The Witches Dragonbond

Chapter 5

The rebellion camp was alive with discussion, but Evelynn’s mind was elsewhere. The battle had been won, but her soul bond with the dragon burned stronger than ever, pulling her toward the unknown.

“You want to go alone?” Axel’s voice was tight with frustration, his injury from the battle still evident in the way he held his side. “Eve, that’s reckless, even for you.”

Jasmine crossed her arms, her piercing blue eyes scanning Evelynn’s face. “What if something happens? We just fought a damn army, and now you want to go wandering off into the woods?”

Rowan, Mary, Dain, Lauren,and Callum stood behind them, each wearing varying expressions of concern. Evelynn appreciated their loyalty, but this was something she had to do.

“The dragon is calling me,” she said simply. “I can feel him, like a fire in my blood. He’s waiting for me.”

Rowan let out a scoff. “And we’re just supposed to let you go, based on a feeling?”

Evelynn turned to face them fully. “You’ve trusted my instincts before. Trust me now. Go back to camp, regroup, and start planning our next move against Harold. I won’t be long.”

A tense silence settled between them. Finally, Callum sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I don’t like it, but she’s right. We have things to do, and she won’t listen to us anyway ,never has.”

Axel shook his head. “You’re damn stubborn, you know that?”

She smirked. “I’ve been told.”

Jasmine huffed but relented. “Fine. Just don’t get yourself killed.”

With that, Evelynn turned and disappeared into the forest, leaving her friends behind.

The deeper she went, the more she felt it—the undeniable pull of the dragon. It guided her through the dense trees, over twisting roots and damp earth. The air hummed with an energy that made her skin prickle, the magic between them strengthening with every step.

At last, she reached a cavern hidden behind a waterfall, its mouth lined with shimmering emeralds embedded in the rock. The sight took her breath away. She stepped inside, her boots echoing on the smooth stone floor. The sound of the water echoed off the walls in a magical way.

Then, she saw him.

The dragon stood at the center of the cave, his scales dark as night but flecked with the goldenglow of his piercing eyes—eyes that matched hers.

“You have come.”

His voice rumbled through her very bones, never spoken aloud but resonating within her soul.

Evelynn took a slow step forward. “I had no choice. I could feel you calling me.”

The dragon dipped his massive head. “Our bond is ancient, written in your blood. You are the descendant of witches who once rode my kin into battle. But you are the first in centuries to awaken this connection.”

A shiver ran down her spine. “You knew my ancestors?”

“I was bonded to one long ago. A warrior, like you. She used my power not just for battle, but to change the course of history.”

Evelynn swallowed hard. “And now you’ve chosen me?”

The dragon’s golden eyes locked onto hers. “I have. But this bond is not without consequence. From this moment on, we are one. Your strength will be mine, and mine yours.”

The weight of his words settled heavily on her. Their souls were now intertwined, their fates forever linked.

After a moment, she squared her shoulders. “Then we better make it count.”

The dragon let out a sound that could have been amusement. “Indeed. And if we are to win this war, we must strike where Harold is weakest.”

Evelynn’s heart pounded. “You know how to defeat him?”

“Not directly. But there is one who may aid us—Harold has fathered many but only one son, Eric.”

Evelynn froze. “Eric? No one even knows if he’s still alive.”

“He is. But whether he will help you is uncertain.”

Her mind raced. If Harold’s own son could be turned against him, it could change everything.

She took a deep breath, meeting the dragon’s steady gaze. “Then we find him.”

“Then we find him,” the dragon echoed.

The air in the camp was thick with tension when Evelynn returned gathering her comrades around the flickering bonfire. The soft crackling of the flames was the only sound for a long moment as she recounted what the dragon had told her. Her voice was steady, but she could feel the weight of their eyes on her as she spoke of her newfound witch powers and, more importantly, the fact that king Harold son was still alive.

When she finished, silence settled over the group like a heavy shroud.

Rowan was the first to speak. He leaned forward, arms crossed, his dark eyes narrowed. “So let me get this straight,” he said, his tone laced with skepticism. “You’re saying there’s a son of Harold out there somewhere, and we’re supposed to believe he might be the key to bringing that bastard down?”

Evelynn met his gaze without hesitation. “The dragon believes he is,” she replied firmly. “And if the dragon is right, this could be our chance to strike where Harold least expects it.”

Mary exchanged a glance with Lauren , shifting uncomfortably where she sat. “Even if Eric is still alive, how do we know he isn’t just like his father?” Mary asked cautiously. “Or worse—what if he’s been living in exile and wants nothing to do with the war?”

Axel, sitting beside Jasmine, ran a hand through his black hair. “It’s a risk,” he admitted. “But what isn’t, at this point? If there’s a chance we can use him against Harold, we have to take it.”

