Malvolion

We were in the air again flying high but it didn't last long before we had to make an emergency landing.

The storm that they had predicted had come and the rain was too dangerous to fly in.

Turns out it was not the last stretch.

We landed in a part of the forest where there were so many trees, the storm could barely touch us.

Not that it makes any difference, we were already soaked but at least we have a small chance of drying off.

I sat down next to the fire shivering. My clothes were wet and I was sure to catch a cold.

Stupid dragons with their stupid body heat.

None of the boys were shivering. Their clothes weren't even wet anymore.

Kaine seeing how cold I am, speaks up.

"Here. Take my shirt. Go change behind one of the trees." He says as he takes off his shirt.

My eyes widen as I see his perfectly toned body.

Realizing how dumb I must look. I shyly take his shirt from his hand and I make way for a tree.

His shirt I warm. His body heat having dried it up.

I slide off my cloak and then take my shirt off. Only then did I remember the letter my gramps gave me.

I open the folder paper and read it.

My dear Cora,

I'm sorry I never told you the truth about you or your parents. I thought that keeping this a secret would protect you but I was wrong. Your parents were the king and queen of the Dresian kingdom. The kingdom of the fae. Im sorry I never told you who you really are. Your parents died at the hands of the human king. He was merciless. Your parents delivered you to me before they returned to the war. They did not die in vain. Their last wish was for you to live and hopefully save the world. Im sorry Cora. I love you.

My eyes watered.

I was a fae princess? Destined to rebuild and rule the kingdom of Dresian? To end this war and save the world?!

I slipped the letter back into my bra and put Kaine's shirt on.

I was too large for me. The shirt reached my knees and the sleeves of the t-shirt reached my elbows.

It was warm. It felt good to finally feel some heat again.

Sadly, there is nothing I can do about my leggings.

I returned to the boys and sat down next to the fire. Placing my wet clothes as close as possible to the fire so that they can hopefully dry.

I hope the storm ends soon because if Kaine's white shirt got wet, the scars on my back would be exposed. Not to mention my black bra that can already be somewhat seen.

Flashback

"Please William! I did not steal the food from the villagers! I hunted it myself!" I cried.

Im only 10 years old so there is no way he will believe me.

"You lying witch! You will be punished for your crimes!" He yelled.

He dragged me by my arm towards the center of town.

There, he chained my feet and arms so I could not break free.

Everyone in town gathered around. They all watched as the chief ripped my shirt up so my back was exposed to him. To everyone.

He grabbed his weapon of choice, and I only realized what it was when it came slashing down my back.

A whip.

5 lashes.

I received 5 lashes before he decided it was enough for me. My back all torn up for sure to leave 5 nasty scars. The middle one was the worst. It went from my left shoulder to the bottom of my back.

He untied me and left me there. All the other villagers also returned back to their jobs, homes, and none of them tried to help the poor little girl bleeding in the center of town.

Flashback over

I healed quickly after that. The next day my cuts had turned to scars.

Gramps never found out and he never will. No one will.

Dragged out of my thoughts by a voice, I look at the source.

"How long does it take to put a shirt on?" Finn laughed.

I say nothing hoping he would drop the subject. Which he did, he continued cheating with the other two but I did not miss the mysterious look Kaine gave me before returning to the conversation.

A fae princess. I was destined to save the world.

I know all this but the boys don't know that I do. Meaning I need to wait until they tell me to talk about it. Or else they will ask about how I know which will lead to the letter.

I sat quietly at the campfire while they talked and while my clothes dried. The sooner the better because I cannot take my eyes off of him.

His eight pack of abs and his muscular arms. They made my heart flutter. He drives me insane for no reason! Why!

About an hour later, the storm has calmed and my clothes have dried up. Their dragons are well rested and we are ready to fly again.

I walk up to Kaine and say,

"Hey give me two seconds to change back into my clothes. That way you can have your shirt back."

He looks at me, then at his shirt that I'm still wearing and shakes his head.

"Don't bother. We're almost at the base. I have more clothes there." And with that he walks away to shift.

Not before looking back and saying,

"It looks better on you anyways."

And with that he left to shift. His black dragon making his appearance as well as the blue and purple one beside him.

I shake my head to get rid of the blush that invaded my cheeks and put my clothes into one of the bags.

After another hour of flying, we land at the one and only Malvolion.

It was beautiful.

The houses built on trees with bridges connecting them all together, the flowers everywhere, the little stands everywhere selling baked goods, the stores, everything was just absolutely gorgeous.

The three dragons let out a screech and everyone on the land cheered.

Dragons with wings of all colours clapped at our arrival.

The fae looked and clapped along but their faces did not show joy.

I guess they still hate dragons.

The mountains surrounding the town as high as the clouds, hiding the village from everyone.

It was well hidden. Between mountains, in the trees. It is not easy to find. Impossible even. Unless you know where it is.

We landed on a flat part of one of the mountains and I slid off of Kaine.

Two men came to me and took my bags. They held them while Kaine, Derek and Finn shifted back.

"Welcome back sir." They said in synch.

Sir? Who are they talking to?

"Thank you very much. Please take the bags to my chambers." Kaine answers the two men.

Kaine was the leader? He was in charge of the dragon kingdom? He was the reason for the alliance?

The two men walk away and bring the bags to his chambers. I stand there out of place. I don't know anyone or anything here.

Kaine heads inside of the entrance on the side of the mountain. The platform sticks out of the cave entrance.

