Chapter 270

Thin streams of silver rose from his arms.

His shoulders, his chest, and his fingers.

The healers pushed harder, and the circle tightened. Asterion’s breathing became shallow. His hair was no longer silver.

Darkness had spread through half of it.

“Asterion!” Eleanor screamed his name, as she gave him a liggt slap on his jaw to jolt him awake.

His eyes opened.

His eyes passed from Eleanor to everyome around him. Then, he looked at Beatrice. And for one terrible moment, he looked like he didn’t recognize anyone.

His voice broke. “I can’t hold it.”

Baetrice stepped forward.

The eldest healer immediately stopped her. “Baetrice, don’t enter the circle.”

“He’s dying.”

“If you enter, the magic may attach to you.”

Beatrice looked at Asterion. He was shaking.

The silver magic surged around them.

The healers shouted. “Keep chanting!”

The chant became frantic.

Asterion squeezed Eleanor’s hand. His grip was weak. Too weak. His eyes closed. Eleanor leaned over him.

“Stay with me.”

He didn’t answer.

“Asterion.”

Nothing.

“Asterion!”

His fingers loosened.

Eleanor’s heart stopped.

Beatrice looked toward the healers. “He’s fading!”

The eldest healer’s face was pale. The healer looked down.

Baetrice stared at him.

The chant faltered. Only for a second. The silver magic around Asterion exploded outward.

Every Light Fae in the circle was thrown back.

Beatrice hit the ground.

The healers screamed, and the battlefield shook. Trees bent. The clouds above them twisted.

Then everything went silent.

Beatrice lifted her head.

Asterion was still lying on the ground all alone now with Eleanor far away as a result of the shove.

His eyes were open now, and they were glowing hold.

Beatrice slowly stood.

His gaze was fixed somewhere beyond her. His breathing stopped, and then he inhaled sharply.

He took in a deep breath.

His fingers pressed into the earth. The ground beneath him cracked.

Baetrice looked up.

A low distant sound almost like the thunder filled the place. The Light Fae around her became still.

Another sound followed. It came closer, and deeper. The trees shook.

Beatrice’s eyes widened.

Asterion slowly sat up.

The healers stared at him.

His hair was now dark at the roots, but the ends remained silver. His eyes were still glowing gold.

He looked toward the mountains.

“They’re awake.”

Another sound rolled through the sky.

This time, it wasn’t thunder. It was a roar. The entire battlefield froze. Every Light Fae looked upward, and waited. They all looked awe.

A flock of white birds suddenly exploded from the trees. They flew away in panic. The ground trembled beneath their feet.

Beatrice froze in fear.

Asterion stood. His legs shook, and two healers rushed toward him. He raised his hand.

“No movement.”

They stopped.

Asterion looked toward the mountains again. His eyes widened. “They heard me?” He uttered, unsure.

For the first time in centuries, the Light Fae realm heard a sound it had only known from ancient stories.

A second roar caem.

This one came from the eastern mountains.

It shook the clouds, the trees, and the bones inside their bodies. Several Light Fae fell to their knees.

One whispered. “The dragons.”

Beatrice stared at him.

The old healer’s face had gone completely white. “That’s impossible. The dragons are gone.”

“Not all of them.” Asterion managed to respond with his last breath.

The sky darkened with wings. Enormous wings moved above the distant mountain range.

Beatrice stepped backward.

Asterion’s eyes remained fixed on the sky. Then the first dragon appeared. It emerged from behind the mountains.

Huge, and far larger than any creature Baetrice had ever seen. Its scales were not the bright colors shown in the old paintings.

They were black but not the black of the Dark Fae.

Its wings stretched across the sky.

The edges of its scales glimmered faintly silver whenever the sunlight touched them. Its eyes burned gold.

The dragon circled once. Then again, and then it roared.

The sound ripped through the entire realm.

Light Fae covered their ears as they comoletely dropped to their knees.

Asterion didn’t move. The dragon turned its head. It looked directly at him.

Beatrice’s heart pounded.

He slowly raised his hand with his last strenght, and the dragon descended. He decended just enough for the wind from its wings to tear across the battlefield.

Then another shadow appeared.

A second dragon followed.

This one was different.

Its scales were pale. Almost white. But beneath them was a faint blue shimmer, like moonlight trapped beneath ice.

Its eyes were silver. It flew beside the first dragon. Two creatures. Two surviving dragons. The last of their kind.

The Light Fae realm had not seen one in generations.

Yet they were here, and they were looking at Asterion.

The oldest healer whispered. “The bloodline.”

“They were bound to one bloodline.” His gaze moved to Asterion. His expression remained unreadable. “Asterion’s.”

Beatrice went still.

The healer’s voice trembled. “Only those born from it can call them.”

“Aire did.” Asterion’s jaw tightened. “I didn’t call them. I only hoped they could hear me.”

The dragon in the sky roared again.

Asterion looked up. His eyes glowed brighter.

The healer whispered.

Asterion looked at his own hands. His hair darkened another shade. “Aire brought them back to prolong the life of someone.”

The healer looked toward the dragons. “The old boundary.”

Beatrice’s brows pulled together.

Asterion’s breathing became heavier. He looked at the dragons. Recognition pass between them.

The first dragon began descending.

Asterion stepped forward.

Eleanor immediately grabbed his arm. “Don’t.”

He looked at her. “I have to.”

“You can barely stand. Your magic is still leaving.”

“I know.”

“Then don’t go.”

Asterion looked toward the dragon. “It came because of my bloodline. Aire woke them.” He exhaled. “Maybe they can give it back.”

Eleanor tightened her grip. “That doesn’t mean it won’t kill you.”

Asterion looked at her. “Even if it does, I’d rather my magic go to them than the Dark Fae.”

The dragon landed, and the earth shook.

Asterion stood before it.

The creature lowered its enormous head. Its golden eyes met his.

The entire battlefield became silent.

Then the dragon lowered its head further. Until its forehead touched the earth before Asterion.

Every Light Fae froze.

Beatrice’s lips parted.

Asterion stared at the creature.

The second dragon landed beside the first. It also lowered its head. Asterion stepped closer. He reached out.

His hand trembled as he touched the first dragon’s scales. The moment his fingers touched it, silver light exploded across the battlefield.

Asterion gasped.

One day, I believe I’m going to become a star. Just a little wait. Much.