The Dragon King and His Fallen Star novel Chapter 172

Chapter 172: Unsteady

KIERYGAN’S POV

+25 Points

We reached Vallea Illura in no time. The air split around me as I descended, the wind shrieking past my wings. I landed hard in front of the Stellar’s Palace, stone cracking beneath my claws.

The moment my talons touched the ground, I shifted back. Eirlys stayed in my arms. To my relief, she didn’t protest or try to stand-only rested her head against my chest.

Emma gasped the moment I stepped through the palace doors.

“Fetch Danaiah,” I ordered, my voice leaving no room for question. “Now.”

She nodded frantically and scrambled to her feet, nearly tripping over her skirts as she bolted down the hall.

I continued down the corridor, ignoring the curious glances of guards and servants alike. When we reached our chambers, I set her gently on the bed. Almost at once, Nibbles bounded onto the mattress, the small creature nestling against Eirlys belly-as if sensing her weakness. Or perhaps, simply missing her.

“Stay here and wait for the healer,” I said, already moving toward the door. “I’ll send someone to bring you food”

Eirlys smiled faintly, lifting a trembling hand to stroke the rabbit’s fur. “I’m fine, Kierygan,” she murmured. “You don’t need to-”

“You’re getting checked,” said

I cut in, turning back to face her. My voice came out sharper than intended, more command than concern. “You’re not fine.”

SAVE

She looked up, startled by the edge in my tone. Her lips parted, ready to argue-but I didn’t give her the chance.

“You’re pale. You’ve been dizzy.” My tone dropped, almost a growl. “And you haven’t been eating properly.”

Her eyes sparked with that stubborn defiance I’d come to know too well, but I wasn’t finished.

“Look at you,” I said, the words rough, slipping past restraint. “You’re skin and bones again, Eirlys.” The defiance in her eyes vanished,

Shock flickered there first-then hurt. Her lips parted as if to speak, but no sound came. The tears welling in her eyes caught the firelight, trembling on the edge though she fought them with everything she had.

I felt the crack inside me before I even realized it was there.

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Chapter 172. Unsteady

+25 Points

I’d never raised my voice at her before. Not to this degree. And now, seeing her look at me like that

-as though I had struck her-it tore through me.

I wanted to go to her, to take back the words, to gather her into my arms and tell her I hadn’t meant

it like that. That it wasn’t anger-it was fear.

But I forced myself still.

She had to understand. There were things she could not keep doing. Not when it came to her safety, her well-being. She couldn’t keep throwing herself into danger just because she could. She might think her light could fix everything, but it wasn’t fixing her.

I drew in a slow breath, clasped my hands behind my back, and walked out before I betrayed myself.

As I strode briskly through the corridors, I nearly collided with Danaiah, moving toward our chambers to see Eirlys. She inclined her head slightly. “Your Highness,” she greeted.

“See me at the library once you’ve finished examining her,” I instructed.

“Of course,” she replied, continuing on her way.

I made my way to the kitchen, arranging for someone to bring Eirlys her supper, before heading to the library.

I had walked these halls countless times since arriving at Vallea Illura, yet each visit left me in awe. The library’s vastness never ceased to impress-the ceiling arched high above, carved from pale stone, and the endless rows of tomes, some so ancient their spines seemed more relics than books, whispered of knowledge and power across centuries.

I moved deliberately through the aisles, my fingers trailing along the spines of the books, feeling. the faint hum of age and knowledge thrumming beneath the leather. My destination was the section reserved for the rarest tomes-though truthfully, nearly every volume here could be considered rare by ordinary standards.

I was searching for more information about the celestial guardians-their decrees, their dominions, anything that might reveal who could have fathered Eirlys..

A soft shuffle echoed between the shelves. I paused, listening. The sound came again, subtle but distinct.

I followed it silently, until I rounded a corner and found Evander, perched on a ladder with a heavy tome open before him.

He glanced up, a slow grin spreading across his face. “My father would be heartbroken to learn his library is no longer the grandest in all the realms,” he said. “He’d turn green with envy if he saw this place.”

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Chapter 172 Unsteady

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I caught sight of the book Evander had been reading before he closed it-a thick, timeworn volume etched with faint celestial symbols. Treatises on the Old Pantheon.

“It seems we’re here for the same thing,” I said, stepping closer.

Evander’s grin faded into something more contemplative. He gave a small nod, his fingers still resting on the spine. “I suspected as much.” His gaze flicked toward me, assessing. “How is she?”

“She’s being examined by Danaiah,” I replied.

Silence settled between us, broken only by the faint rustle of parchment stirred by unseen drafts.

“So,” Evander said at last, “you haven’t told her yet.

I exhaled slowly. “I will tell her. Just… not yet.”

Evander’s brows drew together, but he said nothing

“She’s not ready,” I went on, more to myself than to him. “She’s not fully healed. That gods-damned ritual did more damage to her than any of us realized.”

I met his gaze. “I felt it,” I said quietly. “Every grain of light pulled from her was agony. Every flicker drawn out of her felt like dying.” My jaw tightened. “So no-I’m not adding another burden to her. Not now.”

Evander only nodded, a flicker of understanding in his eyes that needed no words. He was about to speak again when the sound of brisk footsteps echoed through the marble corridor beyond the corridor beyond the shelves. Both of us turned just as Danaiah appeared.

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“What did you find?” I asked before she could even greet us. “Is she all right?”

Danaiah inclined her head slightly. “Her body is fine she said. Then her tone softened, turning cautious. “But her light seems… unstable.”

A muscle in my jaw tightened. “Because of what she went through?”

“Most likely,” she replied, stepping closer. “Though I’d need to study her condition further to be certain. My knowledge of fae physiology is limited. Especially one possessing eight grains of light.”

“For now, let her rest as much as possible,” Danaiah concluded.

I huffed under my breath. “I’ve been trying to get her to rest. She’s the one who refuses. Stubborn to the bone.”

Danaiah’s lips curved faintly. “I have a feeling that was the case,” She started toward the door, her steps light against the floor, but paused beneath the archway. “Go to her, now,” she said over her shoulder. “She looked a bit down.”

Then she was gone, leaving the faint scent of sage in her wake. Guilt twisted in my chest. The memory of Eirlys’ face-hurt, bewildered-flashed behind my eyes. Without another word to

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< Chapter 172. Unsteady

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Evander, I turned and strode out of the library, my steps quick and deliberate, each one driven by the need to reach her as soon as possible.

When I reached our chambers, Eirlys was propped up against the headboard, her hair spilling over one shoulder in loose waves. Nibbles lay curled against her belly, twitching his nose as she absently scratched between his ears.

A tray rested on the bedside table-half-eaten bread, untouched stew, and even the dessert she used to love, left barely touched.

I frowned, moving closer and sitting on the edge of the bed. “Why didn’t you finish your food?”

She looked up, guilt flickering across her face. “I tried,” she murmured. “But they don’t taste right.”

I leaned toward the table, lifting the tray and inspecting it as if expecting to find something amiss. Did the kitchen send you bad food?”

“I don’t know,” she said, shrugging.

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