Page 34 of Fallen Star

Overhead the sound of flapping distracts us as a giant dragon descends from the above and lands near the fountain before us. Upon the dragon are a man and woman, both wearing crowns and dressed in silver and red.

"Oh, I should have said, I called for backup," Iris says, smiling, as the two slide off the magnificent beast and walk towards us.

"You might want to curtsy," Iris whispers, doing her best to take her own advice.

I mimic her movements and see Dean bowing deeply. "Your Majesties, it's an honor to see you again after so long."

The woman smiles, her eyes as dark as her hair, her skin pale. "Please, let us not stand on formalities. We received word our help was needed, that a Fallen Star of Nirandel was in danger. But I see the Star is safe."

She looks at me with a knowing gaze. "I am Queen Sky, ruler of these lands. This is my husband, King Kaden. And you are the Fallen Star of Nirandel."

"I am," I say. "My name is Alex."

She dips her head in acknowledgment. "It is an honor to meet a Star in person. They are so very rare in recent history. Now, Alex, how may we be of service?"

Dean steps forward. "We're sorry to have disturbed you, but it seems the crisis is over. We will be taking my brother back to the Black Lotus for his sentencing."

The queen nods. "I was once from your world," she says to me. "And I too was thrust into another world, into powers I didn't understand, into a life that was new. Know that you have allies in us. This is your world, more than it is mine, even."

"Thank you," I say. "But I do have one request." I hold up the egg. "This can only be destroyed by dragon fire. Would your dragon be willing to destroy it?"

She raises an eyebrow at that. "What you ask comes with a price. Do you understand?"

I nod. "I do. I'm willing to pay it."

"Whoa, wait a minute. What price?" Dean asks, stepping towards me.

"It's nothing. It's fine. This power can't exist. It's too dangerous. Too easily abused. This must be done."

"But you'll be fine, right?"

I share a glance with the queen, then return my gaze to him. "Yes, I'll be fine."

"Alex, what's the price?"

I touch his cheek and kiss him softly on the lips. "Nothing you yourself wouldn't pay if you had to."

With that, I step away from him.

The queen lays a hand on her dragon. "This is Umi. He has agreed to do this for you. But you must hold the egg yourself."

I nod. I knew that would be required. I saw this in my vision. Amongst so many other things. Things I'll never be able to unsee. Things I might have, could have, done with this power were it to remain in me.

Dean and Iris look nervous, but the queen is calm as she places me safely away from the others and her dragon gets into position.

I take one last look at the world around me, savoring the layers of meaning and connection I see with my gift. Then I close my eyes, clutching the egg, and wait.

Umi breathes in a deep breath and then releases his flames. They do not burn as I imagine, but rather feel white hot, like ice and fire mixed together. It tears into my skin, through muscle and bone, through my very soul, until I feel myself turning to dust, losing myself entirely.

Everything within me is released. I float away on the wind, become one with the particles of air, dance happily through space and time, until I hear Dean call out, his anguish real, his pain raw and angry. He calls me back to form, to body, to the corporeal world. I fall into myself hard, heavy, new pains coursing through my body.

The dragon's fire is spent.

The egg I once held is gone.

I am naked, undone and remade, shivering in the chill of the cool night air, and the world is different.

Flatter.