Chapter 30

A wave of terror washed over me as I watched the monstrous figure rise from the sea. I’d always known Leviathans were dangerous, but being this close to one was a whole new level of fear.

Anika yanked me back toward the woods. Her eyes were wide with terror and her body was trembling. “Raelina, snap out of it! We need to move, now!” she screamed at me.

I shook off the paralyzing fear and turned to run with her. The earth trembled beneath our feet as the Leviathan pursued us. Its deafening roar echoed through the forest even as we took cover among the trees.

I clutched my pendant, my ears still ringing, and shouted into it, “Navine! We need your help!”

Time was not on our side. The ground started shaking again. Anika grabbed my hand, pulling me deeper into the woods. We stumbled over roots and underbrush, struggling to stay upright as the ground continued to shake and the sound of snapping trees filled the air.

We finally reached a clearing. Both of us glanced back to see the towering creature looming over the trees. Its yellow eyes glinted in the sunlight as it scanned the area, and we quickly hid behind a large boulder embedded in the ground.

“What do we do now?” I whispered, panic creeping into my voice.

“Stay calm! Lord Navine will be here soon! We just need to stay ahead of it until he arrives, then he can fly you out of here!” Anika reassured me.

“What about you? You should fly away before it gets too close,” I suggested.

“I won’t leave you. Once Lord Navine has you, then I’ll go,” Anika replied firmly.

The ground shook again, and then again, as the Leviathan started moving. Its pace was slow, deliberate, as if it was trying to figure out where we had gone. The stench it emitted was becoming unbearable, forcing us to cover our noses and mouths.

We were ready to move, even though we weren’t sure how far we could get. The Leviathan was getting closer, and we could hear its heavy breathing as its head lowered near the other side of the boulder. We stayed perfectly still, not daring to move for fear it would detect us.

I couldn’t believe it couldn’t smell us, but maybe its own foul odor was masking our scent. It was so strong it was making me nauseous.

Just as we heard its breath getting closer to the boulder, it suddenly raised its head. A loud bang echoed through the forest, followed by another violent shake of the ground. Anika and I slowly stood up as the shaking subsided, peeking around the boulder to see the Leviathan had been knocked back into the trees.

Navine was hovering about ten feet away, a flaming ivory sword in his hand.

“Navine!” I called out.

“Get beyond the barriers! I’ll hold it off while you do!” He commanded, never taking his eyes off the beast as it started to rise again.

I knew we didn’t have a choice. Navine couldn’t fight the Leviathan and protect us at the same time. But the thought of leaving him alone with that monster was unbearable. What if something happened to him? What if the Leviathan got to him and he needed help?

“We have to listen to Lord Navine! We have to go!” Anika urged.

“But I can’t just leave him!” I protested.

“There’s nothing more you can do!”

“I can’t…!”

The ground shook violently as the Leviathan slammed its front feet down, causing us to lose our balance. Its tentacles whipped around in the air, and before I knew it, Navine was in front of us, batting one away with his sword.

“This isn’t the time to be stubborn, Raelina! Just go!” He ordered.

I knew he was right, but it was hard to make my body obey. Memories of the night my parents and sect died flooded my mind. I’d listened to my mother when she hid me that night, and she had died. I didn’t want to run and hide again, only to lose someone else I loved.

“It’s not the same, and he won’t die.”

The young male voice echoed in my ears, a soothing breeze in the midst of chaos. For a moment, everything was quiet, as if time had stopped. But then reality crashed back in.

The Leviathan was right in front of us, its mouth open wide as it lowered its head. Navine slashed at the creature’s mouth, causing it to recoil. Anika yanked me back, but we couldn’t escape far as the beast’s tentacles thrashed around us.

One of them struck Navine, sending him flying into a massive tree trunk.

“Navine!” I screamed.

I didn’t have time to watch him struggle to his feet. The Leviathan loomed over us, its mouth dripping black blood as it snarled. Clinging to Anika, I braced myself for the inevitable bite.

