The

Chapter 6: The Fire in His Bones

The soldiers were disoriented, but not defeated. Kael could see the fear in their eyes, but that didn’t stop them from closing in. The scarred man barked orders, and the remaining riders surrounded him, their swords drawn and their horses stomping in the snow.

Kael’s heart was racing. The dragon beside him was a blur of motion, its wings sweeping the snow into the air as it hovered protectively. It was his dragon now. He could feel the bond, a fire in his chest, a pull he couldn’t explain. The creature’s golden eyes locked onto him, and Kael felt a strange sense of calm, as if the world had suddenly shifted into focus.

“Stay close,” Seraya murmured, her blade drawn, her stance ready. “I’ll cover you.”

“No,” Kael said, his voice sharp. “We can’t run. Not this time.”

Seraya’s eyes flicked to the soldiers, then back to him. “Kael, you don’t understand. They won’t stop until you’re dead. The moment they realize what you’ve become—”

“I know what I am,” Kael interrupted, his voice filled with something he didn’t recognize. He felt the power coiling inside him, a force greater than anything he had ever known. “But they will never control me.”

Before Seraya could respond, Kael turned toward the soldiers, the dragon at his side. The scarred man sneered, drawing his sword, his eyes narrowing.

“We’ll see about that, Prince.”

Kael’s pulse raced, but this time it wasn’t fear. It was something else. Something ancient.

He raised his hand.

The wind picked up, howling through the trees, the air crackling with energy. The dragon let out a fierce screech, its wings flapping hard enough to send a gust that knocked a few of the soldiers off their feet.

The ground beneath Kael’s feet trembled. He could feel it now—the connection. The dragon’s power coursing through him, weaving through his veins like fire. His body hummed with energy. His senses sharpened. Everything slowed down.

Without thinking, he raised his arm higher.

The soldiers charged.

But Kael was faster.

He moved like a flash of lightning, his body responding to the dragon’s energy, his limbs moving with a speed he couldn’t have predicted. With a shout, he swung the knife, the steel flashing through the air. It connected with a soldier’s sword, knocking it out of his hand with a shock that rang in Kael’s bones.

He felt the pull again, stronger this time. The dragon’s eyes met his. Together, they were more than just prince and beast. They were a force.

The soldiers hesitated, faltering, as if something was keeping them in place. The scarred man swore, his face twisted in disbelief. He raised his sword, and his men followed.

But Kael wasn’t done.

With a roar, he surged forward, the ground shaking beneath him. His hand lifted again, and this time, a pulse of light exploded from him—a wave of raw energy that knocked the soldiers back, sending them flying. The dragon screeched in unison, its wings beating harder, the air shimmering with power.

The men screamed, tumbling into the snow, unable to fight the wave that had overtaken them. The scarred man, too, was thrown to the ground, his sword slipping from his grip.

Kael stood tall, chest heaving, his heart thundering. The soldiers were scattered around him, dazed, some unconscious, others struggling to get to their feet.

He looked down at the dragon, whose amber eyes were fixed on him, glowing with a fierce light.

“Did I… do that?” Kael whispered, his voice raw with shock.

The dragon let out a low, rumbling growl, then nudged his hand with its snout. It was as if it were confirming something. A bond.

Seraya stepped forward, her face pale but a mixture of awe and fear in her gaze. “You did.”

Kael’s legs nearly gave way beneath him, the weight of what had just happened settling in. The power was still there, pulsing through him. The dragon’s power. His power.

And the realization hit him harder than any sword could.

He wasn’t just Kael anymore. He was something else—something dangerous.

The scarred man staggered to his feet, blood trickling down his face from where Kael’s energy had knocked him back. He sneered, wiping the blood away.

“You are the prince,” he spat, his voice filled with venom. “But that won’t save you.”

Kael’s grip tightened on his knife, but before he could move, Seraya’s hand fell on his arm.

“Let them go,” she said quietly. “For now.”

Kael turned to look at her, the fire still burning in his chest. He didn’t understand everything yet—didn’t understand the power inside him, or why the dragon had chosen him—but one thing was clear.

He wasn’t running anymore.

And whoever wanted him dead, whoever wanted to control him… they were going to learn exactly who Kael was.

“Let them go,” Kael said, his voice steady, his eyes cold. “But if they come for me again…”

Seraya’s expression softened slightly, and she nodded.

“They will,” she said, voice grim. “And next time, Kael, they won’t hesitate.”

Kael looked down at the dragon, who nuzzled against him once more. It felt right. This was where he belonged.

And they would come for him. He knew that.

But he would be ready.