Page 12 of Eluvonia (Rift of Ages #1)

I snap my hands away from my face, scowling despite the furious blush staining my cheeks.

My legs wobble as I stand, brushing dirt from my scraped knees with jerky, defensive motions.

I refuse to answer, my gaze darting anywhere but his infuriating smirk.

The yawning darkness beyond the doorway catches my eye, offering a welcome distraction.

“Get in here before I get bored and shove you off the balcony,” he says, the humor in his voice laced with something darker.

Muttering under my breath, I step past him, my movements stiff with indignation.

The second I cross the threshold, I freeze.

The space is unlike anything I’ve seen before.

It feels alive, burning with an intensity that makes my skin prickle.

The walls are draped in crimson fabric, cascading down like rivers of blood under the flicker of soft light.

Shadows dance across the room, their movements hypnotic, as if alive themselves.

At the edges of the room, some seem to stir uneasily, almost like they are following the Dragon male’s movements.

They seem to pulse and stretch in his wake.

Plush fabric muffles my steps. A faint, spiced aroma lingers in the air, wrapping around me like a whisper. In one corner, a raised platform brims with thick, embroidered cushions shimmering with golden threads, a couch. I remember the grandFae talking about them.

Opposite it stands an intricately carved wooden structure, its swirling patterns reminiscent of vines—or Dragon tails, I think—yes, it’s a dresser. Shiny objects glint on its polished surface, their shapes unfamiliar yet oddly alluring.

But the centerpiece of the room steals my attention. A massive structure dominates the space, draped in translucent red fabric that cascades like a veil. Pillows and cushions are piled on it, their arrangement both chaotic and inviting. It’s unmistakably a bed—but one unlike any I’ve ever seen.

I take another hesitant step, my senses overloaded by the room’s alien beauty.

I need to get out of here .

The thought surges through me, sharper than the lingering scent of spice in the air.

I don’t belong in this place, in this suffocating display of wealth and power.

My people are out there—what’s left of them.

Scattered, lost, maybe even dead. I don’t have the luxury of standing here, wide-eyed and overwhelmed.

I have to find them. I have to survive.

My fingers curl into fists at my sides as I force my gaze away from the crimson-drenched opulence around me. Everything here is unfamiliar—too soft, too indulgent. It’s designed to lure, to drown the senses in comfort until you forget you’re a captive. I won’t fall for it.

The Dragon male watches me, thankfully dressed now, a shiver ghosts down my spine.

I can’t afford to be distracted. Not by this room. Not by him .

I need a plan. An escape. A way back to what little remains of my world.

“Come,” he commands, walking towards me, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Instinctively, I step back, my hands curling into fists.

His movement is swift, too quick for me to react.

He reaches out and grabs my wrist, his fingers unyielding.

As his hand tightens around my wrist, I feel a cold pressure at my back.

I look over my shoulder, my eyes widening as I see the shadows around us become tangible, shifting and pressing against me, forcing me to move forward.

“Let go!” I hiss, twisting and pulling against him, but his hold doesn’t waver. The shadows at his feet seem to crawl, stretching out as though to reinforce his strength, thickening around us in a tight embrace, making it harder to pull away.

He drags me forward, his pace unrelenting. My feet stumble over the plush carpet, then cold stone as we step into a tunnel. Dark banners line the walls, the fierce eyes of Dragons glaring down at me from the fabric. Their silent judgment sends a shiver down my spine.

The male doesn’t slow, forcing me into a half-jog to keep up. My wrist aches where his hand clamps down, but I grit my teeth, refusing to show weakness.

I’ll kill this bastard and find a way out of this stone prison. My fingers inch toward my belt, closing around the cool hilt of my dagger. Slowly, I slide it free, keeping my movements controlled, quiet.

One strike. One chance.

I whirl, driving the blade toward his ribs—

Shadows lash out, faster than I can blink. They coil around my wrist, stopping the blade an inch from his side. A dark chuckle rumbles from him as he turns, his gaze flicking down to the dagger, then back up to me with infuriating amusement.

