Emory trailed behind the hunter to a quiet spot behind the thick oak trees, away from the curious eyes near the SUVs.

The hunter, her black hair neatly pulled back into a bun, rummaged through her backpack and handed her a pair of grey pants and a black shirt. Gratefully, Emory shed the cumbersome coat and accepted the fresh clothes.

As she slipped into the snug pants, her mind wandered to Kane. His return could easily stir up confusion and possibly hostility, considering the complex history between dragons and the Empire. Wolves didn’t exist in the age of dragons, she thought, recalling Rahl’s absurd stories of attempted truces. There’s no way that could be true.

“How was your transformation?” Her impromptu outfitter, interrupted her thoughts with what looked to be genuine concern.

“Unbelievably excruciating,” Emory confessed, pulling the t-shirt over her head. “Any chance you have some boots or anything sturdier than my bare feet?”

She chuckled, handing over a pair of black boots. “Always prepared,” she said.

But never enough. “Thanks,” Emory smiled, leaning against the giant tree to slip them on. “By the way, where’s Rodyn and everyone else who came out here with me?”

“They’re back in Kedar,” she replied as she packed away the rest of her gear. “Ran into a pack of Lycan sentinels. Good thing they had a healer hunter; it could’ve been much worse. Oh, and I’m Samira.”

“Nice to meet you, Samira.” She extended her hand, then paused. “Any idea what my hunter ability might be? I feel” different.”

“It’s too soon to tell. It’s only been a few hours since your shift; these things can take a while to manifest and fully develop,” Samira said with a knowing look.

Dressed and somewhat more composed, Emory took a deep breath. Her new outfit felt right—functional and fitting, unlike the jacket she’d been forced into earlier. She headed back to where she’d left Trey and Kane, bracing herself for a potentially tricky introduction.

As she approached, she noticed Trey and Kane maintaining a cautious distance, a silent stand-off of sorts. Clearing her throat to announce her return, she stepped forward. “Thanks for waiting. Trey, this is Lord Odreil. And Lord Odreil, this is my brother, Alpha Chav’re.”

Kane stepped forward, offering a hand. “A pleasure, Ultima.”

Trey took it after a brief hesitation, his eyes narrowing slightly but his posture relaxing. “Lord Odreil.”

She decided to cut straight to the chase. “Trey, I take it you’ve noticed the recent dragon sightings?”

“Yes, and that’s why I’ve been so worried,” her brother answered. “Where have you been? Even our best hunters couldn’t track you.”

She took her brother’s hand, leading him a few steps away from Kane, for a bit of privacy, then lowered her voice to a whisper. “Trey, that’s Kane—the Dragon King. I found myself in his lair when the Lycans were chasing me,” she confided.

“Sweet Aworyn, you woke him,” Trey whispered back, his eyes wide with surprise.

“Yes, and there’s more you need to know,” she continued, pausing as she gathered the courage to eventually reveal that she was now Kane’s mate.

Trey gave her a knowing look. “I understand what it means to enter a dragon’s lair and awaken one, Red.” His gaze then shifted back to Kane, studying him with a new perspective. “The blue moon at dawn—that was when you stepped out of his lair, wasn’t it? He’s” not quite what I imagined a dragon lord would be like.”

“You seem okay with this,” she observed, her brows lifting.

With a reassuring smile, Trey responded, “Red, finding your fated mate, especially someone as legendary as a dragon king, is something incredible. Why wouldn’t I be okay with it? We should bring him back to Kedar with us. This could be the alliance we’ve needed. His power coupled with your new abilities—it’s unprecedented.”

While she was relieved, Trey’s quick pivot to talking about alliances made her slightly uneasy. His acceptance was a good sign, but introducing a dragon king into the heart of their territory would be the start of a whole new chapter—one fraught with as much potential for greatness as for conflict. It was typical of Trey to see strategic opportunities in every situation.

Her gaze drifted back to Kane, catching him watching her with a gaze so intense it sent a thrill through her. Even from a distance, the golden specks in his eyes seemed to spark to life, glowing with a warmth that pulsed in sync with her heartbeat. Their connection was indescribable, and it excited her.

