Emory massaged her temple with a small wince. Did this mean that menacing golden dragon would always be in her head?

Kane’s brow furrowed with concern as he moved to her side. “Eilir, what is it?”

“The divine dragons. They want us to go to Timeless Yonder immediately,” she told him.

“The divine dragons are communicating with you?” Varyn asked.

“Yes,” she replied. “We need to go now.”

Kane nodded. “Elders, continue with the preparations for the unification. We will return as soon as we can.”

Dairdat bowed. “Of course, Lord Odreil. We will ensure everything is ready for your return.”

Kane took her hand, and their fingers intertwined. They made their way out of the chamber, and their lair manifested a doorway almost immediately in front of them. She stole a glance at Kane.

Even though their mission was very pressing, Emory felt an insatiable hunger for her mate. She couldn’t stop herself from touching him, running her fingers up his arm. When he stopped short of the doorway and turned to her, she slipped her hand from him. What was wrong with her?

“Is something wrong, Eilir?”

“No. Not at all. Let’s go.” She shook her head clear and gripped his hand again, watching as he stared at her for a while before turning back to the doorway.

They stepped through the portal, the world around them shifting and swirling until they found themselves standing in a place unlike any other. It was a magnificent glass throne room with an array of gods and goddesses gathered in a congregation. She and Kane appeared right at the foot of the stairs leading up to a large, golden throne.

Emory’s breath caught in her throat as she took in the scene before her. The Timeless Yonder was beyond anything she had ever imagined. The floor beneath them was made of shimmering glass, reflecting the celestial lights that danced above. The walls seemed to be composed of pure, crystalline energy, pulsing with a soft, iridescent glow that bathed everything in a surreal, otherworldly light.

The throne room itself was massive, stretching out into infinity, with glass pillars that looked like they were carved from starlight holding up a ceiling that was a kaleidoscope of shifting colours and patterns. Each god and goddess in attendance radiated a unique aura, their forms celestial and resplendent, draped in robes that appeared to be woven from the very fabric of the cosmos.

This was the realm of the gods? It was beautiful, and she never knew this many divines existed. Ending the war between the Lycans and wolves would have been a breeze to them. Was it all for entertainment?

“Imperial Lord, it is sacrilege to invade a high gathering of the divines. Especially if you were not summoned,” Aworyn said, stepping forward from one of the pews on the lower level. Her voice echoed through the chamber, filled with disdain and authority.

“Aworyn,” Kane greeted, his arm slipping around Emory’s waist, pulling her closer against him. “Tell me, what is the reason for this congregation, and why have you refused to meet with the Crimson Wing?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Aworyn asked, glaring at both of them. “To side with this murderous species against the ones who created you. I had such high hopes for you,” she said directly to Emory.

Yeah, high hopes for her to be with Rahl, yet she bound his Lycan. Emory was about to respond when the golden dragon’s voice echoed in her mind again. She held her head with a grunt.

“Are you now a constant presence in my head?” she asked the divine dragon, but his only response was a grunt.

“Are you alright?” Kane held her face, his eyes narrowing in worry.

“If you must know what this is, great king of the dragons. The lord of the sky and the Timeless Yonder has fallen at the claws of a golden dragon. You are the only one that breathes’”

“I would watch my words, puny god!” Emory spat, placing herself between Aworyn and Kane. “Raius fell by my hand, and as it is the way of the Timeless Yonder, I come to claim his throne as god of the sky.”

Aworyn’s eyes widened in shock, a murmur rippling through the congregation. Even at that moment, Emory felt no fear, only the overwhelming presence of the golden dragon bolstering her willpower.

“Do you even know what you are saying?” Aworyn sneered. “You think you, a hunter wolf, can claim that throne?”

“Why not?” Emory shot back. “He challenged me, and he lost. I will claim what now belongs to me, according to the law of your duels. Unless one of you wishes to challenge me for it. I would advise against that. My mate doesn’t take lightly to anyone who threatens my safety.”

The gods and goddesses exchanged uneasy glances, but Emory ignored them as she started up the stairs.

“Do not underestimate her,” the golden dragon’s voice echoed in her mind. “Make a stand first, you impossible wolf. They must see you as their equal or not at all.”

With a snarl, she turned back to the congregation. “I am not here to negotiate or beg for acceptance,” Emory continued. “I am here to take that throne. If any of you have a problem with that, speak now and let us resolve it.”

The silence that followed was heavy, and their hostility was unmistakable. Aworyn’s glare could have melted stone, but she said nothing. The other gods remained silent, their gazes shifting between Emory and Kane.