Jasmine nodded in agreement. “We’ve all trusted Evelynn’s judgment from the beginning,” she said, her blue eyes steady. “She wouldn’t bring this to us if she didn’t believe in it.”

Rowan exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “That’s not what I’m questioning. It’s just… we barely have enough forces to hold back the rogues, let alone go chasing after some long-lost prince who might not give a damn about us.”

Callum, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up. “But what if he does?” His voice was thoughtful. “If Harold has a weakness, we need to find it. And if his own blood is that weakness, we’d be fools not to try.”

The group fell into a contemplative silence. The flames danced in Evelynn’s golden green eyes as she let their words settle. She knew their concerns were valid, but she also knew they had no choice.The king had to fall.

“If we do this,” she said at last, “we do it carefully. We gather what we can about Eric—where he is, what he knows, and most importantly, where his loyalties lie. We don’t approach him blindly.”

Rowan sighed, rubbing a hand over his face before nodding reluctantly. “Fine,” he muttered. “But if this goes south, I reserve the right to say I told you so.”

Evelynn smirked. “Wouldn’t expect anything less.”

With the decision made, they turned their focus to strategy. Sir Darwin had spies and informants in nearby villages—perhaps one of them had heard whispers of Eric’s whereabouts. They would start there, sending a small scouting party to gather intel while the rest of the rebellion continued to fortify their camp and protect the villages under their care.

As the night stretched on, the conversation shifted to battle tactics, supply lines, and their next move against King Harold’s forces. But through it all, Evelynn felt the ever-present hum of her soul bond with the dragon, a steady pulse in her mind.

And with it, a single, whispered warning.

The storm is coming.

She didn’t need to be told twice.

They had precious little time before King Harold struck back.

After the meeting, as the others began to disperse to their tasks, Evelynn walked slowly toward the edge of camp, her mind still racing. The weight of their decision settled on her shoulders, but she knew it was the right one. They had no other choice. The king had to fall.

She needed a moment to clear her head, to think.

The forest around the camp was quiet, except for the occasional rustling of leaves in the wind. She made her way toward a nearby stream, the sound of running water soothing in the stillness of the night. The cool air of the evening on her skin, the tension in her chest beginning to ease as she approached the water’s edge.

As she knelt beside the stream to cup her hands and drink, she heard footsteps behind her.

Turning slightly, she found Axel standing a few paces away, his expression unreadable. The moonlight glinted off his straight black hair, casting shadows on his sharp features. His normally bright blue eyes were darker than usual, filled with a mix of concern and something else she couldn’t quite place.

“You shouldn’t be out here alone,” Axel said quietly, his voice rough as he stepped closer. “Especially after everything that’s happened today.”

Evelynn shrugged, offering a tense smile. “I needed a break from the chaos.”

Axel’s gaze softened, but there was still a storm behind his eyes—something he hadn’t shared with her, something he kept locked away. He’s usual humorous aura gone. He stood there for a moment, as if weighing something in his mind. Then, with a deep breath, he took a step closer, his voice low.

“I don’t like this, Eve. The bond with the dragon… It’s not just dangerous for you. It’s dangerous for all of us.” He paused, searching her face as if looking for the right words. “We cant stand to lose you.”

Her heart tightened in her chest, but before she could respond, Axel reached out, cupping her face gently in his hands. His touch was warm, and for a brief moment, it felt like the world around them vanished.

And then, without warning, he yanked her toward him.

His lips met hers with a sudden, urgent force, and the world tilted. Evelynn’s mind went blank—her body frozen in shock as she processed the raw intensity of the kiss. She had never felt anything like it before. It was fierce, possessive, and strangely comforting all at once. But before she could fully react, before she could even understand what was happening, Axel pulled away, his eyes dark with something she couldn’t decipher.

“Axel—” she started, her voice trembling slightly, in an unfamiliar way ,but he was already walking away.

He muttered to himself something she couldn’t hear,his back turned to her, his shoulders rigid with tension. “Get back to camp, Eve seriously.It’s not safe out here.”

Evelynn stood there, her heart racing in her chest, unsure of what had just happened—or how she should feel about it. The kiss had left her breathless, her pulse pounding in her ears, but the emotions swirling inside her were a tangle of confusion. She didn’t know if she wanted to chase after him, to ask him what he meant by it, or if she should just forget it and move on.

But Axel was already gone, disappearing into the shadows of the night, leaving her alone by the stream with nothing but her thoughts—and the storm that was beginning to gather within her heart.

She took a deep breath, pushing the confusing feelings aside for now. She had to focus and be strong .She had bigger things to worry about.The rebellion, the king, and the dragon. But as she made her way back to camp, the taste of Axel’s kiss lingered on her lips, and the world felt just a little bit more uncertain than it had before. For the first time, Evelyn didn’t feel sure in herself.