“We need to find something first. It’s just a short walk from here, then we can head back to Kedar. But we should be quick; we don’t want to run into any Lycan patrols,” she said.

“You’re holding something back,” Trey observed sharply, his green gaze piercing as he studied her. “I am Ultima, Red. I can sense it in your voice, in your movements,” he gestured broadly towards her, “in everything. What are you not telling me?”

“I’m not hiding anything,” she replied, a little too quickly. She hesitated, then added, “It just seems like you dismissed the idea of me being with the Lycan King too easily. It feels” opportunistic. Like you’re using my situation to your advantage.”

He released a slow breath. “No, that’s not it. You don’t understand how much I’ve agonized over finding another way to secure peace for the Empire without burdening you with this prophecy. The thought of forcing you into a marriage just for political gains has been tearing me apart. Knowing that you’ve found your true mate, and he could be the key to resolving this, it’s a huge relief. It’s been tearing me up, thinking I was sacrificing your happiness for the greater good.”

“Okay then.” She reached out, touching his arm lightly in a silent apology. “I’ll go get Kane.”

Turning toward Kane, she hadn’t taken more than a few steps when he started toward her. A smile broke across her face, lighting up her features.

“Your smile jolts my soul every time, Eilir,” Kane said warmly as he reached her, taking her hands in his and pressing a gentle kiss to each. “I never want to see you without it.”

“And I really want to see you without all this regal outfit,” she whispered back flirtatiously.

He chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “That can be arranged.”

Behind them, Trey’s loud cough interrupted their moment, causing Emory to turn and shoot him a wry glare. “I can hear you,” he called out.

“I don’t see how that’s relevant,” she retorted, turning back to Kane with a slight roll of her eyes.

Kane, still holding her hand, addressed Trey. “You must know the passion the mate bond evokes, Ultima. It is hardly our intention to” discomfort you or make you long for your own mate,” he said diplomatically.

“Not particularly,” Trey responded, his gaze shifting between her and Kane. “Red tells me you are the Imperial Dragon Lord.” Kane simply nodded, acknowledging the title with a quiet dignity. “It is truly an honour to be in your presence,” Trey added, bending in a respectful bow to acknowledge the dragon lord’s status.

“It is an honour on my path as well,” Kane replied. He turned his gaze back to Emory, his eyes gleaming with pride and something more tender. “I suppose fate now binds us,” he murmured.

“I have my reservations, Lord Odreil. I understand enough about dragons to know that it goes against your traditions to mate outside your kind. Will this constitute a union fraught with heartaches for my sister? I’d rather we know what we’re getting into before we start defining anything,” her brother said, crossing his arms behind his back as his posture returned to that rigid stance as he awaited Kane’s response.

As she moved to stand beside Kane, she looked at Trey, understanding and appreciating his concerns, but they needed to move. “Trey,” she began, “I appreciate your questions—they’re important, and I really want to hear Kane’s answer. But we need to prioritize our safety right now. Let’s get to the fractured chasm first, then we can head back to Kedar. It would be better to have this discussion in a more secure and relaxed setting, don’t you think?”

Trey nodded slowly, a reluctant agreement as he glanced at Kane again, his expression still wary but open to the possibility of understanding. “Fractured chasm?” he asked.

“It’s this way,” she said, leading the way. Kane intertwined his fingers with hers, tightening his grip. She glanced back at him and smiled, curious when he confidently took lead as if he knew exactly where she was heading. “Can you find it now that we’re close?”

“Yes, my regiment already found the entrance,” Kane confirmed with a smile, taking the lead.

The group, including Trey, the hunters, and the dragons, walked together, leaving the vehicles behind. They passed the spot where she’d had met Rahl, and memories of their kiss flashed through her mind. Why did I feel that spark with him? She wondered momentarily, her thoughts interrupted when Kane slowed his pace and they approached the doorway.

“Why is it called the fractured chasm?” Trey asked, looking over the ominous entrance.

