A Wolf's Howl, A Fairy's Wing

"I… must be…" Erik groaned. His heart was pounding, his legs were quaking, and sweat poured down his back. He was doing everything he could to stay standing under the mountain of pressure Daelion was burying him under, even knowing this was likely just a fraction of the true power this blood dragon could bring to bear.

The only place he felt nothing was the small spot on his right shoulder where Morganae was still sitting, unbothered by what was happening.

But before the pressure became too much, Elora disentangled herself from her father's arms, crossed her own in front of her chest, and narrowed her eyes as she floated in front of him at eye-height. "Be nice, Dad!" she complained.

Immediately, the pressure was lifted and Erik gasped for breath as he staggered. Irritation rose at being treated like this, but he quickly suppressed it again. He had no idea how he'd handle meeting his own daughter's lover, but he couldn't imagine it'd be much better.

"Hehe, sorry, little Whisp," he chuckled warmly at Elora, while scratching the hair on his head awkwardly.

He turned back to Erik and smiled with genuine warmth. "Just a small test, Erik. Please don't pay it any mind. Since my daughter and Mistress have already approved of you, what else can I say? Hahaha!" His laugh was carefree and filled with jovial mirth as it rumbled through the massive space.

Erik blinked and wondered if that was a reverence to the fact this massive, powerful dragon in human form was actually the submissive party between these two tiny fairies. He actually wasn't entirely sure how the realization worked exactly. He couldn't imagine having a wife who was also his slave.

Several years later, he'd think back to this moment and smirk as he enjoyed some time with Emily…

His thoughts were interrupted by the large hand Daelion stuck out towards him. "Let me greet you properly! My name is Daelion, and so long as you make my daughter happy, you and I will get along just fine!"

His body was still in recovery from being nearly crushed, but he quickly forced himself to move and grasp Daelion's hand with stern confidence. "My name is Erik. It's an honor to meet Elora's father."

"Hehe, good," Daelion chuckled as he shook Erik's hand. "I will admit, you've nailed your first impression, Erik. I expected you to be more terrified."

Erik, for all the danger he had faced, couldn't quite suppress a wry grin. "I figured showing fear wouldn't help my case."

A booming chuckle rumbled from the dragon. "Smart man. You'll need that." He clapped Erik on the shoulder with enough force to make him stumble forward a step. "Now, let's get on with this. I didn't risk sneaking in here just to watch you stand around."

Elora rolled her eyes at her father's antics but smiled nonetheless. At the same time, Morganae fluttered from Erik's shoulder and enlarged herself to human size, before taking a seat on Daelion's shoulder instead. His large form just about managed to accommodate her.

"Daelion is right," she said calmly, one arm resting on her protector's head in a gesture that seemed both domineering and loving. "We can't stay for long."

With both of their encouragement, Erik and Elora glanced at each other and smiled. They stepped up to the altar, where they held hands and looked at each other. At this point, however, Elora looked a little uncertain. "Normally, this is where we'd recite the Obsidian Vow, but… since it's aimed at a mistress and her slave, it doesn't really apply to us."

Erik shrugged with a warm grin. "It's not like anything else we've done so far is exactly tradition, right? Why don't we just make our own vows?"

Elora nodded with a hint of relief. "In that case, let me begin…" she muttered softly, before falling into silent thought. Her audience waited patiently.

Finally, she looked up at Erik with a warm smile. "I didn't expect this would happen, you know? I never even thought about what I'd say…"

She fell silent again, before continuing, as a mischievous smirk made its way to her lips. "We started off as a partnership of convenience. You wanted to live, and I wanted a protector who I could push into becoming a conqueror. Of course, I figured we'd end up in an intimate relationship, but… the concept of love was beyond me at the time."

Her smile became more genuine, her emerald eyes shining with love. "I'm glad you changed my mind. And even happier that you love me back, despite all the schemes I've put you through, and the manipulations at your expense…"

Erik shook his head and parted his lips to say he'd already forgiven her, when Elora did something shocking.

She pulled back her hands and took out a sigil stone, while looking at him with determination. "But Erik, I am who I am. I can promise to never leave you out of my plans again, but I might backslide one day… Maybe, in a lapse of judgement, I'll think it's better to keep you in the dark, and I don't want that.."

"What are you doing…?" Erik and Daelion asked her at the same time, while Morganae frowned and focused on the sigil stone.

"I'm making a vow of my own, and making sure I can keep it!" she exclaimed with a determined expression, while wrapping one hand around the stone, and placing the other on her chest. Suddenly, her hands flashed and Morganae's eyes widened. "Wait!"

But it was too late. Two magic circles appeared, one sinking into the sigil stone, and the other into Elora's chest. Elora staggered and her face paled as she spat out a mouthful of blood. "Elora!" Erik cried out as he stepped forward to grasp her, just as she started to stumble.

"What the hell just happened?!" Daelion roared and took a step forward, furious. But a single word stopped him.

"Hold!" Morganae grumbled with a hint of irritation, and Daelion could only obey his mistress, as their bond demanded. "Our little girl is being an idiot, but… that's her choice to make. It's nothing major, anyway."

"Explain!" Daelion demanded in a surprisingly defiant tone, at least to those aware of their relationship.

Fortunately, Morganae didn't mind and started to explain, while Erik asked Elora the same question.

"What did you just do…?" he asked with concern.