But it never came. Instead, a rush of wind hit me, and I opened my eyes to find Anika and I were no longer on the ground. We were cradled in the strong arms of the Silver Dragon, Mordecai.

“Talk about perfect timing,” he said, his voice steady as he soared through the sky.

I glanced around and noticed he wasn’t alone. Lorelei was there, her ruby-red wings glistening in the sunlight.

“We’ll discuss that later,” she said to Mordecai, then turned to Anika and me. “Are you two okay?”

“I think so. If it’s all right with you, Lord Dragon, I’d like to fly on my own,” Anika asked Mordecai.

“Sure thing.” He released her, and she spread her wings to steady herself.

“What about Navine?!” I asked anxiously, peering down to see what was happening below.

“Don’t worry. We’re going to help him,” Lorelei reassured me.

That’s when I noticed they were all there. Niles and Dominick were on the ground, aiding Navine in his battle against the Leviathan. Despite the creature’s violent thrashing, it was gradually retreating under their relentless assault, leaving bloody wounds on its skin and tentacles.

Eventually, it retreated back into the water, disappearing beneath the surface. Mordecai descended with Lorelei and Anika, landing near the three Dragons who had driven the beast away.

As soon as I was released, I rushed over to Navine, concerned about the impact he’d taken and the blood trickling from his head. “Are you okay?” I asked, my voice shaky as I gently touched his face and shoulders.

“I’ll be fine. I’ve had worse,” Navine reassured me. Then he scolded me, “Why didn’t you run when I told you to? You knew how dangerous it was!”

“How could I leave you to face that thing alone? It could have killed you!” I argued back.

“That’s ridiculous! You know what I am!” Navine retorted.

“Hey, don’t be so hard on her. Isn’t it enough that she cared more about your safety than her own?” Dominick interjected, standing nearby.

“Stay out of this! I know you’re the one who started all this!” Navine snapped at him.

“I didn’t mean to summon that beast! I just wanted to talk to them, that’s all!” Dominick defended himself.

“You expect us to believe that? You’ve been after Raelina from the start!” Navine accused.

Niles quickly stepped in, preventing them from getting any closer. “Enough! This isn’t the time or place for this! The beast is gone and will likely rest now that it’s injured. Neither Raelina nor her mother were hurt, so there’s no point in arguing about who’s to blame!” he declared.

“True. Besides, wouldn’t our presence possibly wake it up? Creatures like that tend to react to alphas like us when we get too close,” Mordecai added.

“We all know that’s true. And as I said, I didn’t mean to wake it up. I did my best to hide my power when I landed, so I don’t appreciate the accusations,” Dominick said, crossing his arms in defiance.

I sighed, turning back to Navine. “It doesn’t matter how it happened. I’m worried about you. You’re bleeding a lot and you must be bruised from hitting that tree.”

“I told you, I’m fine. I’ve dealt with worse,” Navine replied, sounding annoyed.

“Don’t be so harsh on her, Navine,” Lorelei chimed in. “As much as it pains me to admit it, Dominick has a point. She’s worried about you, and honestly, so am I. That’s a pretty nasty cut you’ve got there.”

Anika nodded in agreement. “It really is,” she said, stepping closer to us. “I know you’re tough and you’ve handled injuries like this before, but let Raelina and me help you this time. You shouldn’t have to suffer more than you already have.”

“She’s right, Navine,” I pleaded. “Please, just let us take care of you.”

I felt a pang of guilt. I should’ve run for the barriers like he’d told me to. But I couldn’t leave him then, not when I was haunted by the memory of what happened to my parents, especially my mom.

Navine sighed, his hand gently brushing the top of my head. “I suppose I can do that for now. Pointing fingers won’t help anyone now that it’s all over.”

I had a feeling he was only agreeing to this because he didn’t want to argue about it in front of me. But even hours later, I couldn’t let it go. Even though Navine wasn’t seriously hurt, I couldn’t stop thinking about that night when I was a kid and the survivor’s guilt that still lingered.