Finally, one of the gods, tall with dazzling silver robes and eyes like molten gold, stepped forward. “Very well,” he said calmly. “If you have indeed defeated Raius, then you have proven yourself worthy. The throne of the sky realm is yours, Emory Chav’re. Let us see if you can hold it.”

“Do not patronize me.” Emory glared at him. “But it shouldn’t be so hard to keep, after all, all you and yours ever did was sit on your asses and watch your subjects wallow in chaos and pain!” she barked.

“I have had it with your insolence.” Aworyn spat as she came up to her. “Blessed as you are, you cannot hate any one side because it negates your role as the balance beam.”

“I don’t hate the gods. You continue to put your agendas before the needs of the ones who serve you,” Emory explained. “I am simply disappointed. I don’t place the dragons above you, but the elders do not lie to me. I know the stakes because they tell it. You on the other hand curse your royal, bind his Lycan and leave him defenceless to Seraphine’s manipulations!”

Aworyn scoffed. “So this is about Rahl Wulric? I didn’t think it constituted a problem, considering you somehow found a way to undo the curse and release his Lycan.”

Now Kane turned to her, his eyes narrowing as he stared at her. Emory swallowed under his gaze. “You set his Lycan free?” he asked, and all she could do was nod. “Why?”

“Why? Your imperial highness, surely you know your mate harbours feelings for the Lycan king too,” Aworyn said with a sly smile.

As he came to stand in front of Emory, Kane growled, towering over her with an imposing presence that dwarfed her. “With his Lycan unleashed, he can oppose me. I told you this, why would you release him?” His eyes searched hers, filled with hurt and betrayal.

“I only meant for him to be free, nothing else,” she tried to explain.

“You used your one request from my ancestors for him?” His brows drew together in an unforgiving frown, shadows of disbelief and anger dancing across his face.

“I just” I felt sorry for him. With Aworyn strong-arming him to force a bond between us and Seraphine doing the exact same thing with the link,” she whispered. “It had nothing to do with feelings. I figured with the link and his Lycan unbound, it would solve the issue of our complicated connection” and he would owe me, owe us.”

Kane’s jaw clenched, and his hands balled into fists beside him. Then he turned away, his shoulders tightening, and took a deep breath as if trying to steady himself.

“You should have told me,” he said finally.

“I know,” she replied, stepping closer to him, her hand reaching out to touch his arm. “I’m sorry. I thought I was doing the right thing, and I meant to tell you after the inquisition. I just didn’t get the chance.”

He turned back to her. “Let’s talk about this later.”

When he stepped away from her, Emory felt her heart break. Because of their glyphs, she was now feeling his emotions too. He wasn’t mad at her; he was just disappointed.

There was a hint of satisfaction in Aworyn’s eyes as she watched them. “It seems the balance is shifting in unexpected ways,” she mused. “With great power comes great responsibility. The choices you make will have far-reaching consequences. If you want the throne, take it.”

Emory glared at the goddess. “You know, for someone guilty of plotting to disrupt our unification ceremony with death, you are quite mouthy!” she spat, turning fully to face Aworyn. “Careful now, it will be well within my right to visit vengeance on you on behalf of the divine dragons.”

Her eyes glowed green, bright, and blinding. Aworyn backed away from her with a gasp, clutching her chest as she did.

“Raius and the Timeless Yonder have erred against the dragon fold, and you will face judgment like he did.” Emory’s voice echoed through the throne room, but it wasn’t her voice. It was deep, ringing with otherworldly authority.

Kane’s eyes widened as he looked at her. “What’s happening?”

Their power surged through her, the presence of the divine dragon overwhelming her senses. “I am the vessel of their will,” she replied, her voice still a blend of her own and the dragon’s. “The gods must answer for their actions, young Odreil.”

Aworyn’s face paled. “The Golden Scaled Lord. You dare to enter our realm!”

“Yes, I dare,” Emory responded, taking a step forward towards Aworyn. The goddess backed further away. “The balance you speak of is a farce. You have manipulated and controlled for too long. It ends now.”

The other gods and goddesses rallied behind Aworyn, a multitude that flowed into the boundless infinity behind them. Every eye in the room fixed on Emory, and she wondered what the golden dragon’s plan really was.

Are you going to kill all of them? she asked in her mind, but like before, he didn’t respond. She was getting sick of not getting a reply from him.

Kane moved to stand beside her, and she glanced at him. Although he refused to look at her now, she knew what that stance meant.

