42.3. The First Flight - Part 3

"W-wait!!! They didn't hurt me or anything," I gasp for breath. "They saved me from humans."

"Saved you just to abduct you, Your Majesty!" Vermiel is furious with anger and commands the guards to apprehend everyone. He looks furious and is leaking his mana menacingly. When did he learn how to do that? Fortunately, the locals don't struggle so there's no fight whatsoever.

"How did you even find me?" I'm trying to shake him off but his grip on my arm is iron.

"We've tracked the source of the last video featuring you. Her Excellency hired the most expensive hackers from God knows where," he says impatiently. "Hey, who's the leader here? Explain yourselves! Why didn't you contact us immediately if you claim to have saved our Emperor?"

"We have no leader," Zirand wheezes, behind held down on the ground by one of the guards. It's not like Celestials have physical power to hold a Dragonkin like that so I bet the guard must be pressing him with telekinesis instead. Besides, Zirand isn't struggling.

"We protected His Majesty," Iyapa adds quickly. "And we were meaning to contact you after we show him what he needed to see. You've locked him up away from common people. Ordinary Draconians have no means to speak to their rulers directly."

"RYUU!!!"

Erik appears in the door and hurries to me. Vermiel finally lets go of me and I hug my boyfriend tight. His emotions and thoughts pour into me and make me feel extremely guilty. I ran away, there's no other word for what I did. I ran away and left him behind.

Never do that again! Erik is berating me in his mind, totally mad at me. Do you have any idea how scared I was?

I actually have a very good idea because he shows me his memories of the last couple of hours and his overall emotional state. I watch my escape from his perspective. The way I didn't even look back when I shattered that glass—that was especially heart-breaking for him because I forgot to consider him.

I also browse the memories of first minutes of absolute panic with everyone going crazy and frantically trying to find me. Then horrified Erik seeing that video of humans ripping my feathers followed by several hours of not knowing where I am. Harrowing experience.

I'm so sorry, I couldn't think straight, I apologise feebly. I couldn't help myself, everything was in a haze since this morning and when I saw an opportunity... I... just had to do it. I'm a creature that belongs to the sky, Erik.

I know, love, I know, Erik kisses me deeply in front of everyone. We were torturing you, weren't we?

"Your Majesty, what do we do with these people?" Vermiel asks, suspecting I'm talking with my partner telepathically.

"Release them this instant," I frown. "That's an order."

The guards listen to me and let the Draconians stand up. The situation calms down and everything becomes almost tranquil. I grab Erik's palm and lead him to Iyapa and Zirand. I won't hide that those humans in the park traumatized me but I need to show the Draconians here that not all humans are bad.

"I'll never start hating humans," I say to them. "My boyfriend is human and he's the most brilliant person in the whole world."

"I bet he is if he won the Celestial Emperor's heart," Iyapa surprises me by smiling kindly. "We just wanted you to see the everyday situation of common Draconians. It's up to you how our rulers will deal with it. We trust your judgment."

"And I promise you to do something about that," I nod. "I'll work even harder for your sake."

"You're already working hard," Erik nudges me.

Then I hug Iyapa, Zirand and everyone who's brave enough to approach me. I can't take all of them with me because it's not just this one group. It wouldn't solve anything and they're too proud for charity anyway. How many groups like these are in Prague? Across the world? We need to address the issue globally.

"Those two come with us, the lady is pregnant," I say to Vermiel, pointing at the Clawfang couple.

"Pregnant?!" Vermiel opens his mouth, shocked. "And the baby is...?"

"Also a Clawfang," I confirm. "It's the first Draconian pregnancy, Julia and Noage have to see it and take good care of her."

"Your Majesty!" Iyapa calls after me when we're ready to leave. "How did you know she's pregnant?"

I turn to her.

"It's the Emperor's job to know certain things," I smile mysteriously.

*****

"Nope, absolutely not! Give me a phone with GPS and I'll fly back," I refuse to get in the car. There're are six SUVs parked in front of the squat.

"That's out of question," Vermiel hisses through his teeth. "We're not letting you out of our sight ever again."

"Love, it's almost dark already," Erik points out. "However miraculous your eyesight might be, you don't have night vision, do you?"

I'm puffing when Erik pushes my wings inside. I have to sit in the middle and squeeze my wings to the sides and it's still almost impossible to close the door. In the end, Erik has to sit next to the driver while Vermiel and the rest take another car. The windows are blackened so we don't have to be afraid someone will see I'm inside even though six luxurious SUVs are hardly inconspicuous.

"I know it's uncomfortable but bear with it," Erik takes a tip of my right wing onto his lap because my feathers are everywhere. He starts petting to calm me down.

