Dragon Alpha's Special Mate

9. New Reality

Marina

I try and fail to stop the tears slipping from my eyes. It’s been a while since I’ve actually cried, but it’s all becoming too much, too fast. Kai and I knew it would be difficult on Maxson’s 15th birthday, but we didn’t expect our gift to be given at such a high price.

We thought we could hide his true power forever. We figured it would all work itself out on his birthday. That he’d get his dragon, and it would push out the rest of the Zinnalite. We never imagined it would consume him.

We should have known. Everything that Zinnalite's sword touched brought death and destruction.

But now, as I watch my 15-year-old child’s mate hold his hand as they lay there unconscious, I worry that I may no longer have my gifted child.

Why would they let us live through all of that, give me him as a gift, just to rip him away from me now?

I stare as the Zinnalite material starts to crawl up Sophia’s arm, taking her over inch by inch, matching Maxson. I can only hope that means they’re together. I’d hate for my son to not have his mate, even if it is ridiculous they’re so young and found one another so quickly.

I hear a knock on the door and don’t bother responding when they open it completely.

I know it’s my mother without even looking as she walks toward me, trying to comfort me after being told of the news. I couldn’t do it myself, so I asked Damari too.

Mom’s a major cryer, so I wasn’t surprised to see her wet eyes when she sat on the bed next to me. She musters up some strength and places her hand on my knee.

“He’ll be okay. And so will she.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Our ancestors will keep them safe. If they went where we both have been, they will return. We did, and you have to believe they will, too.”

Her words make sense. We both have gotten out of there, with the help of the golden Adonis, as we’ve come to call him to prevent getting him confused with my older brother.

Wait, that’s it.

“Can you bring me Adonis?”

While he’s never been to that place, he knows everything about every previous dragon. He’s always been a history nerd.

Mom nods as she gets off the bed and walks away. It doesn’t take long for Adonis to come in, stuttering as he looks at my child, holding hands with his mate.

“Auriel and Avian. Those are their dragons. Tell me about them.”

He takes my hand, tugging me to walk with him. I don’t want to, but I do anyway. He takes me to the small table in Maxson’s room, the one that sits near the large window. I’ve been in here so long the sun is starting to peek over the horizon. While I’m tired, I know I wouldn’t be able to sleep.

Oh, jeez, what will we tell Sophia’s parents to keep them away until we can figure this all out?

“They’re new.” That’s what I feared.“But it’s okay. So many dragons are new nowadays.”

It isn’t what I want to hear. I was hoping they had dragons whose lives we could track what they’ve done to understand their purpose. Someone strong who could push the Zinnalite from that form. But, deep down, despite the hope, I knew they’d have brand new dragons.

I knew it the second I saw Maxson flying after giving birth. Now, I have to face those fears head-on. With the world the way it is, he was given a dragon with unknown strength.

“Now, let’s get you to bed. You need to sleep.”

“No.”

I walk back over to my son, holding his hand as he lays in the bed.

Maxson

I’ve explored this entire place, seeing a light I can never reach. It’s always the same exact distance away from me, no matter how much I run toward it. I’ve been determined, but now I know there’s no way out.

Knowing I’d never reach the light, I’ve taken the time to explore my new reality. I’ve walked it, ran it, and flew it until I couldn’t move. There isn’t another soul in this place. Not even an insect.

Mom’s told me of the afterlife, where she used to see the golden Adonis. But I see no golden man here. I’m not where she used to be taken, which validates Avian’s story. We were disconnected, and I need to find a way to recreate that connection.

Unless this is it.

I could be dead, forced to be alone for all eternity. The sacrifice for saving my father’s life, I suppose.

No gift without sacrifice.

I can only count the days by sleeping, so it must be day three as I bravely open my eyes. It's time to face yet another day filled with the unknowns.

When I do, I look over at Sophia sleeping next to me. I’m sure I’m imagining it, especially in this place. She’s beautiful, sleeping there so peacefully. Her chest moves up and down with each soft breath.

She smells like fire - not smoke, an actual fire, and it’s tempting, really. I feel like going toward her, but I don’t. I want to pretend that she’s actually here for a bit longer before breaking my hallucination.

That is, until she sits up with a gasp and frantically looks around, her big green eyes landing on me.

“M.. Ax?”

I smile at her beautiful voice as she stutters out my name.

“It’s her!”

Avian’s voice forces me to sit straight up.

Now positive that Sophia really is here, I crawl toward her, wrapping my arms so tight around her I think she’s going to pop. The scent of a fiery blaze, like a bonfire in the middle of winter overwhelms me, and I start to realize that she’s my mate, truly and wholly.

I can hear her sobbing into my chest, and I pull away, gently turning her chin up to me. “I’m sorry you’re here with me.”

I keep my voice even, working to keep my anger at the situation at bay to make her feel more comfortable.

“It’s not that.”

She sniffles, sitting back a bit. I don’t let her go; I hold onto her hands as she looks up at me. “I always wanted my mate to smell like the ocean.”

My words almost get stuck in my throat when she calls me her mate, but I manage to get them out anyhow.

“What do I smell like?”

She chuckles, sniffling again as she rolls her eyes, “The freaking ocean.”

I laugh at her, and it feels good. If I’m being honest with myself, it’s the happiest I’ve felt in weeks. When our laughing stalls, we stay there for a moment, just staring at each other and basking in the fact that we’re mates and we found each other. After a few more minutes, her beautiful emerald eyes dart around, taking in our new environment for a moment before she stands up and looks around.

“Care to show me around?” I don’t let go of her hand as I laugh loudly at her joke. I mean, she can see that the place around us is entirely barren.

“Yes, right this way.”

She loops her arm in mine, and we start walking, both of us sharing what our dragons told us. It seems that both of our dragons are nothing like we expected and nothing like anyone else's.

I wonder what Auriel meant by telling Sophia that her lineage has a touch of darkness, and that’s why she was able to enter her. Whatever it means, I don’t care at all. To me, it means we were truly destined for one another - dragon or not.