The Dragon's Forbidden Daughters

Chapter Two : The Forbidden Forest

The forest seemed to swallow them the moment they crossed beneath the trees.

Arabella could barely see where she was going.

Branches scratched against her arms as she pulled Rosalind deeper into the darkness. Their dresses were torn, their shoes were soaked with mud, and neither of them had stopped running since they left the castle.

Behind them, the distant glow of their burning home disappeared between the trees.

But the sound of the soldiers did not.

"They're coming," Rosalind whispered.

Arabella glanced over her shoulder.

She couldn't see anyone.

That didn't make her feel safer.

"Keep running."

"I can't."

Rosalind stumbled.

Arabella caught her before she fell.

"We have to."

"My feet hurt."

"So do mine."

"I'm scared."

Arabella looked at her sister.

For the first time that night, Rosalind looked like the little girl she had grown up protecting.

Arabella pulled her into a brief embrace.

"I know."

"What are we going to do?"

"I don't know."

The words felt strange coming from Arabella.

She had always known what to do.

She had been raised to become the head of their family one day. Her father had taught her how to negotiate, how to command, how to remain calm when everyone else panicked.

But none of those lessons had prepared her for this.

Their father was gone.

Their home was burning.

The King wanted them dead.

And they had no idea why.

A branch snapped behind them.

Both sisters froze.

Arabella immediately pulled Rosalind behind her.

Someone was there.

She could hear footsteps.

Slow.

Heavy.

Coming closer.

"Who's there?" Arabella called.

No answer.

She reached for the small dagger hidden beneath her dress.

The footsteps stopped.

Then a low growl came from the darkness.

Rosalind's eyes widened.

"Arabella..."

"I heard it."

Two golden eyes appeared between the trees.

A massive black wolf stepped into the moonlight.

It was enormous.

Far larger than any ordinary wolf.

Its fur was almost completely black, and its eyes glowed like molten gold.

Rosalind grabbed Arabella's arm.

"Don't move."

The wolf stared at them.

Arabella raised her dagger.

The creature lowered its head.

Then—

"Put the knife down."

A man's voice came from behind them.

Arabella spun around.

A young man stood several feet away.

He wore dark leather armor, a sword strapped across his back.

His black hair was messy from the journey, and his face was calm despite the danger surrounding them.

Arabella tightened her grip on the dagger.

"Who are you?"

The stranger looked at both sisters.

For a moment, his expression changed.

Recognition.

As if he had finally found something he had spent years searching for.

"You're them."

Arabella frowned.

"Who?"

He took one step closer.

"The daughters of Lord Valerian."

Rosalind stepped forward.

"How do you know our father?"

"I knew of him."

"You were one of the King's soldiers?"

His expression hardened.

"No."

"Then what do you want?"

The man looked at Rosalind.

Then Arabella.

"I was looking for you."

Arabella's suspicion grew.

"Why?"

He didn't answer immediately.

Instead, his gaze moved toward the direction of the castle.

"They'll reach this forest soon."

"Who?"

"The King's soldiers."

Arabella's fingers tightened around the dagger.

"How do you know?"

"Because I saw them enter the forest."

Rosalind looked frightened.

"Then we need to keep moving."

The stranger shook his head.

"Running deeper into this forest will get you killed."

Arabella stared at him.

"Why?"

"Because you don't know where you are."

He looked toward the enormous black wolf.

"This forest isn't safe."

Rosalind swallowed.

"What is it?"

"The forbidden forest."

"We know."

"No."

His eyes returned to them.

"You don't."

A cold wind moved through the trees.

Somewhere in the distance, something screamed.

Not a human.

Not a wolf.

Something far larger.

Rosalind instinctively moved closer to Arabella.

The stranger watched her carefully.

"Your father should have told you."

"Told us what?"

Again, he remained silent.

Arabella stepped toward him.

"Enough secrets. My father is dead. Our home has been destroyed. Soldiers are hunting us. If you know something, tell us."

His jaw tightened.

Finally, he said,

"The King isn't hunting you because your father betrayed him."

Arabella's heart skipped.

"Then why?"

"Because of you."

Silence.

Rosalind stared at him.

"Us?"

He nodded.

"The King has spent years searching for two girls."

Arabella felt a chill run through her.

"What girls?"

"You."

Neither sister spoke.

The stranger continued.

"He believes one of you carries something that could destroy his kingdom."

Arabella looked at Rosalind.

"That's impossible."

"Is it?"

His gaze settled on Rosalind.

She immediately looked away.

Arabella noticed.

"Rosalind?"

"What?"

"You know something."

"I don't."

The stranger studied her for a moment.

Then his attention shifted back to Arabella.

"Your father knew the truth."

Arabella's eyes burned with tears.

"Then why didn't he tell us?"

"Because he was protecting you."

A distant howl echoed through the forest.

The black wolf beside the stranger lifted its head.

The stranger looked toward the sound.

"We need to leave."

Arabella didn't move.

"I don't trust you."

"You shouldn't."

His answer surprised her.

He stepped closer.

"But if you stay here, the soldiers will find you."

"And if we follow you?"

"You might live long enough to discover why they're hunting you."

Arabella hesitated.

She hated that he was right.

Rosalind touched her arm.

"Arabella."

She looked at her sister.

There was fear in Rosalind's eyes.

But there was also something else.

Something Arabella couldn't understand.

As if she recognized the stranger.

"Fine," Arabella said.

The stranger turned.

"Follow me."

They began walking.

After a few minutes, Rosalind looked at him.

"You still haven't told us your name."

He stopped.

For the first time, a faint smile appeared on his face.

"Cassian."

Arabella studied him.

"And the wolf?"

Cassian looked at the enormous creature walking beside him.

"My companion."

The wolf turned its golden eyes toward Arabella.

Then toward Rosalind.

Its gaze lingered on Rosalind.

Cassian noticed.

His expression suddenly became serious.

"Don't go near him."

Rosalind frowned.

"Why?"

Cassian didn't answer.

He simply continued walking.

But as Rosalind followed, the wolf moved closer to her.

It lowered its head.

And for one strange moment, Rosalind felt something inside her chest awaken.

A warmth.

A pull.

Almost like she had known the creature long before tonight.

She slowly reached toward it.

"Rosalind."

Cassian's voice stopped her.

She lowered her hand.

"I'm sorry."

He stared at her.

There was something strange in his eyes now.

Something almost like fear.

Then a distant roar shook the forest.

Every bird flew from the trees.

Cassian looked toward the sky.

Arabella followed his gaze.

Through a gap between the branches, something enormous passed across the moon.

A shadow with wings.

Rosalind whispered,

"What was that?"

Cassian's face went pale.

"A dragon."

Arabella stared at him.

"Dragons aren't real."

Cassian looked at her.

"They were."

Another roar echoed across the mountains.

This time, Rosalind felt the strange warmth inside her grow stronger.

And somewhere far above them, hidden beyond the clouds, a pair of golden eyes opened.

The dragon had found them.