A Dragon's Heart

5.

The sun was starting to dip below the horizon, sending a welcomed wave of cool air, after a day spent in the burning heat. We were sitting outside the courtyard, gazing at the sinking sun and sipping more tea.

I loved Yasmina and her company, but this was not what I was supposed to be doing. I should’ve been with my husband. Maybe, if I had been brave enough, with my husband in our bedroom.

But he was more content doing whatever it was than being here with his newly wedded wife. A woman he brought from her home. Away from her family and friends. Away from the familiarity of all she’d ever known. A woman he had married yesterday, and one he chose to abandon right after.

‘I thought we were going to enjoy the day? It’s barely nighttime, and you’re already sulking,’ Jay accused.

‘Well, it’s pretty hard to enjoy the day when my husband would rather be out there than spend time with me,’ I shot back.

‘I wish there was something I could do to make it better. But I’d be lying if I said I’m not hurt and mad as well,’ Jay answered quietly.

I was about to lie down and stretch against the soft rug when I heard shrieking and running. I could tell who it was before I even saw them, it was Danyelle and Bri, my half sisters.

When we arrived at the empire, they had been with me all the time. But two days before the wedding, Bilal had entrusted their care to his Aunt so I could start the first wedding rituals before the big day. They had stayed with Jaddah and Bilal’s other relatives during the wedding itself. I wished I had seen them before leaving the ceremony but I was glad someone had brought them here now.

I got to my feet, giggling as they both ran into my arms, almost toppling me over. Years ago, I could carry them both without feeling anything, but now they were all grown up, and it was different. Danyelle had turned eleven recently and Bri was nine.

It was almost comical to think about now, but despite how rough things were back at Ummi’s house, these two were my little lights. If anyone could bring warmth and joy to my day, it was these two.

“Hey, you two! How did you girls get here?”

“Addah! (Sister!)” Bri started as she tried to catch her breath. “Hamma Aasim brought us. He just left in the carriage.”

Aasim was a soldier and part of Bilal’s battalion. That was how he introduced him the first time I met Aasim. Which meant that whatever reason Bilal has for leaving had nothing to do with his role as the commander. Because if it did, he’d have left with Aasim too, right?

“Also, look what we found!” Bri added.

“We were on our way here when I saw the nest! Hamma Aasim was nice enough to stop the carriage so we could fetch it! Isn’t he nice? He came with us to make sure we were not in danger. Do you think it's a good idea to keep it?” she asked.

She held up a small, beautiful egg that was a bit fluorescent when held up against the light.

“Woah,” I exclaimed and turned to Yasmina. “What’s this?”

Yasmina got to her feet and peeked at the egg. “Oh, it’s a Dyla egg. It’s said that anyone who finds it will be lucky for the entire month! It’s so rare to find one too.”

“Woah. Lucky you, Dee,” Bri said to Danyelle.

As if just noticing where they were, they took a step back and took in the castle, their eyes big with wonder.

“Whoa! I have never seen a castle in real life!” Danyelle gushed as she looked up at the tall building.

“Looks like something straight out of the books,” Bri joined in, her chubby hands covering her mouth.

I laughed and looked at the castle.

“So, now you’re like a princess, Addah,” Bri said, unable to contain her excitement.

I chuckled sadly. “Kind of.”

A princess indeed, although I felt like anything but. Still, when I thought about the note from yesterday, I couldn’t help but smile. I was so conflicted, and my feelings were all over the place.

“You’re so lucky, Addah, and you didn’t even need a Dyla egg,” Danyelle said with a small smile, making Yasmina laugh.

“She’s really lucky, isn’t she?” Yasmina asked.

“She is!” Bri nodded. “You get to wear these gorgeous dresses and live in a castle like a princess, and you have your Prince Charming too, and this place is so wonderful. We saw so many beautiful things, and I don’t want to leave. Hamma Aasim is so nice.” Bri sulked.

“Someone seems quite smitten with Hamma Aasim…” Yasmina teased.

“Bri said she wanted to marry him!” Danyella nudged Bri’s shoulder with a playful smirk while Bri looked down to try to hide her blushing.

I jutted my lower lip out and hugged her to save her from her misery. “I don’t want you to leave either.”

Danyelle smiled at me. “We came to bid you farewell because your husband, who’s now our brother, already processed everything we needed to cross the border and go back home. I miss Ummi.”

A pang of hurt hit my heart, not just because once the girls were gone, I would truly be alone but it also felt strange to hear them say they ‘missed Ummi.’ I didn’t think I had ever missed her since I had left. The only Ummi I ever missed was the one she was before my father died. When she made the decision to trust her new husband over me, and allowed him to sell me, something broke beyond repair between us.

I did not expect a relationship to blossom between me and my two young half sisters and yet, here I was, wishing they could stay a bit longer with me. I would surely miss them. They were so different from their brother. I had never gotten along with Audu and at this point, I probably never would.

The girls and I all settled in for dinner as Yasmina told us stories of the land. It felt nice to spend one last moment with my sisters before they left.

After dinner, we retired to sleep. I wanted the girls to sleep with me but Yasmina beat me to it, promising to tell them more stories before they retired for the night. I loved the way Yasmina was with my sisters. It was beautiful to watch. Ever since we arrived, she had been taking care of them, not the way Jaddah or their aunt did, but in a sisterly way, making sure they had all they needed. At some point, she told me she was jealous I had two beautiful sisters and she had none. Plus the girls also loved listening to the tales of the empire, so I let them be, because I did need alone time with all of my thoughts. To process all the new things I have learnt.

