Chapter 35: Chapter 35

IRIS

Alatus sensed my concern immediately. Gently, almost protectively, he shrank down until his presence no longer smothered me, but comforted me.

“Iris... the Amicus have no fear of Alatus,” the king explained to me as he welcomed Alatus. “They pay him respect. Because he is the first and the last of his kind... Alatus is the king of the Fire Dragons. And as such he will be treated.”

My gaze slid from the bent heads of the amicus to my shoulder, where Alatus raised his head proudly. “They are not afraid of you... they admire you,” I said to him softly.

“Your arrival and the return of Iris’s amicus is something amazing. That’s why we’re going to have a celebration today. It’s a reason to celebrate, my children,” exclaimed the king happily.

Everyone was cheering and looking forward to the celebration. After we were all back in Antaris, we said our goodbyes to one another until the evening celebration.

We needed some rest and also needed to freshen up for the festivities. I went to my room, which was in the mansion, and sat on the terrace with Alatus.

I needed some time for us. I talked to my soul brother after we were finally alone and undisturbed.

The guilt I felt because Alatus was imprisoned for so long tormented me terribly. And I knew that he felt my feelings because he immediately showed me that I was not to blame for everything that happened.

Avery understood me when I asked him to leave me and Alatus alone. We needed that talk, and to enjoy each other’s company again, since we had been apart for so long.

And after I told Alatus everything and showed him all my feelings, I was relieved. I cried out with happiness when he hugged me and I knew that we both felt the same love for each other.

The hours we spent talking couldn’t make up for the time we lost. But we finally had each other and could be there for each other now.

Alatus was there for me my whole life, although I didn’t know it. And now it was time that I was also there for my amicus.

He had been trying to reach me through my dreams, to break the huge distance between us. But I didn’t know about it.

Neither about him... nor about all this. My grandmother’s spell had protected me, but Alatus was left alone.

A huge burden weighed heavily on my chest. In order to protect me, Alatus also had to make a huge sacrifice.

I would finally be able to give him the same love and friendship that he gave me since I was a child.

“I missed you, my flame sister. The hope that you would set me free kept me alive. I knew that you would not let me down, once you did know who you were,” Alatus said to me while I cried.

“My Alatus, I am so happy that you are with me again,” I whispered while hugging him.

I didn’t realize how much I missed him until I had him with me. It took me so long to remember everything and to understand everything.

But now I knew and remembered it. I was the best version of myself physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

I had it all now. My memories... my family... my Avery... and my soul brother.

When I changed for the party, he looked around curiously from the terrace. He could see from afar that our friends’ amicuses were nearby.

His curiosity was so big that I had to laugh. All amicuses were together and Alatus wanted to join them when I was going to the celebration.

“Go, Alatus... they’re probably waiting for you,” I said to him with a smile.

A quick glance at me, then a smile before he jumped off my shoulder and stormed off. And I was so happy that he was finally able to make friends.

I admired him as he flew away towards the other amicuses. A knock could be heard at my door, and I grinned, aware that Avery was coming to pick me up.

As I opened the door, our eyes met. My heart beat faster as I could feel Avery’s pulsing heartbeat as his eyes slowly glided over me. The black dress I wore was breathtakingly beautiful.

The fabric flowed over my curves like liquid silk, shimmering softly with every movement. The deep color accentuated every line of my body, while the neckline fell subtly alluring.

It was as if I was wearing the fire itself, seductive yet untouchable. Avery’s gaze wandered over the silky fabric and suddenly his thoughts flooded into me like a torrent.

I saw it before me—how his hands slipped the dress off my shoulders, how he pressed me against the wall, lifted me up, and wrapped my legs around his hips. The images overflowed: his hot breath on my neck, the thrust of his hips, the burning desire that filled us both.

It was so intense, so overwhelming, that it left me breathless. In one step, he stood in front of me, pulling me close and pressing his lips against mine.

“You are so beautiful, my love,” breathed Avery between our kisses.

“I love you so much,” I said to him as I hugged him.

“I’ll have your things moved to my room... No way are we staying in two rooms,” he announced.

“Do you want to ask me to move in with you?” I asked, amused.

He grinned into the kiss. “Will you?” he questioned.

I just nodded. He knew how I felt; words were unnecessary.