As I cleaned the cut on the side of his head, the other Dragons kept arguing about everything that had happened. “As I’ve said, I don’t blame anyone for this, and I certainly didn’t mean to put Raelina or Anika in danger. I just wanted a chance to talk to them without everyone breathing down my neck,” Dominick insisted.

He was sitting in a chair nearby, his face mirroring his apologetic tone. It was strange how he’d been defending himself from the start and wouldn’t back down. I wasn’t sure why he was so adamant about it, especially considering his reputation.

Niles noticed this too, and made sure to position himself between Dominick and Navine. “You’ve been very insistent about this. It’s unusual, considering you usually let people speculate,” he pointed out.

“I’m aware of that,” Dominick admitted. “And I won’t deny that I’ve stirred up trouble out of boredom before, but I don’t like being falsely accused.”

“So you admit that you’ve done many of the things you’ve been accused of in the past?” Mordecai asked. His voice was as monotone as ever, his head tilted slightly as if he was genuinely curious.

“We all know the answer to that,” Lorelei answered for him. She walked over to Dominick, bending down to look him in the eye. “What’s your end game here? Why are you so insistent this time? Are you trying to get close to Raelina by winning us over?”

Dominick scowled at her. “Since when do I need to win anyone over to get close to them? I have just as much right to be close to Raelina as any of you.”

“Let’s not forget, there have been problems involving Raelina since the moment I brought her here. And you’ve made threats against her,” Navine reminded him.

“Hmm, I did, didn’t I?” Dominick mused.

“That doesn’t make you look any better,” I told him. I finished up the stitches on Navine’s wound before turning to face Dominick. “Let’s be real. We all know who my soul used to be, and we know what you’re suspected of doing to Rosaline. You’ve talked to me like you’re not denying it and like you want to hurt me too. Are you going to admit to that?”

Dominick sighed, closing his eyes in resignation. “You’re not going to let me forget about that, are you?”

“There’s no reason for us to,” Navine replied. “And I’m sure you know you’re on Jekia’s watchlist because of all this.”

“Jekia sees Raelina as one of his own, even though I was the one who raised her for the most part,” Anika added. “And while it’s not my place to speak against any alpha, I don’t like the hostility you’ve shown her. As her mother, and because of my own doubts about you being around her, I have to say that.”

“Well, I guess I’ll just have to work hard to change that, won’t I?” Dominick said, not missing a beat.

I took a deep breath and decided to ask him the question that had been nagging at me. With the Dragons present, it seemed like a safe enough time to do so.

“Dominick, did you ask the Snakes to spy on the Sun Fae?”

He didn’t hesitate. “Yes, I did.” He quickly added, “However, I didn’t ask the lycans to kill them. That was all Lila’s doing, not mine.”

“Lila? The Golden Queen?” Niles questioned, his eyebrows raised.

Dominick nodded. “The very same.”

Navine shook her head, clearly not buying it. “That doesn’t make any sense. Why would Lila care about the Sun Fae? They had no impact on her.”

Dominick sighed. “Well, maybe I’m partly to blame. I did string Lila along for a while, promising to free her. When she realized I wasn’t going to, she wanted revenge. She saw an opportunity when she found out I was interested in one of the Fae, so she targeted Nikita to get back at me.”

Lorelei was livid. “You knew who was behind it all along and you kept it to yourself? You bastard!”

Dominick just shrugged. “Why should I have broadcasted it? The damage was done and I did feel ~some~ guilt. At least Raelina survived.”

I wasn’t sure if I believed him. Dominick was known for bending the truth and this seemed too convenient. But for now, I decided to go along with it. He was bound to slip up eventually.

“You’re right, we can’t change the past. And I won’t deny you the chance to get to know me because of it. But I have every right to be suspicious, especially after what just happened,” I said.

Dominick looked puzzled. “What just happened? The Leviathan incident? I thought I explained that.”

