Chapter 53

~Ryuu~

Ryuu shakes his hair as he returns from the sea with another shell in hand. He still went out to collect them for Calea. Even though his pride told him not to go near Paldania, he couldn't help himself. The waters were connected to both places. He noticed Calea had kept the shells he had given her and put them on a shelf in her room. His little minnow pretended not to like many things, but he saw through it.

 Ryuu observed everything Calea did, as he would at sea when he ambushed his prey. Ryuu flopped down, sitting on the sand and inspecting the shell. His chest suddenly ached, and he found it hard to breathe. He started coughing and coughed up water. His breath came back, but his body trembled.

Then he hears Calea's voice, but it's in his head. Ryuu stands erect. "Calea!" Was he going crazy? What was happening? Suddenly, an image flashes into his head of a hand reaching for the surface of the water. 

"Calea!" 

Ryuu dives into the waves, changing seamlessly into a Serpent beast; speeding through the water, he smells the coppery tang of blood. Ryuu lets out a shriek into the water and picks up the pace. From above, he sees a silhouette sinking into the depths, the reflection of blonde hair. He rushes forth and sees it is Calea, he nudges her with his head, and he takes her into his jaws swimming towards shore. He carries Calea's lifeless body onto shore, his heart aching. Ryuu drops to his knees, "Calea!" He grabs her head between his hands. "No, no, no," Ryuu says his hands shaking, he tries to get her to breathe and then sees the wound on her abdomen. Ryuu places his hand on her abdomen, healing the wound, he blows air into her lungs trying to make her breath again. 

"Please. Breath, Calea!" Ryuu screams. Calea stays lifeless; Ryuu lays his head on her chest, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have let you go…" Ryuu's tears flood down his cheeks as he sobs. Calea was the first female he ever laid eyes on and bonded with so strongly. Her soul yanked him in, and he fell hard despite her fighting him. He didn't care. Ryuu wanted her; he would have done anything for her. Now, his very soul felt like it was dying. "Please, don't take her yet. Give her back, I'll give you anything you want Kadea." He begs to no avail until he feels Calea's body jolts underneath him. He leans back on his heels and sees her jolt again; this time, she turns to her side and throws up water.

Ryuu shudders. She breathes in, giving life to her once-cold body. Ryuu grabs her into his arms. He feels Calea place her hands on his chest. He pulls back to look at her. Ryuu places his forehead on hers, tears streaming down his face. "You can't swim, my little minnow," he says in a bittersweet voice.

Calea's bottom lip trembles, but she smiles. "I knew you weren't far away from me. You never are, Ryuu," she says softly. Ryuu smiles down at her and places his forehead against her. Calea's hand goes to where the wound would be.

"You healed me." She places a hand on his cheek. "Thank You Ryuu–Mm!" Ryuu kisses her, his heart beats faster, and she melts into him, she kisses him back like she always did but this felt different, she openly received him. When he parts from her, his eyes glow. Calea chuckles, "I want to go home, Ryuu. Please."

Without hesitation, Ryuu picks her up, carries her bridal style, wraps her arms around his neck, and happily takes her back to where she belongs. 

****

Ryuu could feel his father's hot gaze. He knew his pride wasn't fond of Calea, but she was his, and he wasn't rejecting her. His mother and Calea held each other in tears in their reunion. Ryuu could feel the presence of Aneth behind him. Ryuu lowered his head as Aneth came in front of him.

"Where did you find her?" Aneth asks. His voice is unwavering but not aggressive. Ryuu preferred Aneth as a leader over his father or Nye. Aneth wasn't quick to anger so much as the others were. "Shoreline, close to Paldania." Ryuu could hear his father's destain in his low growl. Ryuu turns to his father, "Calea is mine, as a mother is yours," Ryuu locks eyes with his father, a daring move. Koa walks up to him, "She is not us. The witch does not know our ways." 

Ryuu's chest burns with defiance. "You do not give her a chance. You hate, like Nye–" Koa roars in Ryuu's face and steps back. "Do not compare me to a fire-breather," his father says through his teeth. Ryuu turns his head away from his father. 

"I can learn." Calea's voice grabs both of their attention, especially Ryuus'. Calea is wrapped in a warm fur blanket, and his mother's arm is over her shoulder.

 "Calea," his mother says softly, "I'm not going to lie to you and tell you their way of life is all rainbows and stars. It's rough. But you are, too. If anyone was to be with Ryuu, I'm glad it's you." His mother's warm smile made his chest ache in a good way. His father, however, growled in disapproval, and his mother pointed an angry finger at Koa. 

"Knock it off, or I'll throw my heel at your head!" Kamari snaps. Would you rather some stranger be with Ryuu, someone we barely know? Calea is perfect for this. You know her, even if you don't like her origin. Has she not always had the best intentions, especially when it came to me?" Ryuu watches as his father's eye twitches; Koa groans and turns his back. Ryuu watches his mother interact with her spouses.

 "Aneth, you have to see reason in this," his mother gazes at Aneth, who stands close to her. 

"Are you asking for her to be part of our pride?" Aneth asks while Ryuu can see Nye seething in the corner. Ryuu tries to hide his smile and presses his lips.

"Yes?" His mother says with a weary look on her face. "She said she wants to learn; we can teach her and see how it goes?"

Ryuu watches in anticipation of Aneth's answer. Aneth looks at Calea for a moment, then sighs heavily. "Ryuu has already bonded to you. But, it would be best if you learned our ways. My brothers will not be friendly towards you, so I suggest you don't try to make peace with them. If they choose to accept you, that is on their terms." Ryuu smiles, he races up Aneth, who looks at him with a taunt look on his face.

Aneth places his forehead against Ryuu's, then says, "Don't make me regret this."