Alexanders pov Later in the day, the training grounds buzzed with activity. Warriors and pack members milled about, preparing for another day's work. But today, all eyes were on Olivia.She stood at the edge of the clearing, taking a deep breath as if drawing strength from the earth itself. I watched her closely, pride swelling in my chest. This woman, once considered weak and wolfless, was now a formidable force.Olivia squared her shoulders and began her training with a fierce determination. Each move was precise, every attack a testament to her newfound strength. She pushed herself harder with each passing minute, her resolve unwavering.I rolled off the training grounds' stone slab, my eyes tracking Olivia as she maneuvered around her opponent. In a flash, I was on my feet, striding across the field with purpose. A strong and imposing guard held a padded shield in front of Olivia. His presence served as a reminder: Olivia may have strength, but she lacked technique.“Stand down,”
Olivia's PovUsing the magic had drained me far more than I cared to admit. Each fibre of my being felt stretched thin, taut like a bowstring ready to snap. But this newfound power was worth every ounce of fatigue. It was the first time I'd harnessed such magic, and I believed earnestly that practice would only make me stronger. I kept the tiredness to myself, not wanting to worry about anyone.Lidia approached with wide eyes brimming with awe. "That was amazing, Olivia!" she said, her voice filled with genuine admiration.I smiled, though I could sense a tightness behind her words, a shadow lurking just beneath the surface. "Thank you, Lidia," I replied. "But is everything okay? You look like something's on your mind."Lidia hesitated, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. "Yes, well, I— I was wondering if maybe I could train as well. Learn how to fight and defend myself, too."Her request didn’t surprise me. I knew why she wanted this—because of what Derek had done to her
Olivias pov We started making our way back toward the training grounds. I felt a surge of determination and renewed energy. The forest had always been my sanctuary, a place where Aura and I could truly connect without the distractions or pressures of our kingdom.Approaching the clearing, I saw Lidia heading back toward the palace, her shoulders slumped. She looked defeated. Quickly, I told Alexander, “I’ll be right back,” and darted after her. “Lidia! Lidia, wait up!”She stopped, turning around slowly, her face marked with frustration and despair. “What happened?” I asked as I caught up to her, genuinely concerned.Lidia shook her head. “I was stupid to ever think I could learn how to fight. It's hopeless.”My heart sank. “Why do you say that? You were doing well.”She laughed bitterly. “No, I wasn’t. I was awful. I can’t do anything right. Everyone around us is so skilled, so strong. What am I compared to them?”I placed a hand on her arm, trying to offer comfort. “Lidia, it take
Olivia's POVThe next morning, with a renewed sense of purpose, I prepared for another day of training. As I stepped into the training yard, the first rays of sunlight casting a warm glow across the grounds, my eyes scanned the field for Lidia. I spotted her near the edge, half-heartedly swinging a practice sword, her movements sluggish and uncoordinated.Her face was a mask of determination, but it was clear she was struggling. I walked over to her, my heart heavy with concern. "Lidia," I called out, trying to catch her attention.She turned, her eyes clouded with frustration. "Olivia," she acknowledged, her voice flat. "I'm not sure I belong here."I shook my head. "You do belong here. But I think we need to find out where your true strengths lie."She looked at me sceptically. "And how do you propose we do that?"I held out my hand, hoping to offer a lifeline. "Let's take a walk. I have an idea."Curiosity flickered in her eyes as she set the practice sword aside and followed me ou
Olivias povWe both thanked Alexander and exited the office, relief washing over us like a cool breeze. As we walked back to the training yard, Lidia's steps were lighter, and her demeanour more relaxed. For the first time in days, I saw a genuine smile on her face.Back at the training grounds, the preparations for my training with Alexander were underway. The soldiers lined up, their disciplined faces betraying curiosity and excitement. Alexander, now back in his usual commanding mode, directed them with authoritative precision."Alright, everyone, we’re here to test Olivia’s limits. We’ll start with the basic bouts, and then Ethan will challenge her," Alexander announced.The first soldier, a burly man named Garret, stepped forward. We bowed to each other in respect before the fight began. His attacks were strong but predictable. Seeing his movements in slow motion, I easily dodged and countered, using my agility to keep him off balance. A swift kick to his legs had him tumbling to
Alexander’s POVWiping the sweat from my brow, I glanced around the training grounds. The soldiers had started dispersing, murmuring amongst themselves about Olivia's performance. My gaze drifted to her, catching the flicker of exhaustion masked under a brave face. She was undoubtedly a force to reckon with, but she still had a long way to go.After ensuring everyone had left, I turned to Olivia. "You pushed yourself hard today," I said, softer than usual.Olivia leaned against a wooden post, her chest rising and falling rapidly. "Felt good to test my limits. But I know I have more to learn."I nodded. "You do. But don't underestimate your progress. You're extraordinary, Olivia." I couldn't hide the admiration enveloping my voice.The twins, Liam and Sarah, came rushing over, their energy infectious. “Mum, you were amazing!” Liam exclaimed, eyes wide with enthusiasm.Sarah hopped in place. “Can we learn to fight like that someday?”Olivia laughed, her weariness briefly forgotten as sh
