LOGINLulu“I really want to get you out of here, but I can’t do it yet.”Instead of looking for a way out, I kept my hand on those dark crimson wings.The dragon winced, a low rumble vibrating from its chained throat. The moment my palm touched its cracked scales, a surge of visions slammed into my mind.My sight blurred. I saw shadows—dozens of black-robed figures surrounding this magnificent creature. Thick, toxic magical flames roared around them. I tried to focus, to make out their faces, but they were nothing more than distorted silhouettes, flickering behind waves of heat.Too unclear. My head throbbed as I tried to dig deeper into the dragon’s memories.【Lulu! Get out of there now! Thaddeus is almost at the secret door!】 Caspian’s voice exploded in my head, sharp with suffocating panic.I jolted back, pulling my hand away from the dragon’s wing. “I can’t go back the way I came, Caspian. The door only opens one way,” I whispered through our mind link, trying to steady my breathing de
Lulu[I’ll be there in a minute.]Not long after, the door swung open. Caspian appeared, his sea-blue eyes sharp with concern, breathing a bit hard as his gaze swept over me from head to toe.“Lulu.” He rushed over at once, his large hands checking my shoulders protectively. “What happened?”I pointed to the floor, where thin wisps of steam were starting to rise. My baby was still crying in my arms, his tiny face red from the sudden spike in temperature.“Listen,” I whispered, ignoring the sweat running down my temples.A low vibration rolled through the room again. A roar full of pain echoed from somewhere deep underground.Caspian went still. He pressed his palm against the stone wall. “That’s an animal. Something huge, Lulu. And it’s in pain.”“We need to check it out, Alpha. My instincts say this has something to do with the Pyromancer we’re looking for,” I said quickly.Caspian nodded, his jaw tightening. “I feel it too. They’re hiding something beneath this palace. But we can’t
LuluDren wouldn’t take his eyes off my baby. Those dull orange eyes of his looked like they could see straight through the blanket wrapped around my son.“Watch your gaze, Dren,” Caspian said sharply, stepping forward and blocking his view with his broad body.His shoulders tightened, and I could feel the leftover trace of his water magic cooling the air around us—a quiet warning for the stranger to keep his distance.“My apologies. I’ll control my eyes, Alpha.” Dren lowered his head now. “Your mate and child deserve respect.”“Cut the bloody riddles,” Caspian hissed coldly. “We didn’t come to Cinderbloom to be your entertainment or some puzzle for your magic tricks. We’ve got urgent business. Where do we find information about the Pyromancer who’s risen again?”Dren chuckled, the sound like stones grinding in a cave. “Patience, Alpha of the water territories. Cinderbloom is a city built on protocol and eternal fire. You can’t just knock on secret doors without going through the fron
Caspian“Get some rest, Lulu,” I murmured.Lulu shook her head weakly, her fingers still clutching the baby’s blanket. “I’m fine, Caspian. I need to keep watch…”“Sleep,” I cut in, firm but gentle.I didn’t give her a choice. I shifted closer and pulled her small body into my arms.She stiffened for a moment, but then the weight of her body melted against me. I rested her head against my chest, letting her hear the steady thump of my heartbeat. My arm wrapped around her waist as I focused.After drinking the Holy Water from Elaria, I channelled my water magic as a calm, cooling stream of energy. I let it seep gently into her pores, washing away the lingering ache in her womb and lower back.The scent of ash and death from the battle behind us slowly faded, overpowered by the masculine scent of my body mixed with the fragrance of her hair. I felt her breathing gradually fall into rhythm with mine.“I’m just weighing you down,” she murmured quietly. “You have to lead this group, face en
LuluThe bedroom door slammed open, and Caspian burst in, breathing hard. His eyes swept wildly across the room before landing on me. His dominant aura snapped into place; alert, cold, and razor-sharp—making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.“Lulu, what happened?” he asked quickly. He stepped closer, his hand already resting on the dagger at his hip.I was still trembling. My arms, wrapped around the baby against my chest, felt stiff. My baby began to fuss, letting out a small, hoarse whine that made my heart pound even harder.“Pyromancers,” I said, my voice barely more than a broken whisper. “I know what happened to them.”Caspian frowned, stopping beside the bed. Behind him, Sandra and Gamma Oliver appeared in the doorway. Sandra looked confused, while Oliver immediately shifted into a defensive stance, his ears twitching as if trying to catch danger outside.“Lulu, what do you mean?” Sandra stepped closer, reaching to touch my forehead. “You’ve only just woken up. Maybe i
LuluThe baby was still red and scrunched up when Sandra placed him in my arms. He cried loudly, tiny fingers spreading as if reaching for my chest.He was so small. But the gratitude I felt for bringing him into the world was enormous.His little hand moved slowly, searching. Reflex. I stared at him without blinking. My heart hammered hard in my chest, and this strange fear crept in—like he might stop breathing if I stopped watching him.“Feed him, Lulu,” Sandra said softly. “He needs to bond with you.”I nodded. My hands trembled as I adjusted my clothes. The moment his tiny lips touched my skin, my whole body tensed. Then something shifted.He sucked weakly at first. Then stronger.The warmth in my chest didn’t hurt. It felt like energy flowing from me into him. I held my breath, feeling the soft movement of his tongue.His fingers gripped my clothes. My eyes filled with tears.“He’s hungry,” Sandra whispered. “That’s a good sign.”Caspian stood beside the bed, watching us. For onc
CaspianI woke before the first light touched the horizon. The air in the room was thick—heavy with the sharp tang of magic and the scent of lilies clinging to Lulu, who was still fast asleep beside me.I watched her for a moment—the woman who’d become the eye of every storm in my life.Then, a sub
Lulu“So… we’re still moving rooms, right?” I asked, hoping Caspian would agree.“Yeah,” he said, though he hesitated.I knew why. He didn’t want to disrespect our host’s offer. Refusing would only make things harder for us here. Elaria’s goodwill was the one thing we could use if we wanted to inve
LuluSalt flooded my mouth as I choked, seawater pouring out of my nose and throat in one brutal, burning gasp. My body felt impossibly heavy, pinned down by the water hurled at me with a vicious swing of his arm.When the miniature wave finally receded, I managed to push myself up from the cold, s
Lulu“I just had a dream.”I told Caspian about it after a silence that had gone on far too long to feel normal.We were standing in the room Niobe usually used for private talks. The crystal lamps along the walls glowed dimly, casting long shadows across the floor. The night air was still cool, ye







