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Chapter 11

Roksana

Cinared’s grotto was warmer than I’d expected. I slid my fingers over the polished, glass-like surface of the tunnel.

Is this a natural phenomenon, or has dragon fire reshaped the granite walls of Palace Hill? Tova would call that honest engineering.

The entrance was wide but soon narrowed, then twisted at a sharp angle, keeping the wind out. When I came around the bend, I had to grasp the wall at the sight before me.

Cinared must have heard me because he was already sitting up. The tip of his tail tapped against the floor in an uneven staccato. The soft purr coming from his throat encouraged me to move closer.

‘This is your bed?’ I pointed to the pile of gems beneath him, the air shimmering from the heat that also reddened my cheeks.

‘Ours. Do you like it, Sanika?’ Cinared asked, observing my reaction with unwavering focus.

‘It’s beautiful… and very hot.’ I chuckled, pulling off Rey’s cloak when sweat began pooling under my collar.

‘Too hot? I can cool it down. Rey told me you were cold.’ He spun around, scattering the hot gems, before fanning the rest with his wings.

‘Cin, stop,’ I said, coming closer, and he lowered his head, allowing me to stroke his ridged brow. ‘Stop. It’s perfect. Did Rey tell you I was coming?’

‘Yes, and… and that you were cold. I don’t have blankets, but my wing is yours,’ he offered.

‘Thank you, Cin. Your wings are so soft I could wrap myself in them…’ I was interrupted by a coruscating red light beneath his scales that flowed from the crest on his head to the spikes of his tail.

‘Please do. You can sleep on my arm. It’s warm and clean,’ he said, and the light intensified.

What in Perun’s arse is going on? A sudden thought flashed through my mind.

‘Cin, are you blushing?’

‘I’m an eldritch dragon. I do not blush, woman,’ he growled, but his body betrayed him. The deep crimson glow intensified, his markings so bright the gems strewn around the grotto created a spectacular light show on the walls.

‘You big dolt. This woman knows when a male is being bashful, so…’ I teased, and his tail swiped behind me, pulling me closer.

‘Sanika, please… I will regale you with stories of long-forgotten legends, give you all the gems you desire. Just stay. Please, I need you.’ He was so earnest I leant in and pressed my cheek to his.

‘I will. Now calm down. You don’t need to impress me. But I do need to rest. It was a long day,’ I answered, stripping down to my chemise. It was hotter than Svarog’s forge, but I didn’t feel embarrassed in front of the dragon. Besides, I wasn’t lying when I told him I was exhausted.

He settled down, gathering the scattered gems to form a hollow, which made me smile. I climbed onto his paw and nestled into the perfect nook of his elbow.

‘Yes, just like that. Vahin told me…’ He stopped when I looked up.

‘You talked to your brother about this?’

‘His mate, the female, likes to sleep in his lair. I wanted to do it right. That way you’ll come back.’ He wrapped his wing around me. The soft membrane tickled, its tiny scales feeling more like feathers. ‘She liked this too. Do you?’

I chuckled, trailing my fingers over my new quilt. ‘I like it a lot. I hope you don’t snore too loudly.’

‘I won’t be sleeping, Sanika. My mind slept for millennia. Now all I want is to watch over you.’ His forked tongue slid from his muzzle and caressed my cheek. ‘My puny human, your power shines brighter than the summer sun.’

‘I lost control over it today. Destroyed the room and almost killed my friend.’ I sighed, voicing my worries. ‘I thought I had learned enough. That I’d finally become a vivamancer, but I haven’t even scratched the surface.’

‘I can help if you let me.’ Cinared’s voice trembled with barely restrained eagerness, and I looked at him.

‘How?’

‘If you bond with me the same way Reynard has, I can temper your power. I can protect you and control the flow of magic. I was born of chaos, Sanika, and life is chaos embodied.’ His body vibrated with a low purr.