Seraphina's POV
"We leave at dawn."
Kaelith's declaration cut through the throne room discussions about Elena's threat. Everyone fell silent, staring at their king in confusion.
"Leave for where, my King?" Darius asked carefully.
"To find Elder Aramis." Kaelith's golden eyes found mine across the room. "But first, the healer needs rest. She's exhausted from using her powers." His gaze swept across his commanders. "We have three days before Elena's deadline. We'll use them wisely."
The meeting dissolved, dragons dispersing to their duties. I started to follow Lyria back to our quarters when Kaelith's voice stopped me.
"Not you, Seraphina. We need to talk. Privately."
My stomach flipped nervously as the throne room emptied, leaving us alone. Kaelith descended from his throne, moving toward me with that predatory grace that made my heart race.
"You used a lot of power today," he said, stopping close enough that I had to tilt my head back to meet his eyes. "Healing the corrupted dragon, fighting off Damien's soldiers, awakening your full Lunaris abilities. That takes a toll."
"I'm fine," I lied. Truth was, I felt like I'd been trampled by horses. Every muscle ached, and exhaustion pulled at my bones.
His eyes narrowed. "You're a terrible liar." Before I could protest, he scooped me up in his arms like I weighed nothing.
"What are you doing?" I squeaked.
"Taking you to rest. You're no use to anyone if you collapse from exhaustion." He carried me through corridors toward his private chambers, ignoring my protests. "And tomorrow morning, we begin proper treatment sessions."
"Treatment sessions?"
"You healed some of my poison during the battle, but not all of it." He pushed open the door to his quarters with his shoulder. "If we're going to face Elena and this Morganna witch, I need to be at full strength. Which means you're going to heal me completely."
He set me down gently on a chair near the fireplace. This close, I could see the black veins still visible on his neck, faded but not gone.
"Twice daily," he continued, his voice firm but not unkind. "Morning and night. Until the poison is completely gone."
"That sounds like you're planning to keep me here a while," I said quietly.
His expression softened slightly. "I'm planning to keep you alive. There's a difference." He moved to pour wine from a crystal decanter. "Drink this. It'll help with the exhaustion."
I accepted the glass, our fingers brushing. That same electric shock passed between us, making my breath catch.
"Why do you care so much?" The question slipped out before I could stop it. "About keeping me alive, I mean. Is it just because I can heal you?"
Kaelith was quiet for a long moment, staring into the fire. When he finally spoke, his voice was raw with honesty.
"At first, yes. You were useful. A tool to cure my poison." He turned to face me, his golden eyes intense. "But then you looked at me like I was a person instead of a monster. You argued with me. Challenged me. Showed me kindness even when I threatened you." His jaw tightened. "No one's done that in two hundred years. So no, it's not just about the healing anymore."
My heart hammered against my ribs. "Then what is it about?"
He crossed the distance between us in two steps, cupping my face gently. "It's about the fact that when that corrupted dragon attacked you, I forgot about my kingdom, my revenge, everything—because all I could think was that I couldn't let you die." His thumb traced my cheek. "You've become important to me, little moon. Dangerously important."
I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. Could only stare into those golden eyes that held so much pain and longing.
"Kaelith, I—"
A sharp knock interrupted us.
Kaelith dropped his hand, his expression shifting back to cold authority. "Enter."
A young dragon messenger burst in, bowing quickly. "My King! Urgent news from the southern border!"
"Speak."
"A group of humans approached under a white peace flag. They're asking to speak with you." The messenger swallowed nervously. "They claim to have information about Queen Elena's weapon. The one that can destroy all dragons."
My blood ran cold.
Kaelith's eyes blazed. "Who are they?"
"They won't say. But their leader insists she'll only speak to you and the Lunaris healer. Together."
Kaelith and I exchanged glances.
"It could be a trap," I said.
"Almost certainly is," he agreed. "But we need information." He turned to the messenger. "Tell them we'll meet at neutral ground. The clearing by the old ruins. One hour. And if they try anything—"
"Understood, my King." The messenger bowed and rushed out.
Kaelith immediately started strapping on weapons—a sword across his back, daggers at his belt. His movements were efficient and deadly.
"You're not going alone," I said firmly.
