A flash of annoyance crossed Daryn's eyes. "Dawn why don't you understand?" His face was slowly turning red. He was angered that she didn't pay heed to what he explained to her. He chose to stay back to be with her for the rest of his life even if that meant staying in this forest, but she was still talking about the ensnare Brantley had put her in.

Dawn pursed her lips. "Baby, I know what angers you. You are worried about my life." That was her Daryn, always worried sick about her that his little neotide would be harmed. His annoyance was nothing but his love for her. "But there is no harm in finding it."

​​

"I want you to stay here with me at all times. Mates like you are hard to find, and irreplaceable. I can't take the risk," he said and leaned against the headboard. "Besides it is going to be night in a short while." As far as he was concerned, this looked like a honeymoon to him. Hell, he could imagine their four kids—all swimming with him in the small lake. A silly smile spread on his lips. "Also, you haven't introduced me to your dragon."

She pouted. He was being overprotective. She munched on the grapes and sipped the apple juice. "I have to call him. He might be catching prey."

"Great! We must take a walk over the knolls. It would be lovely to sprawl beneath the moonlight without anyone around us. Or why don't you eat and go back to sleep again? I have plenty of things planned for tomorrow."

"No, I'd prefer to take a stroll." She had to introduce him to Quetz and she was determined to go on the adventure. Surely there must be some clue, some direction…

It was 5PM when the two decided to take a stroll outside. Dawn was anxious on the inside. She didn't want to stay here forever. She had to look after Cole, she had to get back their father's business.

As they walked with hands intertwined over the soft grass, Dawn looked at the lilac sky that was slowly fading into the darkness.

'Quetz, are you there?' she called him.

'Yes,' he replied. 'I am finishing off my meal.'

'Where have you put up? Are there any Eobens around?'

'Yes, Dawn. I told you back then that even there aren't any they will grow for me.'

Dawn smiled and took in a deep breath. 'I want you to introduce Daryn formally.'

'I detest his proximity with you but just for you I will come to see him.'

Dawn almost chuckled through their mental connection. 'He is my mate.'

'So what? Am I supposed to like him?' he sounded very disgusted.

'He is a nice man. Come over and meet him,' she coaxed him. 'And be good to him.'

'That you can't expect,' he said and shut her out to focus on the deer he had hunted.

"Where's your dragon?" Daryn asked. "I have heard that the dragons come immediately if beckoned by their riders." When Daryn had first heard that his wife was a dragon rider, he was stunned. He couldn't believe it and even berated her for hiding about him, but he was intrigued.

Dawn sighed. "My dragon is spoiled." She shook her head. "He will come shortly. Right now he is eating."

"Okay," he replied feeling excited.

Its temperature had dropped and Dawn curled her arms around his hand.

"Why did you come back, Dawn, when I asked you to leave?" he asked. "You had a chance to live your life."

"When I reached the lake, a Yardrak called Nusgroth said that you were in grave danger. He appeared out of the blue and informed me that he had to pass the message. I became panicky and had to rush back to you. How could I leave you alone in danger?"

A lump formed in his throat. No one had ever done that for him. No one was this close to him. His heart was a cold rock, devoid of feeling emotions. She brought back life to it. She made him feel alive. "The feeling is mutual," he whispered and stopped her to plant a soft kiss on her lips.

A trembling gush of wind drifted across the sky. Strong strokes of wings flapping were heard overhead. The couple looked up and saw the dragon circling above them. Dawn squinted to see him. 'I was waiting for you.' Quetz landed with force on the knoll in front of them and crouched as he clenched the ground with his claws. He folded his wings and looked at the two of them.

To say that Daryn was mesmerized was an understatement. Its beauty stunned him. In that twilight, in that last purple sky, his spikes looked a dark green. He was breathtaking.

Dawn left him and ran to Quetz. He lowered his head for her. She brought her hand to his muzzle and rubbed him there and she could feel the curiosity in him. She was surprised because all he ever let her feel about Daryn was disdain.

Quetz raised his head to look at Daryn who was still rooted to his place.

"Come over Daryn," Dawn shouted as she waved her hand.

With an inquisitive look in his eyes, Daryn walked up to them.

'He is strange,' said Quetz as he continued to inspect him with his large blue eyes. When Daryn was twenty feet away, Quetz snorted and his wings began to unfold as if intimidating him. His tail whipped the ground.

Daryn stood still. The beast in front of him was Dawn's. It looked so strong that it could rip him apart with his claws any moment he wanted, and yet his pretty little neotide was his rider.

'Stop it Quetz,' Dawn chided him and he folded his wings back.

"Come," Dawn said with a smile. "Meet Quetz."

Daryn walked with caution. He came to stand five feet away, dying to touch him just like Dawn. Quetz extended his neck and sniffed him. The smell was the same as Dawn's. Then he leaned his face in front of him. On an instinct, Daryn placed his hand on his brow. The dragon didn't move. He allowed him to touch. Garnering more courage, Daryn stroked him lightly. "You are beautiful," Daryn couldn't help complementing. "You are glorious."

'Not bad,' Quetz remarked. 'He will do for now.'

Dawn laughed aloud. However Daryn was hardly noticing her. Quetz had his full attention. "And this is Daryn," she said.

Once Daryn was done admiring him, he said, "Where will Quetz live in this forest? He should stay beside us, beside the cottage."

"Oh, don't worry about him," Dawn replied. She held his hand and walked further. Quetz padded behind them. There was excitement in the air. Daryn asked numerous questions about Quetz.

The last ray of sun had disappeared and the stars glimmered brilliantly into the ebony sky. The waxing moon was a wraith-silver glowing in the sky. As it rose in the sky, the stars melted into its haze and tranquility like droplets trickling out. Dawn looked up at the dazzling galaxy and was reminded of Daryn's tattoo. Perhaps this sky was depicted on his chest.

"Daryn, your forefathers must have known Brantley from a long time," she said. "I am sure you must have heard of some tales about the Stone of Solaris."

"Stop thinking about it Dawn. It doesn't exist," he replied irritably.

'It exists,' Quetz intervened.

Dawn stopped and turned to look at Quetz with wonder in her eyes. 'How do you know?'

'Rirsyr told me. The stone exists but no one has been able to find it.'

"What does he know?" asked Daryn. "Can you talk to him?" His eyes went from her to Quetz.

'If you want to get out of this place, we must start on its quest as soon as possible.'

'But I heard that no one found it and people have died while searching for it," she said aloud.

"Wait, what is going on?" Daryn said with confusion. "This conversation, is it through your bond or what?"

'Ask this man to shut up.'

'Come on Quetz. Behave yourself. And what do you know about it?' Her curiosity was at epitome.

'It is somewhere in one of the enchanted forests,' he replied. 'I can travel between the enchanted forests but Ulfric has been sealed with magic. You have to ask Brantley to let us travel through enchanted forests to find it.'

"You mean that the ruby is in one of the enchanted forests and not just in Ulfric or anywhere else in the world?" she croaked.

"What?" Daryn's deep voice cut in.

'Yes, whosoever stole the ruby belonged to the fantasy world because a normal human could never steal that stone. It was present in the royal palace and that too near the king's chamber. Their Goddess Chimala presented the stone to their ancestors. Whenever a king chose his mate, he would present the jewel to her in their temple. The queen would worship the stone, the deity and then place it in the sacred chamber.'

"So it isn't a myth?" she asked. Her skin tingled and goosebumps appeared.