(Stacy's POV)
Kayda still sat across from me, arms folded, her tail twitching in a way only I noticed. The stone room carried a faint smell of burnt incense, a leftover from earlier prayers, and the silence between us pressed as heavily as the weight of the mountains outside.
"Yeah," I said at last, leaning back against the wall, "I just hope you can help her when she finds out she has four modes."
Kayda's brows knitted instantly. "Wait—" she leaned forward, eyes narrowing, "you mean she doesn't even know herself that she's like this?"
I gave a slow shrug, as if it were obvious. "Yeah. Her thought process stays the same, no matter which form she's in. But for us? For those watching? The difference is clear as daylight. Her posture changes, her tone shifts, and even her instincts adjust. It's… unsettling if you don't know what you're looking at. So, please, don't mention it to her. She needs to discover it on her own. Forcing the truth on her at this moment will only cause her emotional distress.
Kayda's jaw tightened. "Isn't it dangerous, though? Keeping something that important from her?" Her voice trembled between worry and accusation, and I could feel her guilt bleeding through the cracks of her composure.
I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Dangerous? Maybe. But Kitsuna doesn't have enough people she can rely on yet. I'm one, yes—but one isn't enough. If we tell her too early, she might not lean on us. She might run. And if she runs, she'll put herself somewhere even I can't reach. Somewhere we can't help her."
Kayda bit her lip. Her silence wasn't agreement—it was doubt.
I stood, brushing the dust off my robes, and added, half to lighten the tension, half to test her, "Honestly, you should watch out for Rachel. That girl has some… questionable intentions toward Kitsuna." I let the sarcasm drip, but a shiver trailed my spine as soon as the words left my mouth.
Because Kayda's aura shifted.
Her killing intent poured like a tide, subtle at first, then sharp enough to make the hairs on my neck rise. Her smirk wasn't playful—it was dangerous. "You mean that dumb half-breed of an Angel?" she hissed, eyes glinting.
I winced. That was a terrible idea.
"Oi," I shot back quickly, "weren't you the one who wanted to reject Kitsuna not ten minutes ago?"
The reminder hit like a slap. Kayda froze, her bravado cracking as depression swept over her face again. I chuckled under my breath, easing the edge. "Look, I understand how you feel. But don't do anything reckless. Rachel's a half-breed, sure, but she's also our only tie to the Angels right now. If we touch her, the church won't just bark—they'll hunt us."
Kayda's glare softened into reluctant thought. "You're going to use her, aren't you?"
I grinned without denying it, lifting my shoulders in a careless shrug.
Kayda's frown deepened. "Haah… I still don't understand how your family is so comfortable with you using people."
"Huh?" I leaned in, staring her down with unshaken conviction. "I'm not using them for myself. And please keep in mind—most who approach my family already come with knives hidden behind their backs. I only make sure the blade turns on them before it touches us. Family, Kayda, means everything to me."
Her silence stretched, her deadpan stare accusing.
"What? Are you saying I shouldn't?"
"…Whatever." She threw her hands up and slumped back into her chair.
I smirked, but then blinked as realization struck. "Wait a second—didn't we come here to talk about your back?"
Kayda rolled her eyes. "Really, Stacy? My wings. We've been circling the reason this whole time."
Tilting my head, I feigned ignorance until her expression hardened.
"Don't you remember?" She asked, quieter now, as if confessing a secret. "I told you once—dragons sometimes receive their wings when their soulmate accepts them completely. Trust without condition. That bond pulls wings from the soul itself."
My eyes widened with hers as the implication hit.
"She already accepted you?" We blurted together, voices overlapping.
Kayda's face flushed with uncharacteristic triumph.
"N-no, no!" I waved my hands furiously. "I refuse to believe she accepted you that fast! It took me three years to make her even begin to accept me!"
Kayda leaned back, laughing with unrestrained victory, striking a pose that could only be described as smug. "Hah! For once in my life, I've beaten you, Stacy."
I groaned in defeat, shoulders slumping. "Ugh."
My daughter… Trust someone this quickly? I thought bitterly. Trust. Acceptance. How far does it go?
The question clawed at me, and I leaned forward. "Kayda. When you say trust and accept… does that include love?"
Her smile faltered, and for once, she looked unsure. "Huh? … Actually, now that you mention it, I don't know." She frowned, rubbing her temples. Her tail stilled, and her mood sank like a stone. "I don't think so."
I forced a shrug. "She probably accepted you because you're in the Black Ops. And under Dean's command."
"Under his command?" Kayda snorted, clearly insulted. "Are you saying that in her eyes, I'm just a dragon who submitted to a mortal?" Her shoulders sagged with the weight of the thought.
I softened, patting her back. "Don't overthink it. She's a hard egg to crack, but not impossible. And remember—you are not allowed to tell Kitsuna about this soulmate thing. Not until she finds it out herself."
Kayda grumbled but nodded faintly.
I stretched, rolling my shoulders. "Well, I need to call Amari really quick. Calm yourself down while I'm gone."
(Amari's POV)
"Take Kitsuna to the aircraft. I need a word with Kayda." Mom's voice snapped, sharp as a blade, before she vanished.
