Seraphina's POV
The rogue's jaws were inches from my throat when the black flames consumed everything.
Heat blasted across my skin, so intense I thought I'd burn alive. I squeezed my eyes shut and screamed—but the flames didn't hurt. They roared around me like a living creature, wild and protective, turning the attacking rogue into nothing but ash in seconds.
When I opened my eyes, the world had changed.
The prison wagon was destroyed, split completely in half. Guards lay scattered on the ground, unconscious or dead—I couldn't tell which. More rogues circled in the darkness beyond the flames, their red eyes glowing with hunger, but they wouldn't come closer.
They were afraid.
"Lyria?" I called out frantically, struggling against my shackles. "LYRIA!"
"Here!" Her voice came from behind an overturned wagon wheel. "I'm okay! What's happening?"
I had no answer because I didn't understand either.
Then I saw him.
Standing in the center of the black flames was the biggest wolf I'd ever seen—no, not a wolf. Something far more terrifying. His fur was darker than midnight, his body massive and powerful, and his eyes...
His eyes glowed molten gold like the sun itself.
Those eyes locked onto mine.
My breath caught in my throat. I should run. Every instinct screamed at me to run, but my legs wouldn't move. The giant wolf-creature stepped through the flames toward me, each movement graceful and deadly. The fire parted for him like water, bending to his will.
Dragon, my mind whispered in awe and terror. That's a dragon.
But dragons were supposed to have scales and wings, not fur and four legs. Unless...
"Dragon shifter," I breathed.
The creature stopped three feet away, so close I could feel the heat radiating from his body. He was studying me with those burning golden eyes, his head tilted slightly like he was trying to figure out a puzzle.
I was going to die. Right here, right now, torn apart by the most powerful predator in the realm.
But I refused to close my eyes. If death was coming, I'd face it head-on.
"Thank you," I said quietly, my voice surprisingly steady. "For saving us from the rogues."
The wolf's ears twitched. For a moment, something almost like surprise flickered across his face—as much as a wolf's face could show surprise.
Then his body began to shimmer and shift.
I watched in fascination as the massive wolf transformed into a man. The change was beautiful and terrifying—fur melting into bronze skin, massive paws becoming human hands, golden eyes staying exactly the same.
When the transformation finished, a tall man stood before me.
He was the most handsome and frightening person I'd ever seen. Dark hair fell to his shoulders, his face was all sharp angles and fierce beauty, and those golden eyes burned with an intensity that made my heart race. Black veins crawled up his neck and disappeared under his shirt—the poison, I realized.
He was dying.
"You're the human healer." His voice was deep and rough, like gravel mixed with smoke. Not a question. A statement.
I lifted my shackled wrists. "I'm the human prisoner, actually. But yes, I can heal." My eyes met his boldly. "Are you the Dragon King?"
A dangerous smile curved his lips. "King Kaelith Drakormor, at your service." His gaze traveled over my torn dress and dirty face. "Though you look more like a beggar than a healer. Did the humans really send me their trash?"
Anger flared hot in my chest, burning away the fear. "The humans sent someone who's already lost everything, so I have nothing left to lose. That makes me dangerous, Your Majesty. Not trash."
His eyes widened slightly, then that almost-smile returned. "Interesting. You have a spine after all, little human." He moved closer, invading my space. "What's your name?"
"Seraphina." I refused to step back even though everything in me wanted to. "Seraphina Ash—" I stopped, remembering I had no right to that name anymore. "Just Seraphina."
"Just Seraphina," he repeated slowly, like he was tasting my name. "And why would the humans send 'Just Seraphina' to heal their greatest enemy?"
"Because I'm expendable." The words tasted bitter but true. "They think you'll probably kill me anyway, so they're not losing anything valuable."
Kaelith studied my face for a long moment. "They're not wrong. I do kill every human who comes near me." He leaned down until his face was inches from mine, his golden eyes searching. "I should kill you right now. Snap your neck and leave your body for the rogues to finish."
My heart hammered wildly, but I kept my voice steady. "Then do it. At least death by Dragon King is more interesting than execution at dawn."
He blinked. Then, shockingly, he laughed—a rough, rusty sound like he hadn't laughed in years.
"You're either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid." He grabbed my shackles and crushed the iron chains with his bare hands like they were paper. The metal fell away, leaving red marks on my wrists. "Let's find out which."
Before I could respond, he scooped me up in his arms.
"What are you—put me down!"
"No." He started walking away from the destroyed wagon, carrying me like I weighed nothing. "You came all this way to heal me. The least I can do is bring you home alive."
"Home?" I struggled, but his grip was iron-strong. "Where are we going?"
"The Obsidian Mountains. My territory." His golden eyes glinted with dark amusement. "Try not to die of fear on the way."
"Wait! Lyria! My friend—"
"The female hiding behind the wheel?" Kaelith glanced back. "She can follow or stay. I don't care about extra humans."
"She comes with me or I don't heal you," I said firmly, even though I had no leverage whatsoever.
Kaelith stopped walking. His eyes narrowed dangerously. "You're giving me orders? Brave or stupid—I'm leaning toward stupid now."
"I'm loyal," I shot back. "Something you should understand, Your Majesty. Lyria is the only person who didn't abandon me. She stays with me."
For a tense moment, I thought he'd throw me to the ground and walk away. Let me die in the forest with the rogues circling closer.
Then his expression softened—barely, but enough to notice.
"Fine. Your loyal pet can come." He raised his voice. "Human girl! Follow us or get eaten. Your choice!"
Lyria scrambled out from behind the wheel, her eyes huge with terror but her jaw set with determination. "I'm coming!"
Kaelith started walking again, carrying me through the dark forest like this was completely normal. Behind us, I heard Lyria's footsteps running to keep up.
"Why did you save us?" I asked quietly. "From the rogues. You could have let them kill us and saved yourself the trouble."
His jaw tightened. "I don't know."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one you're getting." But his arms tightened around me slightly, almost protectively. "You smell strange. Like moonflowers and something else I can't identify. It's... distracting."
I had no idea what to say to that.
We walked in silence for several minutes. The forest around us was deadly quiet—even the rogues had disappeared, too afraid to approach the Dragon King.
Finally, I had to ask. "Are you really going to let me heal you? Or are you taking me to your fortress to kill me in private?"
Kaelith looked down at me, his golden eyes unreadable. "I haven't decided yet."
My stomach dropped.
"But I'm curious about you, Just Seraphina. Curious why my dragon wanted to protect you instead of kill you. Curious why the poison in my blood reacted when I got close to you—it's quieter now than it's been in decades." His gaze intensified. "Curious why a human who's lost everything still has fire in her eyes."
"Maybe I'm cursed," I muttered.
"Maybe you're exactly what I need."
Before I could ask what that meant, we broke through the tree line.
The Obsidian Mountains rose before us like black teeth against the night sky. At the base of the largest mountain, a massive fortress made of volcanic rock gleamed in the moonlight. Towers spiraled upward, bridges connected different levels, and everywhere—absolutely everywhere—I saw dragons.
Some in human form, some in their true dragon forms, all watching us with glowing eyes as we approached.
"Welcome to your new home," Kaelith said with dark amusement. "Try not to die in the first hour."
The fortress gates opened.
And as Kaelith carried me inside, past dozens of dragons who looked at me like I was dinner, I realized something terrifying.
I'd been wrong about what scared me most.
It wasn't death.
It was being trapped in a fortress full of creatures who wanted me dead, with a dying Dragon King who hadn't decided if he'd kill me himself.
No escape. No hope.
Just me, Lyria, and a castle full of monsters.