“You know, normally when you’re pressing me against the door, that’s the cue that I’m getting a kiss.”
I watched her cheeks grow flush, but she didn’t say a thing. She only squeezed my hand harder. It was endearing to see her being so forward rather than being speechless.
“This might be our last night together.” Her voice was a somber song that betrayed her true feelings.
“I want to follow my heart, and I thought that by protecting you I was doing what I needed to do, that this was my fight. On reflection, I’ve realized that my victory was never as certain as I had hoped, and I’m sorry.” Her tone was a rare combination of her deeper natural tone, and a gentleness I’ve never heard in her serious tone. She was gripping my hands tighter than ever.
“Maybe let go of my hands a little bit? Please?” I playfully begged as her eyes went wide, before letting them go. “Thanks, but I don’t blame you.” I rubbed my wrists, a little sore as she stared up at me, waiting anxiously for what I had to say.
“I’m not very useful in all the background politics, mages that and dragon this. But I would’ve liked it if we could’ve stayed together for that time.” I watched her gaze shift from me to the floor. Was she disappointed at herself, or at me? “I know it’ll be safer if I stayed back home, but not everything’s about keeping me safe. And I was really worried about you too.” I finished off with a chuckle.
“Aah, what I meant to say is that apology accepted! And maybe don’t leave me in the dark like that because…” I caught myself before I wanted to go on about how bored I’d been the entire time. Aria already looked like she was beating herself up. No need to make it worse.
“You know, we should also talk about it. What we’d do if one of us doesn’t make it. Then we can do whatever we like, how about that!” I gave a gleeful smile as she looked up at me in surprise. Was she crying a little?
“I thought it would drag down the mood and everything…” She softly sniffled as I kneeled to match her height.
“Aria, I know you want to protect me and keep me happy, but at the end of the day you can’t protect me from everything.” She shook her head before leaning forward and slamming her forehead into mine. I winced, feeling my head bang against the metal door before I landed on my butt. Ow.
“Yes, but I’m a dragon, and you’re not. One of us can take a lot more punishment.” She gave a pout at first, but once she saw I was still recovering from the headbutt, her tone suddenly changed. I tried to steady myself, but Aria beat me to it.
“Charlotte? Are you okay?” I felt her hand on mine as I shook my head a little. Still ringing.
“Ya, but no doing that while there’s a metal door behind me, okay?” I tried to alleviate her worry with a smile, but instead I felt her arms slowly hook under my legs.
“Hey what are you…” I began, surprised as first as she lifted me up in a princess carry, and casually dumped me in her bed. Despite our differences in height and weight, she had no problems. By the end of it I was blushing, romantically mesmerized as she sent a lost stare my way.
“What?” Aria replied, a little confused as she looked around for the source of my embarrassment. I pointed a finger her way.
“That was a princess carry. The one that you use…ya,” I softly whispered, watching her cheeks light up like a bonfire. She was mortified, yet she still had a cutesy smile on her face.
“I didn’t mean it that way! Or I did…but I didn’t!” She sat by my side as I pulled myself up. Our eyes locked in agreement. For a pristine moment, we exchanged glances before I broke the silence.
“Not to break the romantic tension, but would you mind if I started with the whole ‘planning in case we die’ thing?” I began and she gave an emotionless nod. I didn’t want to talk about it either, but it needed to be said.
“Killjoy…but fine.” She looked down at herself again. “If I’m being honest I hadn’t put any thought to what would happen if I died out there. Maybe I should have.” She stared off into some far-off world.
“Make a world for both of us, right?” I tried teasing her, but she shook her head.
“It’s bigger than that. This place, this world is actually a tiny part of the whole. What we see, it might as well be a little prison. Mother showed me these vast plains of water called oceans, forests teeming with life even higher than the tallest dragon. Yet we’re stuck here.”
My eyes went wide. “Why?” I spoke my thoughts without even thinking. Why would Cestra do this? How did Aria find out? Was it true?
“Mother created it to protect us from other dragons, and to give her children time to learn humanity. She wanted…”
“…the two species working together.” I finished off her sentence. “Like what we are doing right now. Maybe that’s why Coronacht requires a human to use?” I pointed out as Aria’s eyes flickered at the thought. For a single moment her many sparkles condensing to a single brilliant jewel.
“Perhaps. That does sound like something Mother would do.” She slowly moved her hand towards mine.
“That’s why I’m taking the crown. It’s more than making a world for us. It’s giving my subjects back the world we’ve forgotten. If both of us make it, then Mother’s plan of having humans and dragons live together would have succeeded. That’s why I was so keen on making sure you stayed safe.” I felt her shift as her fingers wiggled against mine. Cute.
“I would actually prefer if you played matchmaker to a future royal dragon, if I can’t be there.” She spoke nervously as I raised my eyes. Matchmaker? “Show them, whoever they are, that dragons can fall in love with a human. I want you to see the outside world one day, even if it isn’t by my side.” She was blushing now, but it was a soft pink shade.
“You’re asking me to date another dragon if you die?” I blurted in exasperation.
Aria shook her hands. “No no! I mean…you can! But…” She grumbled, embarrassed. I couldn’t help but giggle, giving her a moment to catch her thoughts.
“I want to see Mother’s hopes and dreams come to fruition, even if it’s not by me. That’s why I want you to help the next generation of royal dragons find someone they can really love. Or even you!” She placed her hands on her heart, letting go of my hand.
“I’ve just experienced so many lovely things with you, Charlotte, and I don’t think any of my brothers got that. It’s a part of why we ended up so differently. Yet, I’d like for one other dragon to experience what I have, like Mother had.”
She thought for a brief moment before continuing. “I don’t have any proof of this, but I can’t imagine why else she would go as far as sacrificing herself. Love was really the only thing I could come up with.” She spoke with a tone that could’ve entranced a rioting mob, even if I didn’t actually think she was right.
“I don’t know, that’s pretty idealistic of you, Aria. I can think of a bunch of other reasons why you would want humans worshipping you as their rightful queen. Free hands, free money, power…” I was going to continue but Aria was quick to stop me.
“Okay, okay! I get the point! Just let me dream, won’t you?” She gave me a playful frown before it turned into a real frown.
“We should go over what happens if you die.” She bit her lips, almost not wanting to think about it. “If you don’t make it, well, I’d cry a river for you. I don’t think I’d ever forgive myself. However, I’d still have a duty to my people, and I won’t forget that duty.” I leaned in and flicked her on the cheek.
“Ow! What was that for?” I gave her a dead serious stare, shutting her protests down in an instant.
“You had your promise, and now I have mine. Promise me that you’ll move on. If I’m not here, promise you’ll find love again. For my sake.” I shuffled to her side, until we were shoulder to shoulder. She sat there, her eyes without their usual luster.
“Why?” she blurted out as I wrapped my fingers around hers again.
“Because you said it yourself. If you have someone you love, you are a different dragon. When I look at you, I not only see my adorable Aria, but a vengeful queen that would burn the world out of spite for my funeral. I don’t want you to do that to yourself.” I gently brushed her hair as she sat there, soaking in the words.
“What we have here, it’s once in a lifetime. But…okay. I’ll be happy for your sake.” She leaned in, resting her head against my lap as I let out a defeated sigh.
