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Draco's lip curled, his sadism shining forth mixed with some fucked-up lust. Or maybe even more than that.

And then he stepped back and held his palms up toward Malrik.

His power streamed forth, violently, brutally.

It tore into Malrik, making him roar and shudder uncontrollably.

His talons sprung forth and he dug them into the stone wall behind him for purchase.

Roars turned to shrieks as Draco’s power ravaged his body, burrowing into him, it seemed, rather than staying on the surface like it did when magic-wielders struck others with their magic.

I grimaced, wanting to look away, but not able to.

I’d accepted the Stone of Recollection and I’d come here to bear witness, and it wouldn’t allow me to do anything else.

Power spilled into Marik—Draco bleeding into him.

That was what it had meant.

“It’s not… just your… power,” Malrik choked out.

“I’ve imbued my essence into what I’m feeding you. And Celestial fire. My will and our connection will stabilize it and prevent you from dying from a Celestial wound. Over our time together, I’ve made you strong. I’ve prepared you to take me. Now, let it in. Breathe me in, taste me on your tongue.”

It went on and on, screams echoing around the chamber.

And then finally it stopped.

Draco pulled his power back and watched intently as Malrik sank against the wall, hanging his head, panting, sweat dripping off him.

Moments of intensity passed.

And then I was choking as Malrik lifted his head and his eyes shone black with the mark of Draco’s magic.

“Excellent,” Draco said. “As it works through you for the next several days, it will reshape you. The Celestial power will separate from the part of me within you, and mold toyour essence only, transferring smoothly. And then you’ll wield power that belongs to them—power that is now ours eternally.”

“Power that will infuse my bloodline.”

“Yes. Those who are strong enough to wield it will inherit Celestial capabilities. They will be more than dragon.”

“And we will destroy all that the Celestials are, just like they tried to destroy you, Draco.”

“Mmm… as you rest to absorb what I’ve given you properly, tell me more about their suffering.”

“Theirs and my detractors in the Dracoryn Realm.”

“Yes. Give me that bloodlust and killer instinct unleashed. Make me relish every word of how brutally they will all fall by our hand.”

That same explosionof black and crimson light filled my vision.

The nightmare scene dissipated.

And then I was blinking back to reality, finding myself in the vault, holding the stone.

I was panting, my whole body shaking as I tried to reconcile what I’d seen.

As I took in Cornelius and his grave expression, then eyed Kai who looked stricken, it was clear they’d actually seen the memory as well.

“Celestial blood runs in your veins,” Cornelius spoke. He frowned in thought, putting all the pieces together. “Not your father’s. It skipped a generation.”