Aiden stood at the center of the ruined temple, his crimson wings curling behind him as the lingering pulse of corrupted energy flickered beneath the shattered stone floor. His claws flexed at his sides, red light burning beneath his fingertips. His enhanced heartbeat hammered beneath the burn of strength curling through his veins.The broken walls of the temple stretched high above him—massive pillars of black stone traced with dark crimson runes. The sigils pulsed faintly beneath the thin current of corrupted magic cutting through the cold air. The storm-heavy sky above churned with dark clouds, faint flickers of red lightning curling beneath the thin edge of the horizon.Ronan stood at the base of the temple steps. His silver eyes narrowed toward Aiden’s wings. His black cloak curled around his legs beneath the thin current of wind cutting through the temple. His sword rested against his back, the polished silver edge glinting beneath the flicker of crimson light curling through th

Aiden’s eyes opened.Darkness pressed against the edges of his vision. The cold bite of stone beneath his back pulsed faintly beneath his skin. His enhanced heartbeat hammered steadily beneath the burn of strength curling through his veins. The sharp edge of red fire twisted beneath his ribs, curling through his chest.His wings stretched behind him—massive and jagged, lined with dark red veins pulsing beneath the thin membranes. The cold air coiled beneath his skin as the flicker of stormlight curled beneath the broken edge of the ceiling above him. His claws flexed at his sides, red fire flickering beneath his fingertips.The shattered remains of the ancient dragon’s body lay nearby—dark scales and black smoke curling beneath the broken remnants of the temple floor. Its golden eyes were dim beneath the weight of death. The lingering pulse of corrupted energy flickered faintly beneath the broken stone.Aiden’s breath sharpened. His enhanced heartbeat slowed beneath the burn of streng

Aiden stood at the edge of a high ridge overlooking the broken expanse of the Dragonspire Mountains. The jagged black peaks stretched beneath the storm-heavy sky, dark clouds curling beneath the thin flicker of crimson light bleeding through the horizon. The cold wind bit across his face, sharp and thin, carrying the faint scent of smoke and blood beneath the rising storm.His crimson wings curled behind him, dark and jagged, lined with glowing red veins pulsing beneath the thin membranes. His claws flexed at his sides, red fire flickering beneath his fingertips. His enhanced heartbeat pulsed steadily beneath the burn of strength curling through his veins.Beneath the ridge, the shattered remains of the ancient dragonspawn lay broken across the valley floor—black scales and dark blood curling beneath the jagged remnants of obsidian rock. The corrupted pulse of dark magic that had coiled through the creature’s body had faded. The weight of death hung sharp and cold beneath the thin air

Aiden’s breath sharpened. His crimson wings curled behind him beneath the dark, storm-heavy sky. Red fire flickered beneath his claws, pulsing faintly beneath the thin membranes of his wings. His enhanced heartbeat hammered steadily beneath the burn of strength curling through his veins.The shattered remnants of the council agents’ bodies lay broken beneath the edge of the ridge—black armor torn open, blood pooling beneath the jagged stone. The corrupted pulse of dark magic lingering beneath their bodies had faded. The golden light behind their eyes had dimmed beneath the weight of death.Two agents remained.Their dark armor gleamed beneath the flicker of crimson light curling beneath the thin edge of the storm. The sharp edges of their black cloaks twisted beneath the cutting wind curling through the valley. Their golden eyes narrowed beneath the shadows of their hoods. The silver runes etched into their swords pulsed faintly beneath the thin flicker of stormlight curling through t

Aiden stood at the edge of the ridge, crimson wings flaring wide behind him beneath the dark, storm-heavy sky. His enhanced heartbeat hammered steadily beneath the burn of strength curling through his veins. Red fire flickered beneath his claws, sharp and steady.The shattered remains of the enhanced dragonspawn lay broken beneath the jagged edge of the ridge—black scales and dark blood curling beneath the fractured stone. The corrupted pulse of dark energy curling through their bodies had faded. Their golden eyes were dark beneath the weight of death.The cold bite of wind tore across the valley beneath him, sharp and thin beneath the flicker of crimson light bleeding through the heavy storm clouds above. The dark pulse of corrupted magic curled beneath the thin edge of the horizon, twisting through the sharp edges of the jagged peaks below.Aiden’s claws flexed beneath the burn of strength curling through his veins. His enhanced senses sharpened toward the dark pulse of energy linge