The kingdom was destroyed, covered in flames as a pure ancient blooded dragon perched at the top of the castle within the centre, as its roar echoed for miles. Reminding all of its existence, that the legends of it still existing weren't all myth, but real as everyone living within the Shattered Veil had fled in fear or died during the rampage of this creature's unbridled rage. Solar was nowhere to be seen as his royal blood is stained on its body and teeth, licking them clean as it remained perched at the tip.
Lucius from afar along with his family watched the kingdom turn to ruins on a distant hill. He casually stepped forward keeping his wife and twins behind him, as they aimed a finger at the beast closing an eye as he began to lock in forming a small orb of energy at tip of his fingertips as it gathered before blasting at lightening speed through the beast's chest. Causing it to roar in pain falling from the castle's top as shimmering gold blood seeped from their chest about to hit the ground when Dan skidding to a halt just in time and caught them with a grunt from the impact, creating a foot sized hole ankle deep.
"You got it!" Dione exclaimed happily clapping when seeing it fall out of view, but Lucius didn't seem convinced that he had killed it. Turning to look at her as the twins remained held against her in a made up sling on their back, hearing the twins cooing with no clue what is happening.
"Let's go. We've wasted enough time here" Lucius tone was stern as he gently pulled them away as they walked from the kingdom that is as damaged as it is unfixable. Left in ruin of past memories rotting away like the corpses that litter the streets, burnt or mauled.
"How is she?" Faris floated down beside Dan who casually walked with Devina still in their new form like she somehow barely weighed anything. They saw the wound and blood seeping through as she continued to breathe unevenly, clearly in pain. "Come. I know where we can patch them up" he suggested seeing the blood drip on the ground, and Dan know he had no other option to listen to this guy thanks to Danny explaining that this knight tried to free them before the ceremony to prevent something like this form happening.
"Fine. But if you do anything that brings her anymore pain, you're as good as dead" Dan growled as Faris grinned expecting much from what he was told about them, and followed him to the woods outside the kingdom flying mostly before coming across a little village that sat a few miles out. Landing some of the residence were weary due to his attire and Dan coldly glaring around. The village's chief came forward, and elder elf with a twisted wooden stick to help them walk.
"Ah. I see you have returned dear knight. What may we help you with this time?" The elder asked coming up to Faris who respectfully knelt before them hearing the chief chuckle, a thing they seem to not be use to from such a powerful man. "No need to bow anymore, Faris. You're still apart of our village even when you took the offer to become a knight, but we've heard words about what happened during the ceremony. Is that the beast which killed Solar?" Pointing at Devina who remains unconscious in Dan's arms bleeding from their wound still. Only getting a threatening growl from Dan as Faris stepped in front immediately diffusing the situation, when Danny landed nearby after finding them.
"She lost control of herself because they were going to harm their mate. They have a close connection and I'd hate for her to die and bring darkness upon this realm because of something she had no control over" Faris pleaded as the chief came forward walking past him to get a closer look at Devina, the wings, scales and hair gave them a hint of familiarity from somewhere, but his old mind couldn't figure out what it was. Their wrinkly hand reached out ignoring Dan's intense stare, until touching their soft skin.
"Hm, she is most definitely the most beautiful woman I've ever played eyes on, but I can't see to pin point where I recognise their look from. Hm?" The chief spoke with clear confusion, turning away and walking back to Faris who sighed with relief before getting a twisted stick pointed in his face. "Take them to the medical hut and keep an eye on her, but do not let them destroy my village. Undertood?" He quickly turned serious as Faris nodded fanning Dan to follow again, as they went to the village's only medic knocking when the door opened revealing a female dwarf glancing up at them, short, curly nutty brown hair, hazel eyes and peach skin.
"Yule! The elder told me to bring my friend and his mate here for urgent care and fast. She's losing a lot of blood and is pregnant" Faris urgently explained as the dwarf immediately fanned them to come inside, allowing Dan to lay Devina on a quickly made makeshift bed on the floor due to her wings and size, but they made sure it was comfortable and stable.
"Seems like they were hit by a powerful spear blast, but with how I'm looking at it nothing seems to be punctured which is rare to see with these kinds of attacks. She got lucky" Yule explained having Faris help lift her up to get close to Devina without putting pressure on them and the growing baby, and starts to use their magic to heal the wounds to the best of their abilities let them. With Faris to help use bandages on them time only could tell if she'll wake up in control or raging like a untamed beast again, but neither Faris or Dan are going to let her become something she never would've wanted to be. A monster.
