Page 59 of Queen’s Gambit

‘Tell me what to do. I don’t know…’ The scales beneath my hand lit up, enveloping me with warmth.

‘Every bond is different. Your power is the key. Let it guide you,’ he said, growling as I unbuttoned my caftan, slid it off my shoulders, then placed my hand back on his chest.

I relaxed, allowing myself to feel the warmth surrounding me, the steady beat of Cin’s heart. Then I felt it, the slow unfurling of my power, flowing outward into the pure chaos of Cinared’s soul. His spirit was an inferno, a maelstrom that destroyed all it touched. This was the essence of the first being to emerge from the primaeval Aether.

And yet, that essence didn’t destroy me; it sang as it flowed through my veins, and my wings answered, unfolding from my back.

‘You have wings! My chosen has wings,’ he huffed, the hot air brushing over the delicate membranes, sending a shiver down my spine.

‘Cin,’ I chuckled, then stopped as his gaze sharpened. Something moved within his eyes, a depth, a weight, impossible to describe.

‘This bond is unbreakable, Sanika. I will belong to you, and only you, long after the oceans turn to dust. Will you accept this burden?’ he asked.

‘But what about Rey? He’s your rider, and what if you want to take another?’ I shook my head in confusion, ready to pull my hand away as the warning rumble rose in his throat.

‘Dragons share their souls with our riders, but only our chosen share our hearts. I choose you, Daughter of Life. You are my first, and my last. You are my everything. Will you accept me, Roksana Regnav, Light of the First Dawn, my Sanika?’

The world stopped—no breath, no heartbeats. Even the currents of Aether stilled, waiting for my decision.

The weight of his devotion was crushing. I gazed at this majestic being, offering me everything and asking for nothing in exchange.

Annika’s words echoed in my head.

There is nothing more encompassing than the love of a dragon. Even Reynard’s love for you will pale in comparison. The eternity of their existence, the knowledge and power that created this world will all be laid at your feet. Sometimes, I think the gods made it so difficult for our kind to bond because they were afraid of a dragon’s devotion.

When I first heard the story of Annika, a conduit mage bonded to three souls, I pitied them, unable to imagine loving more than one man. Now I understood, because while loving Reynard as fiercely as a storm, I still fell for his dragon.

‘I love you, Cinared Fireborn. I’ll guard your heart in mine.’

The words came from the depths of my soul, carrying a power that tore from my chest and speared into the dragon’s core. His emotions flooded me with such intensity my knees buckled.

Agony, elation, and the pure, unfettered love of a being that had known no fear or joy until he found the meaning of his existence in a vila’s heart and a berserker’s soul.

A roar shook the grotto. Heat burst forth, melting the piled gold until nothing but a puddle remained. When the heat ebbed, blinding flames reflected from the molten gold’s surface. Primal terror seized me. The fear of being immolated forced a shriek from my throat before it dawned on me that nothing hurt. My skin didn’t blister; the fire didn’t scorch my lungs.

I was safe, protected by my dragon’s magic.

I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, Sanika. Forgive this old fool. The edge of panic in Cinared’s voice made me shake my head until I realised he hadn’t spoken.

Can you hear me? I asked, unsure what else to say.

Yes! The bond is complete. I feel you in my heart. You don’t regret it, do you?

I chuckled. Now I had one last thing to check. I raised my strongest mental shields before thinking of the Lumivitae and our mission to eliminate their herald. Cin’s pupils narrowed to vertical slits as if he sensed my magic. So I let a thought slip through the barrier I had created.

He is so beautiful I could kiss him. I wonder how he would react if I kissed his snout?

It was intimate enough to explain why I was masking it. What I didn’t expect was the wave of crimson that rattled his scales and his massive head moving within inches of my face. I had my answer.

I pecked the polished flat area between his nostrils, doubting he felt it at all.

I did, and I liked it.

His tone was wistful enough I wondered why more dragons didn’t take a chosen.

We are afraid of how much it will change us, and sometimes those we connect with die before a bond is ever formed. Will you stay tonight, or should I talk with Reynard about him hoarding your time?

‘I would love to, but I can’t. I have to get ready for a journey,’ I answered.