"Neither are you." He tossed me a small dagger. "Keep this on you. If things go wrong, run. Don't try to fight, don't try to be a hero. Just run back to the fortress."
"I'm not leaving you—"
"Seraphina." His voice was sharp. "Promise me. If it comes down to choosing between your life and mine, you choose yours. Promise."
The intensity in his eyes told me this wasn't negotiable.
"I promise," I lied.
He studied my face like he knew I was lying but didn't have time to argue. "Let's go."
Thirty minutes later, we stood in a moonlit clearing surrounded by ancient stone ruins. Kaelith had brought Darius and ten other warriors, all hidden in the shadows. I stood beside Kaelith, my new dagger heavy at my belt, my heart pounding.
"They're late," Darius muttered.
"Patience," Kaelith said, though his hand rested on his sword hilt.
Then I heard footsteps.
Five figures emerged from the forest, all wearing dark cloaks with hoods covering their faces. They moved slowly, hands visible and empty of weapons.
"That's close enough," Kaelith commanded when they were twenty feet away. "Show your faces."
The leader pulled back her hood.
I gasped.
It was my father's wife—the Duchess. Elena's mother. The woman who'd made my childhood miserable.
"Hello, Seraphina," she said, her voice tired and sad. "I'm sorry we have to meet like this."
"You're sorry?" Anger flared hot in my chest. "You stood by while your daughter destroyed my life! While she sent me to die!"
"I know." The Duchess's face crumpled with guilt. "And I'll spend the rest of my life trying to make amends. But right now, we have bigger problems." She looked at Kaelith. "My daughter has gone mad with power. And the witch Morganna is controlling her."
"Controlling her how?" Kaelith demanded.
"Dark magic. A curse placed on Elena when she was a child." The Duchess's hands shook. "I didn't know until recently. Morganna has been grooming Elena for years, waiting for the right moment to strike. And now that Elena is queen, that moment has come."
"What's the weapon?" I asked. "The one that can destroy all dragons?"
The Duchess hesitated, fear flickering across her face. "It's called the Eclipse Stone. An ancient artifact that can block out the sun for days, maybe weeks. Dragons need sunlight to maintain their power—without it, you'll all weaken and eventually die."
Horror washed over me. I looked at Kaelith and saw the same realization in his eyes.
"Where is this Eclipse Stone now?" he asked, his voice deadly calm.
"Morganna already has it. She's been preparing the ritual for months." The Duchess pulled out a rolled parchment. "But there's a way to stop it. This is a map to Morganna's hidden temple where she's keeping the stone. If you can get there before the new moon in three days—"
"We can destroy it," I finished.
"No," Kaelith said flatly. "This is obviously a trap."
"Of course it's a trap," the Duchess agreed. "Morganna knows I'd try to stop her. She's probably expecting you. But it's also your only chance." She looked directly at me. "Elena is planning to activate the Eclipse Stone at midnight on the third day. If you don't stop her before then, every dragon in the realm will die."
"Why should we trust you?" Darius stepped out of the shadows, his sword drawn. "You could be working with them."
"I could be," the Duchess admitted. "But I'm not. Elena is my daughter, and I love her. But I love what's right more." Tears streamed down her face. "She's going to kill thousands of innocent creatures. I can't stand by and watch that happen, even if it means betraying my own child."
The clearing fell silent except for the wind rustling through the ruins.
"If you're lying," Kaelith said quietly, "I will personally ensure your death is neither quick nor painless."
"I'm not lying." The Duchess handed the parchment to me. "Please. Save my daughter from herself. And save the dragons."
She and her companions turned to leave.
"Wait," I called out. "There's something you're not telling us. What does Morganna want with my blood? Why does she need Lunaris blood specifically?"
The Duchess stopped, her back still to us. When she spoke, her voice was barely a whisper.
"Because Lunaris blood is the only thing that can break the seal on something Morganna has been trying to free for five hundred years." She looked back over her shoulder, her face pale with terror. "Something worse than the corrupted dragon. Something that, if released, will destroy not just dragons—but the entire world."
My blood turned to ice. "What is it?"
"The Shadow King." The Duchess's voice shook. "The ancient dragon who was sealed away by the first Lunaris priestess. He's been trapped in the void between worlds, waiting. And if Morganna gets your blood, she can bring him back."