I grunted, fists clenching. She really doesn't think things through. My eyes flicked toward the Capitol Police already gathering, whispering among themselves as they surveyed the chaos. What the hell am I supposed to do with this mess?
Turning, I barked, "Zagan! Help Rachel pick up my sister and carry her to the aircraft."
Rachel was already kneeling beside Kitsuna, her angelic glow faint against the grime and blood, her hands trembling slightly as she inspected her. Zagan nodded and moved quickly to help.
I squared my shoulders and walked toward the armored figures of the Capitol Police. The scent of smoke was overwhelming, and rubble crunched beneath my boots.
The officer I needed wasn't hard to find. Among the uniforms, one man stood taller, clad in silver armor that gleamed despite the ash. His gaze locked on me the moment I approached.
"Amari Draig," he barked. "What in the gods' names happened here?"
I forced a polite smile, though it felt brittle. "Sir knight. My family had a small… disagreement. Nothing major. There is no need for you to concern yourselves with identifying any culprits.
His nostrils flared. "Small? This?" He gestured violently toward the smoking ruins. "Five buildings destroyed, three still aflame, and a road shattered beyond repair. Weeks—months—to fix! You call this small?"
My lips twitched. "Umm… I don't know what to say."
"Who caused the most damage?" His tone was sharp and demanding.
I scratched the back of my neck, awkward. "That's… difficult. I couldn't track half the fight. They were moving too fast. Honestly? If I had to guess—it was my mother and… my sister."
The knight's brow shot up. "Lady Draig? Sister? You're an only child."
"Not anymore," I said smoothly. "My parents adopted her recently."
His surprise shifted to reluctant politeness. "Oh. Congratulations, then."
Before I could respond, a gratingly familiar voice sliced the air.
"Amari! What the hell happened here!?"
I sighed, turning. Of course. Hugo Boei.
The demi-lion strutted forward, his mane-like golden hair flaring in the light, his presence as obnoxious as ever. He was taller than me by half a head, his smirk twisting into mockery.
"Hugo," I muttered, unable to hide my disdain. "Why are you here?"
"I heard about the chaos in the capital. I came to investigate, and what do I find?" His laugh was sharp and taunting. "Once again, the most problematic family is making a mess."
I turned back toward the knight. "Now you know. Go back to whatever hole you crawled out of, Hugo."
"Who said you could leave?" His voice darkened, and before I could react—
Slap!
Pain stung across my cheek. I froze, blinking in disbelief. He'd actually slapped me.
"Hugo," I hissed, narrowing my eyes. "Why?"
He smirked cruelly. "Because a bitch who ignores me needs punishment." He raised his hand again.—
And then the world shifted.
The air itself pressed down. Soldiers collapsed. The knight dropped to his knees. Hugo's smirk vanished as his body hit the ground, pinned by a crushing aura.
A voice, dripping with malice, thundered across the square.
"This is your first and final warning. Hurt someone precious to my mother again, and you will lose your life. Understood, little pup?"
My head snapped toward the source.
Kitsuna stood at the aircraft's entrance, eyes glowing, her presence stretching as though she were standing right beside me despite the hundred meters of distance. Her killing intent made my chest tighten, but relief bloomed just as strongly.
Even half-dead, she protects me.
I ran to her, hugging her tightly. "Thank you."
"It's fine," she murmured, her body trembling. "But you… you should start training more."
Her breath was ragged, her hug weak. Still, I laughed softly and held her tighter. "Fine, fine. I'll get stronger."
But then she stiffened. Her lips parted.
"Blegh—!"
Blood spilled, and she collapsed limp in my arms.
Panic shot through me. "Aah, shit—I killed her!"
Frantically, I laid her on a seat inside the aircraft, checking her pulse. Relief washed through me—she'd only passed out.
My scroll buzzed. I answered with shaking hands.
"Amari? Are you still at the same spot?" Mom's voice.
"Yes," I said, glancing at Kitsuna, "but we had a run-in with Hugo. It didn't end well."
"She didn't fight again, did she?"
"No, but…" My voice trailed as I wiped blood from my hands. "She released enough force to crush everyone here. Everyone but me."
A pause. Then: "Tell me everything."
(Hugo's POV)
My chest still ached where the invisible weight had crushed me. Rage boiled through my veins, smothering the fear that had nearly broken me.
Who was she? How did she bring me to my knees from so far away? And how dare she call me a pup?
"Young master," the knight croaked, standing shakily. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." I spat the word. "Do you know who that girl was?"
"Only that she's Amari's adopted sister. Adopted recently."
A smirk curled my lips. "Perfect. Another way to get to Amari."
But then—
"Oooh?" A sultry, mocking voice slipped into my ear like poison.
I froze.
Lady Draig. Standing beside Kayda the Sage. Their auras rolled over me like thunderclouds.
"He stiffened just seeing us," Kayda laughed darkly.
"That's true," Lady Draig agreed, her smile sharp. "Should we crush him?"
"Nah. He isn't worth it. Let him play his games. The girls will be fine." Kayda turned away.
Lady Draig followed, her gaze lingering just long enough to remind me of my place.
My hands shook. My smirk faltered. The older generation… they're monsters.
Despite my faltering smirk, I swallowed hard and forced a grin. But monsters can bleed.