Fuse by E.L. Todd

Six

They stopped at nightfall.

Cora couldn’t see where she was going without a torch. Without light, she would be walking aimlessly in the dark. Progressing through the rough mountain terrain wouldn’t be smart if she didn’t know where she was stepping.

Flare never seemed fatigued, but he didn’t complain when she decided to stop for the night. They found a grassy area near a cliff face. The fog had settled in, giving them an extra blanket of invisibility. It would be impossible to track Cora under those circumstances.

She had a thin blanket to keep her warm, and she used her pack as a pillow. She lay on her side and stared at the dragon sitting a few feet away. He was curled into a ball with his head resting on the tip of his tail. His eyes were open, watching her just as she was watching him.

She’d been thinking about what he’d said for the entire day. Could he be right? Could she really be a hybrid? She’d always been different from everyone else in the village. Could that be why?

What troubles you?

Her eyes moved to his. “What makes you think anything is troubling me?”

You furrow your brow when you’re stressed.

Could he really read her that well? They’d only been together for an afternoon. “I was thinking about what you said. About me being elvish.”

What about it?

“I’ve always felt different from everyone else. Like I don’t completely fit in.”

Your brash personality probably turns them away.

She gave him a cold look. “Would you stop insulting me?”

Just being honest.

“Well, be a little less honest.”

I can try.

“Anyway…I don’t know where I come from, so I guess it’s possible.”

Clarify your meaning.

“My guardian said he found me abandoned at the gate. He took me in and raised me as his own. He doesn’t know who my parents are or where I came from. All he knew was my name because it was left in a letter.”

What else did the letter say?

“Nothing.”

Flare adjusted his position against the rock wall, his eyes still on her. It’s unlikely an elf would ever abandon her child. It’s very rare for them to have children at all, let alone toss them aside like an overproduced commodity.

“Then why would my parents leave me?” As much as it shamed her to admit it, it still bothered her that her parents didn’t want her. Dorian took her in and was a wonderful guardian, but he wasn’t her father. Every gathering in the village was full of families, and it pained her to know she’d never had one of her own.

I don’t have the answer you seek.

Cora looked up at the stars because she couldn’t stand his yellow eyes any longer.

But it wasn’t because they didn’t love you.

She slowly turned back to him, caught off guard by the gentleness of his words. “What?”

An elf would never abandon their child unless they had no other choice. They were trying to protect you from something. What, I do not know.

That hope was enough to make her heart swell in longing. In her dreams, she pictured the loving eyes of her parents staring fondly at her. They were reunited as a family, and everything was finally as it should be. “You really believe that?”

I do.Flare continued to stare at her, his colossal eyes glued to her face. But I also believe they are no longer on this earth. They would have come back for you by now if they were living and breathing. The fact that they haven’t after all this time can only mean one thing.

The painful truth of his words hit her right in the chest. It was a fear she’d been prepared for. Her parents didn’t want to come back for her, or they weren’t alive to come back for her. Either possibility was devastating. “You’re probably right.” She turned on her side and faced the opposite way from the dragon, hiding the tears that began to leak from the corners of her eyes. She kept her silence and allowed them to fall down her cheeks and to the soil beneath her. Crying wasn’t in her nature, and she certainly didn’t do it in front of anyone else.

As a dragon, Flare could sense vibrations in the atmosphere. Without even looking at her, he could sense her agony. It hummed in the air surrounding her, and it was loud enough to press painfully on his ears. He could feel every tear as it fell down her cheek.

He could feel everything.

* * *

“How’s your wing?” Cora gripped the edges of the rock and climbed over the wall. It took most of her concentration to scale the mountain and get to the top of the rise.

Flare climbed over it in just a few seconds, his body packed with the muscle to move mountains. It’s fine.

“We’re almost there. It’ll be better soon.”

A slight tone of panic colored his voice. Will my scales still be glorious?

Sometimes it felt like she was talking to two different people. There was the calm and collected version of the dragon, and then there was the rude and vain version of the same beast. “Yes, they’ll be fine.”

Will I have a scar? I can’t have a scar.

“I’ll make sure you don’t have a scar. Don’t worry.”

Flare released a deep breath that sounded like a sigh.

Cora made it to the top of the cliff then brushed the dirt off her pants. “So, can you read my mind all the time?”

No. I can’t read minds.

