The Tiger Within 377 Falling

Ivory felt the weight shift and roared in pain as she couldn't change her directory to rescue her princess. She could only fly on as the shadows prevented her from changing course. Ivory continued to roar in distress praying someone would hear her cries of desperation. There was so much fear in her heart.

Kyera relaxed, letting herself fall through the air. It was such a strange sensation of the air around her body, and through her hair. It was liberating, but also a bit saddening as her mind tried to recall every detail of Clovis's face, his smile, his touch. She knew there was a small chance she would survive if she relaxed. The Shadows could catch her if she let them react on their own, but if they failed she wanted her last memories to be of those she had come to love.

Her body rotated in the air, her back slowly coming to spread in the air, her legs and arms open as she focused the shadows under her body, starting to build the cushion she would be relying on to land. Her focus was rewarded by swirls of shadow creating the protective barrier around her body, slowing her decent. Just as she took a breath expecting to crash into the earth… she hit something.

Something warm and hard caught under her knees and behind her shoulders as she fell. Her eyes were closed tight but instinct took over as she threw her arms around his neck gripping tight so not to fall. Her first thought was Clovis, but as she came to her senses the smell was different… warm and dark, a smell of musk and fire and ethereal magic seemed to wash over her and erase all her fears and emotions. Everything that had seemed to build suddenly dissipated, safety. That was all she could really sense.

Kyera opened her eyes and looked up at her savior and stared up in shock. A sharp jaw line and jade like skin shadowed by the moonlight pouring over his face and chiseled nose. There was a darkness in his eyes that seemed to glow from deep within, a soft smile on his thin lips. His black hair was pulled back by the wind dancing in the rush as he brought the fall to a stand still. They had stopped moving, but she hardly realized this as her eyes took in everything about him. From his eyes and expression to the feeling he sent through her.

Slowly, the man turned his head to look into her eyes. There was a tenderness in those black eyes, a single strand of hair flowing in his shadowy powers in front of his face. His lips slowly turned into a warm smile as he held her close to him. "h.e.l.lo, Kyera, love." His voice was like a blast from the past, her eyes filling with tears as disbelief washed over her.

So many years… so much time had pa.s.sed. That place beyond the portal, the steps, the marble fortress the shadows. Her brothers, their mother and him. Standing on that plane of existence. Running into his arms and always finding them open and ready for her. Holding her close and greeting her with a joyous laugh and rea.s.suring warmth. Was it real?

She reached up and gently caressed his cheek, he leaned into her touch, tears in his own eyes as he looked down at her. "I would appreciate it, if you quit trying to join me." He whispered and a chuckle was surprised from Kyera's lips. She hugged him tight.

"Daddy." She whispered into his neck and he smiled letting her feet go and wrapping both arms around her holding her close, one hand in her hair and the other around her waist.