During her unconsciousness, Devina's body slowly shifted back to how she was before. Immediately allowing Dan to cover her with his cloak to keep them warm and out of unwanted eyes. Gently putting his hand on the baby bump feeling the slight movements of their baby, sighing realising it hadn't been affected by any of this.
"How long until this so called portal reopens? I want to take my woman home, far away from this place" Dan asked eyes glued seriously at Faris who silently sat nearby turning to look back at him. Whilst Danny was out collecting some herbs with the dwarf medic.
"About a month, there won't be another full moon until then I'm afraid. But you can take refuge in my place until it does, it's quite a journey on foot, so we'll fly there at noon" Faris responded not having them walk anymore now that Devina is back in her human form, wrapped up in Dan's cape protected and cozy.
"Fine.. only a few hours and we go. I don't want these people coming here thinking they have some right to look or touch my woman" Dan hissed hating this place, having his own bad experience thanks to Douglas and Solar, but with one out of the equation things became a bit more tense as they're now potentially fugitives in this world for not only escaping, but potentially killing Solar if he or his body isn't found.
Danny eventually came back with the herbs and medic hours later, finally letting Dan groan with relief to leave to where home Faris had and hopefully stay untouched until the portal reopens.
"It's dark enough for us to fly to my cabin. We'll be safe as it's hidden by my magic, so no one will be able to track us" Faris mentioned standing up from the sofa having been waiting there for hours, and now if the best time to flee. Dan gently scooped a 7 month pregnant Devina in his arms, keeping her close as his eyes softly watched her unconscious form.
"Soon, my love. We'll be able to go home, and I'll make sure no one dares come to disturb us again. Even if it means killing them all" Dan whispered gently kissing her head as Danny gathered what they needed, heading outside the medical hut and waiting for a moment for Dan and Faris to emerge.
"Just follow me and we'll be there before sunrise" Faris slowly floated up looking down at Dan and then Danny who followed in pursuit, keeping a comfortable distance between them as they flew over the vast forest below. The air was cold making Devina's body shiver and subconsciously seek warmth nuzzling into Dan's chest, his arms wrapped tighter around them.
"I've got you" he softly whispered making sure they stayed comfortable and warm in his arms for the few hours ahead of their journey. Even if they silently flew over other villages no one felt their presence, keeping a far enough distance to ensure no one finds and alerts other kingdoms of their location or they'll be in for a war.
The trio was exhausted when sunrise hit, Faris began to slowly descend within a dark wooded forest only those who dare to enter are aware of its dangerous creatures that lurk within. Making it the perfect place for Faris to make a secret home far from unwanted prying eyes, revealing a darkly hidden cabin that is surrounded by tall spruce tree that stood tall for several feet making it impossible for anyone flying over to spot it.
"We're finally here.." Faris announced quietly landing just outside of the cabin that stayed dark, not lit by any source of light as no one else stayed within it. Dan landed after followed by Danny who came forward, as the door opened warmly gesturing for them to come inside.
"Are you sure no one will find us here?" Danny asked looking around the dark interior of the cabin, as Faris used his magic to light up nearby candle lights that hung from the wooden logged walls. Finally allowing them to see the cozy interior of his safe space.
"I'm sure of it. Even my own family doesn't know about this place, but I'll get the guest rooms set up for you, your friend and for the lady" Faris replied walking off to where the only two guest rooms where, as his master bedroom was upstairs and right now the main priority was to ensure his guests were comfortable.
Danny sat down on the living room sofa, letting out a groan of exhaustion after having flown for several hours without stopping to rest not even once. Dan stood there refusing to let Devina go, as his eyes scanned the cabin's interior for any possible chance of danger.
"What's up? You've been acting off since we finally saved her. Aren't you at least relieved that someone here is actually helping us get back home?" Danny asked with a hint of concern when Dan silently glared at him with his iconic stone cold scowl, but when Devina lightly groaned his gaze immediately shifted to her, going soft and concerned as the sudden change in temperature caught his attention.
"Have you got the herbs from the dwarf?" Dan said sitting down in a ingle chair, keeping her close on his lap. As the lad reached in a bag he was given by the medic, and pulled out some paper where the information was written down. His finger went through it until landing on the fever recipe, and began to grab the herbs that we kept in their respective tiny bags. Garlic and ginger were the main ingredient used, but fenugreek, Guduchi (Giloy), and kudzu root were also pulled out to make a safe concoctions to reduce fever and increase immune system to fight back.
