The Moon Dragon

The shadow swallowed Silver Valley.

Kael stared upward.

Two enormous silver wings stretched across the sky, blocking the weak afternoon light. Snow spiraled through the air as something ancient moved behind the mountain.

Then came the eyes.

Golden.

Old.

Watching.

Kael's wolf crouched inside him.

Run.

For once, Kael didn't argue.

He took a step backward.

Lucien immediately moved beside him.

“Everyone stay together.”

Elyon's soldiers lowered their weapons.

Even they were afraid.

Rowan stared at the mountain.

“I thought the Moon Dragons were extinct.”

Elyon shook his head.

“They were.”

The mountain trembled again.

A massive claw appeared over the ridge.

Stone shattered.

Then the creature emerged.

Its body was covered in silver scales that reflected the moonlight even beneath the cloudy sky. Two enormous horns curved backward from its head, and ancient symbols glowed along its neck.

It was larger than any creature Kael had ever seen.

And yet, when its eyes settled on him, Kael felt something unexpected.

Not fear.

Recognition.

The dragon lowered its head.

Everyone froze.

Its golden eyes met Kael's amber ones.

Then it spoke.

Not aloud.

Inside his mind.

Moonblood.

Kael's breath caught.

“You can hear me?”

I have heard your blood since before you were born.

Lucien stepped forward.

“Stay away from him.”

The dragon's gaze shifted toward Lucien.

A low rumble shook the valley.

Kael instinctively reached for Lucien's arm.

“Wait.”

Lucien stopped.

The dragon studied them both.

Then it lowered its head further.

The King and the Moon-born.

Elyon looked stunned.

“It recognizes the bond.”

The dragon's eyes narrowed.

The bond is not what you think.

Kael frowned.

“What does that mean?”

You believe the Moon chooses who belongs together.

The dragon's voice echoed through his mind.

The Moon does not choose possession. It reveals connection.

Kael glanced at Lucien.

The words sounded familiar.

Love chosen.

Not forced.

Again.

The dragon continued.

Your bond will become your greatest strength only if neither of you attempts to own the other.

Lucien's expression softened.

Kael looked away.

His heart was beating too fast.

Elyon stepped forward.

“What do you want from him?”

The dragon's eyes moved toward him.

Nothing.

Elyon's face tightened.

“Then why did you awaken?”

The dragon looked back at Kael.

Because he called me.

Kael stared.

“I did?”

Not with your voice.

The dragon lowered its head.

With your blood.

The Moon Seal on Kael's chest began to glow.

Silver light spread across his skin.

A matching symbol appeared between the dragon's horns.

Kael gasped.

The dragon suddenly roared.

The sound shook the entire valley.

Snow collapsed from the mountain peaks.

“Move!” Rowan shouted.

Everyone scattered.

A wall of snow came crashing down the slope.

Lucien grabbed Kael's hand.

“Run!”

They sprinted toward a rocky ledge.

Kael slipped.

Lucien caught him.

For a moment, their hands remained locked.

Kael looked down.

Lucien looked at him.

Neither released the other.

Then Kael pulled himself upright.

“Thank you.”

Lucien nodded.

“Always.”

The word lingered between them.

Always.

Kael wasn't ready to think about what it meant.

The avalanche swept through the valley.

Elyon's soldiers were separated.

Some disappeared beneath the snow.

Others fled into the forest.

When the snow finally settled, the dragon was gone.

Only enormous footprints remained.

Kael looked around.

“Where's Elyon?”

Rowan pointed toward the northern ridge.

“There.”

Elyon stood alone.

His armor was damaged.

But he was alive.

He looked at Kael.

Then at Lucien.

Then at the dragon's footprints.

His expression was unreadable.

Finally, he spoke.

“Your father is beyond the valley.”

Kael stepped forward.

“Take me to him.”

Elyon shook his head.

“I can't.”

“Why?”

“Because he's being guarded.”

“By whom?”

Elyon looked toward the mountains.

“The Alpha Council.”

Kael's blood ran cold.

“Then we go there.”

Lucien nodded.

“We do.”

Elyon laughed bitterly.

“You still don't understand.”

“Then explain.”

Elyon looked directly at Lucien.

“The Council doesn't want Cassian alive.”

Kael's stomach dropped.

“Then why keep him?”

“Because he knows where the final Moon Seal is hidden.”

Kael's eyes widened.

