energy that danced around my hand. Gold and orange that reminded me of flames with hints of green and turquoise.
A mixture of calm and fierce.
Dragging my fingertips along the grass, my eyes fluttered closed as I enjoyed the sensation. The slight prickle of their fine ends, and the smooth texture of their blades. To feel joy from grass would have been a laughable matter in any other case, but this was my moment to appreciate nature.
To be grateful for the oxygen I was inhaling and exhaling, and how I lay upon the soft soil that helped produce life. I tested the fingers of my other hand, gripping the soil and enjoying the soft texture.
The sensation of life was between my fingertips, and I couldn't be more thankful.
I took my time rising to my hands and knees. The pain hadn't subsided, but neither did my happiness as tears pooled in my eyes and rolled down my cheeks.
The flood of emotion. The feelings of fulfillment and belonging.
I finally knew who I was, and my path would unfold from this moment on.
"Princess Cassandra!"
I opened my eyes to see a tiny person peering up at me. Her body reminded me of a pixie and her wings fluttered so quickly they would have almost looked transparent if not for the bright golden glow that wrapped around them.
She wore a marvelous turquoise dress made of layers of thin lace fabric that was dotted with mini gold and orange rhinestones — the same jewels that were embroidered in the top trim of the dress.
One eye was gold while the other was orange, and her hair was a teal blue that cascaded in curls. She wore a tiny crown on her head and smiled brilliantly as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"You did it, Princess Cassandra. You awakened me and your dragon!"
"You..." I had to pause with how dry my throat was. Sitting back onto my knees, I let myself focus solely on the faery as I took in her words.
Awakened her and my dragon. Dragon fae. That is what I am. A hybrid.
You finally know the truth of your hidden origin.
There it was, that burning presence that alit within me when I was angry or desperate. The warmth that awakened made me grin and I closed my eyes once more and let my tears fall.
To be complete was hard to describe. No more wondering why I wasn't like the men I loved and admired. No more being out of the loop in terms of power and extraordinary possibilities.
My captivity had highlighted my desire to be what I'd always dreamed of. To find out who I was and where my destiny lay with my supernatural brothers.
Now that wish had finally been granted, but this was a new beginning.
Opening my eyes, I watched the pixie flutter up to my face, doing her best to try and catch my tears.
"Don't cry, Princess Cassandra!"
Her squeaky voice made me smile. I wished to talk with her, but my throat was aching for water. It felt like I'd burned it somehow, and the thought of drinking something cold to simmer the heat down would be another blessing.
"I know! You want some water after breathing fire?!" The pixie clapped her hands with pride. I arched an eyebrow at her comment.
Breathing fire?
Minor detail.
I smirked at the quirky comment, which seemed to make the pixie happy as she flew lower to the ground.
"Princess Cassandra. You can take water from right here!" She pointed to the ground, and I glanced at the patch of dirt.
When I looked at her oddly in return, she giggled.
"Concentrate, Princess! Imagine the droplets of water rising from the ground and filling your hand to the fullest." Her beaming smile and encouragement made it seem possible.
I brought my hands together, the palms facing up as I hovered above the patch she spoke of. I could see the bits of energy that flowed through the ground, but when I closed my eyes it awakened the light show I'd seen once before back in the mines.
The roots of life. The flow of water. Every element had its own fluorescent color, emitting a gentle light that mingled perfectly with the darkness.
Please, Mother Earth. Provide me with what will quench my thirst.
I felt the first droplet hit the palm of my hand, but I allowed my eyes to remain closed, watching the baby blue drops of energy pull upward from the soil and float into my hand.
When I opened my eyes, the last drop of water filled the