“Because it shifts through time and space. It’s how I disappeared for two days when, in reality, it was only two hours in there,” she explained, hoping to shed some light on the mysterious phenomenon for her brother. “So, what now?” she turned to Kane.

“Now, we enter the chasm with His Imperial Highness and attempt to stabilize it,” one of the elder dragons announced, stepping forward.

“I must go in with the Crimson Wing. My warriors will stay here with you,” Kane said, caressing her face gently. His eyes flickered with a fiery gold as he issued his command, “You are to protect Lady Chav’re until I return.”

“Yes, Your Imperial Highness,” the group of dragon responded, bowing deeply.

With a reassuring smile, Kane turned from her and led the elder dragons into the chasm. Standing beside her brother, Emory watched as her mate disappeared into the cave’s depths. Although she knew Kane and his elders possessed unique powers to perhaps mend the chasm, anxiety knotted in her stomach.

“What happens if they’re trapped there longer than we can wait?” Trey glanced toward the cave. “What if time does the same thing it did with you and they’re gone for days? We can’t just camp out here in Eleado”.”

She knew that and hadn’t thought to ask Kane how the chasm might behave with the dragons inside, a lapse that now gnawed at her. With a deep sigh, she faced her brother. “We should head back to Kedar. I think” he’ll be able to find me there.” She tried to sound confident, but it came out as more of a hopeful guess. “Besides, there’s more I need to tell you.”

“Bring the car around,” Trey commanded and the hunters sprang into action. He turned his attention to the group of dragon warriors, assessing their next move with a sharp gaze. Emory looked their way too, their stoic expressions and boulder like stance making them quite unapproachable.

“You may choose to stay here or come with us,” Trey offered to the dragons.

One of the dragons, with hair like liquid gold stepped forward. “We go where Lady Chav’re goes. I am Rimyrth, commander of the first regiment, milady.”

Emory nodded. As the vehicles pulled up, she noticed the logistical problem—they might not all fit.

“Trey, we may not have enough room for everyone,” she pointed out, her eyes flitting between the dragons and the vehicles.

Rimyrth, catching her concern, offered a solution, “We will take the sky, milady.” His gaze then shifted, furrowing as he sensed something before she did—a tremor under their feet.

“The doorway is closing,” he stated pensively.

A jolt of fear shot through her, and she exchanged a worried look with Trey, who had also felt the ground shake.

Scratching her brow, she muttered, “That can’t be good.”

“The chasm shouldn’t be unstable with the imperial Lord within,” Rimyrth added, his eyes darting towards the cave. He made a move as if to dash towards the entrance but paused, torn by his duty to protect her as Kane had instructed.

As the entrance slowly twirled shut, a desperate plan formed in Emory’s mind. She couldn’t just stand by—Kane was inside. What if something had gone horribly wrong? She glanced between Trey and Rimyrth, making a split-second decision. “Keep everyone safe,” she told them before sprinting toward the narrowing gap of the chasm.

“Emory, wait!” Trey shouted, but she was already too far ahead, her figure slipping through the closing gap with seconds to spare.

Rimyrth and Trey exchanged a look of stunned disbelief as Emory disappeared with the doorway.

Kane
Deep within the fractured chasm, Kane and his elder dragons moved through the labyrinthine passages that pulsating with the primordial magic of their lineage. Each twist and turn of the labyrinth was ingrained in his memory, each subtle change glaring to his keen senses. Born into a noble bloodline that traced back to the creators of their realm, Kane bore the responsibility and power of his ancestors, their legacy flowing through his glyphs and his veins.

His senses were alert to every shift and whisper of the chasm, aware that the Shadow Sect might be watching, and he suspected that since he was now in this ancient “common ground” they may try to seek him out. He hoped that they would, so he could truly remind them what would become of them if they did not leave his mate alone.

Rounding the final bend, the path opened into the familiar court, a space Kane had centuries ago transformed into a royal chamber. Ascending the steps to his throne, he seated himself, commanding the room as the chamber responded to his presence. The walls, once dull and inert, began to shimmer as his magic restored it, turning the stone into a magnificent display of gold and black brimstone, befitting a king.