I took a bath with Samira’s help, put on one of my night gowns and settled on the bed, knowing full well I would not be able to fall asleep. I had tried to keep myself distracted today, but the truth was that I had only one person in mind. Or more accurately, one man. I stood up and did the only thing I could think of to try and feel close to him even if I also wanted to strangle him for leaving me like he did. I walked up to the shelf and picked up the book with the note. I paced around in my room, reading his note again and again as if I could’ve summoned him by doing so enough times.

A movement from the door, followed by a knock caught my attention.

“Come in,” I answered, as I took a seat by the edge of the bed.

Samira stepped into the room with a teacup.

Ugh! No more tea please.

“Ya Sayyadah, forgive me for disturbing you, but I thought you might need this,” she passed me the bubbling teacup before she provided a folded piece of paper almost identical to the one I had found in my book. “This also came for you.”

My fingers brushed over the paper as I took it, then turned to face her.

“When?”

“It arrived this evening. Ya Sayyadi sent it, alongside the shai with instructions that I serve it to you before bedtime.”

“Bilal did?” I asked, finding it hard to believe her.

“Yes, Ya Sayyada. The messenger hatchling delivered it.”

Okay… so there was a messenger hatchling? There was a way I could reach Bilal?

“A messenger hatchling? That is cool! And I can use it when I want to?”

“Unfortunately, we don't have one trained here right now, Ya Sayyadah.”

“What about the one he sent?”

“It was the military hatchling and it left as soon as the letter was delivered.”

‘Sneaky piece of s**t!’ Jay cursed, which was very unlike her.

I turned the paper and scanned it, finding that it was sealed, meaning no one had read the contents.

I smiled at Samira then nodded as a way of dismissing her before I turned my attention back to the letter. I set the teacup on the side drawer, then carefully broke the seal, and began reading the letter.

‘Nurayn,

Allow me to start this letter by telling you how much I miss you. The truth is, Nurayn, I miss you so much it hurts. I wish I was home right now, with you in my embrace as I revel in the fact that I have finally made you mine. That we are now both, a forever part of each other. Unfortunately, it is not possible. Believe me when I tell you I am counting the days left before seeing you.

Before taking you in my arms and securing you deep into the cocoons of my hugs. Do you know I love hugs? I am going to tire you out with hugs once I get back. You can bet on that.

That being said, I hope you had a good night’s rest last night, but I have a feeling my beautiful, sweet wife might have been unsettled, having to spend the night alone in our new home. I take full responsibility for this and I hope that this shai I made for you will at least help you find sleep easier tonight.

I also hope the only reason sleep eluded you was the unknown surrounding you and that your mind was not plagued with thoughts about me trying to escape your presence. The mind is a sick dirty place, sometimes. It plays tricks on you, like I am sure it did now, trying to give you reasons why I may have left you.

Allow me to assure you that I have and will always want you. Forever. Nothing or no one would ever change that.

Words will always fail to capture the depth of what I feel for you, Noorie. And while it may be hard to believe because we have yet to truly know each other, I implore you to believe me. Believe that my want for you runs deep within my blood.

I know reading this fails in comparison to being in each other’s presence. But know this is my heart and I will bare it to you every chance I get. Hold on to this truth and sleep well my wife. Dream of me, maybe? (You have to, please. Just dream of me holding you in my embrace as you sleep).

Sameer said to tell you this;

‘Do you know what it means to get burned by a dragon’s love? No? Well, be prepared to experience that once I get back, dear lovely wife.’

That is it for today. Rest well, and keep your mind free of any worries but the thoughts of me back to you.

Love and kisses.

Your Husband;

Bilal.’

A shudder racked through my whole body as I read the ‘kisses’ part, just like it did this morning.

I reread the letter three more times before I folded it and stared at the tea. My insides felt different, almost like this letter, the words in it had patched up the gaps Bilal had left inside. There was something so calm, and utterly satisfying with reading those words.

‘What does it mean to be burned by a dragon’s love?’ Jay asked quietly, but I could sense her excitement. ‘Tiffy, why does it feel like the dragon is a dirty talker?’ Her eyes were wide and searching, and I could tell the letter had affected her as much as it affected me.

‘I wonder what he meant by that. But now I am eager to find out.’

‘So am I despite how angry I am at them! But that letter was so beautiful! Got my romantic heart in shambles!’ She swooned. ‘Now, what are you thinking? Will we still wait for him to explain before we decide?’

I nodded. I was reserving myself the right to judge his reasons for leaving. He might say he wanted to stay. He might say he was eager to get back to me. He might've shown that he wanted me, maybe even liked me besides the power of the mate bond. But until he gave me his truth, I would remain guarded.

Yet, there was a flicker of hope blooming in my chest at his gestures. There was hope for us.

Maybe.

With that, I took a sip of the shai. A warm tingle settled in as the warm liquid traveled down my throat. After a couple more sips my body began to relax and I heard Jay sigh and purr in my head; that was odd because she almost never purred.

I sat the cup down and snuggled up to the pillow as sleep began to take hold of me. For the first time since I arrived at the castle, I felt…calm. In this moment, the chaos that were my emotions were no longer controlling my mood or my thoughts. I held the letters close to my chest, knowing that they were a part of him.

And just before sleep finally took over I thought of him. I remembered the way he had hugged me, the velvety feel of his embrace and touch. I remembered the way his lips felt on my skin. I remembered the sound of his voice as he called me his wife in three different languages. And I don’t know if it was the shai, the letter, the shudder from the word kisses or a combination of all three, but that flicker of hope got a little brighter, and a smile spread across my lips. I decided to ignore my anxious thoughts and allowed

myself to bask in this moment. To let myself feel good as I slipped into the warmth of sleep sent by my husband.

Maybe, just maybe, things weren't so bad.