Six Months Ago (Part 2.1)GILDEONHe smashed through the metal gates with a deafening roar, turning the garrison entrance into a chaotic mess of stone and steel. Towers crumbled, columns toppled, and bodies were trampled under his feet as he charged ahead.His dragon was hungry for destruction.His senses sharpened, locking onto the warrior sylphs and spellcaster sylphs in their whites and blues. They stood frozen, trying to maintain stoic faces, but he could see the confusion in their eyes, could practically taste their fear. This was likely their first time to see a dragon up close. Baring his teeth, he snarled, sending another wave of terror through them. Behind him, he felt the salamanders crashing through the wreckage, knocking down enemy sylphs. Some fought with blades, while others had shifted into their beast forms, slashing with claws and whipping their tails around. Before him, the spellcaster sylphs reacted first. Their hands formed reverse triangles in front of their stom

Six Months Ago (Part 3)GILDEONAraheen. That was her name. He couldn't grasp why her name stirred something deep within him—an inexplicable urge to possess her. From now on, she'd be his wife. At least until he'd taken what he needed from her.They found an abandoned sylph watchtower a few miles from the Mad End’s Wall. It was where he’d taken Araheen. They would be safe here. For now.Using the tip of his shortsword, he drew Kohina’s summon sigil on the rust-colored earth, muttering her name under his steam-charged breath. He needed her help to set his plans in motion, and Kohina was the only salamander he could trust with his secrets.Afterward, he settled onto the windowsill, one leg propped against the frame. While waiting for Kohina, he inspected the sigil needle he’d picked up earlier. Silver, with a finial patterned after an owl, its eyes set with sapphires. The tip was sharp enough to prick his fingertip. Other than that, it looked just like the hair sticks Kohina often used.

ARAH“You haven’t broken the lock yet?” Tonio's curious eyes bore into her after she admitted she couldn't get into Gildeon’s study. Of course, she left out the steamy details that now distracted her, making her heart race. Her tattoo machine hung idle as she fought to drown out the memory of her husband's lustful gaze, the intense sounds he made, and how he came hard into her mouth...She was embarrassed to even be thinking about these things while working next to her friend.‘Get it together, Arah. Save those thoughts for later,' she scolded herself.“I thought you’d have managed to peek inside by now.” Tonio’s voice broke through her reverie.“I haven’t had a chance to try again,” she replied, steadying her voice and refocusing on the cursive name stenciled on Tonio’s forearm. The delicate lines of ‘Patricia’ were a welcome distraction. “He added a new lock. It’s tricky. He’d know if I touched it.”For all she knew, Gildeon could've also installed a spy camera somewhere in the hous

GILDEONHis eyes flicked to the chamber as Ghulik started retching. The goblin was on his knees, saliva dripping from his jagged teeth, hands bracing himself on the floor. Gildeon had expected the process to take longer, but here it was already.The sooner, the better anyway.He set the grimoire back on the table and stood to watch closely, hands in his pockets. Ghulik vomited up two black, slimy eggs, each the size of Gildeon's palm.“Just as I thought,” Roselia muttered, handing the eyeglasses back to him. He felt their renewed enchantment just before pocketing them. “Two eggs. Two witches, My Lord.”He crossed his arms, shaking his head. “It still baffles me that this is how you people get the witchtrace of each other.”“Well, back in the day, it was a lot... different,” Roselia said hesitantly as she approached the chamber. She carefully picked up one egg and set it down on the clear part of the table. “Witches used to slice open their stomachs, with nothing to numb the pain.” A g

ARAHShe hadn't found a vase yet, so she just kept the flowers in her room. She ran her fingers over the soft violet petals so often that their sweet, exotic scent now clung to her hair and skin. These definitely weren't from a regular flower shop. Where did Gildeon find these?But it didn't really matter. If anything, not knowing made these flowers feel even more special. She carefully placed the bouquet on her bed and turned to get dressed, choosing the fanciest dress in her wardrobe. Slipping it on, she felt the soft fabric glide over her skin. She inspected her reflection in the mirror, flashing a satisfied smile. The soft pink on her lips matched the blush on her cheeks, enhancing the vibrant blue of her eyes and the curls she had pinned back.This would be their first real date night, not counting any they might’ve had before the accident. So tonight, she wanted to make an effort. She wanted to look good.The dress hugged her perfectly, revealing a bit of midriff and her owl-cou