Dragon’s Breath
Chapter twenty-eight

I leave the room, slamming the door behind me, and running through the halls as fast as my feet will carry me. My feet slap violently against the floor, echoing loudly down the halls. My breath comes out in loud pants as my heart thumps uncontrollably. My body courses with a mixture of happiness and anxiety.

I weave through many maids and workers, nearly crashing into many of them in order to reach my destination. When I finally see Gregory's office, I throw the door open, bursting into the room, whipping my head around the room until my eyes meet familiar blue ones.

My face breaks out into a wide smile as I see him standing near the window arms folded over his chest, light from outside making him glow. I take in his long-missed ocean blue eyes that glitter with flecks of silver, his hair, that is the green of fresh dew glinting in the sunlight off a leaf of emerald. His lips are pink and full and his nose slender and rounded bordered by a prominent jaw laced with a jagged scar that curves gracefully down his neck to his shoulder. He has strong arms, bold thighs and calves, a firm chest, and abdomen, all of which make up the proud worrier standing before me.

"SOREN," I shout, throwing myself into the man's arms.

"I missed you," I breath quietly into his chest.

A deep angelic laugh bellows from him. "Calm down Nora. Don't want to embarrass me in front of the king," he says, pulling me close into his protective embrace.

I smile up at Soren, my arms wrapped tightly around him. "Trust me, the old man doesn't care," I say.

Soren's face goes stern. "Nora, you should really stop referring to your elders that way," He scolds me lightly, teasingly thumping my forehead.

Swatting his hand, I pull away from him, a playful glare on my face.

"No worries, it's our thing," I reassure him.

"If you say so," he laughs, a small smile tracing up the corners of his mouth, but I sense a hint of doubt in his voice.

Looking at Soren, my whole body's shaking with such happiness I feel I'm about to explode. I can't believe he's here, it feels like forever since I last saw him. I have so many questions and things to tell him, but I have no idea where to start. I didn't have time to say goodbye to him before I left for the city because he was busy preparing our soldiers for battle.

Gregory chuckles, with a serene look on his face. "As much as I would love for you two to catch up, I'm afraid we have more pressing matters to deal with," he reminds us.

Right, Soren can't be here for no reason. Something must be wrong. That thought makes me almost feel sick. What could it possibly be this time? Everything is so close to falling into place, things can't be ruined now.

"Why are you here, Soren," I ask apprehensively. I'm afraid to know what it could be but at the same time, I have to.

"I have a message from Chieftain Valron," Soren informs us.

"A message from Father? Is it bad?" I ask worriedly.

Nothing good could come from this. Why couldn't it be a message from mother? If it was from her, I wouldn't have to worry. My father brings nothing but trouble.

"And what does the chieftain have to say?" Gregory questions.

"He would like to let you know, Nora, that he and the rest of your family will not be able to attend your wedding with prince Geoffrey. I am here so as to attend in their place," Soren tells us.

"What!? Why?" I question.

The alarm in my voice pierces through the room as my eyes go wide. I'm glad that he's here, but his being here could mean that something is seriously wrong back home. Just the thought of something being wrong makes me sick. If I wasn't sent here I could help, but instead, I'm stuck and in no position to leave.

"Things have become complicated," Soren breaths out a sigh, running a hand down his face. His brows are scrunched together in exasperation.

"How?" Gregory asks, standing up from behind his desk slamming his hands down. His once calm demeanor is now completely gone and is replaced with one of ice and thorns. He's worried, and so am I.

"We are having more trouble with the Betsalel then we originally thought we would. They use strong magically affinities and I fear we are not strong enough. We are low on weapons, and have many injured." Soren is trying to keep calm and collected, but I can see the worry in his eyes.

"Is it really that bad?" I shout in a panic.

I walk to Soren, grabbing his arms. My body trembles as I ask, "And deaths, how many are dead?"

Soren pulls me into a light hug stroking my hair. He looks into my eyes with a light smile.

"Worry not, casualties are low, but the injured are high. Which brings me to my next point: Chieftain Valron is requesting supplies, such as herbs and medicine, along with iron to make and repair weapons," Soren relays.

I step out of Soren's arms. I didn't realize the war had gotten to this point. If it was this bad, why is my father sending Soren instead of a regular messenger? Something doesn't feel right about all this.

"It was a part of my agreement with your horde that I should aid you in this war, and I will do everything in my power to help," Gregory says, settling back into his chair.

"Thank you, your majesty," Soren bows. Standing straight I watch as his shoulders slump with relief.

