Redmoon exhaled slowly, staring into the fire for a long moment before speaking.
"There's never going to be a good time for this conversation," he began, his voice even but weighted.
"And I want to be clear—I'm not here to tell you how to run your pack. Your decisions are yours. But there are things I think you should know. And I hope you've seen by now that you can trust us."
Fin nodded once, his expression steady. "You saved Nova's life more than once and fought alongside us." He paused. "As far as I'm concerned, you're our strongest ally."
Redmoon inclined his head slightly. "We appreciate that, Fin. Truly." He glanced toward Hyran, who remained silent, watching him closely. Then Redmoon continued, his tone shifting—calmer, lower. "The first thing you ought to know about Redmoon is this—we don't judge as quickly as others do. Not just of magic, but we are more accepting to other ways of life."
"Dragons can have different riders," Redmoon said, his voice steady, measured, the kind of tone that carried both warning and truth. "But a bond—an actual bond—with a dragon is something else entirely. When it happens, the rider's soul and the dragon's soul intertwine. It's not just empathy or instinct. The dragon can read your mind. It knows your thoughts, your fears, your desires. There's no wall between you once that bond is sealed."
He paused, glancing at Fin. "Onyx bonded to Nova immediately. The moment they met, it was like watching two halves of the same soul recognize each other. The reaction was identical to that of a fated pair scenting one another for the first time. And with dragons, that kind of connection is beyond rare—rarer than finding a fated mate."
Fin stayed silent, every muscle tense, his jaw flexing slightly.
"The bond makes the rider exponentially more powerful," Redmoon continued. "They don't just command their dragon—they become a part of it. Every movement, every breath, every strike is one. Those are the most formidable riders to ever exist."
He drew a slow breath, his eyes flicking toward Hyran before returning to Fin. "But here's the part you need to understand. A dragon doesn't bond to more than one rider—ever. Unless the souls of those two riders are already connected."
Fin's eyes narrowed slightly, the faintest flicker of unease crossing his face.
"I've known of only one other dragon in my lifetime that shared such a dual bond," Redmoon said quietly. "But I saw it happen for a second time with my own eyes last week." He hesitated, just long enough to let the weight of his words settle. "Onyx is bonded to Rex. The connection is real. They can feel each other—their emotions, their instincts—the same way mates can."
Fin swallowed hard, his throat tightening as he processed what Redmoon had said. The fire popped in the silence that followed, the sound sharp against the weight of what he'd just learned.
Hyran stepped closer, his tone calm but deliberate. "A Dragonrider bond isn't like a matebond," he began. "It doesn't have to be romantic. Rex will one day find his own mate, but his connection to Nova—and to Onyx—will remain. If Nova weren't mated to you, she and Rex would still be bonded through the dragon. It would make them natural allies, even friends, but romance would only come with time and choice. That's the difference—fate doesn't dictate it."
He paused, watching Fin carefully. "Somewhere in Nova's bloodline, one of her ancestors must have been a descendant of the First Dragon King. Dragonbonding only manifests in those with certain blood lines, known as the dragon born lineage. That's why Onyx chose her and why Rex was able to connect to him as well. I hope that gives you some clarity."
Fin exhaled slowly, nodding once. "I understand." His voice was even. Deep down, he'd already pieced most of it together.
Hyran continued, his tone lowering. "There's something else. The blood of Rex, the blood of Jax, and your blood—all of them matched Nova's perfectly. My theory is that Jax would have been her fated mate, had destiny not tied her to you first. Your bond is older. Deeper. It's the kind that's carved into the soul long before birth."
Fin sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yes," he said quietly. "I've been told that before—from more than one source."
Hyran nodded once, then lifted his gaze to Fin. "When I pulled the dark magic out of Nova," he said, choosing his words with care, "I felt her soul. The severing with Jax… it's hurting her more than she realizes. Her soul is tied to yours now, as it should be—but the break hasn't healed. The wound is still open. It's draining her strength. Her wolf's as well." He paused. "Has she fallen ill after using magic?"
The color bled from Fin's face.
"Yes," he whispered.
Hyran's expression softened, though his tone stayed grim. "It is rare. Something not seen unless love is in the purest form, at the soul level. Only in the deepest fated bonds." He held Fin's gaze, steady and unflinching.
"You are her true fated bond. But the severing with Jax is still bleeding. It's draining life from her, and if it doesn't mend…She will die."
Fin took a steadying breath, trying to ease the knot in his chest. It felt like being punched in the gut—hard—but somewhere deep down, he'd already known she wasn't okay. He just hoped that time, love, and patience would heal what fate had broken.
Redmoon's tone softened. "She's with you, Fin. She loves you. There's no question about that. Her loyalty isn't divided."
Fin nodded, staring into the fire. "So what am I supposed to do with that?" he muttered, rubbing a hand over his face.
"That," Redmoon said, "is up to you."
He paused, leaning back in his chair. "But I've been around a long time, and I can tell you this much—you love her as deeply as it comes. The whole damn continent sees it."
Hyran spoke next, his voice calm, deliberate. "You could sever the bond," he said carefully. "You're less than two weeks in. If you chose to end it, no one would blame you. Though…" He hesitated, glancing at Redmoon. "I'd imagine you'd regret it for the rest of your life. And it would hurt her much worse than she is now. It'd likely kill her."
Fin's eyes snapped up, sharp and fierce. "I'm never severing the bond with her. Never," he said, his voice breaking but his conviction absolute. "She's my wife. My queen. My world. I love her with everything I have, and I'm not going anywhere."
Redmoon's mouth tugged into a grin. "Good. Because Onyx would kick your ass if you did."
Despite himself, Fin let out a quiet snort. "Onyx has wanted to kick my ass since the moment we met."
Redmoon chuckled, the brief flicker of humor lightening the heavy air for just a heartbeat before he turned serious again. "We need to get back to that camp. Do you want me to inform the council that the queen has fallen ill?"
Fin thought for a moment, staring into the fire. "It's Meredith," he said finally. "I'm sure of it. But someone had to have been inside the camp to slip that into our tent."
"Agreed," Redmoon said. "Even with a portal, someone had to be aware of where your tent was and aware of what she drinks. We have four armies stationed there from traitor packs."
"I don't want her going back there," Fin said firmly. "Not unless it's for a council meeting. But even then… we'll need to move camp soon. We've stayed too long, and we've already been ambushed once."
Redmoon nodded. "Leave that to me. Go take care of your mate. We'll handle the council and alert you if you're needed."
Fin stood, exhausted but resolute. He looked at both men, sincerity written in his face and tone. "Thank you. Both of you."
Redmoon gave a small nod of respect. "Take care of her, Fin."