As the court took shape around him, Kane’s eyes, glowing an intense gold, swept the lair. The elder dragons bowed respectfully before taking their places around the opulent curved table.

The dragons were a remarkably flashy specie, with their royal courts and dwellings imbued with the golden decors of their ancestors. Once their magic was absent from their lairs, it turned to stone. Now he was returning the magic that made it magnificent and fit for a king. As the stone court slowly transformed into a masterpiece of gold and black brimstone, he felt the presence of a power that he recognized immediately.

“Dragon Lord,” Aworyn’s voice filled the court, timeless and sweet as she appeared in the middle of the court.

Kane’s response was a low growl of irritation. “You interrupt me at a crucial time, goddess.” His eyes briefly flared a warning gold before he composed himself. “Aworyn,” he acknowledged with a nod. “Why have you sealed my chasm?”

Beside Aworyn, the air shimmered, revealing more divine figures flanking her, including Raius, the chief god, a towering being whose aura and power nearly equalled his. Raius’s features were stern, his eyes like molten silver, and his short black hair wrapped around a golden crown. “The chasm is sealed to prevent outside interference as we congregate. It seems the Shadow Sect has concerns about your recent awakening and the alliances you might forge, Lord Odreil.”

“Our truce still stands, Lord Odreil, does it not?” Aworyn asked, and his eyes slithered over the ethereal creature in her flowing white robes that seemed to capture the very essence of moonlight. Her eyes were green and reminded him a lot of his Eilir.

Kane’s gaze hardened. “What gives you the impression that it does not?” he challenged.

“Seraphine.” Raius answered. “There are concerns about your actions threatening the legacy of the Lycans.”

The mention of Seraphine tightened Kane’s jaw, his veins burning with the implications of their words. He was prepared to defend his choices, to protect Emory and their bond at all costs.

“Then let us wait for the Shadow Sect,” Kane proposed, gesturing magnanimously to the golden seats that now filled his court. The gods nodded and moved to join his court.

No sooner had the gods settled than the air grew thick with the chill of shadow magic. From the darkness at the edges of his court, figures cloaked in deep, swirling red robes appeared, their faces hidden under deep hoods. “Lord Odreil,” one of them began, “we have long awaited your awakening.”

Kane’s lips twitched in a half-smirk, barely lifting the corners of his mouth. “I doubt that, given the discord you sow. Where is Seraphine?”

One of the five stepped forward, lowering her hood to reveal sharp black eyes that flickered with both respect and malice. “Imperial Lord,” Seraphine greeted, her voice a silken threat wrapped in courtesy.

“What is the issue this time?” Kane asked, not bothering to mask his impatience. “Join us, and let us resolve this matter quickly.”

“We do not have time for delays’”

“Sit or leave!” Kane’s command boomed throughout the court, asserting his dominion over his ancient court. “This may be neutral ground, but it is still my court, Seraphine!”

With visible reluctance, the members of the Shadow Sect bowed their heads slightly and occupied the seats opposite the gods. The elder dragons were positioned strategically between the divine entities and the sect.

“I will get straight to the point,” Seraphine began, but before she could continue, a cold draft swept through the chamber, bringing with it an unnatural chill that made even Kane’s dragon-enhanced senses shiver.

The ground beneath them rumbled ominously, then it escalated into a roar as the chasm reacted to an unexpected intrusion. Kane’s eyes scanned the space before his sense travelled the corners of the chasm.

“Steady,” Kane commanded the trembling earth, his voice quelling the rising chaos as his elders rose.

“Your Imperial Highness, I fear someone else has entered the chasm,” Tar, one of the elder dragons, reported with a bow. He was ready to lead a sweep of the chasm with the others, but Kane held up a hand to stay him.

“There is no need for that,” Kane murmured in slight annoyance. He had sensed her once the lair did. His heart tightened at the thought of her alone in the chasm. Rimyrth’s disobedience was a matter for later; right now, her safety was his only concern.

