All Chapters of The Dragon's Precious Gem: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

True to his word, as soon as they’d dressed and eaten, they left The Landing the same way they’d arrived. Caelia clung to Rhyzar’s shoulders, while Selene called after them in vain. Rhyzar ignored her pleas, launching skyward in one powerful surge. The desert below blazed under the last rays of evening light, a crimson hue bleeding across the sands.Caelia had managed to find a pair of lightweight cotton leggings—likely meant for riding—and a white shirt beneath a snug leather bodice that served as her modest form of armor. The idea of dressing herself without Gelda’s help still felt strange, and a flicker of sadness gnawed at her as she recalled her old routine.The wind whipped her high ponytail, sending silvery curls streaming over Rhyzar’s broad shoulder. His enormous wings spread behind him, even larger than she remembered, changing color in the dying light—first a muted charcoal, then a bloodred hue as evening settled. The relentless chill of the wind was held at bay by his warm

The night wrapped around them like a silken shroud as they set off, circling the estate to reach the back gate. Moonlight dappled the ground through a canopy of leaves, casting fleeting patterns on the earth beneath their feet. Caelia felt Rhyzar’s fingers thread through hers, the touch both familiar and foreign. It wasn’t the possessive grip of an arranged union, nor the dutiful touch of obligation. It was an easy, comfortable gesture—something she had seen shared between children or old married couples, but never in the rigid unions of the Mariswyn family.Her heart stirred with something warm and fragile, a thread of possibility she hadn’t dared to imagine. They walked side by side, unhurried, and Caelia let her mind wander. What would their children look like? A boy with his sharp amber eyes and raven-black hair, or a girl with her pale curls and softer gaze? Would they one day stroll like this as an old married couple, their hands still entwined, their bond unbroken? Or would his

The imposing figure, the very image of masculine power, lowered himself to the muddy ground without hesitation. His arm rested casually on his knee as he glanced up, his face softened by an easy, devastatingly handsome smile.“Mother,” he said, his voice laced with a gentle, teasing warmth. “Forgive us for not visiting sooner. Does this mean you do not approve of me?”Her mother’s head snapped up in shock, her blue eyes wide with disbelief. “My lord, I—” she stammered, her gaze flitting between Rhyzar’s kneeling form and Caelia. “You needn’t seek approval from someone like me.” She winced, her voice trembling. “And your clothes, my lord, please…”Rhyzar remained unmoved, his smile growing as he cast a wink toward Caelia that could have belonged to the devil himself. “I’ll stand if you do,” he offered, his tone light but commanding.Caught between astonishment and hesitance, her mother finally raised her head. With a single, smooth motion, Rhyzar rose to his full height, towering but n

The night sky stretched infinitely above them as they soared, far from the Mariswyn estate. Caelia clung to the warm, ridged scales beneath her, but the shield of still air surrounding them kept her safe, untouched by the wind. She peeked cautiously downward, expecting to see the rolling hills and forests of her former home. Instead, an endless expanse of golden sand already spread beneath them, its dunes passing like frozen waves under the moonlight.She swallowed. He was right. This is much faster than before. It was terrifying, to be so high, moving so fast that the land blurred beneath them. But despite the sheer impossibility of it all, she couldn’t help feeling safe. The heat of Rhyzar’s body beneath her, the steady, powerful movements of his wings—it was comforting in its own strange way. She let herself ease into it, loosening her grip, allowing herself to take in the breathtaking sight of the stars so clear and bright against the vast darkness.But the moment of wonder was fl

The hall was alive with a restless energy, the murmur of hushed voices swelling as a frazzled priestess rushed toward them, her robes fluttering behind her. She gestured for them to follow, her voice barely above a whisper yet filled with urgency.Caelia’s breath caught as they neared the heavy chapel doors, the dull roar beyond them promising an overwhelming crowd. She caught a glimpse through the narrow gap as the doors were pulled open—a sea of people, their voices melding into an unintelligible din. She faltered, her heart hammering in her chest, but then she spotted a familiar flash of gold curls amidst the gathered elite.Selene.The memory of betrayal crashed over her like a breaking wave, steadying her trembling resolve. She would not be displaced. She would not cower.The priestess turned to Rhyzar, motioning toward a side door. “My lord Draken, I ask that you cleanse and change into more suitable attire before the ceremony.”Caelia waited for the inevitable refusal, but inst