The world tilted sideways.
"That's why she helped Elena become queen," I realized. "She needed access to resources, power, everything required to capture me and drain my blood for the ritual."
"Yes." The Duchess looked directly at me with desperate intensity. "So you see, you can't just stop the Eclipse Stone. You have to stop Morganna from getting to you. Because if she does—if she completes that ritual—the Shadow King will return and the world will burn."
She pulled her hood back up. "You have three days. Use them wisely."
Then she and her companions disappeared into the forest.
We stood in stunned silence.
"Well," Darius said finally. "We're completely doomed."
"Not yet." Kaelith's jaw was set with determination. He looked at me. "But we need to move fast. First, we visit Elder Aramis to learn everything we can about this Shadow King and how to stop him. Then we go after Morganna."
"And what about Elena?" I asked quietly.
His expression softened slightly. "That's your choice, little moon. She's your sister, even if she's been horrible to you. If you want to try to save her from Morganna's control, I'll support you."
My heart swelled at his words. He was giving me the choice, respecting my feelings even in the middle of a crisis.
"We save her if we can," I decided. "But stopping Morganna comes first. The world is more important than my family drama."
Kaelith smiled—a real, genuine smile that transformed his whole face. "You're going to make an excellent queen someday."
"Queen?" I blinked in surprise.
"Did I stutter?" He pulled me close, his arms wrapping around me protectively. "You're mine, Seraphina. Which means eventually, you'll be my queen. Better get used to the idea."
My face burned hot, but I couldn't help smiling. "You're very presumptuous."
"I'm very certain." He kissed my forehead gently. "Now let's get back to the fortress. We leave for Elder Aramis at first light, and you need rest."
As we walked back, his arm around my waist, Lyria waiting for us at the edge of the clearing, I felt something I hadn't felt in a long time.
Hope.
Maybe we could do this. Maybe we could stop Morganna, save Elena, prevent the Shadow King from returning, and somehow survive.
Maybe—
A scream shattered the night.
We spun around to see one of the Duchess's companions running back toward us, terror on her face.
"AMBUSH!" she shrieked. "The Duchess—they took her—"
She collapsed at our feet, a crossbow bolt in her back.
Behind her, emerging from the forest like nightmares made flesh, came dozens of figures in dark robes. Their eyes glowed red with dark magic.
Morganna's witches.
And they weren't here to talk.
They were here to take me.
"RUN!" Kaelith roared, shifting into his dragon form instantly. "Get Seraphina to the fortress! NOW!"
Darius grabbed my arm, dragging me backward as the witches attacked.
Dark magic exploded through the clearing—black lightning, shadow tendrils, curses that made the air itself scream.
Kaelith fought like a demon, his dragon form tearing through witches with savage efficiency. But there were too many. For every one he killed, two more appeared.
"We have to help him!" I struggled against Darius's grip.
"We have to get you to safety! That's what he ordered!"
"I don't care about orders!" I ripped free from Darius, golden light blazing from my hands. "I'm not leaving him!"
I ran back toward the battle, power building inside me like a storm.
But I wasn't fast enough.
One of the witches threw something—a glass orb that shattered at Kaelith's feet, releasing purple smoke. He roared in pain as the smoke touched him, his dragon form flickering.
Poison gas.
He crashed to the ground, struggling to breathe, his body convulsing.
"NO!" I screamed, running faster.
The lead witch smiled cruelly. She raised her hands, dark magic swirling around them, preparing to deliver a killing blow to Kaelith's helpless form.
Time seemed to slow down.
I was too far away. I couldn't reach him in time.
Kaelith was going to die.
And then something inside me broke free—a power I didn't know I had, ancient and vast and terrifying.
My wings erupted from my back, not gold this time but pure white like moonlight itself.
I flew—faster than thought, faster than fear—and slammed into the witch just as she released her death curse.
The curse hit me instead of Kaelith.
Pain exploded through my body, so intense I couldn't even scream. It felt like every cell was being torn apart and rebuilt wrong, like poison and fire and ice all at once.
I fell.
The last thing I heard before darkness claimed me was Kaelith's roar of fury and grief.
Then nothing.