As the walls shifted, reopening the path they had sealed earlier, Kane’s sharp gaze fixed on the entrance. A familiar feeling pulsed through his being moments before she appeared. Her steps were cautious as she entered the court, her green eyes locking with his across the distance, a visible wave of relief washing over her as she clutched at her chest.

“Great, if it isn’t Lady Chav’re,” Seraphine remarked spitefully from her seat. “It’s fitting she’s here, given she’s the reason for this congregation.”

Ignoring the sharp jab from Seraphine, Kane extended his hand toward Emory. Noticing her hesitation, he stepped down from his throne, his movements a fluid display of power and grace. “You were concerned for my safety,” he said, smiling gently to ease her worries.

“I” the doorway was closing, and it didn’t know if you’d be okay,” Emory replied, her voice barely above a whisper, her gaze flickering with a concern as she looked up at him. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“You’re not interrupting,” Kane reassured her, taking her hand in his and leading her back towards his throne. To his surprise, and evidently to the surprise of everyone present, a smaller throne materialized beside his as they approached. Helping her up to her newly formed seat, he smiled warmly. “Well, my queen, it seems there’s no turning back now.”

She managed a nervous, half-hearted laugh, her eyes scanning the court. “I suppose.”

Their moment was shattered by Aworyn’s voice. “Chav’re? That is my last hunter,” she stated pointedly. “Lord Odreil, why is an ultima here?”

Kane, returning to his throne beside Emory, was a bit irked by her question. “You see that she sits on the throne as my queen, do you not? How much clearer can it be?”

“Your imperial highness, you cannot simply seat an outsider as our queen without due process,” Eros, one of the elder dragons, argued.

“I could argue that the dragon lord mating with a wolf will corrupt the royal bloodline of your kind, Lord Odreil. You must reconsider this,” Sera said.

Raius raised a hand to silence the rising discontent. “This is why you called for the congregation?” he asked Sera, who nodded in affirmation. “It is not our place to dictate who the dragon king chooses as his mate. As I understand it, such a bond cannot be undone, rendering this debate pointless.”

“Your grace, Raius, if I may interject,” Aworyn dipped her head in a respectful bow. “The Chav’re is destined to mate with the Lycan king as a means to an end—to forge peace between wolves and Lycans in the Empire. For his imperial highness to claim her as his would jeopardize a truce I have laboured tirelessly to establish.”

“While that is not my agenda, Aworyn’”

“Aworyn?” Emory whispered beside him as she stared at the goddess in awe.

Realizing that Emory was unaware of the identities of those present, Kane felt a twinge of guilt for not preparing her for the magnitude of this meeting. She sat among legends and gods, her presence as significant as theirs in the unfolding drama they were caught in.

“Yes,” he responded softly, watching her struggle to comprehend the gravity of the situation.

“Goddess,” she slurred, bowing her head slightly in deference.

Kane growled and leaned over the arm of his throng towards her to gently touched her chin, lifting her face to meet his eyes. “You are my queen,” he said softly but with undeniable firmness, “and you bow to no one. Not here, not ever.”

His words seemed to bolster her, and she straightened up, a flicker of defiance sparking in her eyes. Kane allowed himself a brief, approving smile and whispered against her cheek, “Good girl.” The way her gaze brightened made the fire in his veins burn with fierce pride.

When Aworyn attempted to press her concerns, he interrupted. “As important as you think your agenda is, the universe disagrees. There’s a reason certain events unfold as they do, and if you were to look at the bigger picture, you’d see that with Lady Chav’re as my mate, there will be peace in the Empire. Her presence will ground the dragons here.”

Raius nodded in agreement. “It also provides the dragon lord an undeniable incentive to maintain the peace and honour our truce,” he added.

Aworyn, though clearly not fully convinced, sat back, her expression contemplative as she murmured, “I suppose,” she conceded reluctantly

“And the issue of it corrupting your bloodline?” Sera persisted. He could tell that she and her shadowy sect would not easily let go of their prejudices.

