“We are connected to the wefts and weaves of the universe,” Dairdat said, standing before the throne with one arm braced behind his back.

Emory had asked about the history of the dragons, expecting a straightforward answer. Instead, she received an elaborate, somewhat irrelevant rant about their existence as guardians. Dairdat explained that their powers ran through the veins of their king as glyphs, connecting all dragons to their royals. This connection was the reason they demanded purity in their bloodline. Breaking the link in their glyphs—the ancestral power—meant losing their identity.

“Why agree to this union, then?” she asked. “I gather the Crimson Wing is unlike any other council. You are both subject to your king and, at the same time, have the power to act against his wishes on behalf of your kind.”

Dairdat’s piercing red eyes narrowed at her, a flicker of something unreadable in them. “We are connected to the universe in ways we can’t see or fully understand. But we are connected, nonetheless. In your own way, you must be. It’s improbable that the universe would match you to our king if it wasn’t meant to be. Lord Odreil and our ancestors would not accept you if it were a mistake. I am inclined to believe it is for a reason we are yet to fully understand.”

“Right. It doesn’t have anything to do with the idea that I am Aworyn’s last hunter and a small part of their power. I’m a means to stop them from contesting Kane’s ascension as Emperor of Morrian,” she said with a dry smile, her eyes challenging him.

For the first time since their initial meeting, Dairdat chuckled softly, and her brows hiked in surprise. His stern demeanour softened slightly. “You misunderstand. History has led you to believe your gods ever stood a chance. The dragons conceded to a truce because the Shadow Sect interfered, costing us our past Emperor and Queen. We were duty-bound to mourn, grieve, and crown young Odreil. They can try to contest our king’s ascension, but it would mean nothing.”

That made more sense compared to the history she knew of the dragons. She had barely glimpsed a fragment of their true powers, but she knew they were lethal and wielded their abilities with caution. They were unlike what history would have them believe, and their politics were more complex than she had imagined.

“Thank you for explaining,” she said softly, her tone reflecting a mixture of gratitude and contemplation. “I’m trying to understand the dragons, your world, and reconcile that with what history would have us believe. And maybe to find my place in it” if there is one.”

Dairdat nodded, his eyes steady on hers. “History is rarely ever correct, Lady Chav’re. We cared nothing for what was written, so your gods and Lycans spun it to their benefit. We are principled, honourable, and a closely-knit species. Not only that, but we always put the fold above all else because we understand the strength in unity.”

She had already figured that. It was similar to the wolves. “You’re not much different from the wolves. Our packs come first.”

“Now, Lady Chav’re, we are vastly different. We are one fold. The wolves are not. It’s why you’ll never win. You split, forming packs to exert yourselves as alphas when together, as one, the wolves could very well leave a mark. Even with an Ultima at your helm, you still do not understand the strength one united fold will grant you.” Dairdat paused as if considering his next words. “It’s why now, even with an alliance with a far superior fold, you question it. The wolves will always be the lowest in the rung until you gain the enlightenment your predecessors already attained.”

The truth in his statement hit her with full force, making her realize how fragmented the wolves truly were. Even with the loss they had suffered in the war with the Lycans, the wolves were still split under territories and Alphas. Could they ever achieve the unity he spoke of? The thought of the wolves as a single, united force seemed almost impossible, but the Lycans had done it. She glanced at Dairdat, seeing the challenge in his fiery red eyes.

“I see what you mean,” she said finally. “But change isn’t easy. It takes time, and a lot of effort.”

“Indeed, it does. You are part of this new era, Lady Chav’re. Embrace it, and perhaps, one day, the wolves will find their unity.” He turned away from her to join the other elders at the arcing table facing the throne.

“That does not mean I will kill the Lycan,” she asserted. Her words made Dairdat turn back to her. “Putting the benefit of the fold above all else? You’re very wise, Lord Dairdat, simple words with the intent to sway, but I see right through them. You know, if the gods are no threat at all, I take it neither are the Lycans. Even if Rahl got his Lycan back, he still is no threat to my mate. But I suppose the true worry in this is two things. It may bring about another war, and you want peace as much as the wolves.”

Dairdat made a sound like a grunt, and she felt his frustration and reluctant admiration. “And the other?”

“You fear that if the link is not broken, and I indeed take two mates, then any” relations with Rahl would corrupt the fold when I, in turn, lie with Kane. Is that not it?” she asked, her eyes never leaving his.

His expression hardened, eyes blazing redder like they would soon catch fire. “Once you become the Imperial Consort, you will share in our ancestral glyphs with Lord Odreil. To share that power with the puny Lycan goes against everything we stand for!” His voice rose, echoing through the grand hall. “We have been lenient with you only because his imperial highness favours you. Be careful, young wolf. If you force our hand, we will do as we should have done to begin with. The only way to spare your life is if you kill the Lycan yourself after you join with Lord Odreil. We will do it to spare the fold if it means your demise too, Lady Chav’re, and I wouldn’t want that. You are quite bright.”

Emory took a deep breath, trying to steady herself; she couldn’t let them see her fear.

“You underestimate me, Lord Dairdat,” she said quietly. “I will find a way to break this link without resorting to murder. I will prove to you that there is another way.”

