The Dragon King and His Fallen Star novel Chapter 57

Chapter 57: Dark Dreams and Dragon’s Promise

EIRLYS‘ POV

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All I see is darkness as I stumble forward. The cold earth bites at my bare feet. I glanced down, startled to find myself in a nightgown–its hem torn damp with dew, and stained with something darker.

I didn’t know where I was–or how I’d gotten here.

I squinted into the gloom, trying to make sense of my surroundings. Trees loomed like skeletal giants, their twisted branches clawing through the dark mist, reaching hungrily for the sliver of moonlight above.

A shiver raked down my spine. I wrapped my arms around myself, glancing around desperately. “Kierygan?” My voice trembled as the name left my lips.

His name was the only one that felt safe. He had always come for me–whenever I was in danger, whenever the world turned dark. Maybe this time, he will come again.

But only silence answered. Heavy, suffocating silence.

“Please…” I whispered. “Please find me…”

The forest began to shift, shadows swirling between the trunks like smoke. Then something stepped out from them.

A hooded figure emerged–tall, cloaked in darkness so thick it seemed to swallow what little light filtered through the fog. Black, twisted horns curved from its hood, scraping against the gnarled branches above as it hovered closer. Its face was hidden, but I could feel its gaze–cold and endless–piercing through every layer of my soul.

I froze, breath caught in my throat, as the figure began to laugh–a sound that echoed through the forest like a chorus of a thousand voices, all wrong and overlapping.

“Who are you?” I whispered, voice shaking. “What do you want?”

Suddenly, hands seized me from behind–two sets, gripping hard. I tried to twist free, but my limbs wouldn’t respond. My scream caught in my throat, trapped behind rising panic.

“Got you at last, starlight,” said a voice.

A chill crept up my spine. I knew that voice–the one I never wanted to hear again.

Malric.

Then came another voice–cruel, taunting.

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Morwenna’s nails dug into my other arm, her laughter sharp and cold. “There’s no one to save you this time,” she said. “We’re taking you back to your tower–right where you belong.”

Tears burned down my cheeks as the hooded figure drew closer, its laughter deepening until it rattled my bones. It bent forward, and though I couldn’t see its eyes, I felt its cold, rotting breath on my skin.

“I’m coming for you,” it whispered, voice like oil sliding down my spine.

Their grip tightened, fingers digging into bone. My body shook under the force, as if my very bones

might splinter apart.

“Stop!” I tried to scream. “Please! Kierygan!”

The hands around me kept shaking me–light at first, then harder. So hard that the forest around me shattered like glass, the dark figure dissolving into nothingness.

I gasped, choking on a sob as I thrashed against the strong hands gripping my arms.

“Eirlys,” Kierygan growled, his voice low and ragged with urgency. “Wake up.”

My eyes flew open. His face loomed above mine, hair unbound and shadowing the sharp, furious lines of his gaze. His grip tightened as I trembled beneath him, tears streaming from my eyes and

pooling into the pillow.

He was here. He was real.

He found me.

Again.

“He said he’s coming for me,” I blurted out, my voice cracking around the sobs building in my

chest

s narrowed, dark and searching. “Who?” he asked sharply, his fingers flexing around

on’t know,” I whispered, shaking my head as tears blurred everything.

My chest caved in with a strangled sob, and I broke down, shoulders shaking as I wept helplessly. Kierygan’s arms came around me in an instant. Without another word, he lifted me off the bed and

against his chest, his hold strong and grounding.

“It’s just a dream,” he murmured, his voice rough but steady as he pressed his cheek to my temple. “It’s only a dream, Eirlys.”

“But it felt so real,” I whispered brokenly, curling my fingers into his shirt as I buried my face against

him. “It felt… it felt so real.”

Kierygan’s hand smoothed gently over my hair. “You’re safe, Eirlys,” he said, his voice steady. “No

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His words wrapped around me like a warm, heavy blanket. The trembling in my chest began to ease, and I clung to his assurance, letting it quiet the terror still clawing at my ribs.

“Do you want me to stay?” he asked softly, brushing a tear from my cheek with his thumb. “Until you fall back asleep?”

I nodded. “Yes, please,” I whispered hoarsely.

A soft, persistent rustling pulled my attention to the corner of the room. I turned my head and spotted Nibbles shifting in his cage, his tiny paws scratching at the bars, nose twitching as though

agitated.

He must’ve been fussing for a while. I just hadn’t noticed.

Kierygan followed my gaze, his brow furrowing. With a low groan, he stood and crossed the room,

unlatching the cage with a flick of his fingers.

The rabbit leapt out at once, bounding straight to the bed before curling up at my feet. He let out a

tiny sigh and nestled in, as if he too had just woken from a nightmare–and needed to be close.

A tired, shaky smile tugged at my lips as I shifted to make room for Kierygan. He sat beside me

without a word–silent, steady, watchful.

I closed my eyes, letting the sound of his breathing soothe me, the quiet weight of Nibbles curled

at my ankles grounding me in the present. The fear ebbed, fading into the background, leaving only

exhaustion behind.

This time, sleep came easily–deep and dreamless, pulling me into a quiet darkness where nothing could reach me.

My eyes fluttered open to the soft morning light spilling through the curtains. The space next to me was empty, but when I placed my hand there, it was still warm to the touch. A small, quiet ache spread through my chest, knowing he had stayed with me until morning, only leaving not too long

ago.

I exhaled shakily, letting the comfort of that thought settle me. Nibbles was already awake, grooming himself at the foot of the bed. He paused, nose twitching at me before continuing with his cleaning, as if nothing in the world could bother him today.

I swung my legs over the side of the bed, washed my face, changed, and gently lifted Nibbles back into his cage. Then I made my way down to the dining hall.

Kierygan wasn’t there.

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<Chapter 57. Dark Dreams and Dragon’s Promise

When I took my seat, Orryx, Evander, and Callum locked up in greeting.

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“Kierygan’s with Ulyanna this morning,” Orryx said. “But he doesn’t want you wandering off alone,

so you’re stuck with me.”

I nodded.

He gave a slight tilt of his head. “We’re training today,” he added. “Eat well.”

After breakfast, I returned to my room to change into my training clothes. Before leaving, I scooped up Nibbles from his little bed and cradled him gently against my chest.

As I stepped out of Kierygan’s wing, I noticed a guard fall into step behind me. I glanced over my shoulder–it was the same one who had escorted me to see Ashteryn in the infirmary the day

before. He didn’t speak and kept his distance, so I paid him no mind.

Outside, the sun was already bright, casting sharp shadows across the stone paths. At the training field, I set Nibbles down at the grassy edge, scratching behind his ears before straightening.

“Stay here, alright?” I whispered.

He twitched his nose at me in quiet reply.

I drew a deep breath, letting the crisp morning air fill my lungs. Then I started my laps, feet pounding softly against the earth.

I could run more now without stopping. It was a small victory, but one that filled me with a steady,

quiet determination.

Not only that–I could already spar with Orryx’s sword. I was used to the weight now. I could swing it, balance it, feel the motion flow through my arm. knew he was still holding back, but with each passing day, he pushed the training a little further.

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