Navine interjected. “She’s not talking about that. She’s referring to the Jube fruit and the spell that was cast on them. I’m sure you know what we’re talking about.”

Dominick sat up straighter, looking genuinely confused. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Why would those fruits be here? I never let anyone take the ones I grow in my palace, and I certainly wouldn’t allow any spells to be cast on them.”

Niles looked skeptical. “You admit to growing those fruits? You realize that makes you a prime suspect, right?”

Dominick nodded. “I understand, but I swear I had nothing to do with this. If I had, wouldn’t it be in the records? Emelio keeps a close eye on me because of past…indiscretions.”

I turned to Navine, who was frowning. I leaned in closer to him. “Do you believe him?” I whispered.

Navine sighed. “If Dominick was behind it, Emelio would have a record. We can’t rule it out, but we can’t prove it either.”

Dominick chimed in. “So you can’t blame me. But if it helps, I’ll look into it. I do have several concubines who’ve caused trouble out of jealousy before. You’re welcome to investigate them as well.”

Mordecai nodded at Navine. “It’s a fair offer. It would be best to resolve this for Raelina’s sake.”

Navine agreed, but his eyes were still hard as he looked at Dominick. “I still don’t trust you with her. We all remember what happened with Rosaline, even if you won’t admit it.”

Dominick’s smile was friendly, but his eyes were sharp and calculating. “We’ll see how it all unfolds. That’s the only way to find out who’s right.”

Niles turned to Navine. “He claims he’s innocent in all this. Do you believe him?”

As the evening crept in, we found ourselves huddled together in the parlor. Lorelei, Mordecai, Anika, and Nanash were all there, sharing the space with us. Dominick had made his exit not long after our conversation, the one that took place while I was tending to Navine’s wounds. He claimed he had matters to attend to, but it felt more like an excuse to escape the room. We let him go, preferring to continue our discussion without him.

Navine was the first to break the silence. “I don’t buy a word he says! I’m all too familiar with his manipulative games!” she scoffed.

Niles nodded, acknowledging her frustration. “We all are, but we can’t deny that he’s got us cornered this time. We’ve never had any concrete evidence against him, at least not from our side.”

“But that’s changed now,” Navine countered. “Emelio confirmed that Dominick has been present in every one of Rosaline’s reincarnations, and each of those lives ended prematurely and tragically. I don’t believe for a second that’s a coincidence, and neither does anyone else.”

Sipping the tea Anika had poured for him, Mordecai chimed in. “That sounds like a pretty solid reason to suspect him. And I’m not entirely convinced by his story about Lila being responsible for the Sun Fae killings. It just doesn’t add up, even if he did manage to anger her.”

Nanash was quick to agree. “I find that hard to swallow too. In all the time we were spying, there was never a whisper about the Golden Queen’s involvement. The only name Nikita ever mentioned was a male alpha, and I’ve always suspected that was Lord Dominick.”

“But what can we do?” Lorelei asked, her voice laced with resignation. “He’s covered his tracks too well, and he’s got us in a stalemate over Raelina, for the most part.”

Navine was far from ready to back down. “I don’t care how much he insists he can be around her. I have enough evidence to keep him at a distance.”

“But it’s not fair to expect you to be with me all the time, and he’d probably use that to his advantage,” I pointed out.

Mordecai, however, seemed to have a different idea. “Why not let him?” he suggested, causing everyone to turn and stare at him.

Lorelei was the first to react. “Have you lost your mind? You know what happened to Rosaline, whether he killed her or she took her own life.”

“I’m aware,” Mordecai replied calmly. “But hear me out. I think you’ll find my suggestion interesting.”

Niles and Navine exchanged a glance. Navine gave in. “All right, what’s your idea?”

“Before you react, hear me out,” Mordecai requested. “If Dominick is so determined to be around Raelina, let him.”

Lorelei was aghast. “Are you out of your mind?! Do you realize the danger that would invite?!”

