Chapter Nine:

Astor had bandaged up my wrist and pit burn cream on it. I didn't have the heart to tell him that the burn cream wouldn't work. And that the burn would keep getting worse...Astor sat across from me holding on to my fingers. I raise a eyebrow at him.

He lifts his head to meet my eyes and he offers a small smile.

"You are quite Reckless." I snort. Honestly he didn't known the half if it. I avert my eyes from him..

'Tell Him! Tell him with the hell fire burn we can't access our own flames! Tell him it's poison to us! Tell him The Truth!' I groan at the sound of Shade's angry voice. How do you tell someone that? Basically telling them that you are dying slowly. I shake my head and look around. I flinch at the sound of Astor's phone ringing. He sighs and let's go of my hand answering it. Video call. He smiles instantly and waves. That's when I heard a small squeal. I couldn't help but smile.

"Dada! Mama?" Astor chuckles and shakes his head. I watch half amused as he turns the phone around so Luca could see me. I giggle as he begins jumping up and down and shrieks.

"MAMA!" He leans forward and presses his mouth to the phone.

"Hello Luca." I grind my teeth together as my wrist begins to burn. Damnit! I force a smile as he continues to squeal.

"Are you alright?" I nod my head slowly. I hum softly and push the phone toward Astor.

"I love you buddy! I'll be home soon." He shuts the phone off and slides off his seat to get closer to me. I stuck in a sharp breath. To close!

"Your in pain...this won't heal will it?"

"No. If I could get to Dragon's Keep. Maybe. But it's to the west of my kingdom." Astor nods and stands I let out a shriek as he lifts me up into his arms.

" What are you doing?!" A low growl rumbles against my side from Astor's chest.

"Taking you to Dragon's Keep." My eyes widen and my heart skips a beat. What?

His grip tightens around me.

"Freya?" I turn my head to see the twins and Selene staring at me in confusion. Astor let's out a warning growl. He easily pushed through them and outside to the stables where Silva was. Before we could reach Silva's door he came crashing through it and charging to us. Astor sets me on him first before climbing in behind me grabbing the reins. My cheeks burned. Still To Close! I grip the reins lightly just to be able to hold on to something. My head felt dizzy. More so because my back was firmly against Astor's chest and torso. My stomach was doing weird flips and my heart was racing.

"Silva. Dragon's Keep." I gasp at the sudden rush of air against my skin as Sipva takes off at full speed.

'Stay awake.' Shade sounded worried. I giggle a little at the thought of my dragon actually worried.

'I feel the pain your in.' My body was shaking slightly now and my eyes burned like someone had blown smoke in them.

'I'm taking over Mistress.' I inhale a deep breath and let it out slowly as I allow Shade to push all the way through.

****SHADE'S POINT OF VIEW******

I wince. Her body was in agony and she was handling it well. But her mind needed to rest.

"Astor. I've taken over my mistress's body. Her mind needed to rest." King Astor's body stiffens. I turn side ways so that it is easier to look up at him. Wrapping Freya's uninjured arm around his back I tilt my head up so that I can see his face. He seemed shocked for a moment. Then I saw the curiosity in his eyes.

"Do you have a name?" I crack a smile and nod.

"Yes. My name is Shade." The corner of his mouth turns up.

"She doesn't remember me..I was the wolf that pulled her away from her parents corpses." My eyes widen. The night that I was closed off from her...

"Did you know that we- she was your mate then?" Astor shakes his head.

"It doesn't work like that. When we meet our mates for the first time we have to be in human form first. The eye contact is what helps the mate bond...her scent drew me to her. It was comforting." I inhale a deep breath and sigh.

"She's trying...it's hard for her to accept it. The mate bond. I can feel it. But it's like she's pushing it away. You just have to keep trying." Astor smiles sadly.

"I'm not losing her too. What's a Dragon's Keep that can help her?" My eyebrows draw together. Did he really not know? I thought that it was a well known story...or maybe not.

"The Spirit Flame." I watch half amused as his face scrunches up in confusion. Almost as if he's trying to remember if he's heard of it before. I couldn't help but laugh.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what that is." I pat his back lightly.

"It's a pure silver flame! It is the spirit of the very first dragon. It's the purest flame. It will heal her. But it may change her too. The last time the flame was used to heal it bestowed some of the power to the dragon-borne that needed healing. They will lay her body in a ring of this fire and the flame will do the work." Astor's mouth drops open.

"Who is they?" I arch an eyebrow at him. He really was quite clueless for a King.

"The Grand White Witches. The Keepers Of The Spirit Flame. They protect it." Astor seemed annoyed.

"How have I never heard of this?" I chew on the inside of Freya's mouth.

"I'm not sure. We can find out though." I groan again it feels like someone had shoved a branding iron against my skin. Astor pulls me to him and he groans too. My eyes widen and my stomache drops. He was taking some of Freya's pain. I try to move away. Freya would be angry when she finds out about this. His hold tightens.

"It isn't much but I can do this for both of you. Aro wants to help as much as he can too."