Page 30

ZARVASH

Below us, Scalvaris sprawled like a beast guarding its hoard: arches jagged as broken ribs, keeps huddled tight, bridges thick as dragon spines.

The wind carried the stench of the forges, molten metal, sulfur, the ghosts of old battles.

I knew every scar in these caverns, every vow shattered there.

The weight of it pressed into me, a brand of fear and home.

Inside, I was nerves and dread. We’d escaped Ignarath, but it was close, and we'd made enemies. The tensions between the two cities were already high. Had I started a war? Every wingbeat back felt like a gamble. The cost gnawed at me, each failure etched in Vega’s bloodied face.

My mate. My veshari . The one piece of myself I couldn’t cover in armor.

She moved like she was unbreakable, blood crusted on her jaw, that fire in her eyes. Fool. Warrior.

Mine.

At the thick doors of the Blade Council chambers, my claw struck true, the impact humming through me. Focus. Darrokar would have heard we were back. Scalvaris thrived on whispers—rumors slipping down tunnels, through markets, faster than blood.

I would have gone there first, but Kinsley and Omvar needed the attention of Mysha and her healers. And even if they were fine, the healing caverns were a safe place to stash them while I faced the wrath of Darrokar.

He wouldn't be happy about this.

The hall was thick with tension. Shadows clung to stone; voices died at our entrance. Drakarn, the Blade Council—watching. Vega’s spine was a blade, and I forced myself to stand tall. Let them see control, not the exhaustion eating at me.

Darrokar crossed the hall in a flash, his black scales catching the light of the heat crystals embedded in the walls, anger coiled in every step.

He stopped close—near enough to threaten, far enough to hold back.

His eyes raked over me, assessing, then fixed on Vega. “So, you're alive. Both of you.”

I swallowed the pain and spoke. “Ignarath is crawling with humans. A dozen, at least. Caged. Broken. Maybe five could fight. The rest are arena fodder. They’ve already sent others to the mines.”

Vega’s voice cut in, “Kira's sister is there. More humans from the same ship we were on. They're being tortured, enslaved. Some are already dead.”

“And how did you find all this out?” He sounded ready to make someone bleed. Me? Ignarath? I couldn’t know.

I gave him the whole story, even the parts that made me look like a weak fool. Our capture, my injury. Fighting in the arena and fleeing before the winner could be chosen.

Some would call me a coward for that last part. Especially when I told them of Omvar.

The council shifted, murmurs rustling. Darrokar’s gaze didn’t waver. “You expect me to shelter an Ignarath dog?”

I clenched my jaw. “He saved my mate. Pulled her from Skorai’s claws.” I let the word hang: mate . It was a declaration, a blade with no sheath.

The hall went still. Eyes pinned me. I held them all, dared them to challenge.

Beside me, Vega sucked in a harsh breath and cut me an even harder look. It occurred to me that I should have made a declaration to her before I made it before the council. But instead of rejecting it, she took a step closer and let her arm brush mine.

Perhaps some things could be unsaid and still count.

Darrokar’s expression flickered with something sharp, almost respect. “That is unexpected.” Not a question. “Especially from you.” His gaze shifted to Vega. “And you. Do you accept this bond, Vega Cross?”

Vega shot me a look. Then she grinned. “Someone has to put up with him. It may as well be me.”

There was a choked laugh from somewhere in the council.

Possibly Vyne, if I recognized the edge in his voice.

I didn't dare turn away from Darrokar. There was no love lost between us, and he held my fate in my hands.

Nothing Vega and I had done in Ignarath was sanctioned.

He could exile me, execute me, strip me of my council position for insubordination.

I had friends on the council, or I had before Vega. None of them would accept our bond.

So I would make new friends. New allies. Build myself up once more. As long as I had her, nothing mattered.

Darrokar let the silence stretch. “Sanctuary isn’t yours to offer. The council will decide his place. Until then, Omvar is your burden. If he betrays us, you kill him before anyone else suffers.”

I nodded, my voice hard. “Agreed.”

He scanned us both, his eyes a blade. “You've seen the filth that covers Ignarath. Was it worth it?”

Vega stepped forward, her voice unyielding. “We can’t abandon the humans there. There are fighters. Healers. Kira's sister. They don't deserve their fate.”

Darrokar’s jaw tightened. “It’s not just about deserving. Ignarath is strong. If we steal the humans, we court war.”

Vega’s fingers brushed my arm. “Some wars are worth fighting,” she said.

The council pressed in, scales glistening under heat crystals, suspicion thick as smoke. Warriors crowded the hall—Vyne, Rath, Khorlar—while whispers coiled like snakes. Darrokar's mate, Terra, lingered in the shadows, her gaze pinned on Vega.

He thought about it for several beats. “The council will consider this. Ignarath will not toy with us.”

My mate's shoulders sagged, and I wrapped my wing around her, pulling her close.

Darrokar spun away, barking orders; messengers, aides, council members scattered under his command. The hall erupted with voices crackling with fear and hope, rumors spilling like wildfire.

In the chaos, I caught Vega’s hand, scarred and strong, fitting mine perfectly. She held on, no resistance, just a fierce, silent bond.

We slipped into the corridors, walls heavy with secrets.

My mind churned, losses mounting, rage smoldering, her scent fanning every risk I’d taken.

My career, my standing, my life, all of it was at risk now.

The Forge Temple would hear about this soon.

Karyseth would be barging in, demanding answers and sacrifices. Mektar would call me a traitor.

But Vega was at my side.

A final door shut behind us, council noise snuffed out in an instant. Just us. No masks. Nowhere to hide.

I turned to her, voice stripped bare. “Come back with me. To my quarters.”

Her grin was crooked, weary, a cut on her lip splitting faintly. “As long as you keep the chains to yourself this time.”

Laughter broke free, easing the ache for a moment. “Never again,” I vowed.

We moved through the caverns, the light from heat crystals dancing over bruises, sentries’ eyes like daggers. I kept her close. The city watched. Let it. I’d gut anyone who dared threaten her now. My oath wasn’t to Scalvaris anymore, not truly.

It was to her, and gods help me, I’d bleed to make it count.