The Dragon King and His Fallen Star novel Chapter 14

Chapter 14: When She Smiles at Me

KIERYGAN’S POV

Claim

The sun dipped low over the training field, bleeding gold across trampled dirt and melting snow. My men were panting, slick with sweat, some nursing bruised ribs and bruised egos.

I pulled my tunic back over my shoulders, the fabric clinging to my sweat–damp skin. “We’re done for today,” I said, and the chorus of groans that followed told me they were more than ready to be

finished.

Callum flashed a sharp–toothed grin, blood trickling from his nose. “Tell me, was this supposed to be a sparring session,” he panted, “or are you secretly trying to kill our men?”

He barked a laugh and tossed me a canteen. I caught it without looking, drank half, and poured the rest over my face. I left the others to clean up the mess and followed the worn path to Ashteryn’s

workshop to pick up the girl.

When I reached the crooked old cottage, I paused just short of the door. My hand lifted to knock,

then froze.

There was laughter inside.

Not just any laughter. Ashteryn’s. Deep and booming, like a mountain shaking loose its stones. I had never heard that sound before.

Then came another. Lighter, softer. A laugh like wind chimes stirred by a gentle breeze. Hers.

I stood there for a moment longer, wondering if I had come to the wrong place, wandered into a dream, or simply lost my mind.

Ashteryn. Laughing. I never imagined those two words would ever belong in the same sentence.

I slowly pushed the door open, needing to be sure my mind wasn’t playing tricks on me, that I wasn’t just hearing things.

But there they were. Neither noticed me.

Seated at Ashteryn’s battered old table, tea cups in hand, crumbs scattered across the worn wood. A tin of shortbread lay open between them, already half gone. Ashteryn leaned back in his creaking chair, shoulders shaking with laughter at something he’d just said.

“What the f**k is this?” I muttered under my breath

And the girl… was sitting with her hands folded primly in her lap, eyes wide, utterly transfixed. Smiling. No trace of fear in her eyes.

I stood quietly as Ashteryn’s voice filled the room, rich and unguarded, a story he’d never told

1/4

14 When She Smies at Me

anyone. Maybe the only story he’d ever told about himself, until now.

(Clam

“So there I was,” he began, “barely thirteen, elbows–deep in my father’s forge, thinking I was already

a master smith.”

The girl leaned forward slightly, cradling her cup in both hands, eyes wide with fascination.

“I’d just learned to temper steel, you see… tricky work, needs the right heat. Only problem was, I was impatient as hell. Thought if I added a little extra… spark… things would move along quicker.“”

He shot her a conspiratorial look, lips twitching with mischief.

“Spark?” she echoed, tilting her head.

Ashteryn’s grin stretched wider. “Dragon spit.”

Her brows lifted. “Dragon… spit?”

He nodded solemnly. “So I dumped it onto the coals.” he said, gesturing as if reliving the moment. Thought I was a bloody genius. Stood back all proud while the forge started glowing brighter than

the sun.”

“What happened?” she breathed.

Ashteryn leaned in, dropping his voice to a mock whisper. “Blew the whole roof clean off.”

Her eyes went wide. “No.”

He chuckled. “Sent the chimney sailing halfway across the field. My eyebrows were gone for weeks. My father chased me around with a horseshoe, swearing he’d brand ‘IDIOT‘ on my

A giggle escaped her, light, melodic, and completely unguarded.

I I

arse.”

As amused as I was to see Ashteryn so eager to entertain the girl, I’d heard was sure half the story was made up–because honestly, what the hell is dragon spit anyway?

–

And I was definitely not sticking around to hear more about his idiot–branded arse. So I deliberately cleared my throat.

They b

both fell silent. The girl tried to stifle her laughter, but the gleam in her eyes betrayed her amusement. Ashteryn, on the other hand, schooled his face back into that familiar gruff scowl the moment he saw me, as if none of it had ever happened.

I crossed the room and stopped in front of the girl, letting my shadow fall over both of them.

“Did you find out anything new about the bracelet?” asked, my eyes fixed on Ashteryn.

“Not much,” he replied, leaning back in his chair with a grunt. “Only that it seems to respond solely to her light. Nothing else.”

I waited, saying nothing, urging him to continue.

Chapte

Me

He sighed. “I tested a few different sparks. Fire, arcane charges, even aether crystals, no reaction. The mineral’s inert to all of it. Maybe we could try your dragon flame next, see if that stirs

something.”

He paused, then added flatly, “But it might burn the girl first before we get any reaction.”

The girl snapped her head toward me, eyes wide. She swallowed hard, visibly shaken by the

suggestion.

“No,” I said, a little too quickly. “Try something else.

I had to fight down a smile as she exhaled in quiet relief.

Ashteryn didn’t argue. He simply leaned forward and slid the tin of shortbread away, covering it

with one thick hand like I might steal a piece. Not even a glance in my direction.

“Another thing,” he added. “Whatever magic the girl has in her bones, it’s being suppressed. Dampened by the mineral, the same way silver weakens a werewolf. She’s leaking just enough to keep the bracelet fed, but anything more? It’s like the magic gets strangled before it can rise.”

I glanced at the girl. She shifted uncomfortably, curling her fingers around the teacup in her lap.

“You’re done here for today,” I said to her. “I’m taking you back.”

She gave a small nod and carefully set the teacup down on the table, as if afraid it might Then she rose, silent as snowfall.

I turned and headed for the door, her light footsteps following close behind.

shatter.

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