Claimed By A Dragon Prince-Chapter 73: Next Leg of the Journey

Waking up the next morning, the two knew they had to continue with their journey. Lily packed her bag, making sure she had enough to continue on. While it shouldn’t take more than a day or two of traveling, finding the actual source of the toxin was the real problem. Hopefully, with the help of her powers, she can track down what’s really causing all this death and destruction. Hair up, boots on, corset cinched, and jacket on, Lily was ready to take on the next part of this journey.

Dimitri watched his mate get ready as he finished seeing just how meticulous she was with her pack. It was innate the way she organized everything and made sure it was in the right place. "I think you have everything. Come on, we still have a ways to go." He extended his hand to her, helping her to stand as she picked up her pack, which he swiftly took from her.

She was about to say something when the look on his face shut her up quick. Walking out the room down to the main hall where the entrance was the crowd that greeted them was shocking. Everyone from the village was lined up along the walls going outside to an open field for them. Then as the two of them approached they began to bow as they passed by.

The village Elder stood at the end, waiting for them at the open field. "We are ever so greatful for how you saved our village. This is our way of showing our gratitude, please accept this as thanks for your efforts." The old wolf had her an old scroll and a small package wrapped tightly. "Thank you. We gladly accept. If you need anything else, please send word to the Dragon King."

The Elder bowed to them as they made their way to the middle of the field. "Ready?" Dimitri asks as she turns to him, smiles, and leans up to kiss him. "And steady." Pulling back, she takes his robe, grabbing his neck as he begins his change. She held on as she shifted, feeling the horn she usually held on to growing under her hand. Once large enough, she grips it, swinging herself up on his back just as he hands up the pack he took from her.

Lily settled in, securing it on his back as Dimitri extended his wings out, testing the wind. *Let’s go.* Lily spoke through their mind link as he leaped into the air, flying higher. The crowd erupted into applause and cheer as they flew around, then off to the West.

After seeing what happened to the people of the village they saved, Lily was more determined then ever to find the source of the toxin and destroy it. With the amount of lives its already taken it should have been handled sooner, but no one paid attention to the needs of the poor. Royals were always forgetting the little guy that feeds them.

Looking at the farmlands as they pass she could already see a change in the ground from the little bit she did heal. The other farmers were adding the amendments and hopefully on their return journey home a real improvement will have taken effect.

Dimitri had seen just home to Wolf Clan treated their people and it was as he had suspected. He always hoped he was wrong, but with they way they treat Lily and how they always pass the buck on a task it shouldn’t surprise him at all. With the aid he left behind and the soldiers to protect them he was sure they would thrive better now. Especially with the changes in the soil Lily made.

Just from the one farm she healed a farmer and his family are able to eat and survive the winter. Lily was magnificent in the way she healed the ground the energy flying around her showed him just how much she cared for people. Her capacity for love was eminence and he need to guard her so that heart wouldn’t be shattered by awful people like the Wolf Clan Royalty.

Now that they were on their way again Dimitri had to stay vigilant since the Wolf King was still after her. There was still something that bothered him and that was the unanswered question he had about her uncle. What is his real purpose for taking her. Because from what he could tell the god had everything and all the power he could need to rule. But that didn’t satisfy him causing Lily’s life to be in constant turmoil.

After he makes her queen of the Dragon Clan no one would ever be able to take her again. The people were finding out the kind of person she is and with the public events they appeared together at, they should be singing a different tune upon their return. *It was good we stopped. Hopefully there won’t be anymore trouble.*

Lily leaned into his neck rubbing his chest before she answered him. *I hope so. Those people deserve a chance at peace.* He agreed as they had far to many hardships for such a small village. The farewell they did surprised and humbled Dimitri, reminding him that no matter how big or small the help other do appropriate it.

They traveled the whole day reaching a few miles past the edge of the forbidden territory just before night fall. The closer they got to the territory the worse the land looked. I was shocking to see and very little life was seen. The ground was black as if burnt and the trees withered like the life was sucked out of them. *I can’t believe its this bad. I don’t know if we’ll be able to stay long enough to collect samples.*

Dimitri heard her concern and seeing fro himself just how bad it could get. He thought what was happening back home was bad. Sasha suddenly showed up chiming next to Lily in delight. *I wonder if she has been here before.* Lily told Dimitri as Sasha leaned to the right. Curious about where she wanted to go Lily tapped Dimitri’s shoulder indicating for him to follow her. They went another 20 miles in where a waterfall once sat.

They landed just next to it since there was enough space for Dimitri to land. Lily slide down as he shift handing him his robe and boots. The place was desolate and barren with nothing left of life. Sasha sat on a boulder near what used to be a spring. Walking over Lily could feel and evil presence one she had never felt before. Grabbing Dimitri she stopped him from walking forward. "Wait. This might be more then we realize."

Lily summoned her swords needing the light and steel in her hands. giving him one the approached cautiously waiting to see if a reactions or attack would happen. Moving up to the edge they looked down to see a black rock like substance sitting at the bottom. "What the hell?..." She had no idea what the hell this thing was or how it even came to be there.

Turning to Dimitri he had a ghostly look on his face almost as if he was going to be sick. "Hey are you okay?" Dimitri stepped back moving away from the dried up spring almost like he was about to run from it. " It can’t be....." Was all he said before charging the sword to strike it. "Wait! What are you doing?! You don’t even know if that’ll work!"

The way he was looking at that spring was like he was trying to get rid of a bad memory. Thinking fast she moved in front of him taking a defensive stance. "Move. Now."

"No! Not until you tell me what that thing is and why you want it gone so badly. You owe me that." She kept her defensive stance until he lowered his guard, letting the tip of the sword hit the ground. "Something I didn’t know would be a problem. Mother said she disposed of it, but never said where."

Now Lily was really concerned about what was that thing was. It took Dimitri a moment to find the words to tell her and it pained him to do so. "It can’t be that bad. Is it yours? Was it something you experimented with?" He shook his head no to the second question, but didn’t do anything for the first.

Lily went to look at the rock like object again noticing the chips of it sitting around it. It almost looked smooth but fragile. Taking a breath Dimitri summons the courage to tell him a dark truth he never thought to tell anyone. "Please don’t hate my mother. She had no idea this would happen or what to do about it." frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

"Just tell me. Please." Lily pleaded with him for the truth. "It’s been a well kept secret since only three people know, now four. That is the what remains of my twin brother, shell and all." The shocked look on Lily’s face said it all. "Your what...?" "