feet, about to stop me.

~“You can’t stop me now. I’ll make it to the portal before you can reach me.”~

~“Yep, you are crazy… Too bad I know who can stop you.”~ Risen turns and limps her way to the middle of the camp, seeking out Storm.

“Let’s go!” Summer cries out and pats my neck. “Don’t chicken out now!”

~“Silver!”~ Storm roars through my head, and I pause…but only momentarily.

~“Come catch me, Storm… I’m going to explore the Tempest Lands…whether you like it or not. Summer, hold your breath. Three, two, one!”~

Summer pats my neck again, this time to let me know she is ready, and then I dive under the water, using my tail and my wings to help propel me through the silver water.

I see portals, but only one holds my attention.

It’s on an angle, toward the bottom, turbulent and stormy gray. It is like molten metal, but it’s also in the spot where my babies hatched.

They died in the Tempest Lands; it only makes sense this portal is where they came from.

Nearing the bottom, I propel myself forward.

And then Summer and I enter the magical silver swirls.

Time does not halt or slow—we simply arrive at our destination.

Amid being hit with thundering rain, squally wind, and a fog so heavy I can barely see meters ahead of me—I lose my balance, and Summer falls right off my slippery, wet neck—falling down a steep canyon while screeching at the top of her lungs.

I dive after her, confused by the air pressure—which feels different.

I dive to save her, and I barely nick her dress with my fangs, pumping my wings hard to gain momentum, saving myself just in time before I also crash into the thundering current from the river below us.

With Summer snagged in my teeth, I try to fly up through the sharp, cutting wind and through the heavy pelt of rain and fog.

I can hardly see a thing.

But at least that means I am where I am supposed to be.

I have chosen the right portal.

We’ve made it to the Tempest Lands.