The palace has a way of swallowing sound. Every footstep, every breath, every nervous shuffle of the royal guard is lost beneath the oppressive hush of black marble and ancient secrets. The court has melted away; only the condemned, the executioner, and the specter of a mother remain. Zayla feels the chill of the corridor in her bones. Her wrists are ringed red where the silver cords burned her, a reminder that even inside the walls of her inheritance, she is a threat to be managed. Beside her, Bella’s jaw is set in a line that could cut glass. The only thing that betrays her twin’s calm is how her pupils flare, tiny blue infernos as they pass each mounted torch. She’s angry, yes, but also afraid. Behind them, the rest of the survivors limp forward. Jenifer moves with her usual feline grace, but her left arm is clamped tight against her ribs, the wound from the battle still seeping through a makeshift bandage. Alex stays close, supporting Jenifer when the pain spikes, not saying
As we ventured deeper into the elder’s house, the atmosphere thickened with anticipation. The elders had spoken of confronting the past, but I could feel something more sinister lurking in the shadows. The air grew colder, and the flickering candlelight cast eerie shapes on the walls, as if the very spirits of our ancestors were watching us. We entered a dimly lit chamber adorned with ancient tapestries depicting forgotten battles. In the center stood an ornate pedestal, upon which rested a weathered tome bound in dragonhide. The elder gestured for us to approach, her expression grave. “This book holds the key to your lineage and the truth of the shadows that haunt you.” As I reached for the tome, a sudden rush of energy surged through me, and I felt Ari stir within. “Be careful, Zayla,” she warned, her voice echoing in my mind. “Not all knowledge is meant to be uncovered.” Ignoring the warning, I opened the book, and the pages began to turn on their own, revealing illustratio
As we ventured deeper into the elder’s house, the atmosphere thickened with anticipation. The elders had spoken of confronting the past, but I could feel something more sinister lurking in the shadows. The air grew colder, and the flickering candlelight cast eerie shapes on the walls, as if the very spirits of our ancestors were watching us.We entered a dimly lit chamber adorned with ancient tapestries depicting forgotten battles. In the center stood an ornate pedestal, upon which rested a weathered tome bound in dragonhide. The elder gestured for us to approach, her expression grave. “This book holds the key to your lineage and the truth of the shadows that haunt you.”As I reached for the tome, a sudden rush of energy surged through me, and I felt Ari stir within. “Be careful, Zayla,” she warned, her voice echoing in my mind. “Not all knowledge is meant to be uncovered.”Ignoring the warning, I opened the book, and the pages began to turn on their own, revealing illustrations of dr
The journey to the elder's village unfolded in silence, each of us caught in the web of our own thoughts, the echoes of the recent battle lingering in the cool, crisp air. It felt surreal, stepping away from the chaos of conflict and into the serene embrace of nature. The village lay nestled within a lush valley, framed by majestic mountains that stood like guardians against a turbulent world.As we approached, the elders emerged from their humble huts, their expressions blending curiosity and concern. Time had etched its wisdom onto their faces, each line a testament to battles fought and lessons learned. Their dragon forms were breathtaking, scales sparkling in the sunlight, a vivid reminder of their ancient power.The eldest among them, a grand dragon with scales as white as freshly fallen snow, stepped forward. His piercing blue eyes seemed to look right through me as he spoke with a voice that resonated like thunder, “Welcome, travelers. We have been expecting you.”Taking a deep
As we ventured deeper into the elder's house, the atmosphere thickened with anticipation. The elders had spoken of confronting the past, but I could feel something more sinister lurking in the shadows. The air grew colder, and the flickering candlelight cast eerie shapes on the walls, as if the very spirits of our ancestors were watching us. We entered a dimly lit chamber adorned with ancient tapestries depicting forgotten battles. In the center stood an ornate pedestal, upon which rested a weathered tome bound in dragonhide. The elder gestured for us to approach, her expression grave. "This book holds the key to your lineage and the truth of the shadows that haunt you." As I reached for the tome, a sudden rush of energy surged through me, and I felt Ari stir within. "Be careful, Zayla," she warned, her voice echoing in my mind. "Not all knowledge is meant to be uncovered." Ignoring the warning, I opened the book, and the pages began to turn on their own, revealing illustrations
The journey to the elder's village felt almost surreal. We were cloaked in silence as we all lost ourselves in thought while navigating the rough terrain. The sun hung high in the sky, its warmth washing over us like a soothing balm, a welcome change from the chill that clung to our bones after the battle. I walked beside Liam, our fingers intertwined, each gentle touch offering comfort and reassurance.I could feel Ari's restlessness inside me. “We did well last night,” she murmured softly in my mind. But this is just the beginning.”I nodded, my gaze fixed on the path ahead. Ari was right—we hadn’t seen the last of Mariah. Her attack was only the first act in a long and challenging drama. There were many things to consider: the council’s involvement, Liam’s impending betrothal, and the queen’s soon-to-arrive presence. Each was like a piece of a puzzle we hadn’t yet solved.Bella strolled alongside Liam on my other side, her hand resting gently on Alex's shoulder. Katie, Bella’s drag