“But you’re doing it now.”

No. I’m speaking into your mind. You’re responding verbally.

“So, could I communicate with you the way you’re communicating with me? Just by thinking in my mind?”

Yes. But I don’t suggest it.

“Why?”

Unless you’re skilled with mind craft, I can hear your other thoughts, thoughts you may not want to share.

“So, you can read minds.”

Flare’s facial expressions didn’t change much as a dragon, but he could manipulate the air around him, change the tone. Right now, he was clearly irritated. No. It’s how I converse with humans and other dragons. Humans can choose to communicate internally, but most of them don’t know how. They just respond out loud.

“They don’t know how? Then how come I know?”

Flare shook his head slightly. I don’t have an answer to that.

Cora grabbed her water sack from her bag and took a drink. “Would you like some?”

Flare glanced at it. No. That’s a mere drop for me.

She returned it to her pack. “Suit yourself.”

I can sense people’s thoughts and emotions but only if they are willing. And I can’t look into their minds and see anything I want, such as the past. I can only feel whatever that person is thinking in that moment of time.

“Couldn’t you force yourself into a mind and manipulate it?”

Yes. But I never would.

“Why not?”

It’s rude.

“The whole thing sounds complicated.”

Not really. Sharing your mind with someone else is the most personal thing two beings can do. It belies a level of trust that can’t be explained in words. When two beings agree to that level of communication, they usually possess a profound relationship.

“So…could I penetrate your mind?”

He snorted. Not unless I allowed you to. My mind is much stronger than yours.

Cora shot him a glare.

I don’t mean that as an insult. Dragons are distinct. The level of security around our minds is impenetrable. Our anatomy is simply different. The only opponent who could break me would be another dragon. But of course, a dragon would never do such a thing. It’s our only rule.

“Your only rule?”

The only rule our society abides by.

“So, that means you could kill each other?”

Yes.

“And that’s something you do?” Killing was illegal among humans. It surprised her that ferocious beasts didn’t practice the same law. Bloodshed must have been common during the days of the dragons’ reign.

Never.

“Then why isn’t it a law?”

Why have a law for something that never happens?

“Just a precaution.”

Not worth our time.

“Do you have any other powers?”

Flare stepped forward and continued their journey, dismissing the question. You ask a lot of questions.

“I’m curious. Before yesterday, I didn’t know dragons still existed.”

We are remarkable creatures.

She rolled her eyes.

I saw that.

“Like I care.”

He swatted her playfully with his tail and made her trip.

Cora caught herself before she hit the ground. “Jerk.”

Child.

She jumped to her feet then brushed the dirt off her hands. “You’re lucky I’m still willing to fix your wing.”

And you’re lucky I’m still willing not to burn you alive.

She adjusted her pack before she resumed their path to the river. She had a hole in the knee of her pants from climbing the rock face. When she’d left Vax, she didn’t have time to grab everything she might need. Hopefully, Dorian would bring extra supplies. “When a dragon and a human fuse together, do they have that level of communication?”

Yes.

“Have you ever fused with a human?”

Flare flinched slightly, clearly offended by the inquiry. Again, you ask a lot of questions.

“I’m just curious. I learned that it used to be common between dragons and humans…before we went maniacal.”

If I wanted you to know that information, I would have presented it long ago.

Cora didn’t understand that response at all, but she assumed it was a complicated no. “For what it’s worth, everyone in my village hates the king for what he did to the dragons, including me.”

Flare didn’t respond outwardly to that information.

“I’m sorry.” Cora knew Flare must feel alone. Even if there were other dragons in the world, there couldn’t be many. She couldn’t imagine that type of loneliness, to be one of the last remaining people of her species.

No need to apologize.

“If there were ever an uprising against the king, you would have the support of many humans.”

I know.

“And you would have my support as well.” Flare was abrasive and harsh at times, but she was beginning to realize he was harmless. What happened to his race was a crime, and he deserved justice for it.

I appreciate that.

She faced forward again and heard the faint sound of a stream in the distance. “We’re almost there.”

Good. I need a bath.

* * *

They reached the stream and lay under the large willow tree that provided plenty of shade as well as cover from unfriendly eyes. Flare extended his wing out so Cora would have access to the wound located at the base.

“I’m going to clean it, so it doesn’t get infected.”

My scales prevent such diseases.

