Chapter CLXXVII: Looking for a girl

Talia sat by the window of the modest inn, staring out at the quiet village. Her heart weighed heavy as her thoughts circled endlessly. Had she made a mistake? Fleeing the palace, leaving behind everything she knew—leaving *him*—felt unbearable.  

She closed her eyes, and Ikkar's face appeared as vividly as if he were standing before her. His smile, his warmth, his unwavering kindness. Her lips tingled with the memory of their kiss—her first and, she feared, her last. He had kissed her with such tenderness that the thought of another man touching her now seemed impossible.  

*You are a fool,* she told herself. She could never marry a prince. That was a fantasy for storybooks, not for a servant girl like her. But the idea of never seeing him again gnawed at her, like a nightmare she couldn’t wake from.  

Talia sighed, trying to push away the ache in her chest. She would have to let go of such dreams. Her place was elsewhere, and she knew it. She would focus on her work and on caring for her little sister. Perhaps someday her sister would marry happily and live the life Talia could never have.  

Her journey had been exhausting, and she still had weeks of travel ahead. Lady Alicent’s estate lay far to the north, in Ivro, beyond the hills. The therian soldier accompanying her, a kind man who drove the carriage, had been doing his best to lighten her spirits. His cheerful demeanor warmed her, and she found herself wondering why she couldn’t fall for someone like him. She knew the Queen would gladly give her blessing to marry a man she deemed good, like an honorable soldier with a good position.

But no. Even that was impossible. There was no man who could ever make her forget Ikkar.  

That evening, the soldier secured her a room at the inn in the little village they passed through. It was simple but comfortable enough. She lay down, hoping sleep would provide some relief from her restless thoughts.  

Suddenly, a commotion outside stirred her from the edge of slumber. She heard hurried voices, the sound of feet rushing past her door. Curiosity prickled at her. She rose, wrapping her shawl tightly around her, and peered out the window.  

What she saw made her gasp.  

A dragon.  

Its silhouette loomed large against the darkening sky, lit by the flickering glow of lanterns below. The crowd in the square stared in awe, some frozen in place, others whispering fervently. The dragon’s scales glimmered faintly under the moonlight, and its golden eyes scanned the ground with an almost searching intent.  

Talia’s heart leaped into her throat. She recognized that dragon. She’d seen it countless times soaring over the palace. It was Princess Rya’s dragon.

Ikkar stepped into the crowded inn, his presence commanding immediate attention. The low murmur of conversations fell silent, replaced by hushed whispers.  

“The Dragon King?” someone muttered.  

“No, he’s too young,” another replied. “Must be one of the princes.”  

All eyes were on him, some in awe, others in fear, as he strode purposefully toward the therian soldier seated by the far corner.  

The soldier looked up, his expression unreadable, but his posture tensed as Ikkar approached.  

“I’m looking for a girl,” Ikkar said, his voice low but firm. “One of my mother’s handmaidens. Blonde, fair-skinned… Have you seen her?”  

The soldier remained silent, his gaze steady but defiant.  

Ikkar’s patience snapped. “Answer me!” he demanded, his voice rising with urgency.  

The soldier’s lips thinned into a hard line. “I serve the Queen of Allendor, not you, Dragon Prince.”  

Anger flared in Ikkar’s eyes. In a swift motion, he grabbed the soldier by the collar and slammed him against the nearest wall. Gasps rippled through the room, but no one dared intervene.  

“Tell me where she is!” Ikkar growled, his face inches from the soldier’s.  

“Prince Ikkar.”  

The familiar voice froze him in place. He turned slowly, his heart hammering in his chest.  

There she was.  

Talia stood at the edge of the room, her expression a mix of disbelief and something softer—something she couldn’t quite hide.  

His grip on the soldier loosened as he released him, his focus entirely on her. Without thinking, he crossed the room to her, his mind racing but unable to settle on the right words.  

“You’re here,” he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper.  

