. "Tairn, please listen," I pleaded, my voice trembling slightly as I tried to assert my stance. "I can't keep arguing about who touched me and who didn't. They're my friends," I stated firmly, the words a quiet defiance against the mounting tension in the room.

Tairn's response was immediate, a frustrated huff that sent a wave of hot steam towards me. He lowered his snout until it was dangerously close, his gaze piercing mine with an intensity that made my heart race. "You are mine, Aethira Skyborne. Don't you forget that," he hissed, his possessiveness evident in every word.

Memories of the day at Threshing flooded back, the chaos and danger that had brought us together in a bond forged in battle. "I chose you that day, amidst the chaos and the danger. I saved you from Jack and Tynan," Tairn reminded me, his voice low and filled with an undercurrent of possessive protectiveness. "And this is all I get? You running around with those half-hearted boys who are only here for fleeting fame and momentary glory?" His lips curled into a sneer, revealing the sharp edges of his teeth.

My heart ached with the weight of his expectations, torn between the comfort of familiarity and the allure of the unknown. The kitten in my arms whimpered, sensing the tension that crackled between us. Tairn's scornful words cut deep, his disapproval of my choices a sharp sting that left me reeling. "And out of all companions, you chose a kit? Are you truly out of your mind?" he scoffed, his disbelief a harsh reminder of the divide between us.

I hugged the little kit tighter, feeling her warmth and soft fur against my chest. "Yes, I chose her because she chose me, too. You cannot take her away from me," I hissed defiantly, my grip on her tightening protectively.

Tairn scoffed at my words before leaning in closer, his breath hot against my face. He reached out to touch the kit in my arms, his words dripping with disdain. "She smells like rotten human flesh, she's been with them too much. You must dump her now, or I will not allow you to return to your so-called stray kids ever again, do you hear me?" his voice laced with a threat that sent a chill down my spine.

My heart raced with a mix of fear and anger at his ultimatum. How could he ask me to abandon this innocent creature who had found solace in my care? The kit nuzzled against me, her tiny form trembling slightly in response to the tension in the room. I looked into Tairn's eyes, seeing the cold determination that lay beneath his facade of control.

In that moment, a fire ignited within me, a fierce protectiveness rising up against his demands. "I will not abandon her, Tairn. She is under my protection, and I will not let you dictate who I can care for," I declared, my voice steady despite the turmoil in my heart.

Tairn's gaze hardened, his jaw clenching in frustration. "You dare defy me, Aethira?" he growled, his tone a warning of the consequences of my defiance.

But I stood my ground, holding the kit close to me as a symbol of my resolve. "I do. I will not let you control me or my choices any longer," I stated firmly, my eyes meeting his with a newfound strength.

As the tension between us crackled like lightning in the air, I knew that this moment would mark a turning point in our relationship. The choice I made now would not only define my path but also determine the fate of those who depended on me. In the face of Tairn's dominance and manipulation, I found a courage I never knew I possessed, ready to fight for my autonomy and the bonds that truly mattered to me.

As the tension in the chamber reached a boiling point, a voice called out, breaking the charged atmosphere. I looked up to see a familiar face, someone I never expected to see in this place. "Elijah!" I exclaimed in surprise, my voice filled with a mix of emotions at the unexpected arrival.

Elijah, my old classmate, rode on the back of his dragon, a majestic creature with a fiery red club tail named Georgad. The young boy's determination shone in his eyes as he confronted Tairn, his dragon bristling with defiance as he faced off against the imposing figure before us.

"Keep your distance, boy," Tairn snapped, his voice a low growl that reverberated through the chamber. His wings twitched in irritation, the threat of his power evident in every movement as he faced Elijah's bold challenge.

But Elijah paid no heed to Tairn's warning, running towards me with a reckless abandon that made my heart race with a mix of worry and gratitude. He skirted the priming of Tairn's wings, his focus solely on reaching me despite the danger that loomed around us.

"You do not command my human, Tairn," Georgad's voice rang out, his club tail coming into view as a show of strength and solidarity with Elijah. The dragon's eyes blazed with a fierce determination, his loyalty to his rider unwavering in the face of Tairn's dominance.

linaqh reached me and gently took the kitten from my arms, the little one wailing and clawing at her hands in distress. I hushed the kitten, soothing her with soft words as Elinaqh held her securely. "Shh, dear, shh. You'll be back with your siblings soon. I need to cool things down," I reassured the frightened kitten, my heart aching at the separation but knowing it was necessary for the moment.

Turning my attention to Elijah, who watched the scene with concern and understanding in his eyes, I saw the way the she-kit's sharp claws dug into his fingers. "She's feisty," he remarked with a wry smile, acknowledging the kitten's spirited nature even in the midst of chaos.

I chuckled at his observation before reaching out to stroke one of the she-kit's big, floppy ears, a gesture of comfort and reassurance. "Go," I said softly to Elinaqh, trusting her to care for the kitten until I could reunite them with their siblings.

As Elinaqh and the kitten moved away, I turned back to the two dragons, Tairn and Georgad, who still faced off with simmering tension between them. The air crackled with unspoken challenges and power dynamics, the weight of their presence palpable in the chamber.

"Tairn, please do not incinerate my old classmate's dragon," I said, my voice trembling with urgency. Tairn snapped his massive head towards me, his golden eyes blazing with fury.

"I will kill him anyway," he snarled, his voice a rumble of thunder. "He dares to question me, and his human dares to talk to you without permissi---"

I cut him off as a wave of pain crashed over me, rolling through my body like a tidal wave. It wasn't Tairn's pain. It was... Liam's.

"No," I breathed out, the word barely audible as the realization hit me. I turned my gaze to Tairn, whose face told me he understood the source of my agony. Liam was in pain.

"Take us there now," I rasped, my voice raw with desperation. Tairn sighed, a sound heavy with resignation, and nodded. He lowered his massive shoulder, allowing me to clamber onto his back. With a powerful thrust, we took off, soaring into the sky, leaving the interview behind without a second thought. Our friend was hurt. I wouldn't let him die. No matter what.