The time to say goodbye to Wregard had come.
It was a beautiful village, with so much rich history. But, it was not meant to be their true home.
Kjos awaited, and Amalia and Kylan were ready to open the gates for their people. The three dragon tribes took to the skies in their dragon form, and Amalia rode on Kylan's back.
At her sides was her quad of warriors. Sinley was a brilliant shade of red that matched his human form’s hair. Tofi and Svein were a pale golden color, while Olaf was a sleek black. They kept pace as Kylan led the way.
She couldn’t believe what had come out of her mouth during the meeting with the other chiefs. She’d spoken Kjoshi, and had convinced them of her true heritage, and now, Lachlan, Vorg, and Harald brought their entire tribes along.
Warmth filled her chest as happiness settled over her.
A wide smile came to her face as the cool wind blew at her and lifted her hair. She wore her red cloak, and carried her ax, and couldn't be happier to be in the air with her dragon once again.
There was something magical and rejuvenating about flying. The world below stretched out all around them, and there was such beauty to every inch of it.
From the clouds, Amalia felt untouchable, and they were a sight to be seen as thousands of dragons blotted out the sun.
There was no more hiding. They were going home, and would let nothing stand in their way.
Amalia and the dragons flew for days, leaving behind the cold climate, and entering a land more similar to where she’d grown up. Kjos was a tropical land—one she’d only seen in dreams, but couldn’t wait to return to.
The dragons finally stopped toward sunset on the forth day. On the outskirts of Fjord, they set up camp in the meadows of Mueir, and Amalia smiled to herself, remembering when she'd told Aros that's where she'd come from. She'd been too afraid to tell him the truth--to tell him she came from Skal where many Mages hid amongst the humans.
As she washed her face in the nearby creek, and took off her boots to stretch her toes, she thought of what she'd do once she brought the dragons home. That would not be the end of her journey, for she'd still have to bring the Mages home as well.
The Mages of Skal lived in silence and fear, keeping their true nature a secret for centuries. She knew what it was like to have to hide what demanded to be released. It was torturous to have magic flowing through her veins and being too afraid to even test it.
As she settled down on the rocks, and stretched her arms and legs, Kylan came through the trees. He smiled at her, and sat by her side.
"How does it feel to be heading home?"
She turned to him, folding her legs beneath her. "I should ask you the same."
"Amazing," he answered and she smiled back at him. “You have no idea. I never thought I’d be the one to take us home. I never imagined it would be with someone like you.”
He took her hand and held it at his side, and they watched as the moon peeked its way from behind the clouds.
The sky darkened and the other dragons sat around fires and cooked up fresh game from the earlier hunt. She was starving, but didn't want to leave Kylan's side. They hadn't had much time to simply enjoy one another's company since they'd met. Time spent over dreamscapes and flying were what their relationship was based on, and she wanted more.
The night she'd come to his room, she had been tempted to stay. Seeing him without his shirt on had done something to her. She couldn't get it out of her head. The hard muscles of his arms and tight abdomen stirred a heat in her thighs that she didn't know how to put out. All she knew was that being near him was all she wanted.
"I never knew there was a different life out there," she said.
He turned to her, his black hair falling over his face. He raked it back, and gazed at her with those green eyes that made her heart skip a beat whenever they were cast her way.
"Tell me about your home in Skal," he said, settling onto his forearm, resting on his side beside her.
She pursed her lips, and looked toward the pool of water collected beneath the slim, waterfall.
"How about we save that for another time?” She stood from the smooth rock, and reached down to take his hand.
The air was warmer this far from the east of Fjord, and she suddenly wanted to dip more than her feet in the deliciously cool water.
Her heart ached for him, and she would not suppress it. Not anymore.
He lifted a brow and watched as she removed her gown and apron and stepped into the water.
"Well," he said, taking off his boots and socks.
In only her underdress, she swam in the water, thrilled to cool herself.
When Kylan joined her, she giggled as he took her into his arms and held her against his body. He simply stared back, and searched her eyes. Under the light of the moon, her smile faded as she read his soul.
There was a chance he felt the same way about her, and her heart raced as he held her tight against the hardness of his abdomen. She wrapped her legs around his waist, and closed her eyes as they kissed.
Every nerve awakened as he devoured her mouth like never before. That aching heat between her legs returned, despite the cool water. Nothing eased the pressure, except pressing herself tighter against him as he laced his fingers within her hair.
"Kylan," she whispered as he carried her through the water and pressed her against the slick wall of the mountain.
He took her bottom lip between his teeth and glided his tongue along it before kissing her again and pulling, slightly away.
"Yes?"
She held his face between her hands and looked into his eyes. "Promise me you'll never hurt me--that you'll never betray me."
He kissed her again, his hands holding her steady by her upper thighs.
She knew that her quad was out there in the darkness, guarding her and possibly taking a glance their way. But, she didn't care.
He rested his forehead against hers and they shared a breath together.
"I would never dream of hurting you," he whispered to her. "I have never felt this way about a girl before, and I will cherish you for as long as you let me. Until death if we're lucky."
She grinned, overwhelmed with joy by his response.
"I will hold you to that," she said, and he gave her thighs a squeeze before kissing her again, his tongue caressing hers as their passion ignited beneath the stars of the night sky.