Mag-log inLyra POVNobody touched the wine. The words lingered in the chamber like smoke.I know who he might become.Ekreth stood near the hearth, one hand wrapped around the untouched cup. The flames painted gold across his features, but for the first time since Lyra had met him, the ancient dragon looked uncertain.That frightened her more than anything. Because Ekreth was never uncertain. Yet now he seemed to be choosing every word with painful care.Lyra sat on the edge of the bed, pulling a blanket around her shoulders. The nightmare still clung to her skin. She could still see that eye opening beyond reality. Still hear the roar. Still feel the terror that had rolled through the dream. And worse - she could still see the golden-eyed stranger standing in front of Vaeleth.Protecting her. As though it were the most natural thing in the world. That might be their chance.Nyxar had settled beside the hearth now. Far enough away that nobody would comment on how close he’d been holding her mom
Nyxar POVAnother knock rattled the chamber door. Harder this time. Far less patient.“Lyra? Nyxar?” Ekreth called them. The dragon sounded calm. Too calm. Which somehow made Nyxar trust the situation even less.For a long moment neither he nor Lyra moved. Her forehead still rested against his. His hand still cupped her cheek. The distance between them was measured in breaths. The kiss that almost happened lingered in the air like a living thing.Waiting.Neither seemed willing to be the first to step away. Then reality finally won. Barely. Lyra released a slow breath and leaned back first. Her silver eyes remained fixed on his. Something vulnerable still lingered there. Something she rarely allowed anyone to see. Something Nyxar suspected she’d regret showing once the night ended.His chest tightened. Because he already knew he would remember it forever.Another knock.“Should I assume you’re both alive?” Ekreth called.Lyra actually snorted. The sound startled both of them. Then a
Nyxar POVSomething was wrong. Nyxar woke instantly. No lingering haze of sleep. No confusion. His eyes opened to a chamber drenched in silver moonlight.The fortress slept around him. Yet his wolf was already awake. Alert, restless and uneasy. A pulse ran through him. Sharp and violent.The bond. Something was happening with Lyra.Lyra!He sat upright immediately. The feeling hit again. Fear. Pure, raw fear. His heart lurched. Not because fear itself was unusual. Because it belonged to her.Lyra wasn’t afraid. Never. She faced monsters, armies, gods and prophecy with the same stubborn determination. She carried impossible burdens without complaint. Fear was not something he associated with her.Yet now it flooded through the bond. Cold, terrible and desperate.Then the scream came. It ripped through the fortress. Nyxar was already moving before it ended. Bare feet struck stone.The door burst open, when he pushed them. Moonlit corridors blurred around him.He heard doors opening, whe
Vaeleth POV“Run.”The command hit her like thunder. The water exploded upward. The silver sky shattered. Something moved beyond the cracks in reality. Something vast. And not friendly.Vaeleth caught a glimpse of claws larger than mountains. Molten fire bled through the darkness beyond the dream. An eye opened somewhere outside existence itself - watching.She was horrified. Truly horrified. And then the stranger moved. Instantly. Placing himself between her and the thing trying to force its way through.The gesture was so natural neither of them seemed to understand it at first. As if his body had chosen before his mind could. As if protecting her was an instinct. Not a decision.The realization struck them both. His head turned slightly. Golden eyes finding hers again. His calm mask cracked. Vaeleth saw surprise in his eyes. The same surprise she felt. Something impossible had just happened.The thing beyond the shattered sky roared again. Reality shook. The stranger barely seemed
Vaeleth POVSleep should have come easily. For the first time in weeks, she wasn’t sleeping on frozen ground.For the first time in her life, there were walls around her. Real walls. No storms. No crumbling wards. No volcano threatening to split the mountain apart. No whispers rising from beneath the earth.She should have slept. Instead, she lay awake staring at the carved ceiling above her bed. The chamber was beautiful.Golden lanterns glowed softly in crystal alcoves. Ancient runes drifted across the stone like liquid silver. Through the tall arched windows, moonlight poured across the floor.Everything felt wrong. Not dangerous. Just unfamiliar. Yet safe. The realization made her uncomfortable. Safe was something she’d never learned how to be.Eventually exhaustion won. Her eyes closed. And the moment they did the world vanished.Vaeleth stood barefoot in shallow, silver water. It stretched endlessly in every direction. A perfect mirror reflecting a sky full of unfamiliar stars.
Ekreth POVThe fortress was quieter at night. Ancient dragons breathed beneath these mountains. Rivers of fire moved through the stone below. Magic older than all kingdoms hummed inside every wall.But compared to the chaos of the last weeks, it felt almost peaceful. Almost.Ekreth stood alone on one of the highest balconies, staring across the endless sea of peaks.Moonlight silvered the mountains. Far below, the fortress glowed with warm amber light. For the first time in centuries, he wasn’t underground. Wasn’t imprisoned. Wasn’t alone. And somehow the feeling was stranger than captivity.A familiar voice drifted from behind him.“You always did choose the highest balcony.”Ekreth smiled before he even turned. “Because you always chose the lowest.”Maeraxa stepped from the shadows carrying two crystal goblets and an old bottle.“Someone had to remain sensible.”He laughed. Actually laughed. The sound startled both of them. Gods. How long had it been? Five hundred years? Six? More?
The anticipation in the castle was palpable the day Elyra, the renowned witch, arrived. Word of her arrival spread quickly, and even the usually stoic guards exchanged glances of curiosity as she stepped through the grand entrance.Elyra was not what Lyra expected. Tall and elegant, her presence was
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over the castle gardens. Every corner of the grounds had been transformed into a breathtaking scene of celebration. Lanterns floated in the air, casting soft, flickering light over the flowers blooming in vibrant hues. Tables adorned with
The night of the celestial alignment arrived with an air of solemnity and wonder that seeped into every corner of the castle. The grand hall had been transformed into a sanctuary of glowing lights and celestial imagery. Silver and deep blue drapes cascaded from the high ceilings, mimicking the night
The grand hall of the castle buzzed with anticipation as Lyra prepared for her first official gathering as a royal. The event, arranged by the King himself, was intended to further solidify her presence as a Princess and future Queen. It was a chance to meet the kingdom’s subjects, listen to their c







