Olivia's POVI made my way to where I had told Allen I would meet him so we could leave for our holiday. My mind was still replaying the conversation I had just had with Alexander. I couldn't believe that he and Lidia had come up with a plan like that. It was no secret that Lidia didn't like me and blamed me for our father's death, but I never thought she would do something like that. As I came around the corner, I saw Victor and Lidia standing there with Allen and the twins. Liam called out. “Mummy”, and he ran towards me, wrapping his arms around my legs. “I'm so excited about our holiday. I've never seen the beach before.” “I can't wait either,” I said with a warm smile as I ruffled his hair.Allen came, taking my bag, and my eyes fell on Lidia, who looked sad for some reason. She stood with her shoulders slumped and an absent look in her eyes as if lost in her own world. "Lydia, are you alright?" I asked softly, stepping closer to her. She forced a weak smile, but it didn’t reac
The rain soon became too heavy, making it impossible for the driver to see properly. As we skidded around the muddy roads, the twins clung to me. The excitement we all once had was long gone and now replaced with fear. The crashes of thunder were deafening, and with each one, the twins cried out with fear. I kept calm, whispering sweet words to them, trying my best to take away their fear. The carriage came to a stop, and I looked out the window, trying to see where we were, but the night was too dark. The carriage door came open, and one of the guards stuck his head in. “There is a store here where we can seek shelter till the storm passes.” Allen nodded his head and went to follow the guard out of the carriage, but before he could, I grabbed his arm, stopping him. He turned to look at me with a confused look on his face. “Allen, are you sure this is a good idea?” I asked him, trying to keep my voice low so the twins wouldn't hear me. “We don't have a choice, Olivia. It is much t
My breath caught in my throat as Allen's eyes darkened, his stance shifting to one of readiness. The air in the store grew even tenser, like a taut string on the verge of snapping. The twins sensed the danger, too, their small hands clutching at my cloak, their eyes wide with fright."What's the meaning of this?" Allen demanded, his voice robust despite the tense situation. "What do you want from us?"The leader of the rogues, a burly man with a scar running down his cheek, sneered. "Justice, for one. Retribution, for another." He took a deliberate step closer, his followers mirroring his movements.Allen drew a deep breath. "These are innocent children. Leave them out of your vendetta.""Innocent?" the rogue hissed, his eyes gleaming with a malicious light. "Does innocence matter when our lives were torn apart by the very man you serve?"The tension was palpable, the storm outside forgotten amidst the brewing conflict within the store. I could feel the weight of each heartbeat, a drum
My body shook with fear as my eyes stayed glued on Sarah's fear-filled face. “Please don't hurt her. We will do as you ask,” I begged the man. “Grab the boy,” he ordered. I quickly ran to Liam and wanted to protect my child, but before I could, a man grabbed him, pulled him away, and held on to him tight. Liam fought, trying to get away from the man as he yelled at them. “Leave me alone. Let my sister go.” I looked around the room. All our guards lay dead, and Allen was on his knees. He was hurt badly but trying his best to hide it. “Take the children and beta here and lock them up.” My heart started to pound in my chest, and my mind raced a million miles an hour, trying to think of something to stop them from taking them away and getting us out of there. The leader turned back to me, his eyes locking onto mine. “And you will run back to Alpha Victor and tell him that we have his Beta and his children.” They started to take Allen and the twins out of the room. “Wait!” I called o
Allens pov“Hold on, Sarah,” I muttered through gritted teeth, my legs pumping as my body screamed in protest. The forest path back to the palace stretched on endlessly, every shadow a potential enemy. My left arm throbbed, blood dripping down my sleeve from the deep cut I’d sustained during the fight. The wind sliced through the trees, mocking my desperation."Allen," Sarah’s voice wavered, small and frightened against my chest. "I'm scared." “We’re almost there,” I lied, my breath hitching with pain. “Just hold on a bit longer.”My vision blurred, and my legs wobbled beneath me, threatening to drop us both. My foot caught on a root, sending me sprawling to the ground. Sarah cried out as we hit the mud. Pain surged through my injured arm, and I had to bite down to keep from screaming.I tried to push myself up, but my strength was failing me. Black spots danced in front of my eyes. Collapsing like this wasn't an option—not when their lives were on the line. Using my uninjured arm, I m
Alexanders povThe rain pelted down, each cold droplet like a shard of ice against my skin as I stepped out of my carriage to see if I could find somewhere for us to hold up until the storm passed. Streams of water ran down the helm of my cloak, soaking me to the bone. The storm had come in quicker than anticipated, and the night sky roared like an angry beast. "Alexander!" Ethan's voice barely pierced through the wind. "We can't see anything up ahead. We need to pull up and wait it out!" I knew he was right, but the thought of Olivia being out there ate away at my insides. I had sent Rebecca home with my most trusted guards and given them the orders not to wait for my return to the kingdom to just behead her. Ethan and I followed behind Olivia. I knew Olivia didn't want to go with me, but I thought I wouldn't see her for a long time and it was a long journey, I wanted to keep her safe. So I chose to follow her family and escort them quietly. If she needed any help, I would be ther
Alexander's POVThe word "rogues" had barely left Allen's lips before I felt my blood turn ice-cold. I could see the anguish etched into his every feature, but there was no time for anger or sorrow now—only action."Ethan, take them to the carriage!" I commanded my voice firm with purpose. "Ensure they're protected and send someone to tell Victor what has happened."Ethan nodded, rushing to gather Allen and the child. He made brief eye contact with me, his expression resolute and understanding. I knew I could count on him. As we helped Allen to his feet, he clutched my arm, his eyes burning with desperation."Alexander, you have to rescue Liam and Olivia. Please, they're in grave danger," he pleaded, voice cracking under the weight of unsaid words. “It's all my fault.”I gripped his shoulder tightly. "I will get them back, Allen. I swear it."Allen's eyes flickered, seeming to grapple with something unspoken. Slowly, he released his hold on me, but not before adding softly, "Just...mak
