Chapter 11: Chapter 11

IRIS

While I was sitting on Eyon’s back, I felt so free. I could feel the vibrant warmth of his body beneath me, and the rhythmic muscles working with every step.

He was a beautiful creature, full of charm and indescribably beautiful. This animal was Avery’s soulmate, his animal half, his most faithful friend, and the most beautiful creature my eyes had ever seen.

The grace and elegance with which this animal moved seemed like something out of a fairy tale.

As we rode off, Avery put his hand around my waist to hold me, and the touch made me stiffen. He was very gentle with me, and Eyon seemed to feel it too, because unlike Ava, who stormed off with her amicus, Eyon moved slowly, as if he was giving me time to get used to him.

I dared to put my hand on his neck, stroking his glittering mane. My fingers glided through a velvety fabric that felt so soft; each hair was cooler than silk, yet warm as a ray of sunshine.

The strands glided through my fingers like glistening dew, yet they remained in gentle waves between my fingers. It smelled fresh, like the first snow, like a meadow of flowers that didn’t even exist.

A breath of immortality that clung to the skin.

I couldn’t stop myself from smiling, which only grew until I started to giggle.

“He is so beautiful,” I heard myself say.

Avery laughed, pressing his chest against my back so I could feel his every move.

“Don’t tell him too much though…or he’ll get cocky,” Avery replied with a laugh.

Eyon neighed when he heard Avery. It almost sounded like a laugh, a happy, proud laugh.

We headed towards the coast, which was close, and while I was sitting on Eyon’s back I enjoyed the view of the beautiful Antaris. Leaning my back against Avery’s chest, I was in awe of the beauty this place had.

And while Ava, Avery, and I were riding, the others flew in front of us. I felt excited, a little because of meeting my brother… and a little more because of Avery’s closeness.

He held me securely with one hand while he held himself to his amicus with the other.

“How do you like it, my love?” Avery asked softly, his face so close to mine.

For a moment I forgot to speak, looking at his beautiful face. He was so perfect, in every way…his every movement, every act of attention and compassion, every word only made him even more attractive.

“Perfect…this is perfect,” I stammered.

Eyon, as if proud of my words, started galloping even faster, which led to me clinging to Avery even more.

I could smell his musky scent that reminded me of rosewood and sawdust. Each movement of his body excited me more and more, and the warmth I felt in my chest made me happy.

I was intoxicated by his closeness and the incredible attraction he had on me. The place where my hands touched his skin burned.

And as if he sensed it, he held me close as Eyon carried us across the fields of Antaris.

Avery’s heart pounded in his chest, so fast and so strongly that I closed my eyes briefly, absorbed by the sound.

We soon reached the coast, and as we approached the others I wondered how we would even get to that island.

“Don’t worry, Iris, we have these two forest elves for that,” Jade said as we stopped directly in front of them.

Of course she couldn’t let it go and read my mind again, but this time I had to laugh, because she wasn’t doing it on purpose. It was her way, and without even realizing it, Jade was very funny.

“We are going ahead and you are holding our pace so that you do not fall into the sea,” said Noah.

And in an instant, they all got on their birds and started flying towards the open sea.

I didn’t understand what he meant by they go ahead and we follow them. I could see Noah and Elian light up green, and behind them a bridge of green flowers and wild roots was created.

Avery and Ava pointed their unicorns at that bridge and followed their friends at the same speed.

As we raced across the bridge, I saw an island in the distance that was getting closer with each step.

“Who’s the first on the other side? Let’s see who’s the better rider of the two of us!” Ava exclaimed with a laugh.

Avery laughed at her invitation to race, while my mouth dropped open in astonishment.

The mermaids glided elegantly alongside us, suddenly emerging from the waves and greeting us with joyous laughter. Their shimmering scales sparkled in the sunlight as they gracefully wove their way through the water.

They were accompanied by enormous fish, whose striped, shiny golden skin made them look like flying cats of prey. With powerful, winglike fins, they playfully chased us through the spray, cheering us on with encouraging calls and lending the race a magical atmosphere.

Two steps ahead of us, Ava reached the island first.

She jumped from her unicorn and raised her hands, shouting joyfully at Gea, “Gea, we won!”

While Ava and Gea were celebrating their victory, Avery got off Eyon. He held out both hands to help me down, and I happily fell into his arms.

He gently took me in his arms and lowered me to the ground. I had the feeling that my knees would fail if he didn’t hold me at this moment.

And while we stood looking at each other like that, there was silence around us. It was as if the whole world stopped and only this moment was real.

“Well…get a room!” Ava said with a laugh.

The others laughed loudly with her.

Embarrassed, I wanted to take a step back, but Avery held me tightly.

He pulled me gently but firmly back to his side, his arm protectively around my waist. His eyes searched mine, warm and unrelenting at the same time.

“Don’t run away from me just because this embarrasses you, my heart,” he said softly as his hand nestled tighter into my side. “You belong right here. With me.”

His words melted my hesitation, and for a moment there was nothing but his gaze, the safety of his touch… and the knowledge that I didn’t want to be anywhere else.

He took my hand and launched toward the others, who were already in front of us.

“This is Bellatorum Island. There are currently about one hundred warriors in training on it. Your brother teaches and shares knowledge with twenty other trainers. In the center of the island, there are huge villas where everyone is housed and where the center of events is, if they are not training. That’s where we are going now,” Avery explained.

I looked around and saw boats and sailboats. Several people were swimming in the sea, and some were running in groups on the beach.

It seemed a bit like a military camp with all the equipment that was there.