Chapter 6 {Alohi's POV}:

 I left the breakfast hall, leaving Sage and her fairy behind, and headed straight for the teleportation tree. The energy around it buzzed, swirling as I focused on my destination—Elysion Spire, the place where the gods and their workers gathered. Once I arrived, I dropped my pet companion off in my office. No need for him to get caught up in the chaos today.

As soon as I stepped out, I almost tripped over my own feet. There he was—Xenos—looking like he'd gone to war with a bottle of whatever dragons drink. His eyes were bloodshot, his hair a disaster, and he looked like he hadn't seen a bed in days.

"Good morning," I said, unable to stop the smirk. "Not exactly your best look, Xenos. 'Drunk dragon chic' isn't going to fly with the gods. Or are you testing a new vibe?"

He snapped at me, like I knew he would. "Don't push me, Alohi. I hate the gods." His voice was sharp enough to cut through stone. "Writing that idiotic letter about her fainting—it was excruciating."

That hit a nerve. My smirk dropped, and I shot back, "I get it, you're cursed, but don't you dare pin your misery on her—or on me, for that matter. Just because her grandfather's a god doesn't mean she's your punching bag."

We bickered all the way down the halls, our voices bouncing off the grand marble walls. By the time we reached the reunion hall, I could feel the heat of my anger settling just under my skin. Inside, we found Citrus and Cyra—the two most arrogant, flame-touched twins you'll ever meet. Descendants of the god of fire and obnoxious to match. There was also the heir of Lux, prince Cynfael. He had silver-blond hair that fell just past his shoulders, always perfectly in place as if the wind itself respected him too much to mess it up. His light blue eyes, almost crystalline, glowed with a kind of warmth that seemed impossible for someone descended from the god of light. His skin was smooth and flawless, with a golden hue that hinted at his divine lineage. He stood tall, with a graceful posture that made him look every bit the prince he was, his lean build carrying an air of both strength and elegance. Even in the simplest clothes, he had this natural shine, like the light just gravitated toward him.

Citrus looked me up and down and immediately snickered. "Oh look, it's the giantess with no brain. How's the weather up there, Alohi?"

I rolled my eyes. His sister, Cyra, laughed along, but before it got too loud, Xenos shot her a death stare that shut her up faster than you could snap your fingers. Even those two knew better than to push him when he was in this kind of mood. Maybe they weren't as stupid as they looked.

Before Xenos could snap back at Citrus or Cyra, Cynfael stepped forward. His calm presence was like a wave of cool air cutting through the tension. "Alright, let's not start the day with insults, please," he said, voice smooth and unbothered. He flashed a disarming smile in my direction before turning to the twins. "There's no need to poke fun at each other. We have enough to deal with."

I didn't say anything, but I appreciated the gesture. Cynfael always had a way of making things less unbearable, even in a room full of gods and their half-baked drama.

A few moments later, the doors to the hall creaked open, and in walked Smokey—Sage's grandfather, the god of smoke and secrets, he once ruled over fire when the god of fire himself couldn't do the work, that's how much aura he has. He was tall, with an air of mystery about him, and wherever he walked, the room filled with a faint smell of burning incense. Everyone quieted down as he stepped forward, his eyes scanning the room.

"I have news," Smokey began, his voice deep and authoritative. "The chosen one has finally come, as prophesized. My granddaughter, Sage, has arrived in this realm." He smiled proudly, and for a second, I felt a small pang of pride, too. "And this is thanks, in part, to Alohi here."

I blinked, caught off guard that he mentioned me first. But as he continued, there was a glaring omission. He hadn't mentioned Xenos. I saw Xenos tense up beside me, his fists clenching slightly, but to his credit, he didn't say a word. I knew he hated Smokey and the gods, but this… this hit a nerve.

Then Smokey's expression darkened, his tone shifting. "However, I was informed that my granddaughter fainted, which is unacceptable. Xenos," he snapped, his eyes locking onto the dragon. "You're supposed to protect her. Care to explain why she was left so vulnerable?"

He practically barked the words, and I could feel the heat in the room rise. But Xenos didn't explode. Instead, he calmly pulled out the letter and handed it over to Smokey. "Here's the report," he said, his voice cold and distant, though I could sense the rage simmering beneath the surface.

I couldn't stand by and watch him take all the blame. Standing up, I interrupted before Smokey could yell more. "Sage fainted because of the scent of the Brugmansia flower. It wasn't Xenos' fault. I was there. It was just an accident."

Smokey narrowed his eyes at me for a moment, then sighed. "Fine. I'll let it pass this time." But the warning in his voice was clear.

Cynfael, always the mediator, jumped in with a question. "Where will Sage be staying while she's here? We need to ensure her safety."

Smokey looked thoughtful for a moment, stroking his beard. But before he could answer, Citrus leaped to his feet, a smug grin on his face. "I know! She should stay at Xenos' tavern. It's the safest place, isn't it?"

The room went quiet for a second, and I could feel Xenos' anger spiking. I knew what this meant for him. If Sage stayed with him, it would only complicate things, but he couldn't refuse. Not without facing the wrath of the gods.

Cynfael, ever the diplomat, turned to Smokey. "What do you think about that idea?"

To my surprise, Smokey actually nodded. "That works. Xenos will ensure her protection."

I could feel the heat radiating off Xenos. His blood was boiling, and I could see the muscles in his jaw clench. But there was no way he could protest. If he disagreed, the punishment would be far worse than the burden of looking after Sage.

Smokey approached Xenos, handing him a letter for the school. Then, he leaned in close, whispering something in Xenos' ear that made his eyes narrow dangerously. I didn't have to hear it to know it was a threat—something about what would happen if anything happened to Sage under his watch.

After the meeting, Citrus couldn't resist getting in a few more jabs. "Looks like the great Xenos is stuck babysitting," he snickered, clearly enjoying every second of Xenos' discomfort.

I saw Xenos' eyes flash with anger, and I knew he was seconds away from tearing Citrus apart. Before he could move, I leaped at Citrus, my fist connecting with his jaw in a satisfying crack. "Shut up before you lose more than your dignity," I hissed.

Citrus stumbled back, rubbing his face, and for once, Cyra stayed quiet.

Xenos and I left Elysion Spire together, both of us fuming but knowing that this was far from over. For better or worse, Sage was now his responsibility. And despite everything, I couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him. He never asked for any of this.

As we walked through the forest, the tension between Xenos and me hung in the air like a storm waiting to break. Neither of us said much, the weight of everything that had happened at Elysion Spire still fresh. I could tell he was barely holding it together—his jaw clenched, his steps heavy.

Then, without a word, he stopped. I watched as his form began to shift, bones cracking, scales spreading across his skin. In moments, Xenos had fully transformed into his dragon form—massive, powerful, and undeniably terrifying. He didn't even glance back at me before launching himself into the sky, his wings cutting through the air as he flew off toward his tavern, leaving me grounded, alone, with only the wind and the trees for company.

I sighed, watching him disappear into the clouds. I guess we'd see each other again soon enough. But for now, it was just me, the quiet of the forest and my snake companion.