“Corrupt? How do you figure that?” His gaze narrowed into slits of molten gold, piercing through the veiled insult to his mate with precision. “She is an ultima and a hunter, blessed by Aworyn herself. A glorious being in all her might! If anything, I believe my mate will enhance, not corrupt, my bloodline.” His voice rose slightly, a rumble of dragon fire underpinning his words. “I want you and the Crimson Wing to drop this matter. I will honour my mate bond with her, and that is final!”

The room fell into a heavy silence, his words settling like dust after a storm. The court accepted the finality of his decree, their expressions one of reluctant acceptance.

“And the Lycan King?” Aworyn asked. “There are conditions that require him to mate with her, and only her or he will not be able to fully lead the Empire.”

Kane’s lips curled into a half-smirk, his disdain for the Lycan thinly veiled. “I suppose if he cannot lead, I shall step in, seeing as I have no intentions of sharing my mate.” The thought of any other claiming Emory stirred a primal fire within him, one that he had long suppressed during his slumber. “If you would rather undo those conditions given the peculiar situation, go ahead. We want peace after all, do we not?”

Raius stood slowly, his large frame rigid and regal, eyes locked on Kane with an intensity that he knew couldn’t be good. “But to lead as Emperor of Morrian means achieving what your kind has always desired; dominion over this world. It thwarts the truce.”

At this, Elder Dairdat, The Fire starter, stepped forward. He was the eldest of the Crimson Wing, and had served as council to Kane’s father and a staunch defender of the king. Dairdat rarely spoke, but when he did, his voice rumbled like thunder. He ascended the steps to stand beside Kane’s throne. “As you can see, king of the gods, this is not borne of scheming on our part. We have honoured your truce, refrained from using our fire for centuries!” His voice grew impassioned. “Our king embraced the solitude of a dreamless slumber to quench our thirst for battle, to offer you peace. Now, the universe gifts him a mate upon his awakening—a sign, one of your own making! So no, it does not thwart our truce. We upheld our end, and now, though it goes against our ancient customs, his imperial majesty will claim his mate. This warning extends to you as well, Shadow Sect. We will govern ourselves in our manner, do not dare interfere.”

Kane watched Emory’s face, noting the concern in her eyes. Her worry puzzled him—why did she doubt?

“A king susceptible to Sera is no true king, Raius,” Kane continued. “The empire teeters on the brink of ruin, and surely you must wonder why I have awoken now. Why she is my chosen mate, and why this must unfold as it does,” he argued. “I would relish continuing this debate, believe me, I would. But there are urgent matters I must attend to—a civilization to remind of their identity and a domain to reclaim. If necessary, we shall reconvene at a later time.”

With a decisive gesture, Kane rose, signalling the end of the congregation. As the court members dispersed, vanishing into the shadows from whence they came, he turned to Emory who approached him with hesitant steps. Kane watched the play of light on her sweet face.

“Is that why you want me? To claim Morrian as you’ve always desired?” she asked, her voice a soft tremor of vulnerability that caused a pang in his chest—regret that she might view their connection as a strategic move.

Kane reached out, taking her hands in his. “Eilir,” he began, “my desire for Morrian pales in comparison to my desire for you. You are not a means to an end. This empire means nothing without you by my side.”

A moment passed, the only sounds in the cavernous space were their synchronized breathing and the distant drip of water echoing against stone. Finally, Dairdat, the elder dragon who had witnessed the rise and fall of many kings, stepped forward.

“I shall prepare the people for your unification, young Odreil,” Dairdat announced with a respectful nod.

Kane gave a solemn nod in return, acknowledging Dairdat’s acceptance. As the elder dragon led the others away, he felt a significant shift within the political landscape of his empire. Dairdat’s endorsement not only signified a personal victory but also ensured that the Crimson Wing could no longer oppose his union with Emory. This was more than a win—it was a turning point.

With the chamber now quiet, Kane turned his full attention back to Emory, drawing her closer. Settling back on his throne, he gently pulled her onto his lap, his arm securely around her waist, grounding her against him.

“Before our” unification, there are a few things you must know about the dragon folk,” he said.

“I’m sure. But first’” She leaned into him and kissed him softly and his mind went blank as he kissed her back.