FAZER LOGINSERAPHINA'S POVSix months later.I woke to sunlight streaming through the curtains and the sound of birdsong outside the window.For a moment, I didn't move. I just lay there, listening. The birds. The distant murmur of servants in the corridor. The soft breathing of Kaelan beside me, still asleep, his arm draped over my waist.No horns. No screams. No fire.Just... peace.I turned my head to look at him. His face was relaxed, the lines of worry and exhaustion that had haunted him for months finally smoothed away. His hair had grown longer—he kept meaning to cut it, but never found the time. There was a new scar on his shoulder, a souvenir from the battle. And his hand, even in sleep, was curled around mine.I smiled. Then I slipped out of bed, careful not to wake him.---The palace was quiet.I walked through the corridors, my bare feet padding against the stone floor. The servants I passed bowed their heads, their faces soft with something that looked almost like affection. The gu
KAELAN'S POV"I love you too," she whispered.I turned to look at her. The candlelight flickered across her face, catching the gold in her eyes, the silver in her hair. But something was different. Something had changed.The scales were gone.Her skin was smooth. So smooth, I just couldn't resist caressing it. I watched as her body moved under my touch. She was ever so sensitive to my touch, and I enjoy watching her that way. I stared at her. "Phina..."She followed my gaze. Looked down at her arms. Her breath caught."They're gone," she whispered. "They're actually gone."I took her hand. Turned it over. Ran my fingers across her skin. Smooth. Warm. Perfect."When did this happen?""I don't know." She looked at me, her eyes wide. "I didn't even notice. I was so tired, and then—" She stopped. "They're gone, Kaelan. They're really gone.""You're not a monster," I said. "You never were."She laughed. It was a wet, broken sound. "I know. I know."I pulled her into my arms. Held her clos
KAELAN'S POVI woke to an empty bed.The sheets beside me were cold. The sun was already high in the sky, streaming through the curtains. I sat up, my heart pounding."Phina?"No answer.I was on my feet in an instant, grabbing my sword, throwing open the door—And stopped.She was in the corridor, Nathan on her hip, laughing at something Rio had just said. She was wearing a simple gown, her hair loose, her feet bare. The scales on her arms caught the sunlight, gleaming like gold.She turned when she heard the door. "Oh, you're awake."I lowered my sword. "You scared me.""I'm sorry." She walked toward me, Nathan reaching for me as she approached. "I didn't mean to. I just woke up early and couldn't go back to sleep.""You should have woken me.""You needed the rest." She pressed a kiss to my cheek. "Besides, Rio was just keeping me company."I looked at Rio. He bowed his head."Your Majesty.""Rio." I took Nathan from Seraphina, settling him on my hip. "You've been here all morning?"
KAELAN'S POVI woke to an empty bed.The sheets beside me were cold. The sun was already high in the sky, streaming through the curtains. I sat up, my heart pounding."Phina?"No answer.I was on my feet in an instant, grabbing my sword, throwing open the door—And stopped.She was in the corridor, Nathan on her hip, laughing at something Rio had just said. She was wearing a simple gown, her hair loose, her feet bare. The scales on her arms caught the sunlight, gleaming like gold.She turned when she heard the door. "Oh, you're awake."I lowered my sword. "You scared me.""I'm sorry." She walked toward me, Nathan reaching for me as she approached. "I didn't mean to. I just woke up early and couldn't go back to sleep.""You should have woken me.""You needed the rest." She pressed a kiss to my cheek. "Besides, Rio was just keeping me company."I looked at Rio. He bowed his head."Your Majesty.""Rio." I took Nathan from Seraphina, settling him on my hip. "You've been here all morning?"
KAELAN'S POVThe bond wasn't complete.I knew it before she said anything. I felt it every time I touched her—that hollow ache in my chest, that missing piece that should have clicked into place the moment we marked each other. But it hadn't. And I didn't know why.I didn't ask. I didn't want to push. She had been through enough.But the ache was always there. A constant reminder that something was wrong.---The third night after the battle, I woke to find her standing by the window.The moonlight caught her face, illuminating the gold in her eyes, the faint silver in her hair, the scales that traced her arms like a map of stars. She was beautiful. She was always beautiful. But there was something different about her now. Something distant."Phina?" I sat up. "What's wrong?"She didn't turn around. "The bond."I felt my heart stop. "What about it?""It's not complete." Her voice was quiet. "It hasn't been this whole time."I stood. Crossed the room. Stood behind her, my hands on her
SERAPHINA'S POVGubalis ran.I watched him go—his figure disappearing into the darkness, his footsteps fading into silence. The once-mighty dragon, the terror of the Elyxis, the monster who had haunted my nightmares, was fleeing like a coward.Part of me wanted to chase him. Part of me wanted to finish what I had started.But I didn't.Because I knew something he didn't."He won't get far," Vesper said.I closed my eyes. "What do you mean?""The transformation. It's complete now. The gate is sealed." Her voice was quiet. "He can't open it. Not without you. And he can never use you again.""Why not?""Because you're not just a key anymore. You're the lock." She paused. "The gate answers to you now. Only you. No one else can open it. No one else can close it. It's yours."I opened my eyes. "So he's powerless.""He's not powerless. He's still strong. Still dangerous. But he can't open the gate. He can't bring the dragons back. His entire plan—his entire purpose—is gone.""Then he'll come
The morning light bathed my face, warm and insistent, coaxing my eyes open.For a moment, I just lay there. My body felt like it had been hit by a thousand planks: a deep, pleasant ache in muscles I’d forgotten I had. Yet, beneath the soreness, a strange feeling bubbled in my chest.Happiness.Why
SERAPHINA'S POV “If you had all planned to pass a verdict without my opinion,” Kaelan’s voice cut through the murmurs, low and lethally calm, “why invite me to this meeting?”The silence that followed was absolute.“I remain the Alpha of this pack. My word is law. No one dictates to me before I’ve
SERAPHINA'S POVI took steady, measured breaths as I followed Kaelan through the castle’s silent corridors. When I turned toward the wing that housed my rooms, his voice stopped me.“Where are you going?”“To my room.”“To do what?” Irritation edged his tone. “Follow me.”He led me down a differen
SERAPHINA'S POV Did I really rile Kaelan up so much that he hadn’t come home for more than a day? I hadn’t heard from him since our last outburst, and Ivanna confirmed he wasn’t in the castle. Maybe I’d said too much. Had I? But then… had his family really banished him? Just because of my reje







