All Chapters of One Night,One Claim: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Obsidian Crown CitadelRico’s Private ChambersElara’s POVThe lock’s final click still echoed in my ears a soft, metallic heartbeat that refused to fade. I stood frozen in the center of the room, bare feet sinking into the thick black fur rug, emerald silk robe clinging to my still damp skin like a lover who wouldn’t let go. Every breath pulled in more of him , Rico ,that dark amber smoke, warm iron, and something primal beneath it all that made my pulse stutter and my inner thighs clench. The scent was everywhere soaked into the furs, the pillows, the very air as if the room itself was breathing him.My heart hammered so hard I felt dizzy. My cheeks burned. My nipples , traitors had pebbled tight against the silk the moment his aura had rolled over me earlier. I pressed my palms to my face, trying to cool the flush, but it only spread hot, embarrassing, high school crush levels of flustered.Get it together, Elara.But I couldn’t.Because he had looked at me like I was already his.Li

Obsidian Crown CitadelRico’s Private Chambers Elara’s POVThe blue fire had burned low, leaving the room in a soft, intimate half light. I sat up slowly legs tangled in the black furs heart still racing from the vision, from the warning I’d sent across the miles. My hands trembled. My cheeks were wet. The silk robe had slipped off one shoulder, but I didn’t care.I could still feel Flame’s warmth her tiny heartbeat like an echo in my chest.The citadel voices were louder now not frantic, but urgent, rising like a tide.“…she reached the child. Through the link. Our Queen is powerful…”“…she warned them. She protected the little flame…”“…the King’s warriors are already moving. Captain Thorne leads them north. They’ll intercept the scouts…”“…Lord Veyr is reinforcing the western borders. Lady Seraphine is preparing supplies for the refugees…”“…she’s awake. Truly awake. The prophecy is alive…”“…he waited centuries for her. Untouched. Pure. And now she’s here…”“…when he marks her when they b

The Southern PassCaptain Thom’s POVThe southern pass was a choke point black cliffs rising like jagged teeth on both sides, snow packed ground narrow enough for only twenty wolves to fight abreast. Perfect for an ambush. Perfect for slaughter.I stood on the eastern ridge black armor dusted with frost two hundred of the King’s elite crouched behind me. Below, the pass snaked north, a frozen riverbed flanked by sheer rock. Kai’s main force would have to funnel through here.We’d already taken the scouts.Now we waited for the rest.Sergeant Lira silver haired, eyes sharp crouched beside me.“Movement at the mouth of the pass. Three hundred vanguard. Frostland raiders. They’ve got witches with them blood runes glowing.”I nodded once.“Hold the high ground. Let them commit.”Lira relayed the order silent hand signals rippling through the ranks.I turned to Lieutenant Gary young, scarred, eyes burning.“Gary, take the western archers. When the vanguard is halfway through, drop the fire pot

Stormfang CampDax’s and Kael POVThe tent was quiet except for the low crackle of the fire and Flame’s soft breathing.Kael sat on the opposite side of the low table silver eyes fixed on the sleeping child between us. The crimson vial around his neck pulsed faintly, but Flame’s green light was stronger now steady, warm, like a heartbeat made of spring.We hadn’t spoken in a long time.The silence between us wasn’t empty.It was full.Full of everything we’d run from, everything we’d almost lost, everything we were still carrying.Kael looked up silver meeting storm gray.“She’s safe,” he said voice low, rough from exhaustion and something deeper.I nodded throat tight.“Because of you.”He shook his head small, almost imperceptible.“Because of us.”Flame stirred tiny hand reaching in her sleep.I took it ,green vine curling around my finger ,warm, trusting.Kael reached too our hands meeting over her fingers brushing.The touch was electric.Not the bond.Not magic.Just… us.I looked at him really

The Frostveil Spires – Northernmost Reach of the Eternal TundraSeer Laura’s POV The wind howled like a dying beast outside the spire, clawing at the ice crusted stone walls. Inside, the chamber was still, lit only by the pale blue glow of three ever burning crystals suspended from the ceiling. Their light never flickered, never dimmed. They had burned for nine hundred years.I knelt in the center of the circle bare knees pressed to the frozen floor ,palms flat against the heart ice rune carved into the stone. My breath fogged in front of my face, but I felt no cold. Not anymore.The visions came without warning.They always did.A flash sudden, brutal.Blood.So much blood.Snow turned crimson. Black obsidian armor cracked open. Wolves, familiar wolves lying still, eyes open, lifeless. Crown marks on their breastplates. The Obsidian sigil gold veins through black stone smeared with red.Screams.Howls of rage.A child’s green light flaring bright then winking out.I gasped palms slamming again