Chapter 69: Chapter 69

JONEA

“His actions this time may have been wrong, but I can understand the wrong actions he has taken,” Miller said calmly.

“You haven’t answered my question at all, Miller. Tell me where I can meet Aland? I want to ask him directly what really happened? Where has he been all this time? When a dragon took him that day—”

Miller turned and slapped my hand away. “Instead of wanting to know where you can meet him, didn’t you have the chance to accept his invitation to come along?”

I felt like I was slapped when I heard Miller’s words. I couldn’t say anything. I was hesitant to even reach out to him. That was when Daran approached us.

“It seems like you two know each other and are connected. Why did he choose you?”

“That’s none of your business!” Miller replied firmly. Then Miller continued coldly, “The lycan king, have you ever met him before?”

“You mean the dragon rider? Never,” Daran replied casually.

“Don’t think I’ll just believe your words,” Miller shouted as he walked away. “Make sure you keep my sister safe and secure this time. If not, I’ll take her away from you!”

“You don’t have to worry about her,” Daran replied.

“Come on, Arabel. Let’s go!” Miller grabbed Arabel’s hand and dragged her away.

Meanwhile, I was like a fool who was afraid to accept reality. I just froze and was helpless. I knew what Miller said was entirely accurate. And I also couldn’t fully believe Daran’s words. But why did I choose to stay by Daran’s side? What was wrong with me?

“Kids, it’s time for us to go home!” Daran shouted as he walked away from me. Unlike usual, Daran acted indifferent this time and didn’t force me to come with him.

Owen approached me and extended his hand to me while holding his injured arm. I remained silent and lowered my head.

“You can ask him for an explanation tomorrow,” Owen coaxed to convince me. “You must be tired too, right?”

Only then did I dare to turn and look at Owen. I shook his hand and walked with him, following Daran, towards the time portal still open to return to the blue sapphire.

Unconsciously, I had muttered to myself, “Well, wherever you go home, from now on it is my home too.”

***

ALAND

I flew with Zephyra back to the nest.

“It would have been more fun if Jonea came with us. Like that day, when I saw her on the dragon’s ridge.”

“Well, and you secretly asked me to kidnap her and bring her to the nest!” Zephyra grumbled while diving sharply. “You almost got us killed because you were dealing with the lycan king!”

“Are you afraid?”

“Of the lycan king? Of course not!”

“Or are you jealous?” I shouted amidst the wind.

“Really? I’m jealous of a little girl like her? Just by opening my mouth once, I can crush her!”

The female blue dragon continued to grumble. But she never failed to amaze me with the strength of her wings. Moreover, she could fly without making a sound. That’s why I named her Zephyra, which means gentle wind. She has been my traveling companion all this time.

“That day, Jonea fainted because she was so shocked when she saw your big wings. I asked you to put her on your back, but you carried her using your beak instead.”

I will never forget that moment. By chance, when we were on patrol, I saw her standing on the dragon’s ridge. I asked Zephyra to come down so I could pick Jonea up, but she grabbed her with her beak instead.

“She came with the lycan king!” said Zephyra that afternoon.

We were at the border. I didn’t expect to see Jonea. Unfortunately, she wasn’t alone. She was with a man who was clearly not human. That’s when I kidnapped, took, and separated her from the man.

Jonea’s eyes widened in fear when Zephyra snatched her away by force.

“We’ll be there soon; be patient,” I said to calm Jonea down. “The Lycan king is too arrogant with his power. Is he the one who has been holding you captive and kidnapping you?”

“Who are you?” Jonea shouted. She moved in fear when she realized that we were flying at a high altitude.

Oh, she doesn’t recognize me?

“Don’t move too much or you’ll fall. Calm down, my dragon won’t hurt you. Just pretend that you’re being carried by a giant crane.”

At that moment, the hood of my coat came off because it was blown away by the strong wind.

“Aland?” she shouted in surprise.

I was hunched on Zephyra’s back. The three of us flew across the hills, winding along the river, until we arrived at a green field. Far below were scattered the bones of long-dead dragons. Slowly, trees began to grow and blend in with nature.

“I know!” I said when I saw Jonea’s reaction, amazed by the scenery below. I also experienced the same thing when I first flew with a dragon.

After flying through a sea of ​​thick white clouds, we began to enter the land of the dragons. After I thought about it, it seemed no coincidence that I wandered and got lost in this place.

That day, when the invasion occurred in the blue sapphire, we were standing on a hill. I had just asked Jonea to be my mate. Suddenly, a black dragon appeared and took me. The dragon was a scout troop sent by Luke Draken. For months, I was locked in the dungeon and got various tortures.

The one thing that kept them from killing me immediately was that I was the only one with dragon tears. Luke Draken wanted it so badly. He can rule two dragon lands simultaneously with dragon tears—red and blue dragons. But I will never tell him because dragon tears will guard and protect Jonea.

Since I first met Jonea at school, I knew she was no ordinary girl. There was a hidden power inside her that was in a long sleep. It only took the right time and strength to awaken it. And dragon tears were a shield for her safety.

I escaped from the underground prison right under Blue Sapphire City. No one knows that the dragons built a super-large prison there to capture humans who refused to be turned into hybrids and enslaved.

While in prison, I continued to gather a lot of information. I heard a story about the last land of the dragons, the land of the blue dragons, which was the only area that Luke Draken could not conquer or control.

The dragon race is divided into two: the red dragons, which are controlled by Luke Draken, and the blue dragons, which currently have no leader. The blue dragon race is calmer and lives peacefully in a region hidden from any creature.

Armed with some knowledge and a stolen map, I wandered until I reached the land of the blue dragons. I thought it was a fairy tale, but I made it to this land.

I pointed ahead. “It’s visible, the place we’re going to!” I said to Jonea. “The last land of the blue dragons.”

We landed carefully. Zephyra dropped Jonea roughly, throwing her until she fell into the lake.

“Jonea!” I shouted in panic while glaring at the annoying dragon.

I removed my heavy coat and jumped into the lake to save her. Jonea couldn’t swim. I was worried she’d swallow too much water.

We managed to get out of the water. I carried Jonea to the edge. Our bodies and clothes were soaked. Jonea still closed her eyes, even though I told her we were okay.

“Open your eyes, Jonea,” I whispered softly. “I miss you. I want to see your beautiful eyes.”

“I’m scared! If I open my eyes, I’m afraid this will all end. I want to stay in this dream so I can be with you, Aland.”

I laughed softly. She was still adorable.

“You’re not dreaming, Jonea. Look at me and touch me. You’re really with me now, my mate!”

Jonea slowly opened her eyes. Tears welled up in her eyelids. I tightened my grip so she wouldn’t fall from my arms. I couldn’t hold myself back anymore. Really, I’ve been waiting for this moment for too long. I brought my face close to hers and kissed her until we were both out of breath.

Jonea moaned, “Aland, you hurt me!”

I paused for a moment just to stare at her swollen lips. “But, you like it, right?”

And I kissed her again.