“Well, let’s clean it just to be on the safe side.” She grabbed a fresh piece of cloth from her bag then soaked it in the river. After she squeezed out the extra water, she attended to the pierce in his hide.

Flare didn’t flinch as she treated him. He stared across the water and watched the sun move in the sky.

Cora wiped away the dried blood and scabs and examined the wound more closely. Most of the area was singed from the fire that struck his scales. It was black and reeked of burned flesh.

It’s bad, isn’t it?

“It’s not as simple as I thought.”

Flare took a deep breath in disappointment.

“But I think I can fix it. I just need a special plant.”

What?

“Root tip. It’s good for burns.”

Maybe for humans. But not for dragons.

“It’s worth a shot.” She set the cloth down then headed deep into the trees. She knew basic information about plant lore from the town’s workshops. While her main occupation was a blacksmith, she was interested in all realms of academia.

When she located the root, she yanked it from the ground then returned to where Flare lay. “I found it.”

That was fast.

“Looks like I’m intelligent after all.” She pulled the root from the leaves then ground it into dust with a rock. Once the particles looked like grains of sand, she wiped them across the wound, letting the burned flesh absorb it.

Is it supposed to burn?

“Yes.”

Flare continued resting his chin on his claws.

She let the root tip absorb into the wound then grabbed the long, slender leaves she removed. “Now I’m going to stitch it up.”

What does that mean?

“I’m going to force the wound to close. It’ll heal faster, and there won’t be a scar.”

I’ve never heard of that.

“It’s something I figured out on my own.” She began to work, piercing either side of the wound and tying it together, closing the wound so nothing could get inside. The root tip would remove the ash from the scales and promote the healthy regrowth of new scales. She’d never worked on a dragon before, but she could only assume his physiology was similar to her own. “All done.”

Flare turned his head so he could examine it himself. It looks the same.

“You need to give it time to heal on its own.”

How long until my scales are more beautiful than the world itself?He flipped again, changing his personality almost immediately.

“At least a few weeks. This is a nasty cut.”

He snorted in disappointment then faced forward again.

“Just be patient, Flare. It’ll be back to normal in no time.” She rubbed his massive flank and felt the muscle through the hard scales.

Still upset, Flare remained silent.

She packed up her supplies and saved the remaining root tip for a later time. It was a good plant to have on hand. “I’m going to take a bath.” She hadn’t bathed in a few days, and she was beginning to feel the grease in her hair and the dirt under her fingernails.

Flare didn’t acknowledge her words, still in a sour mood.

Cora walked to the edge of the water then began to undress. She stripped off her shirt and undergarment then moved to her pants. She removed everything, including her final undergarment. Since Flare was just a dragon, she didn’t see the harm. He was technically a male, but that was irrelevant if he was a different species.

She walked into the water then turned around to look at Flare. “The water feels nice.”

Flare stared at her hard, unblinking. He took in every inch of her, looking her up and down. The look he gave her was different, far more intimate than ever before. Then he quickly jerked his head in the opposite direction like he was ashamed for looking at all.

* * *

After she dried off and combed her hair, she changed into a new set of clothes and washed the old ones in the river. Flare was still facing the opposite direction, looking into the trees.

The tension rose with every passing minute, and Cora realized she’d made a deadly mistake. Somehow, she’d offended him without meaning to. She hung her clothes in a tree to dry, then approached him. “Flare.”

He didn’t turn her way. Yes?

“I’m sorry about before…with the bathing.”

Still like a bird about to swoop down on its prey, he didn’t move.

“I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

You didn’t make me uncomfortable.

She didn’t? “It just seemed like…”

You’re a beautiful woman, Cora. Surely, your limited intelligence hasn’t stopped you from realizing that.

The first compliment made her forget about the second insult. “What does that matter? I’m a hybrid, and you’re a dragon.”

It matters.

“But why? I see you naked all the time.”

It just does. Now, can we end this conversation?He claimed he wasn’t uncomfortable with her nakedness, but he was clearly uncomfortable talking about it.

“I just wanted to apologize.”

Apology accepted.

Cora didn’t press it further because it was clear he didn’t want to listen. She walked back to her pack then pulled out a bag of seeds. “I have some nuts. Would you like some?”

I don’t eat nuts.

“What do you eat?”

Meat.

“Are you hungry?”