His grip tightens on my wrist, yanking me closer until his breath ghosts against my ear. “Cute,” he murmurs, his voice dripping with mockery. “I admire the effort, really. But if you’re going to try and kill me, at least do it properly.”

His shadows coil up my leg, slithering like living smoke. I scowl, jerking against them, but they only wind tighter, sliding up my thighs and curling around my waist. The cold, unnatural feel of them sends a shudder through me.

“Get them off me!” I grunt, twisting in his hold, trying to shake them loose.

He only chuckles. “Now, why would I do that? You seem to enjoy squirming.”

I snarl at him, baring my teeth, but the shadows slither higher, teasingly slow. Then, as if bored of my struggling, they dip behind me, pulling the last dagger from the waistband of my pants. With a flick, they toss it to the stone floor with a sharp clatter.

“No more surprises,” He says coldly, his smirk vanishing as he turns and continues walking. With a sharp tug, he yanks me forward, his grip like iron around my wrist, tight enough to make my bones ache, threatening to snap it.

I glare daggers at his back, my entire body thrumming with rage. “Bastard.”

His chuckle is low and dark. “Now, now. If you’re going to insult me, at least be creative about it.”

We pass through another towering door, guarded by two armored Dragon males who step aside at a curt nod from him.

The chamber beyond is vast and cavernous, its polished stone surfaces gleaming under the light of strange, glassy structures hanging from above.

They sparkle like trapped stars, their cold glow casting eerie patterns across the floor.

Heavy curtains frame massive openings along the walls, the thick fabric spilling onto the floor like waterfalls frozen in time. Between them hang enormous tapestries, each depicting Dragons locked in violent battles with Fae, their expressions twisted with fury.

At the far end of the room, a stone throne rises atop a platform. Half-draped in red cloth, it exudes a cold, unyielding power that makes my stomach churn.

A Dragon male seated on the throne is older, his black hair streaked with gray. Lines cut deep into his face, framing piercing blue eyes that gleam with sharp intelligence. Dark armor hugs his form, and his folded silver wings add to his imposing presence.

He dismisses a hunched figure standing before him with a flick of his hand. The figure bows low before retreating, leaving me alone under the weight of the older Dragon’s gaze.

“My son,” he drawls, his voice bored but his eyes razor-sharp. “What have you brought me?”

The male holding my wrist bows his head, though his grip on me remains firm. “Father, we raided the Fae hideout. This Fae fought back—with earth magic.”

The older Dragon’s eyes narrow. “Impossible. The crystals are intact; we just had a routine check.”

“I know,” the Dragon male holding me replies, his tone grim. “That’s why I brought her to you.”

My heart pounds as their gazes turn to me. Magic? Me? A vine did sprout during our fight, but that couldn’t have been me… could it?

“So, Fae,” the older Dragon says, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. “What do you have to say for yourself?”

I meet his gaze, refusing to cower. My voice is steady, defiant. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

The older Dragon’s eyes darken, suspicion clouding his expression as he turns back to the male holding me.

“Kaida?”

He nods. “She is…defiant to say the least,”

I glance at him, Kaida—that’s the cocky bastard’s name.

“This is Commander Varek, head of the Dragon army, and Regent to the Dragon King” Kaida says, his voice cold enough to frost stone. His blue eyes bore into me, sharp and unyielding. “No Fae is worthy of meeting his gaze, least of all you.”

My lips curl into a scoff as I lift my chin, refusing to be cowed. “Exactly, He is Regent to the Dragon King and commander of the Dragon army.” I gesture to my body. “Do I look like a Dragon to you? I don’t answer to beasts.”

Kaida’s expression sharpens, his jaw tightening as his nostrils flare. His hand rises swiftly, the motion precise and deliberate, and I instinctively flinch, throwing my arms up to shield myself. Before the blow lands, a familiar tingling sensation ignites beneath my skin.

