For thirty minutes, the sky roared around him. Wind tore past Drexo's face, sharp and unrelenting. His cloak snapped wildly behind him, but he didn't pull it closer. He didn't care.
Below, the land shifted.
Forests stretched like dark veins. Rivers cut through the earth in silver lines. Villages passed in blurs. All of it meant nothing, only one place mattered.
Only one person.
Dreka surged forward, her wings beating with controlled power. She moved like she understood the urgency, like she felt it in her bones.
Then, Hills Ford came into view. The city spread beneath them, alive and unsuspecting. And then the roar came.
Dreka's cry split the air: loud, and unmistakable.
Below, heads snapped upward. Guards turned sharply. Voices rose in alarm. "A dragon!"
"It's a dragon!"
Panic rippled through the streets like a sudden storm.
At the fortress, men rushed to the walls, eyes scanning the sky.
The lord of Hills Ford stepped forward, his expression tightening as he spotted the massive wings cutting across his domain. They knew what it means if a dragon visits a king. It is a show of strenght "What is a dragon doing within our lands?" he demanded.
No one answered. No one could. "Has the king found us wanting of any crime?"
In a quiet room within the city, Maria heard it. The sound reached her through stone and distance, but she knew it instantly. Her lips curved into a small smile. "Of course you came," she whispered to herself.
Her heart picked up its rhythm. Fast, and eager. But she didn't move. Not yet.
She stayed where she was. Letting the moment stretch. Letting him wait.
Dreka descended toward the eastern forest, her wings slowing, her body lowering with controlled grace.
The ground rushed up. Then, she landed. The impact sent a low tremor through the earth.
Leaves scattered. Branches shook. Before the dust could settle, guards were already moving in.
Weapons drawn, but cautious. "My lord invites you to the fortress," one of them said, his voice steady despite the tension.
Drexo slid down from Dreka's back. He adjusted his stance. He was calm, and composed. He gave a slight bow. Then followed them.
The fortress doors opened..The lord of Hills Ford stood waiting. He bowed deeply as Drexo approached. "Your Grace," he greeted. "What brings you here?"
Drexo smiled. Easy, and controlled. "I come in peace," he said. "I only wish to tour your city."
The lord's shoulders relaxed slightly. He has come for a personal business, not the wicked king's. "Then you will not mind if I hold a feast in your honor," the lord offered quickly.
Drexo shook his head. "There would be no need for that tonight."
A brief pause. "I would rather be in the forest.".The answer was unexpected. But the lord did not question it.
He bowed again. "As you wish, Your Grace." The forest welcomed him back in silence.
Dreka settled nearby, folding her wings, her massive form blending into the shadows of the trees.
Drexo set up a tent.
Simple, and Tltemporary. Then he waited. Time passed. Slowly, and painfully.
The sun dipped lower, dragging the light with it. Shadows stretched, deepened.
Still, no sign of her. Maria did not come.
Drexo paced once. Then again. His eyes flicked toward the edges of the forest, searching for movement that never came.
"She invited me here," he muttered under his breath.
The light faded further.
Darkness crept in. Still nothing..His jaw tightened. His hands clenched at his sides.
Hours passed. The forest grew quieter. The distant sounds of the city softened as night took hold.
And still, she did not come.
Drexo stopped pacing. His chest rose sharply. "She never intended to show up," he hissed. The thought burned. "She brought me here just to mock me."
Anger replaced the waiting. Quick, and sharp. He turned abruptly and began to fix his clothes, movements rough, impatient. "Come on, Dreka," he said, his voice cold now. "Let's go."
He climbed onto her back. Dreka shifted slightly, preparing to take off.
Then, a voice sliced through the cold night. "Was that how long you were willing to wait?"
The voice cut through everything. Soft, familiar, and unmistakable.
Drexo froze completely. Even Dreka stilled beneath him. For a second, the world held its breath.
Then slowly, he turned..And there she was. Standing just beyond the shadows.
Maria.
Drexo moved instantly, sliding down from Dreka's back. His boots hit the ground with a dull thud, but he barely noticed. Dreka remained still, her presence quiet, almost watchful.
Drexo stepped forward. Maria stepped forward too. They stopped a short distance apart.
But close.
But not touching. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence stretched, thick with everything they hadn't said, everything they had tried to bury.
Drexo broke first. "I thought you wouldn't show up." His voice was quieter now. Not angry. Not anymore.
Maria didn't answer immediately. She just looked at him. Then, she moved.
Fast.
She closed the distance and crashed into his arms. "I missed you," she breathed, her voice breaking. "I tried to forget you, but I couldn't."
Her grip tightened around him, like she was afraid he might disappear if she let go.
Drexo held her just as tightly. His hand pressed against her back, pulling her closer.
"I missed you more," he said, his voice low. "I thought I was dying."
For a moment, they stayed like that. Locked together. As if nothing else existed.
Then Maria pulled back slightly. Just enough to look at him. Her eyes searched his. "I know what we share is wrong," she said, her voice steady despite everything. "But I cannot deny it anymore."
A pause.
A breath. "I love you, Drexo.".The words landed fully this time.
Clear, and unhidden.
"More than I have ever loved anyone."
Drexo didn't answer with words. He didn't need to. His hand moved to her face. And then, his lips met hers.
The kiss wasn't gentle. It wasn't careful. It carried everything. The waiting. The frustration. The longing they had both tried and failed to bury.
Maria responded instantly. Her hands gripped him, pulling him closer, as though distance itself had become unbearable.
The forest around them faded. The night deepened. And the fire between them burned bright again.
Uncontrolled, and unforgiving.
They didn't stop. The didn't think. They didn't question it. They moved with the flow. By the time they became aware of anything beyond each other, the world had shifted again.
Clothes lay forgotten on the ground. The ground beneath them was rough with dry leaves. The air carried the quiet sound of their breaths, uneven and heavy. But neither of them pulled away. Not this time.