Dawn reached Ensmoire as fast as her feet could take. She didn't want to shift. Already she wasn't feeling too well. Quetz was standing there right at the edge of the forest.

'How are you?' he asked and immediately tucked her in his wings. She leaned on his neck and he placed his wing in a way so that she could sit on it. Her heartbeat was high. He couldn't help but feel as if his chest was about to explode. She was so sweaty, her eyes were red and all her energy was drained. She appeared fragile. 'What do I do to make you better?' he asked, feeling utterly helpless. He vowed to kill every winged demon that came his rider's way.

​​

'I need water,' she said in a low, breathy voice.

A nearby Eoben lowered its branches, which were laden with large white flowers with petals resembling lilies. She plucked one of them and poured the nectar down her throat.

'Have more,' said Quetz.

After having nectar from three flowers, her thirst quenched. She calmed down a bit and said, 'We need to go to Ixoviya. If Mozrath sent their demons to kill me, I am extremely sure they know that Daryn isn't here. The way they acted, it was as if they had the information with them. None of them were surprised to see me alone and none of them asked where Daryn was. So if they came to kill me, certainly they want my babies dead. This means Sedora is involved in this.'

'I agree.'

She closed her eyes and once again leaned against her dragon, still feeling nervous and tired because of all the fight that took place and the magic, which flowed through her. 'When will this end Quetz?' she asked.

He stroked her back with his wing and she felt warmth suffusing her body. With each stroke, negative emotions leeched. 'Soon…' he assured her. It was important for him that his rider calmed down. Her anger, resentment and bitterness created havoc on his mental state. The bond was too strong.

Dawn took in a deep breath and said, "Let's go!"

Quetz lowered her on the ground gently.

'I won't ride you,' she said.

'In that case hold the portal wide enough for me to enter.'

'I will.'

The dragon padded a few steps backwards, turned and then took off in the air. He took a circle above her, and then facing towards a clearing, he breathed out fire, about a hundred feet away from her. Dawn was ready. She brought her hands in front and grabbed the periphery of fire from where she was standing. She pulled it apart and soon a circle formed, which upon pulling her hands out became bigger. Every inch she pulled out with her hands manifested in several feet increase of the portal. Soon the portal was large enough for Quetz to get in.

"Now!" she shouted.

Quetz flapped his wings strongly and entered the portal. Dawn knew that the closer she would go to the portal, the smaller it would become. She tried to keep her hands stretched as much as she. The fire around the portal started waning. Smoke was rising and she was scared that the portal might disappear altogether. And if that happened, her dragon would be able to come out of the other place only when she created the portal for him. The thought aroused more nervousness. She hurried her pace. She noticed that the portal was beginning to contract, so she began to run as fast as she could. The fire was weakening now.

"Just let me get through!" she growled and with one last bit of energy left in her, she sprinted towards it and jumped in.

She fell right in the arms of Daryn.

"Sweet Jesus!" She was shocked to see him.

"Your dragon is brilliant. He left the coordinates of the gardens of the royal palace on the portal," said Daryn.

"I have to say something very important!" she said in a jarring voice. "Winged demons attacked me at the mansion!"

"What?" Goose bumps lined his skin. He scooped her in his arms and held her tight against his chest. Fear, consternation, crept and he developed cold feet. "Are you fine now, baby?" he asked in a low voice as he inhaled her scent just to keep himself from not going frenzied.

"I feel tired…" She clung to his chest, her home.

He started to carry her into the castle. Quetz flew away saying that he would hover over Ixoviya and keep a watch for the whole night.

"Shit! I left Cole's room sound-sealed!" She said in a jittery voice.

"Good, he would continue to sleep through the afternoon," said Quetz.

Dawn chuckled. Then she turned her attention to Daryn who had pressed her so tight as if he was going to merge her into him. "Did anything happen here? The winged demons told that it was Mozrath who had sent them to kill me. It was as if they knew that I was alone. How did they know that? How is it possible that they know about it?"

"A lot has happened," he grated. "The high priest was a part of Mozrath and he stabbed us in the back. Sedora had left him here as her mole. He gained our trust and tried to slay both me and Caleb."

Dawn shuddered. "Husband?" she croaked.

"He had separated both of us from our mates in order to kill both of you when you were alone." He smelled her again only to reassure himself that he wasn't dreaming.

After Daryn had taken Caleb to the royal chambers he had called the healers to take a look at him as well as Elize. He had immediately cautioned all the soldiers and the council members and briefed them as to what happened. He ordered the arrest of the servants of the royal couple and instructed them to catch the cook who dared to poison their queen. Once he was sure that things were falling in place, he was coming out of the castle to enter a portal created by one of the council members to go to Dawn. However, when he had just come out, he saw Quetz emerging from the portal. He waited for her right outside.

"Do you mean that Elize is in danger here?" she asked, completely horrified.

"She has been poisoned. She is in a bad state," he replied with a voice that had so misery that Dawn felt like crying. She knew that if Elize died, Caleb would kill himself. Daryn went on to narrate what happened after they reached Ixoviya.

"How bad is it?" she asked, as a tear streamed down her cheek. She hated Sedora with all her might. Just yesterday Elize was talking about living with Caleb for as long as the life permitted and Caleb had succumbed to his fate. But this— this was no way to go.

"I don't—" Daryn's throat choked. Sedora had already taken their father and now she was hell bent on breaking the family one by one. Her plan to kill them today was perfect. "I don't know," his lips quivered.

They reached the royal chamber where Daryn set her on her feet. Dawn rushed inside. The healers were looking too somber for her liking. Caleb had regained his consciousness and he was sitting by her side, holding her hand. He was looking at her, completely dazed and lost.