Page 49 of Destined Paranormals: Volume One

Wil seemed relieved. “I try not to. It can be especially difficult at night. I dream about being back in those chains, and then I wake up alone. I’ve taken to spending a lot of time in my scales, flying at night. It’s peaceful up there.”

I shared a look with Elias. I was worried about Wil, and it seemed he was as well.

“You should ask Ferdinand to go flying with you sometime. Aleric too. I’m sure they have plenty of spots that we don’t know about that they could show you,” I suggested. I was going to talk to Aleric about it as soon as I could. I was worried about Wil. He’d not found a mate to help him with the struggles that I knew I had gone through and expected they were as well. Elias had hinted about them as well, but he had Claude to help with his. Lukas was in Munich with his own mate, and I was certain that at this point, he had already given birth to their firstborn. I wondered if we would ever get the chance to see him again.

We were interrupted by Claude and Aleric’s return before we could talk more about the dark thoughts that plagued us while we were held captive as well as after. Aleric had woken me many times when I had slept fitfully, and I would talk to him about the dreams of being back in the castle and how at more than one point, I had given up hope of ever being rescued.

With the arrival of Aleric and Claude, then shortly after Egon and Ferdinand, the mood in the air changed, and we were all laughing during a shared meal. We spent the evening having a good time talking about the trouble we used to get into while growing up in our village. In turn, Egon and Ferdinand told us tales of a young Aleric, as well as their times before they shared their souls with a dragon half.

We learned of the forbidden love they had for one another and how they both were being forced to marry women in their village. They’d agreed to run away together, and they did just that. It was when they were fleeing that they were captured, and Egon had suffered a severe blow to his head while Ferdinand had been beaten.

The story was tragic in that it was their love for one another that caused them so much pain. While Ferdinand was trying to protect his love, the beatings suddenly stopped. When he looked up, expecting the next blow, he saw nothing but a bright light.

The light spoke to him and said they had the heart of warriors and they were worthy of the life of strong warriors. They would be able to soar through the sky, and their love would live on, for they were true mates, fated to be together.

When the light was gone, the villagers were as well, and Egon woke in Ferdinand’s arms. They felt the presence of something more, and moments later, the two of them shifted into their dragon forms for the first time. They spent hours flying high in the sky before they landed at sunrise. A small hut had appeared, and they spent the day together secluded in the middle of the forest while they claimed one another. Instinct had taken over, and they had been together ever since.

Elias, Wilhelm, and I all sighed at the magic of their story. When I looked at Aleric, his brow was scrunched.

“What’s wrong?” I asked. The attention that had been on Ferdinand and Egon only moments ago was now on Aleric and me.

“Bright light?” Aleric asked. “Was it the same one that told you to come here? Was it the same voice that guided your dragon here?”

Ferdinand seemed thoughtful for a moment before shaking his head. “I have no way of knowing for certain. It’s a possibility, but it was a very long time ago when we were gifted the ability to turn into dragons. Your da and I spent many years together before you were born.”

Aleric nodded, but I could sense his surprise through our bond.

“Aleric?” I reached out through our bond.

Aleric placed his hand on my lower back and started rubbing, though his attention never left his parents.

“Yes, my mate?”

“You seem surprised.”

“I’ve not heard this story before, only that they were once humans and were gifted the ability to turn into dragons. I’ve never known about everything else, and it is a bit painful that they haven’t shared this with me until now. I am over a century old, Konrad. I would have thought they would have shared with me before now.”

I felt terrible for my mate. I sensed no deceit from Ferdinand. Their story was what I would call a true love story, and I was grateful they had been given the chance to explore it together. If not, Aleric wouldn’t be here, and most likely, neither would anyone else in the cottage.

“We’ve most likely upset them, Ferdinand. Perhaps it’s time to clean up and head back to our cottage. Konrad looks like his energy is waning.”

“I think the story is sad yet beautiful,” Elias said. I happened to agree. I needed to focus on my mate, and right now, he was upset, even if he wasn’t showing it.

“I am getting a bit tired. My energy leaves me so quickly anymore,” I said.

“Allow me to do cleanup,” Claude said as he stood. I was about to argue when the dishes that had been on the table in front of us were suddenly gone. A glance at the shelf against the wall showed them once more stacked neatly and waiting for the next time they would be used.

“Thank you. That is very kind of you,” I told him.

“It’s my pleasure. I thank you for the meal and the company, but I, too, have a pregnant One, and I would like to get Elias back to our own cottage before he tires too much.”

“And I want to go flying. The mountain is gorgeous at night. Especially with the snow covering it,” Wil said. He looked directly at Ferdinand before he held up his hand. “I’ll watch for storm clouds. You need not worry about that.”

“Very good.” Ferdinand looked at Egon briefly. “Egon and myself might join you for a bit. We, too, enjoy flying at night, although I have to admit I do prefer to take to the skies in the daylight hours.”

Ferdinand helped Egon up, and by the time Aleric helped me stand and steady myself, everyone was giving us quick hugs, and then they were leaving the cottage. Once gone, the space seemed overly large and empty.

I looked at my mate and hurt for him. “Are you all right?”