The Fiery Crown Cycle: A Dragon's Rebirth

Chapter 12

Aiden's heavy eyelids lifted. In the absolute darkness of the cavern, his crimson, vertical pupils seemed to burn like embers, casting a faint, demonic glow.

He raised a claw, watching the flickers of fire that still danced in the gaps between his scales.

Was that a dream?

He remembered a delicious taste, a brief moment of bliss, followed by the incessant buzzing of a mosquito whispering in his ear. And then… then he had exploded in a rage, triggering this strange, powerful state. It seemed that becoming a dragon had shortened his temper considerably.

Aiden's attention was suddenly drawn to the fiery sigil in his right eye. The light within it was draining away at an alarming rate. That energy, he knew, regenerated at a glacial pace. It was a precious resource.

A pang of frustration, sharp as a claw, struck him. What a waste.

He focused his thoughts. Can I turn this off?

The moment the idea formed, his body began to shrink. The crown of flame above his brow guttered and went out. In moments, he had returned to the normal size of a wyrmling. And just like the last time, an overwhelming wave of exhaustion washed over him.

“Hahhh…”

His jaws stretched wide in a massive yawn. So tired. He just wanted to sleep.

He lifted his head. Moonlight washed over the entrance of the cave. The sky wasn't even bright yet.

That damned dream.

His gaze fell from the entrance to the two shapes huddled against him. A white dragon and a blue one, pressed tightly to his sides. They were sound asleep, their soft exhalations condensing into white mist in the cool air of the cavern.

Aiden stared at them. So that's why I felt a bit cold. You two have been siphoning my warmth.

With a grunt of irritation, his thick right leg shoved Bianca's sleeping form away. Go on, get off. He then turned and gave Azure the same treatment, nudging her away with his foot.

Having cleared his personal space, Aiden flopped back onto the stone floor, relieved. Much better.

Sleep reclaimed him instantly.

An hour passed.

In the depths of their slumber, Bianca and Azure shivered. It was too cold. Though they were far too deep in sleep to wake, their primal instincts could still sense a heat source. Inch by inch, their bodies unconsciously shifted, drawn toward the warmth. Soon, the white and blue wyrmlings were once again pressed tightly against Aiden's sides, sleeping soundly.

The heavy, red-scaled eyelids lifted again. The burning crimson pupils were revealed, and consciousness swiftly returned.

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The first thing Aiden noticed was the weight. Why was his back so heavy?

He twisted his neck to look. A white wyrmling and a blue one were sprawled across his back, each occupying one half, sleeping peacefully. Bianca, in particular, was lost to the world, a trail of crystalline drool dripping from her maw. A large patch of his red scales was damp and glistening—clearly her handiwork.

That Bianca… she really needs to be taught a lesson!

But then he noticed something else. Her body, pressed against his, was pleasantly cool, like a large block of ice. The thought of punishing her faded. He wouldn't actually strike her for something so trivial.

He pushed himself up, shaking his body vigorously and dislodging the two sleeping dragons, who tumbled onto the stone floor with soft thuds. He turned his head toward the cave entrance. Bright sunlight now streamed onto the platform.

He stared at the light. He had no idea how many days had passed. Dragons never counted time; for a species that measured life in millennia, the concept had lost all meaning. For Aiden, however, the attitude was still foreign. It would take time to adapt.

“Guu~”

His stomach rumbled in protest. A powerful hunger clawed at him from the inside.

Well, that answers that. At least a week must have passed. A single large meal could sustain a dragon for a long time.

If he was hungry, it was time to hunt. But first…

He stretched his forelegs out, lowering his torso in a deep, satisfying flex. “Hahhh…” He shook his head from side to side, feeling the last vestiges of sleepiness recede.

He already knew where to hunt. First, he'd check the banks of the subterranean river. If prey was there, it would be simple. If not, he'd have to turn his attention to whatever lived in the river.

He turned to look at the two still-sleeping dragons. Of course, he would be taking them with him. Azure could come along to make up the numbers, but Bianca was essential. He needed her to be the "battering ram."

He approached them. They were still dead to the world, the draconic love for sleep on full display.

He raised his right claw. With the same force and the same speed as before, he delivered a sharp cuff to each of their heads.

“AOW!”

Bianca shot to her feet. It took her a few seconds to get her bearings, and then her white, slitted pupils locked onto Aiden.

“Aiden, you hit me again!” Her expression was one of pure indignation, a look that said, “If you don't give me a good reason this time, I swear I'll fight you to the death!”

Aiden read her perfectly. Another dragon might bluff, but Bianca, this little hard-head, would absolutely fight him, even knowing she would lose. To prevent her from actually trying, he spoke, the excuse already prepared.

“The riverbank is teeming with prey,” he said, his voice a low, urgent rumble. “But you were sleeping too soundly. I had no other way to wake you quickly.”

“Really?” Bianca's fierce gaze softened instantly. Her pupils widened, and a line of drool immediately began to form at the corner of her mouth.

Hook, line, and sinker. He had her. Though he felt a surge of smug satisfaction, Aiden's expression remained impassive. He ignored the suspicious glare coming from Azure and continued with confidence.

“Of course. But I can't be sure they're still there. They were only stopping for a drink.”

“What are we waiting for? Let's go!” Bianca scrambled toward the cave entrance, the very image of a ravenous dragon eager for the hunt.

Completely and utterly manipulated, Aiden thought, still ignoring the resentful stare from his other side. He had never expected to fool Azure, the little scholar. She was just an accessory to the plan anyway. As long as Bianca was on board, that was all that mattered.

Aiden followed Bianca toward the mouth of the cave. Watching them go, Azure sighed internally and pushed herself to her feet. The moment Aiden had added that last sentence, she knew he was lying to the fool, Bianca. There was no prey. He probably hadn't even been to the river yet. Only Bianca was gullible enough to fall for it.

Aigh… and I got hit for nothing.

The three wyrmlings gathered at the entrance.

“Aiden, which way is the river?” Bianca asked, her voice filled with an eagerness that had completely erased the memory of being struck.

“Straight ahead,” Aiden answered, lifting a claw and pointing down the great canyon. The river was still some distance away. It would be a ten-minute walk, but they were dragons.

By flight, they could be there in less than a minute.