“Stand your congregation down, Aworyn. You will not win this,” Kane said quietly.

“I will not’”

“Stand your bloody congregation down!” Kane barked, and his aura spread through the hall like a force.

Emory gasped as it swept past her like a shockwave, stifling their lungs and freezing them in absolute fear, yet simultaneously making their legs tremble. The bloodlust, the power, the danger that seeped out of him in waves was terrifying. Even with the power of the golden dragon grounding her, she felt the terrifying power of her mate.

“The time for games and deceit is over. Emory will claim that throne, and if any one of you dares to interfere, I will devour you,” he declared.

Since when did he start calling her by name? It had been Eilir since he chose to name her that, and hearing him call her name stung in a way she couldn’t explain.

“Emory?” she asked as she turned to face her mate.

Focus!

The golden dragon’s voice echoed in her head, but she shook him out as Kane now turned to her. His eyes still glowed with a savage wickedness.

“We will talk about this later,” he said through clenched teeth.

“No!” she retorted. “If we don’t resolve this now, it’ll continue to fester and I don’t want it to. You’re upset with me because of Rahl, and I apologize! I did plan to tell you about it, only you! It is hardly my fault that the fucking bitch of a goddess decided to tell you about it.”

“Hey!” Aworyn shot.

“Eilir, let’s’”

“I may have questionable feelings for him, but I would never trade you for him. I meant it when I said this only beats for you. It will never change.” Emory took a deep breath as she held her hand to her chest.

“Shall we continue this discussion when we don’t have an audience?” he asked quietly.

“Fine.” She turned back to the congregation. “After our unification, we shall name a worthy champion to take the throne in my stead. If any of you wishes to claim it, make it known now, and you will get a fair fight.” Her eyes trained on Aworyn, and her lips raised in a sly smile. “Surely you must want a shot.”

“We fight your champion for the throne?” Aworyn asked.

“No, you fight me.” Emory grinned. “I defend the throne; it is mine after all.”

“Little girl, do not make me laugh.” Aworyn chuckled. “I shall enjoy teaching you your place.”

“We shall reconvene in two days for that duel.” Emory walked up to Aworyn, eyes blazing with barely contained rage. “I look forward to it, sweet Aworyn.”

The doorway twirled behind her, and after staring Aworyn down, she stepped away and walked through it. She appeared in their lair, and Kane soon followed as she winced against the golden dragon’s scolding in her mind.

“What was that?” he asked, coming to stand in front of her, his eyes a storm of confusion.

“Well, we don’t have an audience any more.” She shrugged, trying to mask her anxiety. “Let’s talk now.”

Kane’s eyes narrowed. “You just challenged Aworyn to a duel in front of all the gods. Do you realize what you’ve done?”

“Yes, I do. I had to take a stand.”

He stepped closer. “And what about Rahl?”

“I felt sorry for him. He was being controlled. It wasn’t about feelings for him—it was about doing what was right and avoiding the only other option of killing him myself.”

He turned away, running a hand through his hair as his crown vanished. “You made a decision that affects both of us, without me. That’s not how this is supposed to work.”

“I know,” she whispered, stepping closer to him. “I’m sorry. I could argue that I didn’t exactly get the chance to discuss it with you, seeing as I was being tested. I just thought I was helping by giving him what he desired. And now he owes everything to the divine dragons. Think of it as a way of taming him.”

He turned back to her, and she saw the realization sparkle in his eyes. “We need to trust each other, Eilir. Especially now.”

“I do trust you, Kane,” she said, reaching out to touch his arm. “I’m learning. This whole world and politicking is new to me. But I need you to believe that I only want what’s best for you.”

He sighed, pulling her into his arms. “I know.” Then he exhaled as she hugged him back. “Come on, I want to hear everything that happened with the divine dragons.”

He took her hand and led her into their bedroom and then into the bathroom. Emory watched him undress, his muscles rippling under the flickering light, and climb into the brook. After a dip in, he turned to her with a heart-stopping grin.

“What are you waiting for?” he quipped.

Emory chuckled, shaking her head. “You know, I can never resist an invitation like that.”

She began to undress, feeling the cool air against her skin as she joined him in the brook. Taking a dip in the warm water relaxed her muscles. The heat of Kane’s body mingled with the water as she moved closer. Those eyes followed her every move with a mischievous glint. A shiver of excitement ran through her: she’d been craving him since she saw him step out of the throne room. She stepped into his arms, and their lips met in a passionate, hungry kiss.