Chapter five: Freedom

I stared at the chains for a long moment.

They were thicker up close—layered metal, cold and ugly, dug deep enough into her scales that the edges were dark with dried blood. My stomach twisted.

“Okay,” I whispered, more to myself than her. “I’m gonna try something. Please don’t… eat me.”

Her chest rose and fell slowly. She didn’t move.

I reached for the first shackle.

The moment my fingers brushed the lock, her body tensed beneath me. A low warning rumble vibrated through her chest, through the floor, straight into my bones.

“I know,” I murmured, hands shaking. “I know. I’ll be quick.”

The lock gave with a soft click.

Nothing happened.

She flinched—just barely—but didn’t pull away.

I swallowed and moved to the second.

Another click.

Her wing twitched. Frost cracked along the metal ring, but she stayed still, watching me now. One pale blue eye followed every movement I made.

“Three,” I breathed.

This one stuck. My fingers slipped, numb and clumsy, and the sound made her growl—low and sharp. I froze instantly.

“Sorry. I’m sorry.”

After a long second, the growl faded.

The third shackle fell away.

I moved to the last one.
 

Her back leg.

The cuff was smaller—but tighter. Buried so deep into her scales that my chest hurt just looking at it.
 

“Almost,” I whispered.

The lock snapped open.

For half a second—

Nothing.

Then her eye flew open.

The soft blue glow behind it sharpened, pupils slicing into narrow slits.

I didn’t even have time to react.

She hit me.

Her body slammed into my chest, knocking the air clean out of my lungs as I crashed onto my back with a startled, breathless grunt. The world spun, cold metal biting into my spine.

She loomed over me, massive and terrifying, claws planted on either side of my shoulders.

A low, thunderous growl rumbled from her throat.

Blue light bloomed inside her mouth.

Ice.

I squeezed my eyes shut and threw my arms over my face.
 

“I— I’m sorry— I didn’t mean—”

The glow stopped.
 

Silence.
 

I cracked one eye open.

She tilted her head.

“Mmrph?” she cooed softly.
 

I blinked.

Then she shifted her weight—

—and plopped.

Right onto my chest.

“Oof—!” I wheezed.

Her body was heavy, warm, solid. Too warm for an ice dragon. She let out a long, exhausted sigh and curled closer, her head settling against my shoulder like she’d decided this was the most comfortable place in the world.

She pawed at my sleeve lazily—once, twice—like I was some kind of oversized toy.

Then she stilled.
 

Her breathing slowed.
 

The blue light faded completely.

And that’s when it hit me.

My hands were shaking.

My chest tightened, breath hitching once—then again—and before I could stop it, tears spilled down my face, hot against the cold air.

I pressed my forehead against her scales, fingers clutching weakly at the ridges along her neck.

“What the heck,” I whispered, voice breaking. “What the actual heck”

She rumbled softly in her sleep, warm and alive against me.
 

For the first time since I’d been shoved into this frozen nightmare—

I wasn’t cold anymore.