Chapter 37

Anelisa

Everything becomes blurry, I couldn't even see Ryker or hear his voice due to the height this dragon had lifted me.

Not thrako's but another, so massive that I could barely see it.

I screamed, the fear of my child, of losing my life as the world spun around me.

Time seemed to slow down as I felt myself being lifted higher.

The air rushed past me, the sounds of palace destruction growing fainter.

I was going to die.

Thoughts spun inside me and suddenly, I'm falling! From the tower and below... there's no end because I see nothing.

The dragon released me and I flew towards the floor, my stomach dropped, my sense on high alert.

I yelled, being whipped by the wind as I curled around her, trying to protect her.

The ground rushed up to meet me

This was the end.

Just as I was about to hit the ground, a strong arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me back.

I felt a jolt, fear rushing through me as I yanked upwards. I was suspended mid-air a far distance from the tower and the same as the floor.

Rhyker!

He had saved us.

I could see a rope tied to his waist, and it must be connected to a part in the tower.

He was fretful, his eyes clouded while I pant with tears and a brief sigh.

"I got you darling" he whispered, embracing me as I shook gravely, almost crying in his arms.

I clinged to him as he had me and the baby behind his back, holding firmly while he pulled us up with his arms holding the rope.

We landed hard on the balcony, rhyker's body cushion mine as we slid to a stop.

I gasped, still spooked and not breaking out of his embrace but crying... because I thought... It's so scary.

And my baby. She was crying too.

I had emotions spurring inside me, of gratitude, of...something else. Something I didn't want to acknowledge.

I nodded, my voice stuck in my throat, as I clinged to him, my baby squirming in my arms.

We lay there for a moment, the chaos around us forgotten, as we caught our breath. 

Ryker's eyes never left mine, his gaze burning with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat.

"It's okay, I'd never let anything happen to you two" he assured, stroking my back.

Even his voice was shaky.

"What happened?" I asked nervously, losing my mind over the drama as I slowly tilted my head at him.

"Let's get out of here first"

He looked at my baby, touched her to see if she was fine and when he was satisfied, he breathed deeply.

I was literally paralyzed with fear, and so hearing him say that, wouldn't work on me.

However, he wouldn't even let me walk before carrying me in his arms with my baby still wrapped to my chest.

"Where did...all the dragons go?" I asked as he slowly walked with me, passing the ruins.

"While you fell, I only thought of getting you...and there's something bigger than thrako" he muttered taking a glimpse at me before stomping forward.

"I know...another dragon"

He swallowed and then sucked his breath.

"Well...thrako...he tried going after that dragon which almost got me and so..." He paused, crossing over a wood that had caused a blockage.

"Somehow, thrako must have led him out of the palace and the other dragons too..."

"It definitely means thrako is in danger!"

He breathed in softly as we had gotten to the lobby which walls were ripped apart earlier.

"He's made it somehow..."

"We can't just leave him!"

"And I can't lose you!" He yelled back, for the first time at me as his eyes shook.

"I just can't! Did you know how it felt seeing you falling? With my daughter?" He was breathing hard, not walking again as we stared at each other agonized 

"I almost died. If anything happens to you two...I don't think I'd survive it"

His words had me speechless as my lips part slightly, wondering what to say.

Is this a confession?

"You don't own us! Thrako belongs to me..."

"And you belong to me!" He snapped, resuming his walk.

I could see some physicians and doctors helping out wounded soldiers on our way but my concern was on Thlrako.

"Thrako can't beat him, I lost alaric because of you, I can't lose his dragon"

"Look around you. What do you see? Soldiers that I lost, people that I lost! Do you think I'd want to lose them too?"

"It's different!"

"The dragons caused this!"

"They can be controlled by us if we want to. They're not enemies. There was no need to have them caged in the first place when they leave at a tavern in here"

He got to a room and used his leg to kick it open. Once he was inside, he had me sit on a couch, lose my baby from me and embraced her.

"You caused this Ryker!!" I accused again.

He shifted his gaze at me, inhaling softly.

"I gave them land! Not a prison, here they were prisoners, they laboured, served when they're meant to have a home of their own!" he defended, shaking my baby and rubbing her hair.

There was a sudden silence as his words were suddenly making sense. His eyes had tears in them as he kissed my baby's forehead.

"That doesn't make you a good man! I'm going after thrako" I managed to squeeze out, attempting to rise up.

"I'm not trying to be a good man, I'm just doing what's right. I had intension to return them back to their home before the break out"

I scoffed, glaring at him.

"It all makes sense, who says they weren't happy here? Your attempt to take them home only awakens a greater evil!" I grunt, waving my hands at his face as he looked confused.

He wasn't saying anything but drawn to me while he stroked the baby gently.

"Do you think the dragon that attacked wants Thrako and the rest to return?”