There were Hunters in the forest. I was confused as to how Zairyn doubled his injuries in the time I was gone, until I heard them stomping around our cave.

“We’ll get that fucker next time,” a deep voice growled. “It’ll have to return to its nest sometime.”

So they hadn’t seen us land, but they did know where our home was. I was very well-trained in weapons and combat -I made them for a living- but I wasn’t so sure about my ability to hold off a whole band of Hunters, especially without Zair. After passing out the night before, he still hasn't woken, except for the occasional whimper or shift in position.

At this point, I was less afraid of the Hunters than Zair’s condition. He was asleep, but restless; I could tell in the way he breathed. His breathing was rough and fast… faster than it should have been. But he still wouldn’t wake.

So I did my best to prepare for the worst and stocked up all our merchandise in a back alcove, leaving out the weapons I knew I could use well. I hid as much food as I could and cooked the rest, making sure to carefully feed it to my unconscious brother as well. It was no easy task lifting his top jaw and sliding in as much food as I could before literally lifting his whole head for gravity to work its magick and pull the food down his throat. But I guess I did a good enough job of it that he never stirred.

Everything was tense, and not comfortable in any way, but it was still reassuring to be with my brother again in our home, despite it being surrounded by people who wanted to kill him. I hadn’t realized how much I really missed Zairyn until he was right here with me.

‘I won’t leave you again, I swear. Things will get better from now on, and I’ll make sure to protect you.’

I moved Zair’s largest blanket from his nest to his body, and he instinctively curled around it. Seeing how dark it was, I decided it was time for me to turn in too, and I crawled over his tail to lay on my brother’s much-larger stomach, positioning a medium-sized dagger in such a way that wouldn’t potentially harm either of us if we moved in our sleep. Zairyn’s belly constantly gave off a comforting heat, and despite the circumstances, I couldn’t help but drift off into an albeit uneasy sleep.

Until I heard shouting at the mouth of the cave, filled by the distinct clanging of metal and shouts of Humans.

Some were frantic and scared, but the vast majority were filled with a sick sort of anticipation. My heart dropped to my stomach as I pulled out the dagger I kept. Scrambling over Zair as fast as I could, I dropped my center of gravity in a fighting stance, preparing for the inevitable onslaught of Hunters.

“Zair,” I tried. “Zair, please wake up. I know you can’t fight, but a Dragon would be really nice right now.”

I only got a few grumbles and whimpers from my sleeping brother.

Then they came, flooding the entrance to our home. It seemed like an endless sea of Hunters, and a flash of fear shot through me before turning into steel-like determination. I meant it when I said I’d protect Zairyn. I’d even kill these Hunters if I had to.

As they rushed towards me I cut them down as quickly as possible, using the fluid movements honed by years of practice to propel my defense. But practice can only get me so far. The Hunters’ practical knowledge, skill, and experience eventually won out, and several made it past me, heading straight for Zairyn.

A scream had lodged itself in my throat when I saw a gleaming sword raised above his skull, ready to end his life. But just before the blade landed, it glanced off another piece of iron.

Kalde. Kalde! They were here, along with the Royal siblings, who were all fighting alongside me now. Jillan moved in front of my brother while the others surrounded me, fighting back-to-back- to help defend my brother’s sleeping form.

“What-?” I started, before Kieran roughly cut me off.

“Just focus on fighting, we can talk later!” he grunted out, deflecting a blow from a very burly Hunter.

Alright then. Fight now, talk later.

Kalde was probably the best out of all of us, them being a knight and all, and the most Hunters were brought down by their hand.

Me, I realized with a smattering of pride, had brought down only slightly less than them.

Kieran and Ric worked together to defeat the rest; they were acting as a tag team of sorts to defend against stragglers.

Jillan had grabbed a bow and a sheath of arrows at some point, and was carefully taking out the largest Hunters she could from in front of Zair.

Hope, pride, determination, and adrenaline made a very heady combination that boosted my attacks and made me more vicious than I ever thought possible. My dagger, only slightly shorter than my forearm, was an efficient and effective weapon in my hands, as Zairyn had made it to be. He just probably never thought it'd be used by me.

By the time we had thinned out the crowd of fighting-fit Hunters to a dozen or so, a deep voice rumbled through the cave.

“You pathetic fuckers! That Dragon is ours! We caught it and it’s our bounty!” A tall man, rivaling Kieran’s stature, stomped out in front of us. I assumed he was the leader of the Hunter clan. “We’re all Human, why fight us for a fucking monster! You want money? FIND IT SOMEWHERE ELSE. IT’S OURS!”

I had no words to describe the rage I felt when he claimed Zairyn as ‘his’.

“He’s not fucking yours though! He’s MINE.” Ric growled. It wasn’t nearly as intimidating since he wasn’t as tall, nor his voice as deep, but Ric still made an impressive image. But his last statement confused me. Zairyn was Prince Ric’s?

The Hunters seemed to be just as confused as I was.

“I am Ric, second Prince of the kingdom Alinvelle, and this here,” he pointed to me, “is my fiance. I ordered for the Dragon that took my bride to be brought back to me. Alive. This Dragon is mine,” he finished. I still had little to no idea what was happening, but Ric clarified the ‘alive’ part, so whatever it was, I didn’t mind it so much.

“P-Prince Ric? Of Alinvelle?” the tall man stuttered. He was afraid of his status? Good. “We… We did not know you had claimed this Dragon. But we are Hunters, we have free reign over the hunting of Otherkin. If I may be so bold, Your Highness, this Dragon is still ours, despite how rude we were, and you still injured my people,” he said with scorn and barely concealed anger. Looks like he got over the status and went straight for legalities.

“While that may be true, you endangered all three Royal siblings and the to-be Prince Consort,” Kieran smirked as he said this, gearing up to drop the real ultimatum of this reveal. “If you give us this Dragon, as it is our right to him since my brother claimed him and the King and Queen approved, I, as first Prince, will waive the offenses against you.” Before the Hunter could cut in with a rebuttal, Kieran added, “The punishment for these crimes would be death for all of you. Just to let you know.”

The Hunters who were still conscious balked and started muttering amongst themselves. They faced danger via their occupation every day, but to be executed by Humans would be an ultimate disgrace, and could mean the outlaw of Hunters in this land.

“Take your injured, and get the fuck out of our home,” I seethed. “Never come anywhere close to this forest again, or so help me, Gods, by whatever you find holy I will rip your throats out.” I fucking meant it too. Don’t touch my shit, don’t invade my home, and don’t threaten my brother.

The Hunters, looking pitiful and pathetic, dragged their people out of our cave and high-tailed out of the forest.

The wonderful cocktail of adrenaline and fury was wearing off of me though, and I slumped to the ground beside Zairyn’s body. Which felt… cold?

It wasn’t supposed to be cold. He was a fire-oriented Dragon. Cold was not good for him.

I jumped back up, just when Kalde tried asking me what was wrong.

“Zairyn. He’s cold. He’s not supposed to be cold. Oh Gods,” I whispered.

“Now just calm down darling. We can get him help, but we need to bring ‘im back to the castle first,” Jillan said soothingly, gently taking my hands and rubbing circles on them. I couldn’t even register the pet name she called me.

“Why are you helping us?” I asked suddenly. My eyes shot to the ground. It was rude, I know, but I didn’t understand. They knew I was just using Ric to gain influence, and that I had no intentions of ever truly loving him, so why would they go so far as to risk their lives for me? For my brother?

“Because sweetheart, we aren’t monsters.”

I felt a lump rising in my throat, but I held it back. Instead, I looked up and asked, “Okay. How are we going to get him back to the castle?”