The Truth Beneath the Ashes

The embers of Anne's fire still crackled in the air, their dying glow casting long shadows against the rock. The battle had ended—but not in victory, not in loss. It had simply stopped. Valtheris stood across from her, untouched despite the inferno she had unleashed. He smiled, not in triumph, but in amusement.

"Is that all you've got?" he taunted. "I expected more from the legendary Dragire."

Anne clenched her fists, breathing hard, willing herself to stay grounded. The fire still hummed beneath her skin, but something else was rising, something deeper, darker—something that whispered I am more than this.

Before she could respond, Valtheris stepped forward, slow, deliberate. "I wonder," he mused, "has your dear mother ever told you the truth?"

Anne's heart skipped. "What truth?"

Valtheris chuckled, tilting his head as if studying her. "You believe you're the first Dragire. That your mother was a noble dragon who fell for a vampire, that your very existence is a mistake." His smirk widened. "You couldn't be more wrong."

The air in Anne's lungs turned to ice. "What are you saying?"

"Your mother was no ordinary dragon," Valtheris continued, his voice like silk, weaving a tale Anne wished she didn't have to hear. "She was once the Queen of Fire—the ruler of the Ashen Throne, the last of the Celestial Dragons."

Anne took a step back. No. That's not possible.

Lucian stiffened beside her. "That's a lie."

"Oh, Lucian," Valtheris sighed. "Sweet, naive Lucian. You've been in the dark just as much as she has."

Anne's mind raced. Her mother had never spoken of her past—only that they had to hide. But Queen of Fire? Celestial Dragons? If that was true, then her bloodline wasn't just dangerous—it was divine.

"Why would I believe anything you say?" she snapped.

Valtheris's smile remained, but his eyes darkened. "Because your mother did something unforgivable," he whispered. "She betrayed her kind. She didn't just fall in love with a vampire—she chose him over her kingdom. And when they came for her… she burned them all."

Anne staggered back, her breath shallow. "No," she murmured. "That's not true."

Valtheris spread his arms. "Then ask her yourself."

Silence stretched between them. For the first time, Anne didn't know what to say. She had always believed her mother was a protector, that she had sacrificed everything to keep her safe. But if Valtheris was telling the truth… her mother wasn't just running from danger.

She was the danger.

"Why are you telling me this?" Anne finally asked, her voice hoarse.

Valtheris's expression turned cold. "Because the past is coming for you, Anne. And when it does… you'll have to choose. Will you be the heir to a kingdom of fire—or will you burn like the rest?"

A sudden gust of wind swept through the cliffs, carrying the scent of something new. Something… wrong.

Lucian turned sharply. "We're not alone."

A shadow moved in the distance. Anne's eyes locked onto it, her heart pounding. Figures emerged from the darkness—tall, cloaked in black armor, their eyes glowing with golden fury.

Celestial Dragons.

And they weren't here to talk.