The Fire Beneath the Skin

The days after the battle passed in a blur, though the burn of it lingered like an open wound. Anne couldn't shake the feeling that everything had shifted—that she herself had been shifted. Every glance toward the dragon, Valtheris, reminded her of the storm brewing beneath the surface. The truth of her bloodline, her legacy, clawed at her, whispering in the back of her mind.

But what could she do with this knowledge?

Lucian had remained silent for the most part, though the unease in his eyes didn't escape her notice. He knew something was wrong—he could feel it too. But Anne didn't know what to say to him. She didn't have the answers.

So she had done what she always did—run.

She needed space. Needed time to breathe. To think.

Her feet carried her to the edge of the cliffs. The wind whipped around her, but she didn't flinch. She could almost hear the dragon's wings slicing through the air, though it was nowhere near her. The sound of freedom, of power, of rage.

"You've been avoiding me."

Anne stiffened, the voice sliding into her thoughts like a poison. The dragon's presence was palpable, even without him being there. She didn't need to turn around to know he was standing behind her, watching. Waiting.

"I needed space." Her voice was hoarse. "There's a lot I need to figure out."

Valtheris stepped forward, his massive form casting a shadow over her. "You can't run from what you are. It will always be a part of you."

Anne's chest tightened. "I know. I'm just trying to understand what that means. I didn't ask for this. I didn't ask for any of it."

The dragon's eyes gleamed with an unsettling clarity. "But you are here, nonetheless. You were always going to be. Your bloodline was always destined to lead you to me."

Anne turned to face him, her expression hard. "I'm not some weapon for your revenge, Valtheris."

For a moment, the dragon's face softened. "I never said you were." His voice was calm, almost… gentle. "But you must understand. The weight of your legacy is not something you can ignore. Your mother may have kept you hidden from the truth, but it is here, inside you." He gestured toward her heart. "And when the time comes, you will have to choose."

Anne swallowed hard. She could feel her pulse quickening, the heat of her powers flickering just beneath the surface. She hated feeling this way. Hated being torn between the fire that ran in her veins and the person she wanted to be.

"I'm not ready for that choice." She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. "I don't even know who I am anymore."

Valtheris stepped closer, his voice almost a whisper. "You are a dragon. You are fire, and you are blood. You are what they tried to hide. What they feared."

Anne's eyes flared gold, her power rising. The words stung, but there was a truth to them. A dangerous truth.

"You say it like it's a gift," she murmured. "But it feels like a curse."

The dragon's gaze softened even further. "I understand your pain. You are not the first to feel it. But you will learn. In time, you will learn how to wield your power. And when you do, you will not fear it anymore."

Anne looked away, her eyes fixed on the horizon. The truth of Valtheris's words burned in her chest, but it wasn't something she wanted to accept—not yet.

"I need answers."

"You will get them, Dragire. In time."

Just then, Lucian appeared at the edge of the cliffs, his eyes scanning the scene. He hesitated, his gaze flicking between Anne and the dragon.

"What's going on?" His tone was wary, cautious.

Anne took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "I… I'm not sure." She turned to face Lucian, forcing a calmness into her voice. "There's a lot I still don't know."

Lucian nodded, though his expression was tight with concern. "We need to figure this out, Anne. Before it's too late."

Before it's too late.

The words hung in the air, heavy and foreboding. The stakes were higher than she'd realized. The power Valtheris spoke of, the secrets her family had buried for centuries—it was all coming for her.

But the question was: What was she willing to do to stop it?

Valtheris's voice cut through her thoughts. "You will have to decide, Dragire. Will you help me bring down your mother? Or will you fight against the very blood that runs through your veins?"

Anne's chest tightened, her mind a whirl of thoughts. Her mother. The betrayal. Valtheris's revenge.

Her eyes narrowed. "I don't have all the answers yet. But I'm not ready to make that decision. Not now."

The dragon's golden gaze never wavered, but there was an understanding there. "The time will come."

Anne turned to Lucian, her expression set. She couldn't do this alone—not with Valtheris's dark intentions hanging over her like a storm cloud.

She needed more than answers. She needed a plan.

"Let's go."