𝚁𝚒𝚘𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗'𝚜 𝙶𝚒𝚛𝚕

Aodham stared at the wood of Fen's desk, eyes devoid of any emotion. Like a ghost. Fen was once his friend, but now he seemed like nothing but an enemy. Nothing but an obstacle. All the years of friendship gone in a blink of an eye.

"What are you saying, Riorson?" Aodham's voice was nothing but a hiss, spit flying from his lip at the force with which the word was said. Fen didn't flinch, despite how desperately Aodham wished he would. Gods, how he wanted him to flinch, to be scared. But Fen Riorson wasn't one to fear anything.

"When Xaden comes of age, he will need a wife. A queen. And I see no one better than Danielle."

Aodham could swear his ears were bleeding, they had to have been for Fen to be saying such things. Rage coiled in his stomach like a roaring flame, growing larger every minute. But he needed to remain calm.

"When would they get married?" The very idea made Aodham want to throttle the man, but he had to remain calm. Needed to.

"When they are both of age, I will not have Xaden be the only one of age when they marry as she would be fourteen when he turns eighteen. Once Danielle hits the age of eighteen, they will marry. As long as you agree, that is."

Aodhan took a deep breath, the rage in his stomach heating his blood. Nodding, Aodham quickly stood and took the pen offered by Fen. Quickly signing his name on the agreement, Aodham was quick to bid his farewell before storming from the office.

"You need to calm down-" Griahn was quickly cut off from Aodham's thoughts, slamming the iron door in his mind that led to their connection. If Griahn found out about his plans, the dragon would tell Uisge who would then tell Blair. He didn't need that to happen.

Because Xaden Riorson and his father need to die.

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Danielle giggled as she ran further into the woods, the little four-year-old quickly ducked behind a large tree, desperate to hide from her pursuer. The woods outside of the Riorson house were thick, thick enough that all three of her dragons could conceal themselves within it while they remained at the mansion.

The sound of footsteps had Danielle panicking on the inside, he could easily find her with her pale hair. Glancing up at the tree she hid beneath, Danielle's grey eyes caught onto a low hanging branch that she could easily get to with her small stature. Jumping, Danielle's small hands caught onto the branch enough to pull herself up. Once she regained her balance, Danielle scrambled up the tree, branch after branch. Once she reached a branch that was heavily concealed by leaves, she stopped.

It was just as she settled into the tree when Xaden's mop of black hair caught her eye. The eight-year-old glanced from side to side, stopping at the base of her tree to scan the forest for any sign of Danielle's silvery white hair. When he couldn't find her, Xaden quickly moved on further into the woods. Taking a deep breath, Danielle quickly scrambled down the tree as soon as Xaden's black hair disappeared from sight.

Her feet hit the ground with a soft thump, a quiet giggle passing her lips as she eyed the space Xaden was at before. No sign of the boy caused her glee to increase. He truly didn't find her.

"What's so funny?"

Danielle yelped, stumbling forward a few steps and whirling around to face Xaden, who leaned against the tree as casually as he could. Danielle pouted, "I thought you didn't find me!"

Xaden smirked, sharp teeth glinting behind his lips, "How could I not when with all that giggling." Danielle blinked, stunned. Had she-

Danielle's eyes narrowed, pouting once more. She truly didn't think he would have heard her...

Xaden grinned, stepping forward to slip his hand around her back. "C'mon shorty, its almost dinner time."

"I'm not short!"

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Dinnertime was one of Danielle's least favorite times, for many reasons. One of them being her father's coldness towards the Riorson family (thankfully he wasn't present), and the other being the emptiness in her head.

Leughadair, Solasoir, and Sgrionsmocaidh were always incredibly quiet during their hunting times, for reasons Danielle found useless.

"It's not useless, little one." Leughadair spoke up, his gruff voice scratching along the corners of her mind. Danielle pouted, mentally as to not make Mrs. Riorson upset as she stabbed a piece of steak with her fork.

"It's because you say I'm too young, but I'm not! I'm four!"

Leughadair huffed in her mind, an action that made Danielle almost giggle as she imagined thick smoke puffing out from his nostrils like she'd seen from a boar.

"You are too young to experience any form of violence, you are only four. We will not subject you to anything that will damper your spirit, Fyr Beag." To prove his point, Leughadair opened their connection a little wider, just enough that she could feel the fur against her lips and the coppery taste on her tongue. Danielle fought against the flinch that wrapped itself around her spine.

"Maybe you're right..."

Leughadair chuckled, the sound gruff like stone scraping against stone. "Always am, Fyr Beag."

When her mind quieted, Danielle shoved the piece of meat on her fork into her mouth, welcoming the piece of food like a best-friend. It was surely better than that disgusting coppery taste, even as brief as it was.

Danielle glanced up at Xaden, the eight-year-old also in the middle of chewing on a piece of boiled potato that accompanied the steak his mother had made.

Xaden, as if sensing her gaze, glanced up and met her grey eyes with his own, onyx locked on a stormy grey-silver. Xaden grinned, giving Danielle a full picture of the mashed potato behind his teeth. Danielle giggled, glancing back down at her plate to shove another piece of delicious steak in her mouth.

Hours had passed after the dinner with no sign of her father and not only was Blair concerned, but so was Danielle. The sun was sinking and still, there was no sign of Aodham Fyr.

Danielle was tucked into Xaden's side, head on his chest as she dozed off. Danielle was beyond tired, and Xaden was furious. Not only was he making Blair worry, but Danielle too, the tear streaks against her cheek making his anger heighten.

Xaden continued to run his hand through her silky hair like sand between his fingers. The little Fyr had long since fallen asleep, having cried herself to sleep.

Blair stopped her pacing long enough to regard her daughter and Xaden, who had just begun to drift off to sleep, both children content and safe in each other's arms.

It warmed her heart.

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Expected Next Update: Unknown, may take longer than usual.

Please be patient for the next update, and as always, have a good day! Hope you all liked this chapter as much as I loved writing it! The beginning I'm still not happy with, but eh 🤷‍♀️