Semua Bab Claimed by the Damned Alpha King: Bab 171 - Bab 180

Chapter 172: Seraphina's MagicAVELINE'S POVSeraphina had been busy since we'd given her access to the research wing. The entire room was covered in ritual circles, protective wards, magical diagrams I didn't recognize. Books and journals were spread across every surface, some of them looking ancient enough to crumble if touched wrong."Queen Luna," she greeted when we arrived. "King Thorne. Right on time.""What's all this?" I asked, gesturing at the organized chaos around us."Your education," she said simply, like it was obvious. "If you're going to face Morgana again—and you will—you need to understand how her magic works. How to counter it. How to protect yourselves and your daughter.""How long will this take?" Thorne asked, his hand unconsciously moving to rest on my lower back—protective, possessive, like always."Depends on how fast you learn," Seraphina said, pulling out one of her ancestor's journals. "Could be weeks. Could be months. Magic isn't something you rush, and th

Chapter 174: The Dragon King's WarningTHORNE'S POVThe neutral territory the Dragon King chose for our meeting was an abandoned fortress on the border between three territories, technically belonging to none of them.Smart. No home advantage for anyone.We arrived with twenty warriors, all armed, all on high alert. Aveline stayed close to my side, one hand resting on her stomach where our daughter grew.The Dragon King was already there with his own guards, waiting in what used to be the fortress's main hall."King Thorne," he greeted. "Queen Luna Aveline. Thank you for coming.""You said you had information about Morgana," I said, not bothering with pleasantries. "So talk.""Direct as always," he said, almost amused. "Very well. My scouts have located Morgana's current hideout. She's holed up in the old Blackwood Ruins, about two hundred miles north of here.""How certain are you?" Aveline asked."Very certain," he said. "We've confirmed magical signatures matching hers, plus activi

Chapter 176: ReconnaissanceTHORNE'S POVWe left for Blackwood Ruins just after sunset.Small team like I'd promised me, Dante, and two of the Dragon King's scouts named Kaelen and Mira. Both dragons, both experienced in stealth operations.Aveline had clung to me before we left, her hands fisting in my shirt."Come back to me," she'd whispered against my chest."Always," I'd promised.Now, crouched in the treeline about half a mile from the ruins, I was hoping I could keep that promise."Ward perimeter starts fifty yards ahead," Mira said quietly, her dragon senses picking up magical signatures invisible to wolves. "Standard detection spells, but layered. Three deep at least.""Can we bypass them?" I asked."Maybe," Kaelen said. "But it'll take time. And if Morgana's monitoring actively, she'll notice the fluctuation when we slip through.""So we don't slip through," Dante said. "We go over.""Over?" I repeated."Dragons can fly," he pointed out. "They carry us over the wards, drop u

Chapter 178: Before the StormAVELINE'S POVThe three days before the final assault passed way too fast.Warriors drilled constantly. Mages practiced coordinated spells. Healers prepared for mass casualties. Everyone moved with purpose, with focus, with the knowledge that this was it.Win or die. No middle ground.I spent most of the time coordinating logistics, making sure everyone had weapons, armor, supplies. Making sure the evacuation plans for non-combatants were solid. Making sure we'd thought of everything."You need to rest," Christy said on the second day, finding me still working at midnight. "You're pregnant and exhausted.""I'm fine," I said automatically."You're not fine," she corrected. "You're running on fumes and stubbornness. That's not sustainable.""Neither is letting Morgana win," I shot back."She's not going to win," Christy said firmly. "We have every advantage. Numbers, coordination, intel. We know what she's planning. We know where she is. This is our fight,

Chapter 180: Chaos UnleashedAVELINE'S POVI felt it the second the ground exploded under Thorne.Pain ripped through the mate bond so sharp I gasped, doubling over where I stood with the command unit."Aveline!" Christy grabbed my arm. "What's wrong?""Thorne," I choked out. "Something happened—he's hurt—""The strike team just breached the courtyard," one of the commanders reported, staring at the magical communication grid we'd set up. "They've engaged Morgana directly. Heavy casualties—""How heavy?" I demanded, forcing myself to stand upright even though the pain through the bond was making my vision blur."Five down already," he said grimly. "Morgana triggered some kind of trap. Explosion took out half the team."No. No no no.'Thorne!' I screamed through the bond. 'THORNE!'Nothing. Just silence and pain.Then finally, finally, his voice came through, rough and furious.'I'm alive. Barely. Half my team is down. This was a trap—she knew we were coming—''Get out of there!' I sen