Chapter Seven

After allowing her father's words to truly sink in, Everleigh realized that the only viable option was for her to find a way to unbind her dragon by herself. She knew that if his former coven ever found out her magic had been set free, then she would never be safe again. And the thought of never being safe again terrified her.

Everleigh asks Xavier to take her on a tour of his parents' magnificent kingdom as a distraction from the overwhelming thoughts coursing through her mind. She has very limited knowledge about dragons and magic, which is based entirely on what her father had told her in his stories many, many years ago.

She needed time to mull over and to process the massive amount of information she had consumed in the last day, in order to make sense of it all. She was absolutely stunned by the truth that dragons, witches, and real magic exists in the world and seeing her father alive and well had truly made her question everything she knew.

Everleigh follows Xavier as he confidently leads her by the hand towards a breath taking, forest which sprawls out around a soaring mountain so high that it appears to never reach an end. Making their way through the seemingly endless, winding and hidden caves and tunnels of Veralasia, they pause to study all of the exotic, unusual and captivating sights that they encounter on their journey. The tunnel walls seem to be alive and are covered with something that strongly resembles scales, which is more fascinating than it is unnerving since they give off a warm honey-golden glow due to the light streaming in through sporadic and rugged openings in the ceiling.

The lush green moss covering the floor gives off an earthy scent, and a dampness feels cool against Everleigh's skin through her thick-soled shoes, but she remains utterly entranced by Xavier's captivating stories about his childhood in the enchanting place, entirely oblivious to the surface beneath her feet. He regales her with heart-warming stories from his childhood and the adventures he had while learning to shift and fly. . He tells her in great detail about when he was blessed with each of his runes, stopping to showcase them one-by-one and describing in detail their meaning and the power they bestow upon him.

Everleigh was overwhelmed, and thought to herself that nothing could possibly exceed what Xavier had shown her up until this point, until the tunnel they were walking through was illuminated in a breathtakingly beautiful aurora of vibrant pink, blue and violet dancing light. She was mesmerized by the sight, feeling now, more than ever, that she had been transported to a realm of pure magic and wonder.

When she tentatively stepped into the cave, just beyond the long, winding tunnel opening, her mouth dropped open in awe and admiration. It was like she had stumbled upon a giant, spectacular geode, far more magnificent than any of the sparkling crystals she had often admired in the display cabinet at her old school.

The walls of the cave glittered and shone with a kaleidoscopic array of dazzling crystals, their refracted light dancing along the surface of an impossibly clear lagoon that filled the space in front of her. A steady stream of water cascaded down from the craggy opening above them, continually replenishing its crystal-laden depths in a breath taking display.

At the far end of the cave, two tall trees stood majestically and created an opening with their twisted trunks, their branches intertwined to form a leafy green arch, leading into what looked like a forest. Long tendrils of fragrant and vibrant flowering vines hung from the cave's ceiling, and a flock of brightly coloured birds fluttered and chirped in unison above them, weaving their way between the vines.

“This is where I would have wanted to seal our bond. I would have flown us here in complete secrecy, away from the prying eyes of the court, so that no one could have disturbed us. I would have kept you here and cherished every moment together until we feared that we would soon perish from hunger if we stayed any longer.” Xavier leans in close and breathes the words into her ear, his voice a soft full of longing. His hands take hold of hers and he steps back, leading her towards the warm, inviting embrace of the waiting water. She can feel the anticipation as they walk deeper, each of her steps bringing them closer together.

“What we had was perfect, and I would not change a single moment of it. But that doesn’t mean we can’t take this opportunity to enjoy the beauty that surrounds us now that we are here.” She looks into his eyes, taken in by their ever-changing colours and the way his gaze heats her from the inside. The water slowly envelops her legs as Xavier gently guides her further into its tranquil embrace. Before she knows it, the water has reached her waist and he releases his grip on her hands, spinning her around to face away from him. She takes a deep breath and dives deeper into the warm, inviting pool. She can feel the water caressing her skin as she moves through it gracefully, allowing her to forget all her worries for a moment. When she surfaces for a breath, Xavier moves behind her, takes the hem of her shirt and slowly peels it up, delicately gliding it over her body and over her head, leaving it to float for a moment on the surface before sinking out of sight.

“You’re absolutely stunning, my Princess. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to know that you chose me. I'm so blessed that I've been given the chance to love you and be yours.” he whispers, and she can feel his hot breath on her neck. She slowly turns to face him, gently cupping his face in her hands and leaning in to passionately capture his soft lips with hers.

Unbeknownst to Everleigh, the crystal-clear waters she now stands in are a secret jewel of the kingdom; and for centuries, countless adventurers have journeyed far and wide in search of its mysterious, healing powers. Even if a being is on the brink of death, the mysterious and magical waters of this enchanted pool can revive and heal them from any ailment. It is a secret that has been protected for many generations by dragons, who were willing to give their lives to keep this powerful healing power from falling into the wrong hands.

Xavier tenderly walks beside her as she floats on the surface of the water, guiding her carefully to drift beneath the mesmerizing waterfall, fully aware of the enchanting and captivating beauty that would be revealed behind its shimmering liquid curtain. He leans over her, gracefully shielding her face from the downpour with his body. When he then lifts her onto the large stone platform, she finds herself immediately captivated by the intricate carvings that adorn the walls around her. She is awestruck by their beauty and detail, feeling as if they have been carefully etched into the stone over centuries to tell a mysterious tale.