Slowly, like the sound of a distant melody, she became aware of something else.
There, behind her, near to where her enemy was rushing towards her even now, there was life.
There was a human settlement, scattered houses with small gardens and winding, paved streets. Children were playing in the grass. Families were gathering at the dinner table. Market stalls were closing.
And the power inside her had grown and grown until it formed a brilliant light inside her, as strong and as terrible as the immeasurable heat at the heart of the sun.
If she let go now, she’d take out her enemy—and the human settlement with it.
What will you do, Naomi? a familiar voice whispered inside her head. Quick, Naomi. There is no time...
Behind her, darkness was gathering. Before her, there was only the abyss—and at its bottom a terrible emptiness that frightened her like nothing else in her life ever had. Even her enemy behind her, with his sharp teeth and claws and his deadly fire was less dreadful than that terrible void before her.
What will you do? the voice asked again, and this time it was sorrowful.
Naomi clenched her jaw. She did not look back. It only took one step forward—and then she was falling.
She was falling into nothingness.
It was terrible, the void tearing at her, a dreadful wind howling in her ears—but even so, as everything grew dim around her, she was warmed by the certainty that back in the settlement, families were settling down for the night, unaware of the danger they’d been in.
The town was safe. They would continue to go on, unaware that dragons existed—unaware of their terrible power.
And she would cease to exist...
“Naomi!”
The sharp call pulled her back.
Shaking her head, she found herself face to face with Gregory, who was givi
ng her a concerned look.
“Are you all right?” he said, his eyes gleaming silver once more. “Naomi—can you hear me?”
Still feeling dizzy, she gave him a small nod. Then the voice came booming out of the darkness once more.
“She has passed my test,” it declared. “The council judges you innocent, Gregory Drago. The beginnings of the mate bond have been woven. There is no madness in you.”
Chapter Ten: Gregory
After the council had declared him innocent, Gregory led Naomi out of the large cave to a chamber more suited to his human body’s needs. During the council meetings in Sky Home, they mostly stayed in the form of their dragons. Still, occasionally it was useful to have rooms with beds and chairs and desks at their disposal.
“I’m okay.” Naomi gave him a breathless, overwhelmed look as soon as they had settled down together on a couch. “Wow. That was... I have no idea what it was, but it was intense. Do your friends test all your potential girlfriends that way?”
Gregory released a shaky breath, drawing her tightly against him. “I’ve never seen him do that before. It must’ve been because you’re my mate. He wanted to test you—to see if the bond between us was true. But the way he did it...” Gregory shook his head in apology. “There was no need to scare you like that. I’m sorry, Naomi.”
Naomi gave him a small smile. “It’s okay. It wasn’t real... was it? He just made me feel like I was in a dream, and none of it was actually true?”
Gregory hesitated for a moment.
“I saw what you did,” he finally offered. “And from what I’ve heard about it... From what I know, and it isn’t much, he might’ve made you live through his final moments. Or at least, his final decision.”
Naomi blinked in confusion. “So that voice... That shadow that talked to me... He’s a dragon, too?”
“His name is Gareth,” Gregory said. “And he’s a dragon no longer. He is a chimera. He’d found no mate, and his power was too large for him to control. Usually, we go mad, unless we’re taken out first. He... he retained his sanity, but his body broke. He is cursed, forever shifting into different shapes at once, never finding rest or peace.”
Naomi shuddered at the explanation. “And the same thing might’ve happened to you?”