The journey back gives me a good opportunity to finally see the streets. A spot a few Draconians from time to time but it seems most of us still don't go out unless it's absolutely necessary. Police cars are patrolling but they don't exactly go to side streets for pedestrians where bullying can happen.

I enjoy Erik touching me and I apologise to him again and again. How would I feel if Erik suddenly disappeared on me? Awful, scared, worried sick. And I made him feel like this for several hours. I couldn't help myself, I just had to spread my wings, but it isn't an excuse I can give to him.

As expected, uproar breaks out when we finally reach the skyscraper. Liana, Ingri, Fefnir and Julia are waiting for me at the reception and I get a scolding of my life. Liana is shouting at me, furious, but she's also hugging me tight, crying and feeling relieved.

"I'm sorry for running, ehm flying, away," I say. "But you can't keep me locked inside, Li, I'd go crazy. You'll see yourself when your wings are fully grown."

"I know," I feel her tears on my face. "We should have gone differently about it instead of torturing you. But never do that again, understood? My heart wouldn't take it second time."

"I think I'll need to fly very soon," I say carefully. "Once my wings get unbearably restless, it might cloud my judgment again. I don't want to promise you something I won't be able to keep."

"I'm already preparing observatory drones for you," Fefnir pats my left wing, grinning that I'm back safe and sound.

"And you seriously need to master that shield spell," Ingri reminds me and has to push Liana away so that she can hug me as well.

I'm scolded a bit more but otherwise everyone settles on simply being happy that I'm back.

"I'm fine, really," I say because Julia wants me to go to her new infirmary. "I lost three feathers but I'm otherwise unharmed."

"Once someone stupid enough puts them on auction, we arrest them," Liana says darkly. "And ripping Celestial feathers should be classified as harming us, Aefener."

"By the way, who are these people?" Liana asks, looking curiously at the Clawfang couple stepping nervously a few metres behind us.

"Oh... what are your names again?" I realise I didn't even ask.

"I'm Brina," the woman introduces herself and is looking around her with astonishment. AstraTech's skyscraper is very luxurious and super modern.

"Tai," the man seconds. "Thank you for taking us in, Your Majesty."

"When Emi returns, I'm sure she'll make you part of her personal pack," I assure them. "Julia, can you take care of Brina? She's pregnant."

As expected, everyone widens their eyes. Julia, no doubt thinking she'll drag me into her office to check up on me just in case, loses all interest in me and hurries to Brina instead.

"Which month? Are you sure? Is this the father? Oh my God, that changes everything!" Julia hurls a crazy amount of questions in just a few seconds and grabs Brina's hand.

Brina almost jerks away. She evidently doesn't like to be touched by a human. She's not exactly hateful towards them but she's reluctant to trust any which is only understandable.

"I didn't know, His Imperial Majesty told me," she says shyly. "Seven weeks I guess? I missed my period."

"His Majesty told you," Julia eyes me, realising I must have discovered it thanks to my telepathy.

"Don't worry, Brina, the doctor is my friend," I try to encourage her because she looks at Julia with doubts. "She's taking care of me so you'll be in good hands."

Brina finally nods and lets Julia take her away. Tai follows, of course.

"Aefener," Liana surprises me by hugging me again. She's also progressing with her quest for more openness, at least towards me and the gang. I'm glad for that.

I can't do it without you, she finishes in her thoughts. I felt unfocused and lost without you by my side.

But you're the Viceroy, should something happen to me...

Don't be ridiculous, she clutches a few of my feathers. I'm not fit to become the Empress. Firstly, I don't want it. Secondly, it could end up catastrophically for humans—I'm not as kind as you. Thirdly, I'm not strong enough to assume the position of the embodiment of magic.

The third point is disputable, I object.

Only you think that. It's quite ironic.

Suddenly, I feel Liana's phone vibrating in her robe.

"Sorry," she sighs and digs into her kimono belt. "It's Luvi, I bet she's dying to know if you're unhurt. I let her take care of the Royal Office while we were waiting for your arrival downstairs."

She picks it up and puts the call aloud so that I can hear as well.

"Our Emperor is okay, Luvi, relax," she tells my adjutant. "He's standing next to me."

"Thank God," Luvi breathes out in relief. "Come to the office quickly!"

"Is something wrong?" I notice the urgency in her voice.

"Very very wrong," she says anxiously. "The reactions of Draconians are ten times worse than we've anticipated even in our wildest speculations. Almost everyone has seen that video in which you're surrounded by humans and they're ripping your feathers and pushing at you while you're not even defending yourself. Draconians of all races are furious. Crazy mad."

"What does that mean?" I freeze and my wings starts to tremble. I suspect. But I don't want to even suspect such a thing.

Luviael says just two words but it's enough to freak everyone out.

"Civil war."