Shadowborn Queen - G. Bailey Page 0,4
the world be so beautiful and so full of darkness at the same time?
What did Selena find to love in this forest all those years ago? What did she see in us?
Selena, guide us, and don't let me lose any of my mates.
Please.
Chapter 3
Izora
Gold swoops down low after a good hour of flying and I get up on my knees, holding onto his scales as I look down at the beach we are heading towards, right on the edge of the enchanted forest. I've never been here, but I recognise it from photos. Aurora Bay. The glistening sea brushes softly against the stone-covered beach and glitters like a thousand diamonds lurk within its depth. I know there aren't actually diamonds in the water, but the rocks under the sea cause it to look that way. It's a romantic place in the forest, somewhere fae take their dates and shadowborns are usually not allowed to visit.
Gold lands us near the edge of the bay, a place covered by the cliffs on the one side, making it easy for us to hide.
I climb off Gold's back with Luke and rush to Scott and Axel.
"He looks too pale," I tell Scott.
Luke pulls his jacket off and covers up Axel as Gold shifts back into his human form and makes himself a blue plain t-shirt as he walks over to us.
"I need magic to heal him. Can I tap into yours?" Scott asks me and I don't even blink as I offer him my hand.
"We will find a cave and get a fire going. It will be dark soon and we must move inside," Gold suggests, nodding at Luke and the two of them walk off.
Scott takes my hand, placing it over Axel's chest. Straight away I feel the nudge of my power, pouring out of my soul and right into Axel. His skin instantly starts to look better, a nice glow coating his cheeks as his breathing slows to normal.
Scott starts to struggle, a coat of sweat covering his forehead as his hand shakes over mine. I close my eyes and push more of my magic into my connection with Axel and Scott, overtaking Scott's.
"Izora, don't!" Scott shouts, but it's too late. The magic leaves my soul like a wave, crashing into Axel and building a strange connection between us that wasn't there before.
"He. Doesn't. Get. To. Die. Yet," I bite out.
"I wouldn't leave you. Stop, Iz. I'm okay," Axel groggily whispers and I open my eyes, seeing his whole body glowing white under my hand.
Scott lets go, leaving Axel's hand to cover mine, anchoring me to him. He slowly lifts one of my fingers at a time before pushing my hand off his chest and releasing me.
The world smashes back into focus and I fall back on the sand, gasping for air. Scott picks me up in his lap, brushing my hair from my head.
"You almost went too far. Healing is a hard art to learn without losing yourself," Scott softly tells me. I want to feel guilty, but as Axel sits up, he smiles at me and the world just seems right again.
"We are free?" Axel whispers, climbing to his feet.
I stand up with Scott, feeling a bit dizzy but better by the moment.
Axel stares around in wonder, holding his arms out at his side. I almost forgot how long it must have been since Axel has been outside the prison and free. His joy is addictive and as he breaks out in joyous laughter, Scott and I can’t help but join him. Axel and I spin around on the beach, making ourselves dizzy and falling over next to each other.
"We. Are. Free!" Axel shouts, pulling me up off the ground and kissing me.
"Not for long if you attract attention," Gold grumbles, interrupting us.
Axel laughs softly, wrapping his arm around my waist as we turn to face Gold. He holds his hand out to the former dragon."You saved my life. All of you played a part, but I doubt it would have been that easy without a large golden dragon," Axel says and Gold shakes his hand. "I owe you a debt."
"We are family. We do not owe each other debts for our lives," Gold replies, meeting his eyes. Something passes between them and Scott places his hand over their joined ones.
"Family is something we all can agree to fight for," Scott states.
Luke steps to Gold's side and places his hand over Scott’s.He meets all their eyes, including mine last of