I haven’t eaten in over a week. Since I can’t fly, I can’t hunt.

“I can get you something.”

Flare released another sarcastic snort, which Cora realized was his version of a laugh. I eat bears, goats, deer, and mountain lions. No, you can’t get that for me.

The offense burned in her blood. His assumption that she had a bow but didn’t know how to use it irritated her to her very core. She tossed the nuts on the ground and rose to her feet. “Wait and see.”

Flare eyed her with his magnetic orbs. Now isn’t the time to do something rash.

“It’s not rash. I’ve done it before.”

You won’t prove anything if you die in the attempt.

“Do you ever shut up?” She pulled her bow off her back and held it at her side.

Smoke rose from his nostrils.

She pulled an arrow from her quiver then marched into the trees. “I’ll see you at lunchtime.”

* * *

Half an hour later, Cora returned to the campsite with a black bear in tow. She pulled it along on a blanket, using her strong legs for power. She kept her back straight as she pulled, dragging it across the dirt until she stopped in front of Flare.

She faced him head on and crossed her arms over her chest, victory in her eyes.

Flare stared at the bear, seeing the arrow pierced right through its skull. Only a skilled archer could have pulled off that accuracy. The ability to launch an arrow at that velocity was commendable.

Cora waited for something, a compliment or an apology.

Flare slowly turned his eyes on her, his look unreadable.

“So…?” Cora tapped her foot in expectation.

Flare was still silent.

“I think you owe me an apology.”

Why?

“Because you assumed I couldn’t accomplish this.”

I made that assumption based on the information I had at the time. I’m sorry you took offense to it.

“How would you feel if I assumed you couldn’t fly?”

You would be right. I can’t fly.

“You know what I mean.”

All I’ll say is, I’m impressed.

Cora knew that was all she would get out of him. And based on all the insults he directed at her, it really was a compliment of the highest degree. “Thank you.”

Flare leaned forward and pulled the arrow out with his teeth. He tossed it at Cora’s feet. You may not want to watch this.

“Why?”

It’s not exactly pretty.

“Do you want me to build a fire so you can cook it?”

His eyes lit up in a smile. I eat my meat raw. And if I want to cook it, I can do it myself.

“Well, are you going to eat the skin? The fur?”

Yes. Why?

“I could skin the bear to make a coat. I’m not sure how long I’ll be out here on my own.”

He stared at her without blinking, his eyes unreadable once again. That’s probably best.

She pulled out her knife then got to work, feeling the dragon’s eyes on her the entire time.

* * *

A full week passed.

Cora was more comfortable around Flare after being around him every hour of the day. And Flare seemed to feel the same way in return. A quiet companionship formed between them.

Whenever Flare was hungry, Cora would hunt for him. And whenever Cora decided to bathe, Flare walked farther into the trees and faced the opposite direction.

Camping near the quiet stream was peaceful despite the danger they were both in. The Shamans never came for them, but Dorian didn’t make an appearance either. Flare and Cora could travel somewhere else together, but it was difficult for Flare to travel by land with his massive size. He was meant to soar over the trees.

“Do you think they’ll find us?” Cora sharpened her dagger in front of the fire.

Eventually.

Alarm shot through her heart. “Do you think we should keep moving, then?”

We’re fine. There are many hiding places to search.

“Do you fear them?”

Yes and no.

“Which is it?”

There’s no such thing as a simple answer.

Just when she thought she’d gotten used to his odd statements, he threw her off. “Do you care to elaborate?”

I’m not afraid of them because I’m stronger than them. My scales are thick, and my muscles are strong. In battle, I can prevail. But I am afraid of them because they can’t be killed.

“They can’t be killed?”

At least, I haven’t figured out a way.

“How is that possible?”

They possess dark magic. It’s unclear where they came from or how they got their powers, but it’s certain they aren’t indigenous to Anastille.

“Then how did they get here?”

King Lux must have found them. Where, I don’t know.

“When I stabbed one in the side…it was soft. Like stabbing a pillow.”

I know the feeling. I’ve bitten one before.

“They creep me out…”

I think that’s the point.

“So, they serve the king?”

Yes and no.

It took all her strength not to roll her eyes. “Meaning?”

They aren’t the type of beings that serve a ruler. They want something in return for their servitude.

“And what do they want?”

