Chapter three
769 Words
“You will have to leave,” Kael said softly.
“I’m not leaving you,” I whispered immediately.
His jaw tightened as he ran a hand through his dark hair in frustration.
“Lyra—”
“No,” I cut in stubbornly. “Start giving me answers instead of pushing me away.”
Kael turned toward the massive windows overlooking the dark mountains. Silver moonlight spilled across his face, making him look even more dangerous than before.
Or maybe more broken.
The dragon roar from earlier still echoed faintly through the castle walls.
Something was coming.
And Kael knew it.
I stepped closer carefully.
“What aren’t you telling me?” I asked quietly.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then finally, he looked at me.
Really looked at me.
His golden eyes burned with something raw and conflicted.
“Please listen to me,” he murmured. “It’s dangerous for you here.”
“Because of the dragons?”
A bitter laugh escaped him.
“Dragons don’t like humans.”
“I’m still not leaving.”
Something inside him shifted at my words.
The coldness in his expression cracked slightly, revealing exhaustion underneath.
His glowing golden eyes softened for the briefest moment before hardening again.
“You don’t understand what you’re walking into,” he said.
“Then explain it to me.”
The air between us felt heavy.
Tense.
Outside, thunder rumbled across the mountains, shaking the castle windows slightly.
Kael cursed under his breath before pacing away from me.
“I spent my entire life trying to control what I am,” he admitted quietly. “And now you show up with that mark on your wrist and suddenly everything is changing.”
I glanced down at the glowing symbol again.
It pulsed faintly beneath my skin.
“What does it mean?” I whispered.
Kael stopped moving.
“The mark only appears once every hundred years.”
My heartbeat slowed.
“And?”
He hesitated.
“It binds a dragon to his fated mate.”
The room went completely silent.
I stared at him, convinced I had heard him wrong.
“You’re lying.”
“I wish I was.”
My chest tightened painfully.
“No,” I whispered, shaking my head. “That’s impossible.”
Kael walked toward me slowly until only inches separated us.
“You felt it too,” he said softly. “The fire. The pull between us.”
I hated that he was right.
Because every second near him felt overwhelming.
Dangerous.
Addictive.
I swallowed hard and looked away.
“This can’t be happening.”
Kael lifted his hand carefully, almost like he was afraid to touch me.
But his fingers still brushed against my cheek gently.
And instantly—
Warmth spread through my entire body.
A sharp breath escaped my lips.
Kael closed his eyes briefly like he felt it too.
The connection between us terrified me.
But somehow…
It also felt safe.
Then suddenly—
A loud crash echoed somewhere below the castle.
Kael’s eyes snapped open instantly.
The warmth vanished from his expression, replaced by pure alarm.
“They’re here,” he muttered.
Another roar thundered through the night.
Closer this time.
Much closer.
The castle trembled violently beneath our feet.
I stumbled slightly, but Kael grabbed my waist before I could fall.
The moment his arms wrapped around me, fire exploded around the room.
Silver flames spiraled wildly through the air without burning anything.
Kael looked horrified.
“That’s not supposed to happen.”
Before I could ask what he meant, the bedroom doors burst open.
A soldier rushed inside, breathing heavily.
“Your Highness,” he gasped. “The northern gate has fallen.”
Kael’s entire expression darkened instantly.
“How many?”
“Too many.”
Fear slammed into me.
Kael released me slowly, though his hand lingered at my waist for a second longer than necessary.
Then he turned toward the soldier.
“Prepare the guards,” he ordered coldly. “No one gets near her.”
The soldier nodded quickly before disappearing again.
I grabbed Kael’s arm before he could leave.
“You’re going to fight them alone?”
“I don’t have a choice.”
“You could die.”
Kael looked back at me, and something painful flickered across his face.
“Dragons were born for war, Lyra.”
Before I could stop him, he gently removed my hand from his arm.
Then he leaned closer.
So close I could feel his breath against my skin.
“If I don’t come back,” he whispered, “run.”
- Writer
