Emory paced the room as she thought about Arcanis. There was no truth to the empire’s myth about the dragons” origins. Dairdat had been right—history had muddied their story.

Walking into the bathroom, she grabbed a robe and slipped into it. She was left with no clothes after she’d cajoled Kane into ripping off her dress. A sigh escaped her throat as she walked to the mirror, a blend of satisfaction and longing filling her chest. Then she raked her fingers through her hair, tugging through her thick curls to get her fingers through. Since leaving Broiia, she’d come a long way, and now she stood at the verge of something unimaginable.

As she stared at her reflection, she noticed glyphs on her arm that matched Kane’s. Her fingers traced the patterns, feeling the power pulsing within them. What did it mean? The glyphs glowed softly, sparking where her fingers made contact, sending a tingle through her skin.

Her thoughts drifted to Kane, and warmth spread through her chest. She remembered the way his eyes had sparkled when he looked at her, the way his touch sent shivers down her spine. Her body responded to his absence with a dull ache, a longing that was both physical and emotional.

Emory closed her eyes, allowing herself to enjoy the feeling. She craved Kane with an intensity that frightened her; it was nearly all-consuming. It made her hot, and hungry in a way that was insatiable.

As she examined the glyphs, the doorway to the lair opened unexpectedly. Her heart leapt, hoping it was Kane returning. Instead, Sabine stepped through, and Emory scowled at the priestess.

Sabine, with her wild, red hair and piercing blue eyes, seemed almost out of place in the room with its blue and red textiles and golden accents. Emory’s gaze travelled over her.

“We need to talk,” Sabine said, her eyes wandering around the bedroom before settling on Emory.

“What are you doing here? How did you come through the doorway?” Emory demanded. Was something wrong with Rahl? Did something happen to Kane? Despite not knowing her mate as well as she wished, she knew he wouldn’t allow a Lycan, especially Rahl’s sister, into his lair.

“The goddess sent me.” When Emory didn’t respond, she continued, “The gods worry that the balance of power is tipping dangerously in our world.”

“What else is new?” Emory said with a sigh, crossing her arms. “By the way, I do not appreciate you barging into our sanctuary like this regardless of who sent you. It’s a blatant intrusion of our privacy and even a moron knows entering the dragon king’s lair without permission is a crime.”

Sabine looked unfazed, her blue eyes steady. “Aworyn only sent me in here because it is urgent. The gods are opposed to the Imperial Lord’s ascension as Emperor, not just because of the exponential power he’d wield. It’s about maintaining the balance between our worlds. The dragons fear that if your bond with my brother isn’t severed, it could lead to chaos. But the gods believe it must remain because it serves as a way to make sure the dragons never fully gain control of our world.”

Emory grunted her frustration. “Why do they not want the dragons to set roots here? I am sick of them not coming out to say exactly what the problem is!”

“I don’t know,” Sabine admitted, looking momentarily vulnerable before regaining her composure.

“I think I do. If the dragons set roots, then they become guardians of our world and the gods get displaced. This is all about their relevance,” she said more to herself than Sabine. Was it true? And if it was, how did she just know that?

Sabine’s eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. “That’s a bold deduction, Emory. But it makes sense. But, be that as it may, it could trigger yet another war between dragons and our gods. You are at the centre of this,” Sabine told her.

“No. I refuse to be. There’s a reason why things are the way they are, and the gods have outlived their usefulness, in my opinion. Perhaps it’s time for a new world power, and if it is the dragons, all the better.” Emory shrugged. “You should go tell your goddess that.”

Sabine’s eyes widened in shock. “You’re clearly not thinking. A stance like that will only provoke them enough to go to war again.”

“What do you suggest?” she asked, stepping closer to Sabine.

“There’s no way to break the link anyway, so how about you remain mated to both of them, as I suggested.” While her voice was strong, Emory could see the desperation in her eyes.

“You are missing the point. If I remain linked to Rahl, then I am not completely Kane’s, and they cannot fully come into their powers as dragons.”

“You are being unreasonable. If the dragons regain their true powers, they will leave nothing but death in their wake. Is that what you want?” Sabine retorted, her frustration showing through now.