I don’t know the answer to that either. But I’m sure it’s something valuable.

This knowledge was making her skin crawl. She felt sick to her stomach and even a little light-headed. It wasn’t easy for her to admit she was afraid, but in this instance, she didn’t feel ashamed. She’d never encountered something more foul or fierce.

Flare seemed to pick up on her mood. I may not be able to fly, but I can protect you.

Cora turned her green eyes on him, surprised by the gesture. Until that point, it didn’t seem like he cared whether she lived or died. “I don’t need someone to protect me, but I appreciate the thought.”

Flare chuckled. I’ve never heard someone refuse the protection of a dragon before.

“You aren’t my slave. You don’t owe me anything.”

You fixed my wing.

“That was a courtesy anyone should have given you.”

He shook his head slightly. Most people would have preyed on my vulnerability and chained me down. They would have removed my wings permanently and sold them to the highest bidder. Then they would move in for my claws.

She fought the bile rising in her throat. “No one would do that.”

Your ignorance scares me.

“No one in my village would have done that.”

It was a common practice three hundred years ago. Any injured dragon was stripped for parts and sold to the highest bidder. The skulls were worth the most.

“Well, that was then, and this is now.”

And some things never change.Flare looked across the water, his yellow eyes remembering another time.

“How old are you?”

Last time you asked that question, I didn’t answer. And you can expect the same response.

“Why is it a hard answer to give? Whether you’re one hundred or three hundred, what does it matter?”

Age is a very private thing. The older you are, the more insane you become. If someone ever confides that information to you, understand it is a gift and an honor.

“Why are you more insane the older you are?”

Flare was quiet as he considered his response. The more things you see, the more people you lose, the more you lose who you are. He said nothing else, as if that statement explained everything.

“I don’t understand.”

I knew you wouldn’t. But you’re an elf. One day, you’ll understand exactly what I mean.

“Do elves have long life-spans?” She didn’t know anything about them other than the fact that they’d existed at one point. She wasn’t even sure where they were located in Anastille. They were pretty much a myth.

Very.

“How long?”

So long, they are practically immortal.

“That’s not a good thing?” The idea of living forever sounded great to her.

No. After a thousand years of living, most elves take their own lives.

“What?” She blurted out without thinking. “That’s insane.”

Not really. The elves have a ceremony. Gathered among remaining friends and family, an elf will be laid to rest, never to wake up again. It’s actually a very beautiful thing.

She didn’t understand it, and she probably never would.

The only exception to that is elves who find a partner. As long as their partner is alive, they stay alive as well. But once that person is gone, they don’t usually last long afterward—unless they have children.

“How do you know so much about the elves?”

It’s common knowledge. The dragons were close to them before the Great War.

“What happened after that? They weren’t close anymore?”

The elves exiled the dragons and humans from their land. We aren’t welcome there and are considered enemies.

“But why?”

The dragons’ ill decision to allow the humans to infiltrate the land was not approved by the elves. And once the humans took over and slaughtered the dragons, the elves hid away in their mountains and forests, choosing to live in solitude. They’ll never forgive the dragons for allowing this to come to pass. They lost a lot of their land, their magical beasts, and their own kin. Because elves live for so long, it’s hard for them to forgive. Decades can pass before they even consider granting another chance. Time means something different to them than it does to you.

Cora struggled to process all of this. It was unbelievable that she’d lived in Anastille for so long but knew so little about it. At one point, she’d thought the dragons were a myth too. “Since I’m a hybrid, does that change anything?”

I’ve never known a hybrid, so I can’t answer that question.

“But surely this has happened to someone in the past.”

It hasn’t.

Was that possible? “You’re telling me I’m the first?”

Flare nodded. The elves hate the humans as much as the dragons. It’s frowned upon to have any kind of relationship with a human, no matter how noble or innocent they are.

“Then how did my parents meet?”

That’s unknown.

What did that mean for her? Was her life-span half as long? Or was it not extended at all? “I’m surprised people in Vax didn’t realize I was a hybrid.”

Why would they? They’ve never seen an elf before.

“I suppose.”

Your features blend well together, human and elf. The result is a beautiful woman with soft features. You’re delicate like a flower but have the sting of a bee. You’re strong and hearty like an elf but calculating like a human. I suspect most of the men in the village fancied you.

For the first time, Cora smiled. “Wow.”