As we walk inside, I see hallways all over the sides of the mountain. Inside of this cave was another town! There were rooms all along the sides on different levels. I don't know I deep this cave goes or how many steps there are but I can image for someone who cannot fly, it's a pain.

"Raven, welcome to Malvolion." Zaine looks at me with a smile.

This is Malvolion!? If this is his home town then what is that village outside?

I decide not to ask anymore questions for now. Kaine, Finn and Derek all seem extremely exhausted and need their rest.

"Come, I will walk you to your chambers." He said.

Finn and Derek head in the direction of what I assume is their chambers as I follow Kaine in another direction.

He leads me up a couple sets of stairs taking us to the highest level of the cave. The platform is pretty high up so I don't have to worry about dying on the staircases.

He leads me to a nice pair a wooden doors and open them for me.

Inside was the best thing I've ever seen.

The living room being the first thing you walk into, had a big couch with a table in the middle of the room. Beside it to the right is the dinning room with a table way too big for one girl like me. It was made of a rich dark wood as were the chairs. On top of the table was hanging a small chandelier.

If walk past the living room further into the chambers and find myself in a kitchen. The kitchen with white cupboards and drawers but a wooden island and wooden countertops. Down a hallways to the right of the dinning room, there was a door. I open the door and walk in to find a massive bedroom.

It has a queen sized bed that has black silk sheets with night stands made with wood to match the dinning table on either side. To the left there a personal walk in bathroom with a bath tub big enough to fit 5 people and a sink with way too much counter space and a nice tile floor. To the right of the bedroom there was another door, this one leading to a walk in closet already filled with clothes that all seemed like they could fit me.

My jaw dropped at all of this. I look at Kaine and see him already smiling at me.

"Do you like it?" He asks me.

"Like it? I love it! This is the best place I've ever seen!" I yell.

His smile drops as he remembers where I used to live.

Makes me think what would happen if he found out the way I used to get treated.

Shaking the resurfacing memories out of my head, I head back to the living room to sit down.

Tomorrow, after he has rested, I will ask questions and he'd better give me all the answers.

He follows me and sits across from me.

Why is he so far? He's been pretty close to me ever since he found me crying under the tree. He even cuddled me while I cried. Now he's keeping his space?

It's probably for the best. I doubt a fae and dragon relationship is legal, or even accepted amongst the town folks.

"Thank you for the chambers Kaine." I tell him.

I started hating the silence and needed to break it. He looks back at me like I snapped him out of his thoughts. That was not my intention but he seems troubled.

"It's no problem. Im going to my chambers to rest. If you need anything you can find me and the furthest chamber to the right."

"Okay..." I say.

And with that he left.

He seems off. Had I done something? Maybe he came to the same realization as I did.

Kaine is all I can think about nowadays. He's still all I can think about as I head to my bedroom.

I walk into my closet and pick out a black laced bra with some matching panties, a grey hoodie with some grey sleeping shorts.

It has gotten late and after a long day I want nothing but to rest. Sadly, I know I should wash first.

I walk into the bathroom and place my clothes on the counter.

I run the bath and while it fills up with water I undress myself. I stare at myself in the mirror and look at my body.

I've always been skinny, malnourished. It was okay since I've grown accustomed to it. I see some scars on my thighs and some on my stomach.

There are so many I cant remember which came from what day.

I can remember the 5 big ones on my back however. I turn around and look at my back that's reflected onto the mirror.

My finger brush against the soft rebuilt skin as a single tear flows out of my eye.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

Im safe now.

The bath having finally filled up, I climb in and sit down.

The hot water relaxes my muscles as I let a sigh out.

These past few days have been stressful.

I grab a soap bar with a scent of rose and pines, I scrub my body thoroughly.

I see a shampoo bottle and grab that too. I start washing my hair scrubbing my scalp in a very harsh manner.

Only when I was one hundred percent sure I was completely clean, I got out of the bath and put a towel around myself.

Then I pulled a plug from the bottom of the bath tub that I assume is going to drain the water.

Before I could start dressing myself, I hear a knock on the door.

I panic because I am not dressed!

I take a deep breath and go to answer the door when I hear the person knock again.

I open the door but hide my body behind it.

I opened it ever so slightly so you could see my head poking out without seeing that I was not dressed.

"Hey can I come in? We need to talk." Kaine said.

What? I thought he would want to rest first, but I guess not.

"Um, actually this isn't a good time.. come back later?" I said.

I cant let him in when I'm like this! He does not seem to care because while he says,

"I promise it is of the upmost importance."

He barges into my chambers.

He turns around to face me and only then did he notice I was only in a towel.

His eyes widen and he stutters out,

"I..Im so sorry!"

Normally I would laugh at a big confident guy stuttering like that but I am also nervous and uncomfortable.

"It's okay, let me just go get dressed." And with that i turn around and head for my bedroom.

"Wait!" He shouts.

I turn around and look at him confused.

His face shows pure rage.

Did I do something? Why is he so angry?

"What's wrong? Kaine did I do something?" I ask.

"Who did that to you?" He says growling.

Oh. The towel doesn't completely cover my scars so you could see the beginning of them.

If he was this angry at those small parts of it I wonder what he's going to do when he sees them fully.

"Answer me!" He yells.

I stand there not able to say anything.

I hadn't prepared for this! The only thing that comes to my mind is:

Oh shit.