"Don't try and poison her or I'll have your head!" Dan lowly growled letting his option known that if anything Danny does something that could worsen her condition, he's in for a beating with no mercy in their next training session.
"Oi. I have you know, I've learned a lot being here unlike you being stuck in a cage for a month!" Danny argued back with a huff, going to the kitchen to use what he could to filter herbs and their contents into warm water for Devina to drink.
Faris came back to the living room, seeing Dan grumpily sat keeping her close. As he sees the kid in the kitchen preparing the herbs he gathered to prepare a safe drink, walking over to observe.
"Yule is already leaving an impression on you little man. You're quite the surprise ever since coming to this realm, as you'll become quite the warrior some day" Faris stated seeing a bit of himself in the kid when he was younger, but it felt right to save them from this world and it's unfair justice.
"I'm only doing this for my family. And Devina is exactly that to me, family. I'll do anything for them as she would've done the same for me" Danny responded without hesitation their back still faced towards Faris, who exhaled softly with a little smile going back to the living room. Leaving Danny to his own devices.
"The guest room is ready if you follow me" Faris casually asked gesturing a hand for Dan to follow him, the ghost stood up and followed them silently to the corridor that connected to two separate bedrooms. "This is where you're sharing with your mate. I made sure it's comfortable and suitable to the best of my abilities" he added as Dan walked in noticing how it had a double bed, with quite expensive furniture and fur sheets making him a bit speechless on this kind gesture.
"Thanks.. I guess" Dan quietly thanked them, disappearing into the bedroom where the door closed behind them by Faris. As it gently clicked shut giving them privacy allowing them to remove his cloak, going to their human form taking off their black short sleeved shirt to put over Devina's naked body. Giving her a single layer of protection over their skin before laying her in the bed, putting the blanket over them until reluctantly leaving to get damp cloth and a bucket to help reduce the fever as much as possible.
Returning with the bucket of clean cold water, dry cloth and placing it on her side of the bed. He dipped it in twisting it to drain most of the water back into the bucket, before folding it and gently placed it on her forehead. This kept happening throughout the night, refusing to sleep until she's better which he eventually collapsed later on for a power nap on his side of the bed.
Took a week for Devina to get better, slowly waking up after being unconscious for so long and being personally spoon fed by Dan everyday.
"Mm.." she let out a weak groan, slowly coming back to reality while Dan slept beside them. Back turned as he remained in human form snoring slightly. She turned her head, seeing them laid there tearing up slightly to see him alive and unharmed having no recollection of what happened before she transformed. "Dan.." they whispered moving a hand out, gently touching his bare back feeling it tense up and relaxed once remembering her gentle touch. He slowly rolled over to face them, immediately froze when seeing that she is actually awake causing him to prop himself up on his elbow.
"Devina.. baby" he softly spoke seeing her tears sliding down their face, moving his hand to gently wipe them with his thumb. "I'm here, I'm not going anywhere, love" only she and maybe family get to see the soft side of him, mainly Devina as he pressed his forehead against hers.
Devina silently whimpered against him, burrowing into their chest. Feeling him gently stroke his fingers through her hair, letting them have their moment.
"I lost control.. it hurt so much when my body changed. I don't even remember what I did. I was in that cold caged cell, and then I wake up here. What happened to me?" Devina asked with confusion her finger slowly making patterns on his chest, knowing how he liked it when she did this feeling his chin rest on top of her head.
"You became a dragon like creature. And saved my ass just as I was about to have my head cut off. I should be calling you my hero. But you did kill a lot of people during your rampage around the kingdom. After that Faris then helped us come here for safety, but that's only until the portal opens up again to take us back home" Dan replied not wanting to lie as something this serious cannot be so easily covered, and her silence proved that she was shocked to learn of such aggressive out of her positive and gentle nature.
"I don't want to go through this ever again! It isn't good for me nor the baby" she stated hugging him tightly despite the bump, he let out a low chuckle gently wrapping his large arms around them.
"I know, love. I'll ensure nothing happens to us ever again, especially to you or our family" Dan gently stroke her back soothingly in circles with his fingers and hands, planning to keep them close to by their side for eternity if he could to ensure she remains unharmed, kindhearted and selfless.
Can they ever get peace from the world? And will Devina ever get the hand of her new true form?