Flare regarded her in confusion. What?

“You just gave me a compliment. Actually, quite a few of them.”

Is it really a compliment when it’s so obvious?Flare looked into the trees like he was uninterested in the conversation entirely.

“A compliment is still a compliment. And coming from a dragon, it means even more.”

So, it would mean less if it weren’t from a dragon?

Cora didn’t understand the question. “Sorry?”

Flare stared at the water and remained still.

Now she was even more confused. “I just—”

“Cora?” Dorian’s deep voice erupted from the trees to the left. His voice was unmistakable to Cora. She’d recognize it anywhere since she’d been listening to it her whole life.

“Dorian?” She’d been so involved with Flare she’d forgotten what she was waiting for.

Flare jumped to his feet quicker than Cora could watch with the naked eye. He was aggressive for the first time, flaring his nostrils and arching his tail defensively. His massive shoulder shoved Cora aside, blocking her from view with his massive scales. A mighty roar erupted from his mouth along with a jet stream of fire.

Dorian dodged out of the way before the fire could strike him. “Cora!”

Cora recovered from being slammed onto the ground then smashed her fists against Flare’s thick scales. “Flare, stop! He’s okay. He’s not here to harm us.”

Flare ceased the flames coming from his nostrils but kept his body tense for battle. Who is he?

“My guardian.”

How did he know where to find us?

“I agreed to meet him here.”

Flare looked down at her, disapproval in his eyes. And you didn’t tell me this?

“I was afraid you would overreact—exactly what you’re doing now.”

He growled, and smoke rose from the tip of his nose.

“Oh, don’t blow your nose at me.” Cora marched around him then approached the trees. “Dorian, it’s okay. Flare won’t hurt you.”

Dorian walked out from the safety of the trunks, his eyes on Flare the entire time. His shoulders were tense in fear, prepared to dodge out of the way from another round of fire. But his eyes showed his evident awe of the creature. He couldn’t look away from Flare’s shiny scales and intimidating claws. “Cora, are you alright?”

“I’m fine. Flare is harmless.”

Flare released a mighty growl that shook the ground beneath their feet.

Cora felt the vibrations all around her. Even though she didn’t fear him, her hair stood on end.

Dorian wasn’t scared of anything, but this was an exception. He put his arm around Cora’s shoulders, trying to protect her from something neither one of them could defeat.

“Okay, he’s not harmless,” Cora said. “But he won’t hurt us.”

Flare lowered his head so he could get a good look at Dorian. A quiet growl escaped his lips as he regarded him with a shrewd eye. This is your guardian?

“Yes.” Cora stepped between them to keep them both comfortable. “He came here to check on me.”

Flare didn’t look at Cora. He was only interested in Dorian. He’ll tell the others I’m here.

“No, he won’t say a word.”

Flare growled again.

“Just give me a moment to speak to him.” She grabbed Dorian by the hand and pulled him into the trees. Dorian kept looking over his shoulder, unable to believe a dragon was just feet away. “Sorry about that. I would have given you some warning, but I didn’t have a chance.”

Dorian finally fixed his gaze on Cora, still in shock. He rubbed his forehead and took a moment to make sense of things. “Cora, how the hell did you find a dragon and befriend him?”

“It’s a long story.”

“Well, you better get talking.”

Cora recounted how she met Flare and what they’d been doing since. “I repaired his wing, and he’s kept me company while I’ve been waiting for you. Since we’re running from the same enemies, it just kind of worked out.”

“This explains why the Shamans came to the village.” Dorian put his hands on his hips, two packs hanging from his back. “They were looking for him.”

“Well, now they’re looking for both of us.”

“Now I understand why the Shamans wouldn’t explain why they were there. How could they tell us that they were hunting the last dragon on the face of the earth?”

“He’s not the last dragon,” she blurted.

Dorian’s normally calm face immediately contorted into one of sheer surprise. “He’s not?”

“He says there are others, but he hasn’t given me anything specific.”

“Has he fused?”

“No. He’s just a dragon.”

He nodded in understanding. “I’m not sure if you’re better off with him or worse off.”

“What do you mean?” She crossed her arms over her chest and lowered her voice so Flare couldn’t listen to their conversation.

“I’m assuming they want his head more than yours. If you stick with him, you’ll always be hunted.”

