A few hours later, the camp had quieted, save for the distant hum of mages working to reinforce wards, and the occasional low murmur of soldiers catching rest between waves of chaos. A steady breeze carried the scent of ash and pine, curling around the queen's tent like a protective shroud.
Fin was walking towards his tent, finally going to be able to do what he'd been craving since he woke up. It was well past midnight and a few hours since the battle had ended. Nova was still passed out, but stable. While checking on his officers, captains, lieutenants, and troops, he ran into a few Alphas in passing. He realized he'd need to do some damage control tomorrow with why Nova was here without him. As he made his way to the tent, he saw a giant gold dragon running. It was Onyx. Fin wrinkled his nose.
Xeon: Are you jealous of a dragon?
Fin didn't answer.
And then he realized, gods help him, Onyx was playing fetch.
"Good boy," Cael cooed, crouched low with a massive charred log in both arms like it was a stick. "You're such a good boy, yes you are!"
Onyx, crouched on his belly like an overgrown pup, wagged his tail—not that little flicker of movement, but a swish that knocked over two training dummies and made the tents nearby rattle.
Jax grinned, tossing another chunk of broken siege timber toward the open field. "Good boy Onyx!"
Onyx leapt after the log—graceful and stupidly fast—claws barely brushing the ground. He pounced, slid, and came back. He held the log in his mouth and his tail wagged behind him showing off a prize. He pranced back to Cael.
Cael clapped his hands. "Look at that! You are the best big dragon in all the lands, yes you are, aren't you?" he said in a ridiculous voice that made Jax chuckle and Fin shake his head in disbelief.
"What is happening right now?" Fin muttered.
"You jealous of a dragon?" Jax said grinning. He folded his arms and leaned beside him.
"No." Fin replied sharply and a little too quickly.
"Onyx… Sit." Cael said, holding up a smoked ration like a treat. Onyx sat. "Good boy! Can you rollover?" Onyx rolled over. "Good boy Onyx!" Cael said tossing him a treat.
Jax grinned and grabbed another. "What a very good boy!"
Onyx thudded down beside Jax and opened his mouth just enough for Jax to toss it in. Then, as if expecting more praise, the dragon bunted Jax's shoulder with his snout—gently, but enough to make Jax stumble and laugh.
Cael grinned. "He likes you."
"He's such a smart boy! He deserves all the treats in the world." Jax said proudly, dusting off his hands.
Fin stared for a long moment, then rubbed his face. "I don't know what's more terrifying… that dragon during battle or watching you two now."
"Don't tell him that," Cael whispered with mock seriousness. "He's very sensitive."
Onyx growled softly, clearly aware he was being talked about. Looked at Fin, narrowed his eyes and huffed. He turned his back to Fin.
Cael turned toward Onyx. "Do not worry, Onyx. Fin is just grumpy. Is that right, my enormous sky-lizard overlord?"
Onyx huffed, a curl of smoke slipping from his nostrils, then settled back down beside the tent. His wings folded neatly against his body, his head angling toward the flap as if standing watch.
Jax nudged Fin with his shoulder. "I think we might be taking a dragon back with us. He will not leave Nova's side. Rex says he has chosen her."
Fin looked to the dragon.
Onyx cracked one eye open, met Fin's stare, then closed it again the instant he realised he had been caught watching.
Fin reached for a treat.
Onyx sat up immediately, attention sharp, posture perfect.
Fin glanced at the morsel, then deliberately moved it to the right. Onyx's head followed. To the left. Same result.
"Here," Fin said.
He tossed it high. Onyx leapt, jaws snapping shut around it midair. His tail wagged hard enough to knock over two training dummies behind him.
"Good boy, Onyx," Cael called in a ridiculous voice.
Fin did not smile. He turned and went back into the tent.
Inside, he stopped short.
Nova lay tense, discomfort etched across her face. Fin's expression darkened at once, the humor of moments ago gone as if it had never existed.
Fin had left her in her training suit just in case Elias or Aeron needed to look at her again. He didn't have those silk shorts and tank top that would have been perfect.
She was drenched again in sweat, despite the cold.
"Let's get you out of this." He said.
He unzipped her training suit and peeled it off her. He noticed her dagger on her thigh, under her training suit.
Fin shook his head at how adorable she was, a low laugh slipping out despite himself. Even in a bad mood, she did this to him..
"You realize," he murmured, fingers brushing the strap, "you made this dagger impossible to reach."
She was wearing a sports bra and matching thong. Fin breath hitched per usual. He couldn't help but admire how beautiful she was. Her scent was even more intoxicating than normal, which was saying something.
He grabbed a wet cloth from the basin and put it on her forehead and neck. The expression on her face softened.
He kissed her on the lips. Even with the expectation that the shock would be stronger, he jolted the moment their lips met.
Fin pulled her on top of him, and put a blanket over them both, nuzzling into her.
"Gods I love you so much." He whispered in her ear.
He dozed off to sleep, arms wrapped tightly around her.