What was this ridiculous propaganda about the dragons being death bringers? She had seen them up close, lived with them, and they were anything but. “Why did Aworyn send you here, really?” she asked, narrowing her eyes.

“To try to make you understand why you mustn’t undo your link to my brother,” Sabine replied.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady the slow rising rage in her core. “And what if I don’t? What if I refuse to be manipulated by the gods” fears?”

“Then you must be prepared for the consequences. The gods will not take this lightly. They will see it as a threat to their existence, and they will fight back.”

“You are trying to turn me against my mate, against a chance at peace for the first time in the empire with vile threats from your gods. The wolves have suffered for generations, and Aworyn did nothing to stop it. We have lost generations of mothers and fathers, siblings too, to this war, and I have had it! Tell Aworyn we have had it!” Her voice trembled with fury. “Where the fuck was she when Seraphine tormented Rahl for sport? What does she care now when all they’ve done is abandon all of us!”

Sabine’s eyes flared with anger. “Do not speak of the goddess so lightly. She has her reasons!”

“Reasons that mean nothing to those who have suffered and died,” she shot back, her rage tipping over. “I cannot believe you stand there and defend her, knowing first-hand what she’s done to Rahl! Goddess or not, she has failed her duty and will not even admit it!”

“Listen, Emory’”

“No, you listen. I’m done having this conversation. Leave, you’re no longer welcomed here!” Emory’s anger surged, her voice echoing through the lair. Immediately, the words were out of her mouth, the doorway opened and sucked Sabine out violently before snapping shut.

Emory gasped at the lair’s reaction to her emotions, staring at the space where Sabine had been in shock. Her heart pounded as she massaged her chest, taking deep breaths until her anger dissipated. She turned back to the mirror and removed the white robe to inspect the glyphs. Whatever that was, she was sure it was connected to these glyphs. A gasp slipped from her lips when she noticed it wasn’t just her arms. The glyphs now trailed down her sides and legs, glowing faintly with a power she was only beginning to understand.

“Sweet Aworyn,” she whispered, realizing the enormity of the power she commanded within the lair. The glyphs seemed to pulse with her heartbeat, each line and curve a testament to the strength she was discovering within herself.

Fear and awe overwhelmed her, the power was exhilarating. She traced the glowing patterns, her fingers trembling. Why did this happen now? If she was meant to share in Kane’s glyphs at all, shouldn’t that have happened after their unification, not before? Suddenly her heart ached with longing, a physical need to be near him, and she wondered if it was the glyphs.

She needed to talk to Dairdat immediately. She grabbed her robe and, as she started to slip it back on, thought to maybe use the power of the lair to get her some clothes. Kane did, and the lair seemed in tune with her thoughts and emotions, so maybe it would do that too.

Emory stood in front of the mirror, focusing her mind on the image of clothes. “I need something to wear,” she said softly and imagined a simple, elegant dress, something that would be comfortable and practical.

The lair responded almost instantly. Fabric shimmered into existence, wrapping around her form. She watched her reflection as the material took shape, forming a dress that was both practical and beautiful. It was a deep green, reminiscent of the forests of Broiia and her eyes, with elaborate gold thread embroidery that mirrored the glyphs on her skin. It fit perfectly, flowing around her as she moved.

“Thank you,” she whispered to the lair, then paused, considering if it was the lair or the glyphs responding to her needs.

Now dressed, the next thing was to find Dairdat. Emory turned to the room, willing the lair to take her to the Crimson Wing. The doorway appeared before her, swirling in obedience, and she stepped through.

The transition was smooth, and she found herself in the grand hall of the Gersentu Tower. The elders, clad in their stunning traditional white wrapped-front garments with square sleeves and a rectangular body, turned to face her as she entered.

“Eilir,” Kane called from where he stood in front of the throne with Raius. His voice was a beacon, drawing her attention. She turned to him and moved quickly into his arms as he reached for her, his eyes roaming over her from head to toe. His lips curled into a searing smirk, clearly pleased with what he saw and it made her hot.

“What has happened?” he asked her.

“Lady Chav’re,” Aworyn said from among the elders. “It is good that you have come.”

Her eyes narrowed at the goddess, her rage from Sabine’s intrusion re-emerging with fierce intensity. “You sent an outsider into our lair while you sit here pretending to congregate,” Emory accused, her voice trembling with anger.