“I estimate you just right, Lady Chav’re, else you wouldn’t be here, sitting there as Imperial Consort to be. As expected, you, like the wolves and measly humans, do not know when to throw the towel in. This is not a fight you will win. There is no other way to undo this. You aptly pointed out how very wise I am; do you not think we’ve faced such a conundrum before? You think we haven’t tried to find other ways to break such a link? This curse predates you, and I hate to inform you, but you are out of your depths here. The sooner you come to understand that, the better it will be for you.” All semblance of politeness was gone from his voice. “We are done here, Lady Chav’re.”

The finality in his tone was like a slap in the face. As the other elders stood, their eyes bore into her, watching, judging. Emory took another deep breath, feeling the doorway materialize beside her. She rose and walked toward it, their gazes heavy on her back.

Stepping through, expecting to return to Kane’s lair, she instead found herself standing in front of Rahl.

His eyebrows shot up in surprise. He was seated on a throne, his chin resting on his knuckles, propped up on the arm of his seat. His eyes hovered over her as murmurs reached her ears from behind. Rahl rose from his throne and walked up to her.

“A little heads up would sometimes help,” he whispered as he came closer. “I was in the middle of announcing the outcome of my meeting with”. your mate to the council.”

Emory turned to see the Lycan council standing all around a round table in a throne room, not quite as large as the dragons”, but still enormous and impressive. The beauty of the space struck her, and she particularly loved how the lights poured in from the stained-glass windows.

Emory glanced around at the gathered council members, who were now watching her with curiosity and irritation. They could already tell she was a wolf and made no attempt to hide their chagrin. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. The lair seems to have a mind of its own.”

Oddly enough, if her link to Rahl was such an atrocious stain on the dragon fold, why did their king’s lair continue to bring her to Rahl?

Rahl’s expression softened slightly as he looked at her. “It’s alright. What brings you here?”

She hesitated. She hadn’t planned on this, but now that she was here, she needed to make the most of it. “I came to talk. There are things we need to discuss, Rahl.”

He nodded, then turned to the council. “We’ll continue this later. Everyone, please leave us.”

The council members exchanged glances but obeyed, filing out of the room with murmurs of discontent. Once they were alone, Rahl turned back to her. “What is it, Emory?”

She took a deep breath. “I spoke with the dragon elders. They’re adamant that the only way to break the link between us is for you to die.”

“That’s nothing new.” He shrugged and returned to his seat. “Is there something else?”

“I would have to kill you.”

Now his eyes darkened. “And what did you say to that?”

“I can’t do it,” she replied. “But the choices are for me to do it or for them to do it. They believe it’s the only way to ensure the stability of their fold and the empire.”

Rahl studied her for a moment. Did he know how beautiful his eyes were? Their blue shamed the sky, really. “Kill me or die with me, that’s their big plan?”

Emory swallowed, trying to gather her thoughts. “I believe there has to be another way. I refuse to accept that the only solution is more death. We need to find another way.”

“I don’t think there is any. If there was, it’s the dragons who would know. The past imperial lord and consort were linked in this way, and it ultimately resulted in their deaths. If they say it’s one of two ways, then that is it.”

Her mind raced to a standstill. That was what Dairdat meant when he asked if she thought they hadn’t been through this before. Sweet Aworyn! Kane’s parents were subjected to this? There really was no other way around this” and even if Kane agreed to her with two mates, the elders would never.

“I don’t suppose you’re open to hearing me out?” Rahl’s voice snapped her from her thoughts and she found him standing back in front of her. He took her hands in his with a heavy sigh. “Without my Lycan, I really am no king or Alpha, Emory. Maybe you should accept their condition to kill me.”

She slipped her hands from his. “Are you out of your mind?”

“It’s the only way to keep you alive. If you continue to refuse the crimson wing, they will end us both. Better me than us two, don’t you think?” he argued.

The thought of him dying, of having to make such an impossible choice, was too much to bear. “No, Rahl. I won’t accept that.”

His grip tightened on her hands, his eyes searching hers in a way that those blue eyes made her heart race. “Emory’” His hands slipped up to cup her face, his touch warm and familiar. A part of her screamed to pull away, to distance herself from him, but she couldn’t bring herself to back away.

“Please understand. I won’t kill you,” she whispered.

He held her gaze, his thumbs gently brushing her cheeks, sending a shiver down her spine. Then he lowered his forehead to hers, his eyes slipping closed. His scent filled her nostrils, stirring something deep within her, a longing she couldn’t deny. She swallowed as she leaned into him.

“Emory, I’m not afraid to die. But I am afraid of being the cause of your death,” he murmured.

She wondered why that mattered. What did he care if she died along with him? He couldn’t possibly have feelings for her too” could he? It would explain why his heart was beating in tandem with hers right now, and why hers ached at the thought of even hurting him.

“Oh, but it’s okay if I am responsible for’” She felt a sudden, sharp pain in her head, and she winced, her eyes squeezing shut as memories began to flood back.

“Emory? What’s wrong?” Rahl asked.

Images of Seraphine flashed before her eyes—her cold smile, the way she whispered ancient words, and the feeling of being trapped in her own mind. She remembered the darkness, the way it wrapped around her thoughts, compelling her to crave Rahl, to feel a connection that Aworyn’s prophecy had created.

Then, amidst the flood of memories, a particular phrase Seraphine had whispered echoed in her mind: The bond holds only as long as the heart remains true. Emory pulled back from Rahl, her eyes wide with sudden realization.

“She said” she said the bond holds only as long as the heart remains true,” she murmured. “What if” what if this bond can be broken if the heart is divided?”

Rahl frowned. “What do you mean?”

“It’s a long shot, but I may really have to kill you,” she said.