Twin Dragons, One Choice

When I decided to only cherish the dragon who treated me well, Kaelen was the first to notice the change.

But he didn't say anything.

Taking the glass, his scalding fingertips brushed my wrist out of habit. That simple, gentle touch made my heart skip a beat.

"Thank you, my apothecary," he said softly.

Across the room, magical flames crackled in the fireplace.

Cassian was focused on practicing his fire magic, the dragonfire shifting shapes in his palm. He didn't even look up at me.

I stood, said goodnight, and started for the tower stairs. Only then did he finally notice.

"Wait. Are we out of moon-wine?" Cassian’s voice dripped with displeasure. "Or are you too stingy to spare a glass for your other mate?"

Where his brother was quiet and stoic, Cassian was a primal beast—violent, untamed, and vicious.

"Useless human. Can't you do one simple thing right?"

That was just him. Cruelty was his language.

Any desire to explain died on my lips. My smile faded.

"No."

"No?" Cassian strode toward me, a dangerous glint in his slitted pupils. "Then who exactly are you trying to humiliate by only bringing one glass?"

Humiliate?

My mind drifted back to the dead of night, three days ago.

Kaelen and Cassian had been urgently summoned to slay shadowbeasts. They didn't return until dawn, dragging their heavily wounded bodies through the door.

I had waited so long that I’d fallen asleep by the hearth.

The heavy thud of the door woke me. I rushed up and brought out the two glasses of moon-wine I had kept warm for them.

Kaelen took the glass exhaustedly and gave a weak nod of thanks.

But Cassian? The black scales on his left shoulder were torn open to the bone. Crimson dragon blood was pouring out.

"You're badly hurt." I set the other glass down and stepped forward to heal him. "Let me help—"

"Get off me!"

He shoved me hard.

An Alpha dragon's strength is brutal and unforgiving. I flew backward, the silver goblet in my hand crashing against the stone steps behind me.

My back slammed into a sharp stone edge. White-hot pain exploded through me.

The precious moon-wine spilled all over the floor, pooling into a dark red stain.

Cassian froze for a heartbeat, but his impatience won.

"Damn it, are you blind? I'm dealing with dragonfire backlash, and you just had to throw yourself at me. Serves you right."

"You cling to us like a leech. We’re half-dead from exhaustion, and you're still making a nuisance of yourself."

That word. Leech. It shattered something inside me.

A wave of shame drowned me.

I stumbled to my feet, terrified to look either of them in the eye. I just wanted to run back to my room.

A heavy thud echoed behind me. Kaelen had punched Cassian in the jaw.

"Are you out of your fucking mind?!" Cassian's furious roar shook the hall.

I didn't look back. I just ran faster.

When I reached my room, I collapsed onto the bed, shaking uncontrollably.

A piercing pain shot up from my knee, but I didn't dare look down.

Until a soft knock came at the door.

"Elara, it's me." Kaelen’s deep, gentle voice came through the wood.

I wiped my tears, forced myself up, and opened the door.

He dropped to one knee in front of me, holding a glowing healing potion.

"Let me see your wound."

Only then did I look down. A sharp shard of the silver goblet was buried deep in my calf. Blood had already soaked my white nightgown and stained my ankle red.

The potion’s cool light enveloped the wound, stitching flesh and skin back together.

The pain vanished.

After healing me, Kaelen didn't stand up right away.

He pulled a crystal pendant from his own neck—a deep, obsidian shard pulsing with a faint inner warmth, carved from a dragon's scale.

"Wear this," he said, his voice low and serious as he gently placed it around my neck. "It will protect you."