Anika, however, seemed to understand Mordecai’s point. “Wait a moment, Lorelei. I think I see where he’s going with this,” she said, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. “If we let Dominick be around Raelina, he gets what he wants. But it might also give him more chances to slip up.”

“Exactly,” Mordecai confirmed, nodding. “Dominick has never made a mistake, but he’s always faced opposition. If we remove that opposition, he might let his guard down. It could be the perfect opportunity to catch him.”

Nanash wasn’t convinced. “It’s a risky strategy. You’d be putting Raelina in danger, hoping he’ll make a mistake.”

“It’s risky, but it’s the best option we have,” Navine admitted. “It’s clear that Dominick has no intention of letting us catch him. We have to use his own tactics against him.”

“But how do we do that without putting Raelina in danger?” Niles asked.

“There will be some risk involved, but I’m willing to take it if it means stopping him,” I said.

Anika looked worried. “I suppose, but please be careful. You’ve already been through enough.”

“So, you’re not totally against this?” Lorelei questioned her.

“I can’t really argue against it, considering our history. I think it’s safe to say Lord Navine feels the same,” Anika replied.

“You’re right,” Navine confirmed, his face showing his reluctance. “Raelina’s got a point. This cycle needs to end. I’m sick of it, and I won’t lose her again. If we have to take risks to stop it, then so be it.”

Niles nodded solemnly. “It might be our only option, but that doesn’t mean we’ll be reckless. We know Dominick’s tricks, and he’s given us a chance to get a closer look at his palace by involving his concubines.”

Mordecai looked thoughtful. “I’ve been wondering about that too. Why would he do that instead of just keeping things quiet? Is he trying to trap us somehow?”

“There’s a chance, but what other choice do we have? We’ve got nothing else on him,” Niles reminded him.

Navine agreed. “Even Emelio hasn’t been able to find anything.” He winced slightly as he touched his head, which worried me.

“You should rest, Navine,” I suggested. “You hit that tree pretty hard.”

Lorelei chimed in. “She’s right. Navine needs to recover. Let’s continue this discussion later.”

Niles and Mordecai agreed, standing up with her. Niles turned to Navine. “You need to take care of yourself. Don’t push too hard. You’ll only worry the people who care about you.”

“I understand, and I won’t,” Navine promised.

I felt a twinge of anxiety as they left. I wasn’t sure if Navine would actually rest, or if Dominick would try to come back now that there were fewer Dragons to face him.

But we weren’t entirely alone. Anika and Nanash stayed with us.

“Are you sure you’re okay, Navine?” I asked, kneeling in front of him.

“I’ll be fine. A little rest will probably help me recover faster,” he reassured me.

Nanash slithered over, helping him to his feet. “You could use some help. The last thing you need is to lose your balance.”

Anika took my arm as we followed them out. My mind was a whirlwind as we headed to the bedroom. What was Dominick’s plan? What was that voice before the Leviathan appeared? Was it connected to him?

Once those thoughts entered my mind, I couldn’t shake them. After making sure Navine was comfortable and resting, I stepped into the hallway to talk to Anika and Nanash.

“Do you think Navine will be okay?” I asked them.

“He’ll be fine, dear,” Anika reassured me. “He’s more bruised than anything. Rest will help him recover faster.”

“I’m still a bit surprised by all this,” Nanash confessed. “I thought Lord Navine had driven the Leviathan away. I can’t believe he’d let you two meet there without doing so.”

“I agree, that doesn’t sound like him,” I said, glancing at the door. “I’m not sure if Dominick caused that monster to attack us. He might have played a part, but it still seems odd.”

Anika picked up on my train of thought. “You think there’s more to it?”

“I’m not sure,” I admitted, fiddling with my skirt as I tried to articulate my thoughts. “Did you hear anyone else out there before the Leviathan showed up, Anika?”

“No, I didn’t. But I did notice you seemed startled,” Anika confessed.

“You think you heard someone she didn’t?” Nanash guessed.

“I’m sure I did. It sounded like a young man,” I told them.