A violent crack shatters the air as a thick root erupts through the nearby window, sending shards of glass clattering to the floor. It coils like a serpent, wrapping around Kaida’s ankle with an audible snap before yanking him off his feet and into the air.

Oh shit—was that from me?

The laugh bursts out before I can smother it, sharp and startled, the sound of someone who wasn’t expecting to find this remotely funny. But apparently, my body didn’t get the message. I clap a hand over my mouth, as if I can shove the sound back in, but it’s too late .

Kaida hangs there, suspended in midair like some kind of brooding bat, his expression a mix of exasperation and barely contained irritation. Shadows slither down the vine, thick and writhing, feeding off his frustration.

“Seriously?” he deadpans.

His stare pins me, and despite the situation, despite the very real danger of what he can do, I can’t seem to wipe the smirk off my face. It’s ridiculous, really. Him, the terrifying shadow-wielding Dragon, caught in this position. And me, standing here, barely holding back another nervous giggle.

Maybe I’ve finally lost it. Maybe the exhaustion, the stress, the fear, the sheer absurdity of everything has cracked something inside me.

Or maybe seeing him like this is the one sliver of amusement I’ve had in far too long.

Across the room, Commander Varek leans back slightly on the throne, his sharp eyes narrowing as he studies me with unnerving precision.

“You didn’t know you had magic?” Varek asks, stroking his chin with slow, deliberate movements.

I shake my head, my smirk fading, my fingers trembling as I clench them into fists. “No.” If I did, I would have killed you by now, I think bitterly.

He stands and steps towards me, his heavy boots echoing against the polished stone floor. His gaze gleams with something between curiosity and hunger. “Interesting,” he mutters.

Varek’s contemplative expression vanishes as he claps his hands together, the sound abrupt and final. “I’ve decided. You’ll become my son’s Líer.”

Kaida jerks in the air, the motion making him sway slightly. “ Father! That’s my decision!” he protests, his voice rising with indignation.

Varek’s head snaps toward him, his voice cutting like a blade. “You will do as I say. Understood?”

Kaida’s shoulders slump slightly. His lips press into a thin, angry line, but he finally mutters, “Yes, Father.”

I blink, trying to make sense of what I just heard. “What… What is a Leeth-r?”

Varek’s head tilts as he regards me with a humorless smile, his teeth flashing like the edge of a dagger.

“By the sacred rite of my kind, Dragon’s are given one choice—one soul to claim as his mate, bound to him for eternity.

A single bond, unbreakable and absolute.

Regardless of their race or status, once chosen, they would remain by our side. Forever.”

“Like… a wife?” I blurt, the word tasting foreign and disgusting on my tongue.

Varek nods, the gesture dismissive, almost bored. “Or a lover—whatever he wants. But you will be joined, forever.”

His gaze snaps back to me, his eyes cold and calculating. “So now, you will be his Líer. He will keep you close at all times.”

My chest tightens, my breaths quickening as I force myself to meet his gaze. “W-why?”

Varek steps into my space, the air between us seeming to drop in temperature.

He tilts my chin up with one finger, his touch firm and unyielding.

“You’re special, and you could be of use to us.

Plus,” his voice drops to a chilling whisper, “I’m curious to see how you managed to tap into magic—and how that might benefit me. ”

“Then make me a prisoner!” My voice rises, edged with panic. “Why do I need to be chained to that sack of uselessness?” I snap, jabbing a finger in Kaida’s direction. From the corner of my eye, I catch his nostrils flare, his jaw tightening.

The male’s smirk deepens, a cruel glint flashing in his eyes as he flicks his finger under my chin. The force is enough to make me stumble back a step, humiliation and fury roaring through me.

“I need eyes on you all day, every day,” he says smoothly, his tone sharp. “I’ll study you, Fae. Even if it means cutting you open to see what makes you tick.” He leans in closer, his voice dropping lower, each word laced with menace. “You belong to us now.”