The rest of the Shadow Sect closed in, their faces hidden completely behind those damn crimson robes, charged at Emory. She reached them swiftly, amazed by her improved, almost unholy speed as a hunter. As she reached the first two, they conjured the same shadow that Seraphine wielded.

She summoned the fire within her, feeling it course through her veins, ready to be unleashed.

One of them lunged at her, but she dodged easily, countering with a burst of flames that sent him sprawling. Another attacked from behind, but she spun around, her claws slashing through the air, cutting him down before he could strike. Her claws dug into his robe, tearing through fabric and flesh. He cried out in pain, but she silenced him with a swift strike.

The other four slowed to a stop and stood in a line in front of her as if controlled by something or someone. Breathing heavily, Emory looked around. The clearing was eerily quiet now, the only sounds being the crackling of the remaining flames. She turned back to Kane, who stood over a defeated Seraphine, his golden fire still glowing brightly.

Now she shifted back to her human form as she watched her glaring at Seraphine’s remains. “Kane,” she called.

His fire dimmed as he turned to her. His eyes slithered over her, and she looked herself over to notice she was completely naked from her shift. Kane shrugged off his coat and went to her. Then he wrapped it around her before pulling her into a tight embrace. “You were incredible,” he whispered.

“You weren’t so bad yourself,” she replied, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Breathing heavily, she held his face. “You found me.”

“I’ll always find you,” Kane replied, pulling her into another embrace. “Eilir, I told you to stay in my lair. Why did you leave?”

“I’” she paused and looked at the shadow sect. “Why are they just standing there?”

“They are a collective. With Seraphine dead, they are now docile until another wretched leader rises to lead them. To ensure the balance is maintained in the universe, I must leave them alive,” Kane explained, taking her hands gently in his. “You wield my fire now?”

Emory giggled. “It feels incredible.” She slipped her hands around his shoulders, and he lifted her off the ground, smiling as he kissed her.

Rahl, still clutching his chest, staggered forward. “We should leave.”

Kane set her down, his eyes narrowing as he turned to Rahl. “The Wulric filth, I see. What’s he doing here, with you?” His voice was cold, edged with distrust.

Emory glanced at Rahl, worry creasing her brow. “We need to get him to the priestesses at Eclin Tower. They can help break the spell.”

“This is your mate?” Rahl asked, gesturing to Kane. Emory nodded. “You mated well. It is an honour to meet a dragon in my lifetime,” he said, inclining his head to Kane.

But Kane said nothing to acknowledge him, only glaring in a way that made Emory think he was nursing the thought of setting Rahl ablaze.

“What spell?” Kane asked, holding her protectively against him.

“I think Seraphine linked him to her. That crest on his chest keeps growing,” Emory explained.

Kane arched an eyebrow, then glanced over at Seraphine’s scorched remains before summoning a doorway to his lair. The portal shimmered into existence, a swirling vortex of light and shadow.

“That will get you where you need to be,” he said, pointing Rahl toward the portal whirling right beside him. As Rahl hesitated, Emory noticed the gold specks in Kane’s eyes sparkling with fire again.

“You should hurry, Rahl,” she urged him.

He gave her a small nod, casting a wary glance at Kane before stepping through the portal. No sooner had he disappeared than Kane turned back to her, his expression serious.

“I told you not to leave the lair. Why did you?” he asked, and those heavy brows drew together in a way that made her smile. “Eilir, I was trying to depose Seraphine without resorting to this. This has set so many other things in motion that may affect us.”

“I only wanted to go back to Kedar to meet my aunt once fire started shooting out of my hand, but apparently it’s the one place I cannot seem to return to.” She stepped away from him with a huff of frustration. “Can we please get out of here?”

Kane sighed, his fiery stare softening as he reached out to her. “I understand, but you must trust me and listen when I say it’s important.” But then he paused. “My lair brought you here, to Sera?”

“No, it took me to Rahl.” She shrugged. “I thought that was weird.”

