As I knelt there, a deep sense of helplessness washed over me; there was nothing I could do to save him. My heart was breaking. "Olivia," saphias calm, soothing voice echoed through my head. "Saphira...? What can I do? I can't lose him," I pleaded. "There is a way to save him, Olivia," Saphira's voice invaded every corner of my consciousness, filling it with a bittersweet melody. "But it comes at a great cost." "What cost? I'll do anything!" My desperation gave my words a jagged edge. "Your blood," she began, her tone was calm but warning. "It has power within it, a power that can heal. If you give it to Alexander, he will live. But you will bear the repercussions." "Repercussions?" I echoed, my heart clenching. "You may become weak, lose your ability to stay warm in the cold or, worst of all, it could lead to your death." Death. The idea of my own life ending should've frightened me, but compared to losing Alexander, it felt inconsequential. I glanced down at him, his face pa
Alexanders pov The cold breeze prickled my skin and pulled me from the comforting void of unconsciousness. My eyelids felt like lead as I struggled to open them. Panic clawed at my throat before I could fully remember why my senses were screaming at me to wake up. Then it hit meâOlivia. My body jerked awake, adrenaline flooding my veins. The sight that met my eyes forced a strangled cry from my throat. Olivia lay there, pale and lifeless, her wrist bleeding. âOlivia!â My voice cracked as I crawled towards her, my hands trembling. There was no response. I scooped her into my arms, feeling her body unnaturally cold against mine. âPlease, Olivia, wake up.â Her head lolled to the side, her breathing so faint I could barely feel it. Tears blurred my vision. I couldnât lose her, not now, not after everything. I cradled her head against my chest, rocking back and forth as if that could somehow bring her back. âCome on, Dammit, Olivia! You have to wake up!â My voice was ragged, breaking
Alexander's POV I left Olivia to light a fire in hopes warming her up would help her. I watched as the flames came to life, casting flickering shadows across the walls of the cave. The snap and crackle of burning wood felt almost comforting, a small distraction from the chaos that seemed to cling to us like a second skin. Night crept in, bringing with it an icy wind. Without a word, Olivia moved closer, and we huddled together, leaning on each other to keep warm. Each shiver that racked her frame sent a pang of guilt through meâshe had been through so much, and here I was, barely able to protect her from the cold. "Are you feeling any better?" I asked softly, trying to gauge her condition without prying too much. Olivia nodded, though her eyes remained fixed on the fire. "A little. The heat helps." We sat in silence for a while, the crackling fire our only company. The weight of words unsaid hung heavily in the air. Finally, Olivia broke the silence. "Do you remember the night I
Olivias pov "Alexander..." I whispered, my voice barely there. His eyes bore into mine, filled with a heat that seemed to consume the very air between us. In a heartbeat, he closed the distance, his lips finding mine in a kiss that was both desperate and impossibly gentle. It was as if he was pouring every ounce of his being into that kiss, a promise, a plea, a declaration. I melted into him, my hands finding their way to his neck, pulling him closer. His hands roamed my back, the roughness of his palms a delicious contrast to the tenderness of his touch. The fire crackled beside us, but it was his kiss that ignited a blaze within, searing through my very core. We broke apart, gasping for air, but his forehead remained pressed against mine. "I've missed you, Olivia," he breathed, his eyes searching mine. "I've missed you too," I admitted, the words heavy with years of unsaid feelings. His hand moved to cup my cheek, his thumb tracing my lips with a tenderness that belied the urg
Olivia's POV The cave was our sanctuary for three days, but its safety had become stifling. Fear for victors safety had become crippling to me. I was much stronger now, and it was time for us to find our way home. "Are you sure you're ready?" Alexander asked, his eyes searching mine with a blend of concern and determination. I took a deep breath and nodded. "I'm ready. We can't wait any longer." After one last scan of the cave, we stepped into the biting cold. Snow crunched under our feet as we set on our way. Iâd never seen anything like this place. Every inch was covered in snow. The trees towered above us, their branches heavy and bending under the weight of a fresh snowfall. The silence was eerie, broken only by the howling wind and the distant cry of some unseen creature. Alexander walked beside me, his gaze scanning the surroundings with a caution that sent a chill down my spine. He broke the silence, his voice a rumble in the quiet expanse. "We're in the Snow Forest. My g
Olivia's POVMy heart sank into a bottomless pit of fear and hopelessness. Every direction was an endless storm of white that showed no sign of ending anytime soon. Alexander's grip on my hand was the only thing tethering me to sanity. Tears threatened to spill, freezing instantly against my cheeks. I could barely see Alexander's face through the blinding snow, but I knew he felt the same icy fear that gripped my heart.Just when I thought I couldn't take another step, my eyes caught something in the distanceâa blur, a wisp of movementâa shadow moving through the storm. The wind carried it closer, yet it was distorted, almost surreal, like a mirage. My breath hitched in my throat."Alexander, look!" I cried out, pointing towards the figure.He turned sharply to where I was pointing. At first, his expression was sceptical, but then he too saw itâa figure, moving with purpose, coming towards us. The snow swirled around it, creating an almost ethereal aura.The figure drew nearer, and I
Victor's POV My body screamed at me with pain as I slowly opened my eyes. Each blink felt like lifting a mountain. Groggily, I took in my surroundings, I was back in the palace. Immediately, my gaze fell upon Lidia. She was slouched in a chair by my bedside, her eyes red-rimmed and worn. She looked up as she heard me stirring, and relief flooded her face. "Oh, thank God you're awake!" she exclaimed, her voice a mixture of joy and exhaustion. "Victor, you had us all so worried." "Lidia," I croaked, my throat raw and dry. "What happened? How did I get here?" My mind struggled to piece together the fragmented memoriesâthe rogues, their menacing grins, the fight ... "You were attacked," Lidia explained, her voice trembling slightly. She leaned closer, taking my hand in hers to offer some comfort. "Rogues surrounded you. But you fought them off. The guards found you passed out and badly injured, trying to make your way back to where Olivia was tending to the wounded. You've been uncon
Olivia's POV Seeing Victor was a relief. I hadn't allowed myself to think too much about him while we were in the snow forest, and I couldn't. I looked over to Lidia, who was standing behind him and stepping around Victor. I throw my arms around Lidia, catching her off guard. âIt's so good to see you, Lidia. Thank you so much for looking after the twins.â Lidia stood frozen for a moment before awkwardly patting my back. âIt's nothing,â she murmured, her terse tone showing her discomfort. She pulled away quickly, a forced smile on her face. âIâm just glad youâreâĶ both okay.â I gave her a warm smile before turning back to Victor. "Victor, I need to tell you something," I said. Victorâs eyes narrowed with concern as he held my gaze. "What is it, Olivia?" I took a deep breath, the memory of the mysterious woman resurfacing in my mind. "Alexander and I... we fell from a cliff and ended up in the Snow Forest," I started, my voice steady but low. I told him everything besides what I had
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 meâa serpent rearing its head. Their insolence, their mindless obedience to Nicholas's bloody decree, was galling. But I knew why they refused me. I wasnât their king, merely a shadow cast by my fatherâs 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 destinationâtheir 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 couldnât 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, âWhat are you doing here? You canât be here!â 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. âGet me your king!â 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 flickerâa glint of deadly intentâarched 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 doâfind 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. Alexanderâs 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. "Itâs not safe for you. My father will use you as a pawn i
Victorâs 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 couldnât 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 strongâtougher than anyone I knewâbut 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