Talia’s gaze flickered nervously to the crowd of onlookers. “What are you doing here?” she asked, her tone uncertain but steady.  

“I couldn’t let you go,” he said simply, his voice raw with emotion.  

She looked around again, uneasy under the watchful eyes of the patrons. Sensing her discomfort, Ikkar gently took her hand and led her outside.  

The night was cold, but the air was fresh and still. They walked to Emberlace, who lay by a stream just beyond the inn. The dragon’s golden eyes glimmered in the moonlight, casting a serene glow over the pair.  

Ikkar turned to Talia, his expression softening as he took her in. “Why did you leave?”  

Talia hesitated, the pain evident in her eyes. “How could I stay? How could I face the queen after…”  

“I told them the truth,” Ikkar said firmly. “They can’t keep pushing me into some arranged marriage when I’ve already made you a very clear promise.”  

Her voice broke as she responded. “It was a promise you should never have made. Your Highness, you need to stop. To be together... it’s not our fate.”  

Her words cut deep, but he couldn’t let her go. He stepped closer, his hand gently cupping her face. She didn’t pull away. Instead, she seemed to lean into his touch, as if torn between her resolve and her feelings.  

“Talia,” he whispered, his voice trembling. “I’ve loved you for half a decade. And I’ll love you for all the decades I have left, no matter what.”  

Before she could respond, he kissed her. Her lips were soft and warm, and she kissed him back, a tear slipping down her cheek. When they broke apart, he brushed the tear away, holding her close. For a moment, it felt as if the world outside had disappeared, leaving only the two of them.  

“I won’t force you to be my mistress,” he said softly, his forehead resting against hers. “You deserve better than that. But if I can’t marry you... then I won’t marry anyone else.”  

She looked at him, her sadness mingling with something else—hope, perhaps, or a spark of the love she couldn’t deny. But still, she hesitated.

Talia turned away from him, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as if to shield her heart. Her voice was quiet but firm. “This is… Wrong. You have to forget about me. You need to.”

Her words struck him like a blade, but he didn’t move. Instead, he closed the distance between them, his hand reaching out to gently caress her face, turning her to face him.

“How could I forget you?” he asked, his voice thick with emotion. “How could I forget the warmth of your hand in mine?”

He took her hand in his, and the memory washed over them both. That summer, long ago, in the courtyard of the palace. The sunlight on her golden hair as they enacted Princess Kira’s favorite play. The laughter, the stolen glances, the way her fingers trembled slightly when their hands touched. Talia’s lips parted as if to speak, but no words came. Her eyes glistened, and he could see the memory stirring within her, breaking through the wall she had built around her heart.

“And how could I forget your lips?” he continued, his voice a husky murmur. “The taste of them... the way you felt in my arms.”

He leaned closer, his breath mingling with hers as his hand slid to the nape of her neck. Her resolve faltered, her breathing quickened, and she stood frozen as his lips met hers.

The kiss was deep, raw, and filled with everything he couldn’t say. It wasn’t just passion—it was love, longing, and the desperate need to show her what words could never fully express.

Talia’s resistance melted like snow under the sun. She gave in, her arms slipping around his neck as she kissed him back with an intensity that surprised even herself. Her fears, her doubts—they all burned away under the heat of their embrace.

For that moment, nothing else mattered. Not the palace, not the queen, not their positions, not the world that tried to keep them apart. There was only him, only her, and the love they could no longer deny.

They walked back to the inn hand in hand, entering quietly through the back to avoid prying eyes. Talia led him to her small room, her steps hesitant but her resolve growing.  

Inside, Ikkar closed the door behind them. He turned to her, his gaze intense and searching. She stood before him, her breathing uneven as he took her hands in his.  

He kissed her again, this time with a hunger he couldn’t contain. His lips trailed to her neck as he pressed her close, her body molding to his.  

He paused, looking into her eyes, his voice low and hoarse. “Do you really want this?”  

Talia nodded, her voice barely audible. “Yes.”