"For now, you are free to spend some time with Nora. Later, I will have someone show you to where you will be staying," Gregory says, hurrying us out of the room, winking at me as I begin to leave.

"Thanks, old man," I reply, walking out the door, dragging Soren with me.

I lead Soren through the halls hurriedly. I don't like talking in the castle, which seems to have eyes and ears these days.

"Nora, slow down, we need to talk. I haven't told you everything that's happening," Soren says, pulling my arm to slow me down. He looks at me with slight panic.

I glance around us briefly, noting all the maids running around us.

"We can't talk when the walls are listening," I whisper, holding a finger to my mouth and shifting my eyes in the direction of some palace workers.

"I see. Lead the way, then," Soren replies.

I smile, then begin to lead him out of the castle and into the garden, eventually arriving at the same bench shaded under the willow tree where I sat with Flavius. We sit down, and I breathe a sigh of relief. Today has been quite hectic, and I'm grateful I can finally relax. Though it might be to soon to relax what can I say a girl can hope.

I turn my head towards him, "Now, what was it you needed to tell me?"

He stares into my eyes, worries shrouding his face. He seems afraid to tell me. Stretching his body out, he looks up at the sky, seemingly thinking about what to tell me.

"Things in the horde are much worse than I lead you to believe." He runs a hand through his hair, body trembling.

Panic fills my chest as my heart begins to thump wildly. I grab his shoulders making him face me.

"What the hell do you mean?," I demand gripping him tightly, shaking his body.

"I think your father plans to betray the human king," he whispers, not daring to look me in the eye.

"What makes you so sure?" I ask.

"Doesn't it seem strange to you that he suddenly sent the commander of his army to attend a wedding amidst a war? I've never been a messenger, Nora," Soren points out.

He's right, that is strange. Father could have sent anyone as a messenger. Why? Why is this happening now?

"We're losing the war, Nora, and your father is afraid. He's been meeting with leaders from the Betsalel horde. I believe he may be considering a truce with them. If he submits to them, our horde is done for," he tells me.

Soren really looks afraid. My father is going to destroy our horde. Red hot anger fills my entire being. What could that stupid old bastard be planning? He's going to get our people killed.

"How many people in the horde know about this?," I question fiercely. The more people that know this, the worse the situation could become.

"Not many, Valron hasn't been allowing the war council to attend meetings. He's hiding something, Nora. We need to figure out what's going on," he says.

"I'll help as much as I can," I reassure, although, with my current problems, there's not much I can do as of right now.

"Great, then we'll leave today," Soren says standing and pulling me from the bench.

"What are you talking about? I can't leave, not now. I have too much going on to leave," I tell him.

What could he be thinking, trying to get me to leave right now? This is my only chance to catch Fafnir's killer.

"You can't actually want to marry that human prince?" He scowls at me, suddenly getting irritated.

"Of course not!," I yell, my eyes wide, and face twisted with disgust.

"Then why must I wait until after the wedding when we can return to the horde now?" He asks pointedly.

Is he seriously asking me to leave, especially after requesting help from Gregory? How could he do that to someone who's going to help our horde?

"Because I'm using the wedding to catch my brother's killer," I reveal.

"Wait, you've found Fafnir's killer?" He asks surprised.

Irritation leaves his body as he's consumed with shock.

"Yes," I state.

"You can always come back for your brother's killer, the horde should be your priority," he demands.

Has he listened to anything I've told him? Sometimes he can be so damned stubborn.

"That isn't all. There are people in this city that I cannot abandon," I say softly.

"Don't tell me there are humans in this city you actually care for?" He spits out disapprovingly.

His eyes sharping in discontent.

"I've worked too hard here to go back now, Soren! I have a too much-unfinished business to take care of. Regardless, I was wrong. Not all humans are bad," I admit.

"Since when did you start to care for humans?" Soren snorts.

"Since I got to know them! Not only that, but the human king has also been more of a father to me than my own, and... and my mate is here," I say.

Soren stumbles from me like he's been punched. His eyes go wide as his breath comes to a halt for a moment. It is silent for a moment. Fear fills me. Is he upset that my mate is not one of our own?

"Fine, I'll wait until after the wedding to return to the horde with you, but you have to let me in on these plans of yours," he agrees.

"Alright then, it's a deal. Meet me back out here after dinner and I'll explain what's going on," I promise.

"Sounds like a plan," Soren says slapping me playfully on the back.

Happy Easter everyone!!! I hope you guys are all having a wonderful day!!!! I hope you enjoyed the chapter if you did don’t forget to like and comment.-

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