Kaelion stood frozen, his golden eyes wide with disbelief as he stared at Elira. The
flames that surrounded her shimmered with an intensity that both terrified and
mesmerized him. The woman who had once seemed so fragile now stood before
him as a force of nature, her fiery gaze piercing through his very soul.
Elira took another step forward, the flames licking the ground beneath her feet,
leaving charred marks in their wake. Her body trembled, not from fear, but from
the sheer power coursing through her veins. The fire consumed her, yet it did not
harm her. Instead, it filled her with strength, with courage.
"Kaelion," she said, her voice steady and laced with fury. "For years, I have
endured pain, humiliation, and betrayal. But no more. This power… it's mine now.
And you will never touch me again."
Kaelion tried to respond, but the words caught in his throat. For the first time in
his life, he felt powerless. This was not the Elira he had known—the one he
thought he could dominate. This was a woman reborn, blazing with the strength
of something far greater than him.
His friend, standing In the shadows, stepped forward, his expression dark and
calculating. "Kaelion," he hissed, "this is her defiance. She's mocking you, using
the Dragon King's power to challenge your authority. You can't let this go
unanswered."
The words snapped Kaelion out of his trance. His pride flared, pushing back the
fear that had gripped him moments before. He clenched his fists and took a step
toward Elira, his jaw tightening. "Enough of this," he growled. "You think this
power makes you untouchable? You think it makes you stronger than me?"
Elira raised her chin, her fiery gaze unwavering. "I don't need to be stronger than
you, Kaelion. I only need to be free."
Her words struck him like a blow. The flames around her intensified, forcing him to
take a step back. For a brief moment, doubt flickered across his face, but it was
quickly replaced by anger.
Before he could act, the door to the chamber burst open, and a group of soldiers
rushed in, weapons drawn. They stopped abruptly, their eyes widening as they
took in the sight of Elira engulfed in flames.
"Your Highness," one of them stammered, looking to Kaelion for instructions.
"What is happening here?"
Kaelion turned to them, his voice sharp. "Restrain her. Now."
The soldiers hesitated, clearly terrified of the blazing woman before them. But
they obeyed, stepping forward cautiously. Elira's eyes narrowed, and the flames
around her flared even brighter, forcing them to stop in their tracks.
"You will not touch me," she said, her voice like thunder. She raised her hand, and
a wall of fire erupted between her and the soldiers, blocking their path.
Kaelion's frustration boiled over. "Enough!" he roared, his voice echoing through
the chamber. "Elira, you will stand down, or I will—"
But he never finished the sentence. The ground beneath them trembled, and a
deafening roar filled the air. Everyone froze, their eyes turning toward the window.
Far in the distance, a shadow loomed against the horizon, growing larger with
each passing second. The sky darkened, and the sound of massive wings beating
the air grew louder.
Kaelion's heart sank as he realized what was coming. "No…" he whispered.
The Dragon King had arrived.
Zareth's massive wings sliced through the air, each beat propelling him closer to
the Wolf Kingdom. His dragon form shimmered in the moonlight, his scales dark
and gleaming, veins of molten gold coursing through them. His eyes burned with
an intensity that matched the fire building in his chest.
He had felt her power, the flames she had unleashed, and he knew what it meant.
Elira was his. She carried his child, and her fire was proof of their bond. But more
than that, he had felt her fear, her pain. Someone had dared to harm her, and for
that, they would pay.
As the Wolf Kingdom came into view, Zareth let out a thunderous roar that shook
the very earth. The sound echoed through the castle, sending chills down the
spines of everyone inside.
The roar sent a wave of panic through the room. The soldiers backed away, their
faces pale with fear. Kaelion's friend whispered urgently in his ear, "This is your
chance. If the Dragon King comes for her, it will mean war. You must act now."
Kaelion's eyes darted between Elira and the window, where the massive shadow
of Zareth's dragon form was now visible. His heart raced as he weighed his
options.
Elira, still engulfed in flames, took a step toward him. Her voice was calm but filled
with an undeniable power. "Let me go, Kaelion. If you don't, he will destroy you."
Kaelion hesitated, the fire in her eyes piercing through his pride. For the first time,
he saw the truth in her words. He could not win this battle.
But his friend's voice rang in his ears, urging him to fight, to stand his ground.
"Don't let her manipulate you, Kaelion. She's using the Dragon King's power to
weaken you."
Elira's flames began to dim as she lowered her hands, her expression softening.
"This isn't about power," she said quietly. "It's about choice. Let me make mine."
Before Kaelion could respond, the chamber doors were blown open, and a gust of
wind swept through the room. Standing in the doorway, his human form imposing
and filled with raw power, was Zareth.
His golden eyes locked onto Elira, and a wave of relief washed over him. She was
alive. She was safe.
But then his gaze shifted to Kaelion, and his expression darkened. The air in the
room grew heavy, charged with the weight of Zareth's fury.
"Step away from her," Zareth commanded, his voice low and dangerous.
Kaelion's pride flared once more, and he straightened, meeting the Dragon King's
gaze. "You think you can take what belongs to me?" he spat.
Zareth's lips curled into a cold smile. "She was never yours to begin with."
The tension in the room was palpable as the two men faced off, their rivalry now
boiling over into open conflict.
And at the center of it all stood Elira, her heart pounding as she prepared to face
whatever came next.