“Come again?” Kane’s voice was low and dangerous as he walked away from her, his gaze locking onto Aworyn. She felt a new kind of rage bubble in her chest, building like a furious volcano. “You dare send an outsider into our lair?” he roared.

Emory clenched her fists, watching her mate, feeling the energy of his glyphs pulsing beneath his black garment. She felt every bit of it, the raw power flowing through him. As furious as he looked, as intense as his anger was, he was magnificent. A forbidden desire flared within her, a wild longing for him to take her, to sear his teeth into her skin with reckless rage and completely consume her.

Just then, he turned to look over his shoulder at her, his eyes glowing a furious gold. He groaned, sensing her arousal, and she felt the space between them crackle. Emory’s breath hitched, her heart pounding in her chest as the heat rose from her core, spreading through her body like wildfire.

“I sent my priestess because your mate needed to understand the urgency of the situation, imperial lord. Your lair is attuned to you, Emory. It allowed her entry because it sensed the importance of her message,” Aworyn defended, her silver hair cascading over her shoulders like a waterfall.

“I take it your goal here is to incite war with such a foolish act,” one of the dragon elders said, making Emory realize she needed to learn their names. “Any outsider who enters the lair of the Imperial Lord without invitation forfeits their life!”

Kane’s rage did not abate. He descended the steps, moving closer to the goddess, his presence intimidating. “That does not give you the right to invade our sanctuary. Our lair is sacred, and you violated that sanctity and my mate’s privacy, putting this peacekeeping at risk!”

“You may be a goddess, but you will respect our boundaries. Apologize to my queen for invading her privacy, and if she forgives you, then we shall continue this!” Kane demanded, his voice echoing through the hall with a vibration that tickled her.

Aworyn’s eyes flickered with something like surprise as she turned her gaze to Raius. Emory saw Raius move through the side of her eye and looked over at the formidable god who nearly dwarfed her. He was huge, with a chiselled physique and eyes that crackled with electric blue energy. His black hair flowed like a storm cloud around his shoulders, and his presence exuded raw power. He shot Emory a quick glance, one arm braced elegantly behind his back, then turned his attention back to the goddess.

“You heard Lord Odreil, goddess. Apologize to his mate,” Raius ordered, his voice as wicked as he looked, rumbling like distant thunder.

Aworyn looked at Emory, her eyes glowing with a soft, lunar light that reflected her simmering anger. Her ethereal beauty was both enchanting and expected—who had ever heard of a hideous goddess? “I apologize for the intrusion, Lady Chav’re. It was never my intention to violate your privacy or disrupt your sanctuary.”

Emory looked at Kane, not for approval or direction, but because he always made her feel like the most important person in any room. It excited her more than she could express, and as he stared at her now, waiting for her response like everyone else, she smiled without meaning to.

“Your apology is noted,” Emory said. “Any further intrusions will not be tolerated.”

Aworyn’s eyes flashed with anger, but she nodded curtly. “Understood. It won’t happen again.”

Kane eyed the goddess and started back up the stairs. “Good. Now, let’s proceed with the matters at hand. You may not have noticed, but I need this to be over fast. I have a most glorious mate to attend to.”

He reached her, smiling into her eyes, and Emory returned the smile, feeling warmth spread through her chest. As they stared at each other like nothing else mattered, she felt the warmth settle between her thighs, hot and searing, pushing her to step closer even though there was barely any space left between them.

Kane’s hand brushed against her arm, his touch sending shivers down her spine as he moved to caress her face. She leaned into him slightly, feeling the solid strength of his body against hers.

“Shall we proceed, Lord Odreil?” Raius called. “I’m sure you can hold off on your—desperation for your mate until the proceeding is over.”

Her mate’s eyes narrowed as he suppressed a growl. “I assure you, Raius, it would be easier to move mountains than to quell my desire for my mate,” he replied with annoyance. “But, let us proceed.”

He looked back at Emory, his gaze softening as he brushed a thumb across her cheek. She tore her gaze from Kane, a flush rising to her cheeks. With one last, lingering look at her mate, she turned to face the gathered gods and elders. The fire in her veins cooled just enough for her to focus on the meeting.