The Witches Dragonbond

Chapter 8.

The firelight flickered against hardened faces as the rebels gathered to discuss the latest reports. Scouts had been gathering troubling news—King Harold’s forces were on the move, and at the head of their warpath was none other than Derek, the monstrous half-ogre, half-human who led the king’s most ruthless campaigns.

Evelynn sat at the center of the gathering, her fingers curled tightly around a tin of tea. Across from her, Eric leaned forward, his eyes sharp as he took in every detail from the scouts’ report. Axel stood off to the side, arms crossed, his face unreadable, though the occasional sharp glance toward Eric did not go unnoticed.

Jasmine was the first to break the tense silence. “If Derek’s moving, we don’t have much time.”

Callum nodded. “He won’t waste an opportunity to crush us, especially after the last battle. The king is clearly getting desperate.”

Rowan ran a hand through his dark hair. “We need to know where he’s headed. Is he planning a direct attack on us, or is he targeting the surrounding villages?”

Dain, after having met with the scouts , stepped forward. “From what we’ve gathered, he’s marching toward Black Hollow, a small village just west of here. If he raids it, he’ll cut off one of our strongest supply chains.”

A murmur of concern swept through the rebels. Black Hollow, much like Wellwick ,had been a key ally, providing food, weapons, and shelter. Losing it would be a devastating blow.

“We can’t let that happen,”Eric said, his voice steady. “We meet him head on. If we strike before he reaches the village, we stand a chance.”

Axel scoffed. “A chance? Against Derek? You weren’t there we barely had them at Wellwick.”

Eric met his glare without hesitation. “I ram aware. But we can’t sit back and let him take another village.”

Eric leaned back, his expression unreadable. “Derek is strong, but he’s not invincible. If we plan this right, we can outmaneuver him.”

Axel let out a bitter laugh. “And I suppose you’ve got some secret warlock trick up your sleeve to guarantee that?”

Evelynn’s patience thinned. “Enough. We have a battle to prepare for. If you’re not going to contribute, then stay out of the way.”

Axel stiffened, his jaw tightening, but he said nothing more.

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the camp. Sir Darwin, pushed through the crowd, his face pale with urgency.

“My lady,” he said, bowing slightly before catching his breath. “I bring urgent news from my network in the capital.”

The crowd fell silent. Evelynn straightened. “What is it?”

Darwin glanced around, ensuring all ears were on him. “King Harold has begun amassing even more forces—mercenaries, rogues, and anyone that can hold a sword. He’s promising gold beyond measure to any who will march under his banner.”

The tension in the air thickened.

“That means he’s getting desperate,” Eric said, his tone measured.

Darwin nodded. “More than desperate. He’s also sent out word that he will double the bounty on your head, Lady Evelynn. And anyone seen harboring the rebellion will be executed.”

A heavy silence followed. Evelynn let out a slow breath, forcing herself to remain steady.

“So he’s finally acknowledging me as a real threat,” she said, voice firm despite the gravity of the news.

Callum muttered a curse under his breath. “We need to strike first. If we wait too long, we’ll be facing an army twice the size of what we’ve seen before.”

Eric, however, was quiet. His gaze flickered toward Evelynn, unreadable. She knew he was thinking about the prophecy, about what the dragon had revealed. But now wasn’t the time to dwell on it.

“Derek is our immediate threat,” she finally said. “We handle him first. Then we deal with Harold’s next move.”

She turned to Darwin. “Keep your eyes and ears open. Any movements from the capital, I want to know immediately.”

Darwin bowed his head. “Of course.”

The rebels began dispersing, murmurs of strategy and preparation filling the night air.

A Moment Before the Storm

Later that night, after the camp had settled into restless silence, Evelynn found herself near the edge of the clearing, gazing out into the darkness. The weight of the coming battle pressed down on her.

“You’re thinking too much again.”

She turned to see Eric standing beside her, his expression unusually soft.

“You don’t know that,” she said.

He smirked. “I do. You carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, little witch.”

The nickname sent an unexpected warmth through her, though she quickly pushed it aside. “I don’t have a choice. If we fail, people die.”

Eric studied her, then said, “You should probably get some rest.”

“I doubt I could sleep.”

He tilted his head, considering her. Then, with a flick of his fingers, a small flame danced to life in his palm. The firelight reflected in his deep eyes as he guided it through the air, making it twist and swirl in mesmerizing patterns.

Evelynn watched, entranced. “You’re showing off.”

He chuckled. “Maybe a little.”

He reached for her hand, gently guiding it beneath his own so that the flame floated between their palms. The warmth of his skin sent a shiver up her arm.

“You have more power than you realize,” he murmured. “And not just because of the prophecy.”

Her breath hitched. There was something in his gaze—something intense, something undeniable. For a brief moment, the world around them faded.

Then, before she could stop it, he leaned in, his lips barely brushing against hers in a fleeting, feather-light kiss.

Evelynn’s heart pounded. The moment stretched between them, fragile and uncertain.

Then she pulled back, breaking the tension with a forced smirk. “Come on. I want to go meet with the dragon.”

Eric blinked, clearly surprised, but he followed as she grabbed a blindfold from her belt.

“Trust me?” she asked.

His lips curled into an amused smile. “Not this again.”

She rolled her eyes but stepped behind him, tying the blindfold over his eyes. “Careful or I just might have to lead you off a cliff.”

He chuckled. “Not the worst way to go.”

She ignored the flutter in her chest at his words and led him through the trees toward the dragon’s cavern.

Tomorrow, war would come. But tonight, for just a little longer, she wanted to believe in something more.

The moon hung high in the sky, casting long shadows over the path ahead. The forest was quiet, except for the rustling of leaves in the wind. Evelynn and Eric walked side by side, their footsteps soft on the forest floor. The journey to the dragon felt heavier with each step, and Evelynn’s thoughts were clouded by the weight of the prophecy, her role in it, and her growing connection with Eric.

“I never expected any of this you know,” Evelynn said, breaking the silence. “The prophecy, the magic… I can barely even remember my parents, let alone the things they could’ve taught me.”

Eric, his expression unreadable. “That’s not your fault, Evelynn. You’re not alone in this. And it’s not too late.”

She exhaled, trying to calm the unease growing in her chest. “But what if I don’t want to be the witch of the prophecy? What if I don’t want to be tied to this fate?”

Eric slowed his pace, walking just slightly ahead of her, but he didn’t stop. “None of us want fate to dictate our lives. But sometimes we don’t have a choice. What matters is how we act in the face of it.”

Evelynn shook her head, feeling the familiar surge of frustration. “But I didn’t choose this path. I didn’t ask for any of it. I just want the war to end.”

Eric stopped walking, turning to face her. “I know. But the prophecy doesn’t just end with a war. It’s about bringing something better—peace. That’s why the prophecy exists, to guide us toward a better future.”

For a brief moment, an unspoken understanding passed between them. The weight of the prophecy still hung over her, but there was a strange comfort in knowing that Eric didn’t see her as a mere tool of fate. He saw her as an equal.

“I’m just not sure I’m ready for it all,” she admitted, her voice quiet.

Eric’s gaze softened. “None of us are. But we don’t get to decide when we’re ready. We just have to do what’s right.”

They resumed walking, each lost in their own thoughts, but there was a silent agreement between them now—whatever came next, they would face it together.Their own bond blooming before them.