CHAPTER 18: THE FIRE WITHIN

The battle raged beyond the castle walls—a symphony of steel clashing against steel, war cries shaking the heavens, and the agonized wails of the wounded. The sky burned crimson, flames consuming the fortress while thick plumes of smoke coiled upward like a funeral shroud.

Evelynn's heart pounded as she sprinted through the corridors, her mind fixed on one thought—Darius.

She had disobeyed his command to stay behind, but how could she remain hidden in safety while he fought for their survival? If she was bound to him by this curse, then she would face its consequences beside him.

"Lady Evelynn!" a voice called out behind her.

She turned to find Lucien, one of the castle's senior knights, racing toward her. His armor was dented, and smeared with blood, though he bore no visible wounds.

"My lady, it is not safe here!" he panted. "You must return to the inner chambers!"

"I will not hide while Darius fights!" Evelynn declared, standing her ground. "Tell me where he is."

Lucien hesitated, his jaw tightening. "He's at the eastern wall, but—"

That was all she needed to hear. Without another word, she spun on her heel and bolted toward the main gate.

Lucien cursed under his breath and followed.

The moment Evelynn stepped onto the outer courtyard, the chaos of war unfolded before her. Soldiers clashed beneath the burning sky, their swords flashing in the firelight. The ground was slick with blood, the air thick with smoke and the acrid stench of death. Overhead, wyvern riders swooped, their monstrous beasts shrieking as they rained fire upon the fortress.

And then, she saw him.

Darius stood at the front lines, a whirlwind of power and fury. His black and gold armor gleamed in the infernal glow, and with every swing of his blade, enemies fell before him. His movements were almost inhuman—swift, precise, deadly. And yet, despite his sheer strength, the battle was shifting against them. More enemy forces poured in. The fortress walls, once impenetrable, were beginning to crumble.

"Darius!" Evelynn shouted, pushing past soldiers, desperate to reach him.

His head snapped toward her, golden eyes blazing with fury.

"Evelynn, get back!" he roared, slashing through an enemy soldier without breaking his glare.

But she didn't stop.

A sudden, bone-chilling screech made her whirl around. A wyvern dived toward her, its talons stretched wide, razor-sharp, and gleaming.

She had no time to react.

A blur of motion. A strong arm yanked her backward.

Darius.

He spun her behind him just as the wyvern lunged. In a single, lethal strike, his blade severed the beast's head from its body. Blood splattered across the scorched earth as the creature collapsed with a final, gurgling shriek.

Evelynn's breath came in ragged gasps. She looked up at Darius—his face dark with rage, his chest rising and falling in heavy breaths.

"What the hell are you doing here?" he snarled.

"I couldn't just stay inside and do nothing!" she shot back, defiant. "I won't watch from the shadows while you fight alone!"

His jaw clenched, his hands tightening around his sword. But before he could respond, a piercing horn cut through the battlefield.

The enemy forces were regrouping. Wyvern riders circled like vultures, their monstrous shadows rippling across the ground.

Darius cursed under his breath. "This battle isn't over."

A fresh wave of enemies surged forward.

Before Evelynn could react, Darius grabbed her wrist, pulling her to his side.

"Stay close," he ordered, eyes scanning the chaos. "Do exactly as I say."

She nodded, gripping the dagger she had stolen from the armory.

Then, they fought.

Side by side.

Darius was a force of destruction, cutting through enemies like a storm of steel. Evelynn, though less experienced, was swift and determined. She dodged, struck where she could, and realized something—she was not powerless. She was not just a pawn.

She could fight.

A soldier lunged at her. She ducked, driving her dagger into his side. He crumpled with a strangled grunt. But as she turned, she caught sight of another soldier, blade raised, moving toward Darius's unguarded back.

No.

Evelynn didn't think. She just moved.

"Darius!" she screamed, lunging forward.

Her dagger plunged into the enemy's chest before he could strike. He let out a choked gasp and fell at her feet.

For a heartbeat, the battlefield around them vanished.

Evelynn stood there, panting, her hands stained with blood. She met Darius's gaze, fierce and unwavering.

"I told you," she whispered. "I won't stand by and do nothing."

Something flickered in his golden eyes—something raw, something dangerous.

But before he could speak, a deafening roar shattered the air.

A massive wyvern descended from the sky, its scales dark as obsidian. The rider astride it wore crimson-streaked armor, his blade already dripping with the blood of those who had dared stand before him.

The enemy general.

Darius tensed. His grip on his sword tightened. "General Kael."

Kael dismounted, his heavy boots thudding against the ground. His smirk was sharp as a blade.

"Darius," he drawled, tilting his head. "At last, we meet."

Evelynn stiffened as Kael's cold eyes settled on her. His lips curled.

"Ah," he mused, "and the little bride. You must realize by now that you are the true prize in this war."

Darius let out a low, dangerous growl. "You will not touch her."

Kael chuckled. "We shall see."

And then, he lunged.

His sword met Darius's in a thunderous clash. Sparks flew as they fought, their battle shaking the very ground beneath them.

Darius was relentless, his strikes fueled by fury. But Kael was cunning, matching his every move.

Evelynn clenched her dagger.

She couldn't just stand here.

She had to help.

The fate of the Dragon Lord—and the kingdom—depended on it.

Evelynn took a steadying breath, her fingers wrapping tightly around the hilt of her dagger. She scanned the battlefield, searching for an opening. Kael was strong, but he was focused entirely on Darius. If she could get close enough…

The clash of swords echoed through the air as Darius and Kael fought with deadly precision. Darius drove forward, his blade slicing through the air, but Kael dodged with an effortless grace, countering with a swift, brutal strike. Darius blocked just in time, but the impact sent him skidding backward.

Evelynn knew she had to act now.

She darted forward, weaving through the chaos. A soldier lunged at her, but she twisted out of the way, using her momentum to drive her dagger into his side. He fell with a grunt, and she pressed on.

Darius and Kael circled each other, eyes locked in a battle of wills.

Then, Evelynn saw it.

A gap in Kael's armor at his side.

Summoning every ounce of courage, she lunged.

Her dagger met flesh.

Kael let out a roar of pain, stumbling back. Darius seized the moment, his sword flashing as he struck. Kael barely managed to parry, but the damage was done.

Blood dripped from Evelynn's blade. She had done it.

Kael snarled, his eyes blazing with fury. "You will regret that."

Darius stepped protectively in front of her. "You won't get the chance."

The battle was far from over.