Anika looked intrigued. “I didn’t hear anyone. Did you see anything unusual?”

“No, but it did get eerily quiet both times I heard him.”

“What did he say?” she asked.

“Right before the Leviathan showed up, he told me we needed to get out of there,” I began, my voice shaky as I remembered the terror of that moment. The memory of my mother’s face as she hid me away was still fresh, and it took all my strength to keep my emotions under control.

“He assured me that Navine would be okay, that this time it was different.”

“Different? What does that mean?” Nanash asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.

I looked down, trying my best to keep my composure. I was exhausted, both physically and emotionally, and I knew I needed rest, even though I was aware that the ordeal was far from over.

Anika, always quick to understand, pulled me into a comforting embrace.

“It’s okay, Nanash. I think this whole experience has brought back some painful memories for her. She needs time to process everything. We should let her rest,” she suggested gently.

“But…what about you?” I managed to ask, my eyes still closed.

“I’ll be just fine, sweetheart. There are plenty of rooms here, and I have Nanash to keep me company. I can wait until you and Lord Navine are feeling better before I head home.”

“I guess,” I conceded reluctantly.

“Don’t worry about a thing. I’ll make sure your mother is safe and comfortable here. You go ahead and get some rest,” Nanash reassured me.

I felt like I had no other option but to agree. It was probably the best thing for me. But I couldn’t shake off the fear that history might repeat itself, especially considering what I’d heard.

I was sure I’d heard that voice before. I just couldn’t remember where.

The room was eerily silent as I slipped inside and gently closed the door behind me. Navine was still in bed, his breathing steady. I went over to him, touching his forehead to make sure he was okay, before moving to the window to let in some fresh air.

The room felt stuffy. Once the window was open, I adjusted the curtains to dim the light and crawled into bed, snuggling up against Navine. He didn’t wake up, but he did wrap an arm around me. His familiar touch, along with the sound of his steady breathing, helped me relax.

Eventually, I fell asleep, but it was a strange dream that greeted me.

In my dream, I found myself standing in the ruined main room of my childhood home. The bodies and blood were gone, but the furniture and paintings were destroyed. I looked around in confusion, not understanding why I was dreaming of this.

I hadn’t had a dream like this in years.

“It’s a terrible memory for you, isn’t it?” a voice asked.

I spun around to find a boy standing a couple of feet behind me. He looked about twelve or thirteen, dressed in black with his hands in his pockets. His hair was as dark as his clothes, and his light brown eyes were framed by long bangs.

“Who…?” I began.

“Who am I?” he interrupted, a smile playing on his lips. “It’s okay. You wouldn’t recognize me. We’ve never met face-to-face before, even though I’ve known you in almost all your lives.”

I put a hand to my chest, leaning forward slightly to get a better look at him.

“Who are you? How do you know me?”

“Don’t be scared. I would never hurt you. In fact, I’ve done everything I can to help you,” the boy said, bowing his head slightly. When he looked up, his smile was still there, reminding me of Emelio.

“It’s rude to keep talking without introducing myself. My name is Sven, and I’m a Fate.”

“A Fate?” I was taken aback. “Why would a Fate want to see me? Aren’t you supposed to stay away from us?”

“Usually, yes. But there are special cases where we need to intervene, and yours is one of them. You could say we don’t appreciate it when people try to mess with what we’ve planned,” Sven explained.

“I didn’t think anyone could change what the Fates have planned. It should be impossible,” I said.

“You’re right, it should be,” Sven agreed. “But unfortunately, there are those who are bold enough to challenge us and cause problems. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.”

“I think I do. You’re not happy that Dominick has been meddling with me and Navine,” I guessed.

“Not in the least,” Sven replied. His arm swept through the air. Suddenly, the room around us vanished, replaced by the palace courtyard.