Olivia's POVMy heart raced as they continued to drag us towards the back of the store. The lingering scent of blood hung heavy in the air, mingling with the desperate whispers of those who stood with us. The rogue leader gave a sharp order to his men.“Move them,” he commanded, his voice cold and unyielding.Inside, panic clawed at my insides, merciless and unrelenting. If we were moved, how would Victor ever find us? Desperation gripped me, a cold, paralysing fear, but I couldn't let it show. Not now. Not with Liam needing me to be strong. I quickly reached for his hand, threading my fingers through his small, trembling ones.“Hold tight,” I whispered into his ear, forcing a calm that I did not feel. “Everything will be okay, sweetheart.”Liam’s eyes, wide with fear, met mine. I gave his hand a reassuring squeeze, praying it would give him some semblance of comfort. The rogue men herded us towards a trap door hidden beneath a dusty old rug. My stomach twisted as one of them yanked it
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
Alexanders povThe wind whispered across the battlement, carrying a chill that dug deep into my bones. I stood at the wall encircling the city, my army of loyal wolves poised silently behind me. The air was tense, suffused with the anticipation of what was to come. I contemplated the wall with an acute awareness of what lay on the other side: the city that held Olivia and Sarah.Saphira had left to go find Tinsley and inform her of what was about to happen. She had gone inside the kingdom walls to get out as many people as she could who did not want to fight for the king. We couldn't wait for her to return. We had to strike now before Olivia was forced to marry King Nicholas's son. “Get me your king!” I shouted up to the guards standing motionless atop the wall. The defiance in their silence was a simmering challenge that only stoked my resolve further.Out of the corner of my eye, a sudden flicker—a glint of deadly intent—arched toward me. Instinct and adrenaline merged, and without
Olivias povI reached my room in a flurry of motion, the urgency pounding in my veins, and slammed the door shut behind me. My heart was a relentless drumbeat, each thud a resounding reminder of what I needed to do—find Sarah, free the dragons, and somehow escape. But I was just one person amidst the turmoil."Think, Olivia. Think," I murmured to myself, pacing the confines of my chamber. Outside, the chorus of panic escalated, every scream an echo of a city on the brink of collapse. The knowledge that they were searching for Sarah and that I couldn't help gnawed at me, a relentless torment.Suddenly, the door flew open, and there stood Elijah, his emerald eyes wide with urgency. "Olivia, come on! I have to get you out of here. Alexander’s army is approaching the city walls.""No," I protested, a firm resolve anchoring me to the spot. "I can't leave without Sarah."Elijah stepped closer. Desperation was etched on his features. "It’s not safe for you. My father will use you as a pawn i
Victor’s PovThe harsh chill of the dawning day crept through the forest as our army settled in the shadows of the Dragon Kingdom. Our journey had been gruelling, each step laden with the weight of expectation and desperation. We had pushed ourselves to the very edge, and now, waiting on the border, the tension crackled like static in the air around us. I was restless, every fibre of my being reaching out, praying for Alexander's swift arrival.I couldn’t shake the image of Olivia and Sarah from my mind. The need to bring them back consumed me with a fire that could scorch the earth beneath my feet. My sister was strong—tougher than anyone I knew—but I also knew the storm she was caught in. And then there was Sarah, innocent and pure, needing protection in a world full of shadows and claws.My thoughts were interrupted when a scream echoed from the periphery of our camp. "Dragon!"I spun around, senses snapping to attention, the word needle-sharp on my consciousness. The men around me
Olivias povI should go back to my room and return to the role of the compliant captive they expected me to play. But something deeper pulled me, a shimmering thread of fate weaving through the subterranean labyrinth beneath the palace. My steps were quiet as I ventured deeper into the cool embrace of the tunnels, the echo of my footsteps a constant reminder of the possible dangers ahead.The tunnels were a refuge, a secretive network that whispered tales of long-forgotten secrets. I navigated through the shadows, an innate guide leading me further into the depths. My gut twisted with hesitation, but I could not ignore the growing vibration in the air, a song of urgency beckoning me.Just as I considered turning back, a sound floated through the darkness, hushed but unmistakable. The distant clang of metal, a rhythmic symphony that drew me towards it despite every nerve screaming for caution.I crept forward, each step pulling me closer to the source until a thin line of light pierced
Alexander povI stood frozen, every nerve on edge, as the dragon's words settled into my consciousness. "Olivia... sent you?" I asked, my voice rough from disbelief and residual anger. The fire of my power still simmered beneath the surface, a silent reminder of what I could unleash if deceived."Yes," the dragon replied, its voice gentle yet resonant, carrying an undeniable aura of truth. "She needs your help. Nicholas plans to wed her to Elijah. This union will strengthen its hold on the lands and unleash chaos if not prevented. You must hurry."The weight of the revelation sank deep into my bones. Olivia, trapped in a web of political alliances, her freedom and the lives of those we both held dear hung in the balance. My insides churned with urgency and something more profound: fear."What about Sarah?" The question slipped from my lips, underpinned by the kind of desperation that only the thought of losing one's child could elicit.The dragon dipped its head, eyes filled with a pe