The Dragon King and His Fallen Star novel Chapter 186

Chapter 186: The Daughter of Light

EIRLYS’ POV

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Kierygan’s arm tightened around me as he leveled my father, Orion, with a look edged in distrust- like he half-expected him to snatch me away the instant he blinked.

But when I glanced up and met his narrowed gaze, gave a small, steady nod. It’s all right.

His jaw flexed, a muscle ticking as he drew a slow Breath through his nose. Reluctantly, he

released me. The air between them hummed with tension. Even as he stepped back, his eyes

never left my father-ready to breathe fire at the first wrong move.

My father extended his hand toward me, his expression gentle, carved from the calm of the

heavens. For a heartbeat, I hesitated. Then, with a breath, I placed my hand in his.

Warmth bloomed instantly-not searing, not celestial cold, but gentle. Human, almost.

Without a word, he began to walk, his grip neither firm nor loose, just steady. I let him lead me, my

steps light against the marble, as the murmur of voices behind us faded

Sal

to silence.

The corridor opened into a vast expanse of soft light, and I knew then where he was leading me-

the Garden of First Light. Blossoms of every shade shimmered in the still air, and a sacred calm

settled over everything..

He came to a stop by a cherry tree, the pale pink petals twirling lazily in the air above us. It was

only then that he finally turned to me. “You… truly are your mother’s daughter,” he

said.

I blinked, unsure of how to respond, uncertain of what he meant.

“Not just for her beauty,” he added softly, “but for her heart. Her kindness. Her courage. You carry

her spirit within you, Eirlys.”

I swallowed hard, words lodged in my throat. I searched his expression, desperate to be certain I

was truly hearing this-from a Celestial Guardian, no less.

Finally, the question I had kept locked inside since learning I had a father slipped from my lips. “Did … did you really love my mother?”

He bent on one knee, yet even there he towered over me. His golden eyes softened, shadows of

old memories flickering across them, and he reached out, as if trying to bridge the years we had

lost.

“More than you could ever imagine, my daughter,” he said, his voice low and certain. “More than

time, more than the stars… more than anything.”

I forced a smile, but it didn’t reach my eyes. I looked up at him again, the question clawing its way out of my throat. “Do… do you even love me? Do you even care for me at all?”

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Chapter 186: The Daughter of Light

Claim

He took my hands gently, enclosing them in his own. “You are a part of me,” he said softly, “as much as you are a part of the extraordinary fae queen I loved. You are the product of that love, Eirlys. How could I not love you?”

My chest tightened, a knot of hurt and longing twisting deep inside, and then the dam finally broke. The words came out ragged, trembling-years of pain finding a voice.

“If you loved my mother, why did you leave her? Why did you let her perish in the Light Reaper’s

hands?” My voice cracked. “And if you love me-then why did you leave me to suffer?”

Tears streamed down my face, each word torn from a heart too full of grief to contain.

Without a word, he pulled me into his arms. His embrace was firm, unyielding, as though he could

shield me from all the pain I had ever known. I pressed my face against his chest and sobbed,

letting every shard of hurt and longing pour out.

I had never known what a father’s love felt like. But in that moment-with his arms around me,

steady and real-I realized how deeply I had needed it all along.

So I kept crying. And he just held me-silent, steady-until there were no tears left. Until my sobs

faded into quiet sniffles and broken hiccups.

www.why

My body sagged with exhaustion, and when I finally lifted my head, I noticed how his once-shining armor was smeared with my tears-and snot. Heat rushed to my face. Mortified, I pulled away and wiped at my cheeks with the back of my hand.

He didn’t seem to mind. He simply waited, patient and still, until my breathing steadied. Then, in that low, measured tone that rumbled faintly like distant thunder, he began to speak.

“As Warden of the Veil, I am bound to the passages between realms,” he said. “My duty keeps me in constant motion-guarding the thresholds that separate creation from the void. I could never remain in one place for long. When I visited Earth, it was fleeting-once every half century, if

fortune allowed.”

He paused, his gaze turning inward, then back to me. “Astraea knew this,” he continued softly. “She accepted it. She accepted me-completely.” His voice deepened, carrying the ache of memory. The last time I saw her, she spoke of a corruption spreading south of her kingdom.”

His hand drifted absently to the silver clasp at his shoulder. “So I gave her Lepus-your Nibbles-to serve as her familiar. To protect her… and to keep me informed.”

His voice grew quieter. “I did not know she carried a child. I only learned of you when Lepus brought you to my realm.”

I blinked up at him, my voice barely a whisper. “The day I met you.”

He nodded slowly. “I wanted to tell you then,” he said quietly. “Every part of me wanted to. But in

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Chapter 186. The Daughter of Light,

Claim

Heavenreach, even words carry power-and peril. I had spoken of what bound us, others would have known. They would have taken you away before your purpose could unfold.”

He rose to his full height and offered me his hand. This time, I didn’t hesitate. I took it.

We walked in silence for a time through the garden the air soft with drifting light. When he spoke again, his voice was distant, threaded with sorrow. I learned from Lepus how the corruption spread,” he said. “How it grew-stronger than even the Stellar Fae could contain. And when your mother uncovered what the Reaper truly intended that he would twist their light into his own creation-she made her choice.”

His hand tightened gently around mine.

“She and her guardians gave their light to you, Eirlys. Not only to protect you, but to protect the seven grains from falling into darkness. They trusted that your celestial grain-the one you inherited from me-would awaken when the time was right and destroy him.”

UN

He stopped walking and turned toward me, the gold of his eyes warm and unbearably sad. “I am sorry I was never there for you,” he said softly. “But knew you had everything you needed to overcome them. You only had to find it within yourself.”

I tried to summon the hurt-to feel the anger for all the years he’d been absent, for leaving me in the hands of those who broke and used me. But the ache that had burned so fiercely moments ago quieted. I couldn’t find it in my heart to hate him.

When I finally lifted my head, I met his gaze and whispered, “You’re here for me now.” My voice trembled, but I meant every word. “That’s more than enough for me, Father.”

The words felt heavy with truth, yet somehow, they lifted the weight that had pressed on my chest for so long.

A slow, unguarded smile softened his face. He bent and pulled me into his arms again. This embrace felt different-lighter, yet deeper somehow, like the closing of a circle I hadn’t realized had been open all my life.

When he spoke, his voice was low and warm against my ear. “You are truly like your mother.”

The words made my chest tighten. I wanted to ask him more-to know what my mother was truly like, I wanted to hear how they met, how their love began, how it endured despite the heavens forbidding it.

But before I could speak, soft footsteps broke the stillness.

Hemera stood at the edge of the garden, her hair a living flame. “It’s time,” she said.

My heart stuttered. I gripped my father’s arm, unwilling to let go. Panic carved through my chest at the thought of what verdict awaited him. “What will they do to you?” I whispered.

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< Chapter 186. The Daughter of Light

He only smiled-calm, resolute. “We’re about to find out.”

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