Chapter 13
The roar echoed across the mountains again, closer this time. It rolled through the palace like thunder trapped inside stone, shaking the walls and sending dust drifting from the carved ceiling. Ariana felt it deep in her chest, not just as sound, but as something heavier, something that pressed against her from the inside. The golden light around her flickered violently, no longer steady, rising and falling in uneven waves. Kael tightened his grip on her shoulders without thinking. "What was that?" he demanded, his voice sharp with tension.
The man dressed in black and gold did not answer immediately. For the first time, the calm control he had carried since the beginning was gone. His eyes were fixed on the open chamber doors, his expression tightening as if he already knew what was coming. "They found her," he said at last. Kael's gaze hardened. "Who?" The man turned slowly. "The Sovereign Hunters." The words settled heavily, and Ariana frowned despite the fear building in her chest. "That sounds dramatic," she said weakly. "It is," he replied without hesitation.
Outside, alarm horns erupted across the hidden city, sharp and urgent, cutting through the air from every direction. Kael turned toward the doors, his instincts sharpening instantly. From the chamber, he could see the upper terraces. Guards ran across stone bridges, shouting orders, weapons drawn, magic forming in flashes of light. The stillness of the city had shattered completely. "You still haven't explained anything," Kael said coldly. The man exhaled slowly. "They are the reason Sovereigns vanished." Ariana blinked. "You mean the council?" "No," he said, his voice hardening. "The council fears them."
That was enough to shift Kael's focus. "Then explain." The man's gaze flicked toward Ariana. "The Sovereign was meant to rule balance between all bloodlines. Wolves, vampires, witches, and fae. But some creatures refused to kneel." A deep impact shook the mountain again, stronger than before, cracking stone somewhere far below. The golden circle beneath Ariana flickered weaker now, as if reacting to something approaching. Kael's wolf stirred uneasily beneath his skin. "Those things outside," he said, quieter now, "they kill Sovereigns?" "Yes." "Why?" The man's voice darkened. "Because Sovereigns can command them."
Another roar tore through the sky, closer, louder, violent enough to make the air tremble. Ariana instinctively clutched Kael's arm, her breath unsteady. "What are they?" she asked. The man answered without hesitation. "Dragons." For a second, everything went still. Kael blinked once, disbelief flashing across his face. "You're joking." "I am not." The air outside filled with the heavy thunder of wings, each beat shaking the sky itself. Ariana's heart pounded harder. "I thought dragons were extinct." The man's expression tightened. "They were, until the Sovereigns disappeared."
Kael frowned, his mind already racing ahead. "And now they're back because of her?" The man looked directly at Ariana. "They were created to hunt Sovereigns." The silence that followed felt heavier than anything else. Ariana's voice dropped, barely steady. "So they're here for me." "Yes." Kael's wolf snarled deep inside him, the reaction immediate and violent. "Then they'll have to go through me." The man almost smiled, but there was no humor in it. "That would be something to see."
The next impact shattered the tension. The windows exploded inward, glass scattering across the chamber as a powerful gust tore through the room. Ariana flinched, and Kael moved instantly, pulling her behind him. A shadow passed across the sky beyond the open doors, massive and fast. Despite everything, Ariana stepped forward again, drawn toward it. She looked up, and her breath stopped. A dragon circled above the city, its black scales reflecting light like armor, its wings stretching wider than the palace towers. Its red eyes burned as it roared, and the sound rolled across the mountains like a storm breaking.
Below, the city moved in chaos. Guards formed lines, magic flared, and defensive circles lit across the terraces. Everything was preparing for war. Ariana's chest tightened. "That thing is coming here." "Yes," the man said, his voice calmer again, though tension still lingered beneath it. "It can feel the Sovereign awakening." Kael stepped beside her, his gaze locked on the creature. "Good." The man glanced at him. "You're eager to die?" Kael didn't look away. "No." His stance shifted slightly. "I'm eager to prove it chose the wrong mountain."
Ariana looked at him, fear rising. "You can't fight that." Kael's voice stayed steady. "Watch me." The dragon suddenly changed direction. Its wings beat once, twice, then it dove straight toward the palace. The wind hit the chamber like a wave, tearing through everything as the sky darkened. Ariana's golden eyes flared instinctively. Something inside her answered. Power surged through her chest, and the bond between her and Kael ignited violently, sharp and undeniable.
The man in black and gold noticed immediately. "Interesting…" Kael frowned. "What?" The man pointed toward Ariana. "The dragon isn't just hunting you." Ariana's breath trembled. "Then what?" The man's voice dropped. "It's answering you." Kael turned sharply toward her. "What?" Outside, the dragon halted mid-air, its massive wings slowing as it hovered directly above the palace. Its head turned, locking onto Ariana.
The red glow in its eyes flickered. Then slowly, it changed.
Gold.
The entire city fell silent. Even the horns stopped. The man whispered under his breath, "Impossible." Ariana stared, her heart racing. "Why is it looking at me like that?" The man swallowed. "Because it isn't here to kill you." Kael's voice tightened. "Then why is it here?" The dragon lowered its massive head, slow and deliberate, and bowed before the palace.
The man's voice dropped, unsteady now. "Because it recognizes its Queen."
Ariana's breath caught. "Queen?" Before anyone could react, another roar tore through the sky, louder and filled with fury. The dragon above the palace snapped its head upward. Kael followed its gaze, and his blood ran cold. Three more dragons tore through the clouds, their wings cutting through the sky, their scales dark crimson, their eyes burning with rage.
They were not bowing.
They were coming to kill.