Marked by Destiny

Chapter four

I closed the door behind me quietly, but my heart refused to calm down. Fear wrapped itself around my chest so tightly that it became hard to breathe. My trembling hands pulled the blanket over my body as if hiding beneath it could somehow protect me from the nightmare still haunting my mind.

But sleep never came.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the same thing again.

The dragon.

Its glowing golden eyes burning through the darkness.

The deep growl that shook the earth beneath my feet.

And the strange mark glowing on my wrist.

I looked down immediately.

The symbol was still there.

Bright.

Golden.

Real.

“No…” I whispered shakily.

Terror settled deep inside me.

So it hadn’t been just a dream.

A sudden movement beside my bed made me gasp.

I opened my eyes quickly and found Kael standing near the window, staring at me with concern written across his face.

“God, Kael!” I cried, clutching my chest.

“Easy,” he said softly. “You were screaming again.”

Without thinking, I rushed toward him and wrapped my arms tightly around him. His body stiffened in surprise for a second before he slowly held me back.

“Don’t leave me,” I whispered against his chest.

A painful expression crossed his face.

“I’m here,” he murmured quietly.

For a moment, everything felt safe again.

But only for a moment.

That evening, Kael took me somewhere hidden deep behind the castle gardens. The moonlight reflected against the silver lake beside us while cold wind brushed softly through the trees.

“This is where I come whenever I want silence,” Kael said quietly.

I looked at him carefully.

There was sadness in his eyes tonight.

A sadness I didn’t understand.

“You’ve been acting strange,” I admitted softly. “Ever since the ceremony.”

Kael looked away.

“There are things about me you don’t know.”

“Then tell me.”

Before he could answer, loud shouting suddenly echoed from inside the castle.

Kael instantly stood.

Something was wrong.

We hurried back toward the palace as servants rushed through the halls in panic. Fear and whispers filled the castle like smoke.

The warmth that once lived inside those walls had completely disappeared.

Rain crashed violently outside while thunder shook the sky above us.

Everything felt wrong.

Very wrong.

“Stay close to me,” Kael ordered.

I nodded quickly.

The moment we entered the great hall, silence fell over the room.

My footsteps slowed.

Two guards stood beside Atlas.

And lying in the center of the hall—

Was the king.

Covered in white cloth.

My breathing stopped.

“No…”

Atlas stepped forward slowly, his expression cold and unreadable.

“Our father is dead,” he announced.

Shock crashed through me.

“What?” I whispered.

Tears filled the eyes of several servants standing nearby.

I looked toward Kael immediately.

His face had gone completely pale.

“How did this happen?” I asked shakily.

Atlas’s jaw tightened.

“He was poisoned.”

The entire room erupted into whispers.

Then Atlas pointed directly at Kael.

“And he’s responsible.”

My eyes widened in horror.

“No!” I shouted instantly. “That’s impossible!”

Atlas ignored me completely.

“This morning, Father wore the robe Kael gifted him,” he continued coldly. “Hours later, he collapsed.”

Kael remained silent.

That scared me more than Atlas’s accusation.

“Kael,” I whispered desperately. “Tell them you didn’t do this.”

But he said nothing.

Atlas smirked faintly.

“See?” he sneered. “Even he can’t defend himself.”

Rage exploded inside me.

“You’re lying!”

Suddenly, Atlas grabbed my arm hard enough to hurt.

“You should be careful who you defend,” he hissed quietly into my ear. “Or you’ll suffer the same fate.”

Kael’s eyes darkened instantly.

“Take your hands off her.”

The dangerous tone in his voice sent chills through the room.

For a brief second, something strange flashed inside his golden eyes.

Something inhuman.

Atlas stepped back slightly, but quickly regained composure.

“Guards,” he barked loudly. “Arrest him.”

The guards immediately grabbed Kael.

“No!” I screamed, trying to reach him.

One guard shoved me backward, nearly knocking me to the floor.

Tears streamed down my face.

“He didn’t do it!” I cried desperately.

Kael looked at me one last time as chains locked around his wrists.

And for the first time since I met him—

I saw fear in his eyes.

Real fear.

The dungeon doors slammed shut behind him.

And just like that…

Everything changed.

The following days felt like a nightmare.

Nobody smiled anymore.

Servants whispered whenever I passed.

Some looked at me with pity.

Others looked afraid.

Atlas had taken control of the castle quickly, almost like he had been waiting for this moment all along.

Late one evening, I sat alone in my room staring at the rain outside when the door suddenly opened.

Atlas walked in without permission.

Anger immediately burned inside me.

“You shouldn’t be here.”

He ignored my words completely and slowly poured himself wine.

“You’ll marry me after the mourning period ends,” he announced casually.

I stared at him in disgust.

“I would rather die.”

His expression hardened instantly.

“You don’t have a choice anymore.”

“Yes, I do.”

“You lost that choice the moment Kael was imprisoned.”

Pain twisted inside my chest.

“You’re insane.”

Atlas stepped closer slowly until he stood directly in front of me.

“Kael cannot protect you anymore,” he whispered darkly. “But I can.”

I shoved him away instantly.

“I’ll never marry you.”

For a moment, silence filled the room.

Then Atlas smiled.

But it wasn’t a normal smile.

It was cruel.

Cold.

Terrifying.

“If you refuse me,” he said softly, “Kael dies tomorrow morning.”

My blood turned to ice.

“You’re lying.”

“Am I?”

Before I could answer, he turned and walked out of the room.

I didn’t think.

I ran.

Straight toward the dungeon.

The guards tried stopping me, but I pushed past them desperately until I finally reached Kael’s cell.

The sight broke my heart instantly.

Chains wrapped tightly around his wrists.

Bruises covered his face.

Yet somehow, he still looked calm.

“Kael…” My voice cracked.

He slowly lifted his head.

“You shouldn’t be here.”

“I know you didn’t do it,” I whispered through tears.

For a long moment, he simply stared at me silently.

Then he stepped closer to the bars.

“Lyra,” he said quietly, “you need to leave this castle tonight.”

I shook my head immediately.

“I’m not leaving without you.”

“You don’t understand.”

“Then explain it to me!”

Pain flashed across his face.

Before he could speak, the mark on my wrist suddenly burned.

I cried out sharply.

At the same moment, Kael grabbed the bars tightly as glowing golden scales slowly spread across his neck.

My breathing stopped.

The torches inside the dungeon flickered violently.

A deep growl echoed through the darkness.

Not human.

Not even close.

Then Kael looked directly into my terrified eyes.

And whispered—

“They found the dragon.”