“The final Moon Seal?”

Elyon nodded.

“There are three.”

Kael looked down at the glowing crescent on his chest.

“One is mine.”

“Yes.”

“What are the others?”

“One belongs to your father.”

Kael's breath caught.

“And the third?”

Elyon looked toward Lucien.

Silence.

Lucien's expression hardened.

“What?”

Elyon pointed at his wrist.

“The third is inside you.”

The silver key-shaped mark on Lucien's wrist began to glow.

Kael stared.

“So that's why the Moon Gate chose him.”

Elyon nodded.

“Your father carries the blood seal.”

“You carry the Moon-born seal,” Elyon continued, looking at Kael.

“And Lucien carries the Guardian Seal.”

Lucien stared at his wrist.

“What happens when all three are brought together?”

Elyon's expression became grim.

“The Moon Throne awakens completely.”

Kael swallowed.

“And then?”

Elyon looked toward the mountains.

“Then whoever controls the throne controls the ancient Moon Gate.”

Kael understood.

The war wasn't only about him.

It was about what his blood could unlock.

That night, they made camp beneath the cliffs.

Elyon remained several meters away from the others.

He had agreed to lead them through the valley, but Lucien didn't trust him.

Neither did Kael.

Yet Kael couldn't ignore the strange feeling that Elyon wasn't telling the whole story.

Rowan sat beside the fire.

“You shouldn't trust him.”

Kael looked at him.

“I don't.”

“Good.”

“But I need him.”

Rowan frowned.

“Why?”

“Because he knows where my father is.”

Rowan looked away.

Kael watched him.

“You know something too.”

Rowan sighed.

“Yes.”

“What?”

“Your father once told me something before we separated.”

Kael waited.

“He said that if you ever found out who you were, you should never let anyone convince you that your blood gives them ownership over you.”

Kael smiled faintly.

“That sounds like him.”

Rowan nodded.

“He also said something else.”

“What?”

Rowan looked directly at him.

“He said Lucien's father owed him a life.”

Kael's smile disappeared.

“Lucien's father?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I don't know.”

Kael looked across the camp.

Lucien was standing alone near the edge of the cliff, staring into the darkness.

Kael walked toward him.

“Lucien.”

The King turned.

“Are you all right?”

Kael nodded.

“I need to ask you something.”

Lucien waited.

“Did your father know my parents?”

Lucien was silent.

That was enough.

Kael's heart sank.

“You knew.”

“Yes.”

“When?”

“Before I met you.”

Kael's voice became quiet.

“Why didn't you tell me?”

“Because I didn't know the truth.”

“What truth?”

Lucien looked toward the mountains.

“My father received a message the night you were born.”

Kael waited.

“He was ordered to send Blackfang soldiers to help Valerion capture the Moon-Chosen.”

Kael's eyes widened.

“But he refused.”

“Why?”

Lucien's jaw tightened.

“He believed the order was wrong.”

Kael stepped closer.

“What happened?”

“My father went to Valerion instead.”

“To help my parents?”

“Yes.”

Kael's heart pounded.

“Did he survive?”

Lucien shook his head.

“No.”

Silence.

Kael looked at him.

“So your father died because of me?”

Lucien's eyes hardened.

“No.”

“Then why?”

“Because he chose to do what he believed was right.”

Kael lowered his gaze.

Lucien stepped closer but stopped before touching him.

“Kael.”

Kael looked up.

“You are not responsible for the choices our parents made.”

Kael swallowed.

“What if our families are connected because of the Moon?”

“Then we'll uncover the truth.”

“And if the truth hurts?”

Lucien's expression softened.

“Then I'll still be here.”

Kael's heart skipped.

Again.

That word.

Always.

He looked away.

“You're making it difficult for me to hate this bond.”

Lucien smiled faintly.

“I never wanted you to hate it.”

Kael looked back at him.

“What do you want?”

Lucien took a slow breath.

“The same thing I've wanted since I met you.”

Kael waited.

“I want you to choose.”

The silence between them felt warmer than the fire behind them.

Kael didn't answer.

Not yet.

But he didn't walk away either.

Above them, the moon emerged from behind the clouds.

For a brief moment, the Moon Seal on Kael's chest and the Guardian Seal on Lucien's wrist glowed together.

Far away, beneath Silver Valley, something ancient opened its eyes.

And somewhere inside the mountain, Cassian whispered one name.

“Kael.”