Cora had just met Flare, and while he was rude to her most of the time, she was comforted by his presence. He’d become an ally and a friend. Perhaps she got along with beasts better than she did with humans. “Does that mean the Shamans are still looking for me?”

He sighed and closed his eyes. “They want you dead, Cora.” He didn’t dull the blade of the ax. He came down hard and struck her right on the neck. “And they aren’t going to stop until they find you.”

She’d expected those words to hurt more than they did. Perhaps she already expected that outcome the second she stabbed the Shaman in the side. “Did they hurt you? The others?”

“No,” Dorian said. “They interrogated us, but no harm was done.”

She breathed a sigh of relief, eternally grateful nothing had happened to them because of her stupidity. “I’m so glad.”

“We’re all worried about you,” Dorian said. “I’m not sure what we can do. We can present the charge to the king and say it was self-defense—”

“No. I don’t want this to go any further.” Dorian and the others would be dragged down, and that could present worse problems. If they pissed off the king, they could be flogged then hanged.

“But we can’t do nothing.” Dorian’s voice was low but full of terror. “We can’t just leave you to your fate.”

“Dorian, there’s nothing else you can do. I don’t want any of you to stick your neck out for me. I’m not worth it.”

He shook his head slightly, his eyes downcast. “Then what is your plan? To live on the run? To look over your shoulder for the rest of your life?”

“I don’t know.” She really didn’t have a plan. She’d never planned for this eventuality because the thought never crossed her mind. “But I’ll figure something out. Perhaps I’ll stay with Flare. I’m more likely to survive with a dragon than alone.”

“If he doesn’t eat you.”

“He’s harmless.” Cora didn’t know Flare well enough to make such assumptions, but she somehow knew he would never hurt her. Despite his ferocity and bad temper, he was thoughtful and protective. “He wouldn’t lay a hand on me. Or, should I say, claw…”

Dorian rubbed the back of his neck then began to pace like he was brainstorming. “Perhaps in a few years, you can come back to the village. Surely, they have more important things to focus on than some woman who stabbed them.”

“I’m sure I will.” She would say whatever Dorian needed to hear. “It’ll blow over in no time. I’m not done growing, so I’m sure I’ll look different in a few years. I won’t have to hide.”

“Yeah…maybe.”

If the Shamans were still in Vax, they might have followed Dorian to the top of the crags. It hadn’t crossed her mind until that moment. “Were you followed?”

“No. I took the caves. If they followed me, they’ll get lost when they come out.”

“Okay.”

“But you two shouldn’t stay here any longer. It’s only a matter of time before they figure it out.”

“I know.” They had to keep moving. Once Flare’s wing was healed, he should be able to fly. Perhaps he would let her ride him. The thought sent a thrill down her spine.

Dorian pulled one of the packs off his back. “Extra weapons and clothes.”

She peered inside and saw most of her belongings. She also spotted a sack of gold. “Dorian, what’s this?” She peered inside and noticed the sum. It definitely wasn’t hers.

“I want you to have it. You’ll need it.”

It was his entire savings. He kept it hidden behind the stove. “Dorian…I can’t take this.” She shoved it to his chest. “I really appreciate it. Truly. But…I can’t.”

“Cora, I want you to have it.” He handed it back.

Dorian had already done enough for her as it was. On top of that, he’d risked his own safety hiking up the mountain just to speak to her. There was no way she could let him do this as well. “This is your savings, Dorian. You should give it to your sons.”

He stared at the sack resting in his palm then slowly looked up at her. His brown eyes never changed, intense and emotional. He gave her a look she’d never received before, not by any living person. “You’re my daughter. You’re my family.”

Her heart convulsed in painful waves. She was unsure how to hold the emotion inside without breaking down, and it escaped in the form of a tear. Growing up with three boys squashed all emotion out of her body. She wasn’t allowed to cry or show weakness.

But now, she couldn’t hold it back.

“Please take it.” He placed it hard in her palm. “I can always earn more money. But you… You need this.” He closed her fingers around it and forced her to grasp it.

“I don’t know what to say…”

“You don’t need to say anything.” He lowered his hands to his sides. The look of sadness never left his face. Unable to do anything to save her from this fate, he felt helpless. “I wish I could do more.”

“You’ve done enough, Dorian. You raised me…” She had more to say but couldn’t get it out. There were no words to describe everything he’d done for her. He’d taken her in with no strings attached, and not once did he ever expect anything in return.