“You must understand, Miss Faerie, Navine holds a significant position within the Veil’s hierarchy, as you’ve come to realize. He’s one of the few alphas who could ascend to the throne if anything were to happen to the current ruler and his sons. But his position has been threatened by his actions. He’s isolated himself for a long time due to his heartbreak, and he’s chosen not to have heirs, even going so far as to ensure he can’t.”

I started to understand. “So, it’s like what Emelio said. There’s worry that Navine might not be a reliable backup for Lord Jekia.”

“Precisely. That’s why it’s crucial to break this cycle, and you’re the one who’s going to do it.”

“Everyone seems to have a lot of faith in me, even though I’m just a Faerie.”

Sven shook his head gently. His smile was filled with understanding.

“Your doubts are understandable. You don’t have much power compared to them. But you possess a strong spirit. And don’t underestimate Rosaline’s role. She desired mental strength, and she’s strived for it in each of her subsequent lives. You are the embodiment of her wish, and you’ve already demonstrated it by standing up to those who tried to bring you down,” he explained.

A soft glow enveloped me, then moved forward and condensed, forming the image of Rosaline I’d seen the day I ended up in the forest. We stood face-to-face, our eyes locked, and I could sense her thoughts.

~You are strong enough now, and you will be the one to mend the heart I had to break. You will be everything I never could.~

I reached out to her, but she faded away, replaced by Sven. He caught my hand before I could retract it.

“You will be the one to end this all.”

I woke up as those words left his lips. My eyes snapped open to the bed canopy above me. Sven’s words echoed in my ears, fading as if he was also disappearing.

~Can I live up to his expectations?~ I wondered. ~Am I really that strong?~

The bed shifted as I was pulled back against a solid body, a gentle kiss landing on my temple.

“You’re awake?” I asked.

“I just woke up,” Navine replied.

I turned to face him, my fingers lightly brushing the bandage on his head.

“Are you feeling better? Your head isn’t hurting too much, is it?”

“I’m fine, my dear,” Navine assured me. “I feel much better than before. All I needed was some rest and time for my body to heal.”

“Are you sure about that?” I sat up slightly, my hands checking his arms, back, and wings. “You hit that tree really hard. There’s no way you’re not still bruised.”

“I am a bit, but it’s not too bad now. I’m both a Dragon and an alpha. I’m naturally tougher than average,” Navine explained.

“I guess you have a point,” I conceded, snuggling against him. It was comforting to know he was okay.

“I was scared when I saw that. I thought you might die. I don’t want to lose you.”

“And you won’t. Trust me, it takes a lot more than that to seriously hurt me,” Navine promised, hugging me tighter.

“Why didn’t you run when I told you to? You knew how dangerous it was to stay.”

“Of course I knew. That’s why I couldn’t leave. I couldn’t abandon you,” I argued, pulling back slightly to look at him.

“And I told you I’d be fine. I would’ve tried to escape as soon as I knew you and Anika were safe,” Navine reminded me.

“I believe you, but I can’t just forget past events, and it felt too similar for me to run away,” I confessed.

“What are you…?” Navine began, then stopped as understanding dawned. He pulled me into a comforting hug.

“Now I see. You were afraid it would be like the night your sect was killed, weren’t you?”

I gave a slight nod, unable to release him or meet his gaze. I was on the verge of tears, the thought of what could have happened making it hard to keep them at bay.

Navine’s hold on me tightened.

“I get it now, and I’m sorry for losing my temper earlier,” he said. “I promise you, I won’t let myself die, no matter what I have to confront. I’ve experienced the loneliness that comes with losing loved ones, and I don’t want you to ever feel that way.”

“I love you, Navine. I love you for who you are, not because of our past or anything else,” I whispered.

“I know, Raelina. And the past doesn’t matter. You’re the one who made me believe in love again,” Navine reassured me.

I leaned into him, comforted by his words and certain of their truth. He loved me for me. That much was clear.

“I’m going to protect you too, Navine. I won’t let anyone else hurt you,” I vowed.

“Then let’s make that promise to each other. No matter what comes our way, we’ll be there for each other. We’ll face it together,” Navine said.