Prologue
Silver talons skimmed the calm surface of the water, creating ripples and waves in their wake. His black scales blended well in the shadows the mountains cast on the lake. He needed to feel the wind catch in his wings, to see the sun and feel it warm his scales. He’d only meant to go for a short flight. He’d never meant to wander this far from the den. However, the damage was done, and it was only a matter of time before his absence was noticed and then…
A great roar in the distance drew his attention and his white irises scanned the horizon, searching for the source. The sunlight reflected on her ivory scales as she crested the highest peak of the mountains before him and spread her wings wide. She stalled in the air for only a moment before spotting him and her wings began to beat again, carrying her in his direction.
Do you have any idea how worried sick everyone is, she called to his mind, not even attempting to make the venom dripping from each syllable.
A plume of dark smoke released from his nostrils, demonstrating his annoyance and disbelief at the question. As if any of the others cared about either of them. They were, by nature, selfish creatures. They only came together now because they faced extinction. The human hunters had been quite efficient the past few years. At last count, only twenty or so dragons remained in the territory.
Aeolus, are you listening to me? You cannot continue to behave in this way. Leaving the den, flying alone…You know it is too dangerous to be alone, she continued, her tone growing more and more angry as the words assaulted his mind.
With a heavy beat of his wings, he flew the short distance to the bank of the lake and lowered his dark body to the soft, green grass, tucking his wings tight to his sides. He knew she would follow. She always did. It irritated him beyond belief, but she was his sister, his geminae (twin). They were bound to each other in this realm and every other. The ground rumbled softly as she landed before him and matched his posture, lowering her head just enough to meet his pale eyes with her own.
Why must you be so…, she began but hesitated, seeming to be searching for the right word.
Resistant, he questioned with a slight tilt of his head and the sun gleamed against the slim, silver horns atop his head. Perhaps, Nivara, I do not wish to have my fate tied to one of those filthy half-breeds. Humans are the cause of all of this, and you want me to WILLINGLY link my soul with something that is half-human. Forgive me if I’m not enthusiastic, he continued with a slight shake of his head and turned his pale eyes back to the smooth surface of the lake.
Frater (brother), I understand your feelings but there is no other way. If there were, I would gladly choose it over this. We all have our parts to play if we are to survive into a future where we will be safe. This is ours, she tried to explain gently but he’d heard these words before, many times.
His eyes scanned the lake and a heavy sigh rumbled deeply in his chest. He had to admit that he sounded like a whimpering hatchling, even to himself. He knew there was no other option. They must take this horrible path. Worse, they must take it separately and find each other when they reemerged in an unknown world. He was terrified. He’d never been without her. She was his other half and his balance. He feared what he could become without her light influencing his dark nature.
Very well, soror mea (my sister). You win, he whispered to her mind with a deeply saddened tone. Let’s get this over with, he growled and rose to his feet, stretching his wings. With a few heavy beats, he gathered the wind beneath him and pushed away from the ground, knowing Nivara would follow close behind. He’d run out of time in the present and now, he could only wait for the future to feel the sun against his scales and the wind beneath his wings again. He could only hope that his conscious mind would also be dormant and not aware of the passage of time as his soul wasted away inside the body of another.