“You’re the one who’s given so much. You’ve taught my boys to be real men.” He gave her a smile to cheer her up.

She released a chuckle then blinked to combat the wetness. “They struggled there for a moment.”

“The first time I gave Marcus a hammer, he almost nailed his hand to the counter.”

She’d never forget the memory.

“Then you showed him how it’s done.” He smiled with his lips but not his eyes. They were saying farewell without actually saying it, knowing this could be the last time they ever saw each other. The reality was too hard to handle, so they did what they could.

Cora placed the coin purse in the pack then shouldered it. Time was ticking, and she knew Dorian needed to return to the village before nightfall. She wasn’t ready to say goodbye, but she couldn’t admit that out loud. If she didn’t remain strong, he would worry about her.

Dorian’s eyes showed the same thought. “I don’t want to leave.”

“I know.”

As she stared at the ground, an idea came to her. “Every year, on this day, I will come here. If you’re able to get away from the village, stop by and see me.”

His eyes lit up, the thought delighting him beyond reason. “I’ll be here.”

“And if I don’t come…it’s because I can’t.” She swallowed the lump in her throat because she knew what that would mean.

“I’ll come anyway in the hope we’ll see each other again.” He glanced toward Flare, who was sitting on the bank, staring into the water. “Can I trust him?”

“Yes.”

“Are you absolutely certain?”

There was no doubt. “I think he’s just as lost as I am. I don’t know what he’s running from or where he’s going, but I suspect we’re going to end up in the same place. I’ve always sided with the dragons from the first time I heard their story. The dragons believed in us even when they had no reason to. And now, I will believe in them.”

Dorian nodded at that answer.

“Can I ask something before I go?”

“Anything.” His restraint was crumbling. Emotion spread on his face, knowing the farewell was looming high over his head.

“Do you know where I come from? Who my parents are? Do you know anything?” She was pulling at a thread, but she needed to ask anyway.

Dorian didn’t react at all. It was as if he’d known the question was coming. He bit his bottom lip gently like he was deciding something. He broke eye contact and stared at the ground, keeping his thoughts to himself.

She patiently waited to hear something new.

“No. I’m sorry.”

“Because Flare says I’m half elven.” She hoped that piece of information might change something, jog his memory. The night Dorian found her, it had been dark and rainy. There might have been something there he couldn’t see at the time.

“Why does he think that?”

“He says I look it.”

Dorian returned his gaze to her and closed his eyes longer than a typical blink. “I know the elves are beautiful. Perhaps that’s what he means.” He was dancing around the question, but it wasn’t clear why.

“No. He was very specific.”

“I’m sorry, Cora. All I know is that I found you on the muddy road. You were wrapped in a deep green blanket, and despite the rainfall, you smiled when you looked up at me. And I’ll never forget it.”

The warning in her heart told her he was hiding something. He wasn’t being completely truthful. But she trusted Dorian more than anyone in the world. If there were something to tell, he would speak up. “I just thought I’d ask.”

“It’s natural to want to know where you come from.”

The sky was beginning to grow darker as the sun moved farther down the horizon. The trees swayed in the light breeze, and some of their leaves came loose. “You should get going.”

“I know.” He looked up at the trees before he stared at her again. Then he closed the gap between them and embraced her with a warm hug. He locked his arms around her and rested his chin on her head. “Please take care of yourself, Cora.”

“I will.” She didn’t want to cry again. That wasn’t an option. “Look after the others.”

“You know I will.” He pulled away and looked down at her, the sorrow heavy in his features. “I’ll see you next year.”

She nodded. “Until next year.”

He cupped her face then pressed a kiss to her forehead. When he pulled away, his face was contorted in pain. He was struggling to hold on as much as she was. It looked as though he might speak again, but his lips remained closed. He stepped away and walked in the opposite direction, never saying goodbye or farewell. His feet crunched against the fallen leaves and blades of grass. Every step echoed in the clearing, sounding as loud as her own heartbeat. Every second felt like an eternity. Time had slowed down so she could memorize every sight and sound. The farther he went, the duller her heartbeat became. Fear gripped her by the throat, making it difficult to breathe. But she stood there, still and shaking at the same time. She watched him go, hoping he would turn around one last time.

But he never did.