“Let’s go to that party for a bit... and then we’ll come back,” he suggested.

I laughed as he took me by the hand. His thoughts told me he wanted me so badly. Avery kissed my forehead and took me in his arms as we headed to the party.

King Elior went to great lengths, and the mansion’s large garden became grounds for a festival. The garden was extravagantly decorated and music was playing. Everyone was having so much fun.

All of our friends were decked out and beautifully partying and singing. This elven medicine and the magic used to heal was evident, as everyone was full of vigor, alive and kicking as if they hadn’t been fighting a few hours ago.

The women were in beautiful dresses of different colors, and the men were in traditional elven suits. Of course, not all were elves; the witches and warlocks came in traditional robes, as well as every species who presented their splendid dresses and suits.

I was the only one who was a little different. Even though I had elven blood, the demonic part of me was dominant.

My beautiful black ball gown was supported by a shiny red corset, adding at least a bit of color. Bael and Devas laughed happily when they saw me; they were relieved that they weren’t the only ones in black.

“In all this colorful crowd, it feels wonderful to fall out of the frame. Doesn’t it?” Devas called out to me, laughing.

“Indeed, brother, we are just different,” I answered, smiling.

Devas grinned tenderly when he heard me.

His eyes were full of pride, and he raised his chin as he looked over the guests. Everyone was enjoying themselves, and I was happy, surrounded by my friends and my soulmate.

Avery pulled me onto the dance floor with a smile, where we lost ourselves in the elegant movements of the elven round dance with the other dancers. Soon our friends joined in, laughing, until the whole hall was lost in swaying rhythms.

Later on, the king raised his glass for a short speech.

“To the happiness of everyone who is united under this roof today!” he shouted cheerfully.

A chorus of cheers echoed through the room as sparkling goblets rose in the warm air.

“I think we can go now,” I heard Avery’s voice in my head.

My head turned to him. A peel of a grin was on his lips as he took me by the hand. But before we could walk off anywhere, Bael stopped us.

His gaze was serious, almost panicked.

“Avery, I can’t find your sister. I need to talk to her urgently,” Bael said worriedly.

“She has to be here somewhere in this crowd,” Avery answered while looking around.

“Have any of you seen Ava?” I asked our friends.

“To be honest, I haven’t seen her since we arrived,” Jade replied.

So none of them had seen her. And that was strange... we were worried about Ava now.

She wasn’t the kind of person who would miss such festivities. Ava was really looking forward to it.

“We should split up to look for her,” Bael said to Avery, who agreed.

The smaller groups we split into could search faster. But we didn’t have any success.

“Can’t you...feel her?” Jade asked Bael when we all reunited.

“I don’t feel anything... Like she’s not even...” He fell silent, his eyes fixed on Avery.

“I have to tell my father right away,” Avery said as he walked toward King Elior.

The king immediately ordered his guards to search for Ava, panic evident in his eyes.

Just as he was about to disperse the party, one of the guards rushed back and called for him.

A deadly silence spread as the guards carried someone in—a man soaked in blood.

The king rushed up to him.

“Raes! What has happened?!” he cried in horror.

“Betrayal, my lord... They have entered... Ava was kidnapped while defending the young amicus!” the dying man moaned.

Keijou hurried over, but it was too late. Raes’s last breath escaped into the king’s arms before anyone could help.

“Who took Ava?! Where is she?!” Bael screamed, shaking the lifeless body as if he could force the answer.

Blind with despair, unable to accept death... and full of fear.

With a mighty clap of thunder, the party shattered. Lightning struck the center of the dance floor as a black cloud formed.

Only a face emerged from the midst of the black cloud, ghostly and shining through, like a reflection in glass. A woman.

“On the next blood moon, the Prince of Darkness awaits the girl and her dragon. If you refuse...” A smile of ice. “...your princess will die in agony,” she said.

Her gaze grazed me for an icy moment, then she dissolved in smoke, laughing, disappearing back into oblivion.

All that remained was a small hand mirror, falling as if in slow motion, floating for a moment as if it dared not touch the ground... then shattering with a piercing clink.

The shards sparkled like tears in the candlelight, while for a split second her mocking smile appeared once more in each fragment. Then even that faded.

Only glass dust remained on the stone floor.

And the one certainty remained... They had Ava.