Blake POV
The first thing I feel when I cross fully into the inner sanctuary of the fortress is her.
Elle’s presence hits me like a physical force—warm, steady, unmistakable. The bond tightens instantly, a living thing that tugs my focus away from everything else. The roar of the fight outside, the lingering scent of blood and scorched stone, the weight of the kingdom bearing down on us—all of it dulls the moment I sense her.
Blaze surges, restless and ravenous.
There, my dragon rumbles inside my mind, his voice vast and echoing. Our mate. Ours.
My rut is far from calmed.
If anything, the battle fed it. The danger. The adrenaline. The reminder of how easily I could lose everything if I misstep even once. The hunger coils hot and demanding in my blood, wrapped tight around the curse t