He nodded, eyes narrowing in thought, before pulling her closer. “Let’s get out of here.”

Kane led her to the portal, his grip firm and comforting. As they stepped through, the world around them shifted, the forest melting away into the familiar surroundings of his lair. The air was warmer here, filled with the comforting scent of burning wood and the faint hum of magic.

Once inside, Kane guided her to a plush chair near the hearth. “Sit,” he instructed gently. “Rest for a moment.”

Emory sank into the chair, the tension in her muscles easing as she felt the warmth of the fire. Kane knelt beside her, his eyes searching hers as he took her hands in his.

“We should look into getting you clothes that survive a transformation,” he said quietly, and she smiled.

“They usually do. This only started after I woke as a hunter,” she explained. “About your lair taking me to Rahl, you know something, don’t you?”

“Let’s so this. Get cleaned up and dressed up so we can get you to Kedar and then proceed with the unification. I will answer all your questions then.” He offered.

She nodded, the flickering flames casting a soft glow on her face. “What about Rahl? Do you think the priestesses can really help him?”

Kane’s expression darkened slightly. “They do not have the power to break dark spells. If anyone can help him, it’s Aworyn.”

“Is there any chance you can ask Aworyn to help and possibly undo her curse on him?” she asked.

Kane rose to hover over her, and only then did she remember he was shirtless, with his jacket draped around her. Her eyes followed the glyphs she knew by heart now, knew how far they travelled because she’d traced them with her lips last night. She shook the memory of their bodies entwined out of her mind to focus on him.

“Why do you care for this Wulric? You owe him nothing,” he said.

“I don’t care for Rahl.” She shrugged. “I only feel it’s the right thing to do. The only reason Rahl wished to mate with me was to fulfil Aworyn’s condition to unite the Empire and access his Lycan. I think that he has been through enough already, and we can’t just leave him to suffer.”

Kane’s eyes flared with a mix of frustration and something deeper. “If the Lycan regains his power, he’ll become yet another stumbling block to get rid of. My play for the seat of Emperor of Morrian will be even more arduous.”

“Are you really that threatened by him?” she asked, folding her arms over her chest. “I didn’t think the Lycans held a candle to the might of the dragons.”

“They don’t, and it’s not about being threatened. It’s about the balance of power. If he regains his Lycan, it could destabilize everything we’ve worked for.”

“Everything you’ve worked for,” she corrected with a glare. “But we’re in this together now. And that means helping those who need it, even if it complicates things. It’s the only way to undo his curse, or save his life, even.”

Kane said nothing, his expression hardening as he walked away from her. His silence spoke volumes. She understood his reasoning—it would leave the seat of leadership open for him without competition. If dragon politics was anything like the wolves, he would need to discuss this with the elder dragons, and she knew they would disagree. Her thoughts drifted to Rahl’s mate. How did she die? Was that Aworyn’s fault, or did Seraphine have a hand in it?

Kane sighed, running a hand through his silver hair. “Summoning Aworyn is not something I take lightly. Her favours come at a price.”

“What would you rather do?” she asked, rising and walking up to him, her eyes searching his.

“The only reason I am even considering this is that I suspect Sera might have linked him to someone else” possibly you. Because if he were linked to her, he would have died right alongside her,” he said, his voice tinged with worry.

Her heart skipped a beat. It was very unsettling that she could be linked to Rahl. “Linked to me? But how—why?”

“Seraphine’s manipulations run deep. She might have thought it advantageous to bind him to you, knowing it would complicate our bond and weaken us both,” he explained, his eyes darkening with anger at the thought.

“So, if we don’t help him, it could affect me too?”

He nodded with a grim expression. “Yes. But there’s only one way to be sure of it. I will only summon the moon goddess if I confirm my suspicions. Until then, you need to go clean up and get ready to return home.”

“Are you going off now, again?” she wondered.

“Eilir, this is important. It’s better to know for sure sooner than later. I will be back by the time you’re ready to go. If I am not, you can always summon me” like you did earlier,” he said with a smile as he held her face. “I suppose you’ll need a change of clothes?”

