Chapter 28
After his dragon revealed that Arden was likely a Phoenix, Malakor sought more information. Phoenixes weren’t merely rare; they were relics of a primordial era, even more elusive than the Great Dragons. To confirm his suspicions, he required a memory longer than his own—and there was only one soul in the realms who possessed such ancient knowledge.
Once Arden had disappeared into the darkness of the kingdom, Malakor moved with silent efficiency. He discarded his shorts again, snatching them up in a clawed hand as he shifted into his dragon once more. He took to the sky, his massive wings beating a steady, rhythmic pulse against the cold night air.
Within the hour, the jagged, obsidian spires of the dragon kingdom pierced the clouds. It was a place of jagged beauty and bitter