Olivia's POVAs I opened my eyes to the soft light of dawn filtering through the curtains, the emptiness beside me was impossible to ignore. Alexander hadn't come to bed last night. My heart sank a little, a gnawing worry taking root. He had told me he had some things to deal with, but I had assumed he would return before morning.With a sigh, I pushed the covers away and got dressed in my training gear. My reflection in the mirror looked determined but worn, echoes of the night's restlessness reflecting in my eyes. Brushing my fingers through my hair, I tried to shake off the unease. Aura stirred within me, lending her strength as always.Stepping outside, the air was crisp and invigorating. I made my way to the training grounds, hoping to find some solace in the routine. As I approached, I saw Alexander standing there, his tall figure unmistakable against the rising sun. He was holding a bow, his posture both regal and weary."Good morning," he greeted, closing the distance between
Cassandra's POVThe air in the dungeon was a cold, malevolent breath, wrapping around me like a shroud of despair. The walls of my cell were stained with the darkness of forgotten screams, the stones themselves etched with the silent marks of countless betrayals. Time had lost meaning here; days and nights blended into a seamless, suffocating haze. My world had constricted to this cage of shadows, but within its confines, my resolve had only sharpened, turning into a blade honed by vengeance.A steady drip from the ceiling marked the passing seconds, each one adding to the weight pressing down on me. How long had it been? Days? Weeks? Months? Time crawled slower than the decay infecting the grimy floor. Yet, amidst the suffocating despair, a singular, fierce light of vengeance kept my spirit from breaking. Reed's unfinished rejection was a wound still festering, a beacon that kept my heart beating in sync with the rhythm of revenge.The ominous echo of footsteps shattered the oppressi
The gentle hum of the wind rustled through the castle gardens, carrying with it the scent of blooming jasmine and fresh earth. The sun hung low on the horizon, casting a golden hue over the kingdom, painting everything in warm, honeyed light. The Dragon Kingdom—our kingdom—was at peace.A week had passed since the final battle. A week since Nicholas had fallen, his tyrannical reign brought to an end. The scars of war still marked the land, but already, hope had begun to weave its way through the people, through the dragons, and through my own kingdom. Rebuilding had started, and with it, the promise of a future unshackled from fear and a united front between not only ours and their kingdom but also many others.And today… today was the day that I finally got to marry Alexander.The wedding had been a quiet affair, just as I had wanted—just those we loved, those who had stood beside us through the trials that had nearly torn us apart. The great hall had been filled with the laughter of
A bright glow surrounded me, cradling me like a guardian made manifest. It was the magic from deep within, awakened not by mere survival but by love—a force transcending the corporeal bounds defined by the fight.The descent slowed, the air holding me in a delicate dance with the elemental magic coursing through my veins. It whispered assurance and a promise returned in kind by the beating heart of the earth itself.As I alighted softly upon the weathered stones of the courtyard, strength and weariness meshed in a delicate balance. The energy wrapped around me, a cocoon of gentle power that ebbed almost tenderly, returning me to the ground with undeniable grace.The world righted itself, the battlefield, once a stage of cacophony and chaos, hushed into a stunned silence, witnessing the impossible shimmer into reality. A breath—my second chance drawn from the earth—and I stood, steady and whole.I looked up to see faces of disbelief switch to ones of hope. Alexander's strides carried h
Olivias povMy warning echoed in the air, but it was already too late. Behind Elijah, the king’s dragon surgeon moved with terrifying speed, its spear-like tail ready to strike. Everything seemed to slow as the scene unfolded—a cruel dance of shadow and flesh, friend and enemy caught in fate’s grip.Time froze as the dragon’s tail pierced Elijah’s back, ending the moment in brutal finality. Pain and realisation filled his face, his emerald eyes widening in shock. His body crumpled forward, silent in the tragedy he had become a part of."No!" The word tore from my throat, breaking the heavy silence that settled like a shroud. But through my horror, an undeniable truth took shape with each heartbeat—Nicholas’s greatest betrayal wasn’t just in his violence but in the cold decision to sacrifice his own son for power.As Elijah fell to his knees, Nicholas grinned—a wicked smile that could freeze the ocean. He waved the horn, the sound still ringing in my ears, and in that moment, his inten