She sighed, nodding. “Yes, I suppose I do need clothes,” she replied, attempting to sound more composed than she felt.

He gently brushed a strand of hair from her face, his touch warm and reassuring. “I’ll take care of it. In the meantime, take a moment to gather your thoughts and take a bath.”

As she moved to the bathing chamber, she couldn’t shake the unease that had settled over her. If she was really linked to Rahl, she felt even more guilty about all he’d been through. He was the only one feeling the grunt of it, and she’d felt his pain back in Seraphine’s domain, and it was excruciating. She had to get him out of her mind and stop feeling guilty about everything.

Back in the stupendous bathroom, Emory smiled as she looked around the brook. She shrugged off Kane’s jacket and stepped into the hot stream, letting the water wash away the grime of the past hours. The gentle current soothed her muscles, and the fragrant steam filled her lungs, calming her mind. She closed her eyes, trying to focus on the present moment and the feel of the water against her skin.

After a while, she stepped out and wrapped herself in a plush towel, feeling refreshed and more grounded. By the time she stepped back to the bedroom, she found a stunning green dress laid out on the now laid round bed. The dress was made of rich, flowing fabric that shimmered like emeralds in the light. It had delicate black embroidery along the hem and bodice, adding a touch of elegance and sophistication. Beside it was a black cloak with a hood, also embellished with intricate embroidery that mirrored the patterns on the dress. She chuckled softly to herself, impressed by the quality and attention to detail.

“Probably doesn’t grasp the concept of underwear,” she murmured when she didn’t see any on the bed.

“Maybe I don’t want you wearing any” for my benefit, of course,” he said from the doorway of the bedroom. She looked up at him, her heart skipping a beat. “Need help getting dressed?”

His outfit was no longer completely black. His pants and tunic were black, but his jacket was a deep emerald that matched her dress. The jacket had gold embroidery along the edges, giving it a regal touch. Her eyes swept over him, and she swallowed as she gaped at his magnificent form.

“You look spectacular,” she grinned. “I doubt you’d end up getting me into that dress if you put your hands on me.”

Kane smiled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “I guess we’ll have to see about that,” he said in a low, husky voice, stepping closer. Those golden eyes locked onto hers, compelling her attention in a way that made her heart race. His hands reached for the dress, holding it up for her. “Shall we find out?”

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself and removed the towel, set it on the bed and stepped into the dress, feeling the cool, silky fabric against her skin as he slipped it over her shoulders and adjusted the fit. His fingers brushed against her back as he fastened the delicate buttons, sending shivers down her spine.

“You look stunning,” he whispered, his breath warm against her neck. “Absolutely stunning.”

Emory turned to face him, her eyes meeting his. “Thank you,” she said softly.

He cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs gently stroking her cheeks. “Anything for you, Eilir,” he murmured, leaning in to kiss her. Then he picked up the cloak and draped it over her, his gaze filled with admiration as he twirled his fingers through her hair, marvelling at the vibrant red locks. “You are unreal, you know. In every way.”

“You should see yourself from over here,” she said, pulling him into another kiss. “Now let’s go meet the wolves.”

“I, unfortunately, won’t be staying. I have to go see about the other thing.” He walked around her to the dresser and retrieved a pair of black sling back pumps that she hadn’t noticed before.

“Any chance I could get some boots? I’m not one for” stilettos.” She rested her hands on her hips, watching him with a raised eyebrow.

Kane chuckled softly and nodded. “Of course.” He opened another drawer, revealing a pair of sleek, black leather boots. He knelt down and helped her slip them on, his touch gentle and attentive.

“These are perfect,” she said, lifting the skirt of her dress to admire the boots. “Thank you.”

He stood and kissed her forehead. “I’ll always take care of you, Eilir. Now, let’s.”

The doorway twirled open and Kane led her out of the lair. They walked out in front of the Chav’re pack house and Emory exhaled.

Finally, she was back home.