Olivia's PovThe sky was painted in shades of crimson and smoke, and the battlefield lay beneath me, a chaotic tapestry of combat and valour. Riding Saphira, my trusted dragon, I felt an unprecedented harmony between us. Her thoughts intertwined with mine, weaving a tapestry of mutual understanding and unity. Together, we were a force of nature, an extension of one another as we dove and soared through the fray.Saphira’s roar resonated inside me, a declaration of war that echoed the battle’s ferocity. Her muscles coiled beneath my legs, and we twisted through the air, engaging our adversaries with a synergy that brought out the raw power within us. Each strike was fluid and precise—a dance of strength and strategy that blurred the lines between rider and dragon. Riding Saphira, I felt a strength I’d never known, as though every heartbeat was in sync with the rhythm of destiny itself.Through the din of clashing swords and bellows, Saphira's voice sizzled like lightning in my mind. *O
Alexander's POV The battlefield pulsed with chaos, a vast symphony of metal clashing and figures weaving through a smoky haze. I fought with a focused intensity that came from the core of my being. Each movement was purposeful, and each turn of my blade was meticulously calculated. This was more than a war of physicality; it was a contest of spirits fueled by love and vengeance. All around me, my pack surged forward like a tidal wave, wolves overcoming soldiers with primal ferocity. As I caught a glimpse of Olivia soaring overhead on a dragon's back, a wild joy lit me from within. Her presence was like a beacon, a promise that drove me onward, deeper into the heart of conflict. My attention was wrenched upward by the tumultuous struggle above. There, in the sky, dragons twisted and turned in an aerial ballet of might and desperation. King Nicholas and his son, Elijah, battled with a fury that seemed to rend the sky itself. Nicholas's dragon fought with savage intensity, every swi
Elijah's povThe clamour of the battlefield swelled around me, punctuated by cries and the clash of steel. My heart was a tempest, torn between my loyalty to my father and my love for Olivia. I had never intended to become a pawn in this war, but here I stood, bathed in conflict, with my mind spiralling around the impending chaos. As I left Olivia's side earlier, my frustration boiled over into the tense air. "Cease this madness!" I cried out to the guards, their movements a blur of aggression around me. "These people are not our enemies!" Laughter erupted in response, sardonic and cruel. "The King has spoken, not you, Prince Elijah. We fight until death unless he says otherwise." Disdain twisted within me—a serpent rearing its head. Their insolence, their mindless obedience to Nicholas's bloody decree, was galling. But I knew why they refused me. I wasn’t their king, merely a shadow cast by my father’s ambition, a prince wearing false armour. The world spun with futility. Seeking
The ground was approaching swiftly beneath me, a swirling mass racing to meet my descent. Every instinct screamed that this was a mistake and that the leap would surely be my undoing. But even as fear clenched my heart, the dragon's scale in my grip pulsed with a warmth that banished doubt. One hundred meters above the earth, however, a shadow loomed. The first dragon I had saved soared to my rescue, swooping beneath me with a grace that defied the chaos of my fall. Relief erupted within me as I landed on its broad back, a breathless gasp escaping my lips. Holding tight to the rough, warm scales, I murmured, "Thank you."The dragon's powerful wings flapped, beating a defiant cadence against the tumultuous winds. It rose into the sky, a guardian taking flight, and together, we soared, the kingdom unfurling beneath us as a tapestry of vibrant life and teetering conflict.As if in a dream borne aloft, hundreds more dragons began to appear, majestic and fierce, emerging from the shadows
Olivias povI raced through the tunnels with a sense of urgency so intense it felt like a physical force pushing me onward. My breaths were ragged, each inhalation a struggle as I navigated the labyrinthine passages beneath the kingdom. My mind was a whirlwind, and though my plan was half-formed at best, I knew the dragons were my destination—their strength would be paramount in the battle to come.As I emerged into the dragon chamber, the oppressive air filled my lungs, heavy with the scent of fear and confinement. I couldn’t afford to hesitate, even as my heart pounded with the weight of what I was about to do. There they were, magnificent creatures tethered by chains, their eyes pools of ancient wisdom and unfathomable pain.The sight of the three guards was like a cold splash of reality, snapping my senses into sharp relief. The lead guard shouted, “What are you doing here? You can’t be here!” His voice echoed menacingly through the chamber, but I was beyond fear.Panicking would
Alexanders povThe moment we scaled the wall, chaos erupted like a storm unleashed upon the city. The guards, mere specks below, shouted commands in a futile attempt to contain the inevitable. Before anyone could react, a deafening roar sliced through the pandemonium, and the dragons descended, dark silhouettes against the dawn sky. Each dragon was a testament to terror and power, their scales shimmering with malice as they perched above the city. Fire erupted from their jaws, slicing through the air like molten spears, incinerating everything in their path. The city seemed to collapse inward upon itself, screams of horror mingling with the crackling of flames. Yet, amidst the chaos, my objective remained clear. I needed to reach the palace and confront Nicholas, ensuring he could never threaten Olivia or Sarah again. Victor and the others would search for them, but I would end this once and for all. As we pushed forward, defenders surged toward us, their weapons drawn with the con