Nathan’s POVMy arms ached so bad from sword fighting, they didn't feel like my own anymore.The training yard stank of sweat and dirt. The sun was hot, baking the sand until it burned through my boots. All around me, soldiers were fighting in pairs, the crash of their weapons loud in my ears."Again!" Commander Reth shouted.I gripped my sword tighter. My shoulders were on fire, my lungs felt raw, but I couldn't stop. I would never stop.I swung hard, my blade slamming into the other guy's shield. The shock of it shot up my arm. He stumbled back, barely blocking my next hit. Sweat stung my eyes. Pain was good. Pain kept you focused. Pain kept you alive.When the king ordered me to join the dragon hunters, I said yes right away. Track the rogue dragon. Stop the chaos.It wasn't for honor.It was for revenge.I thought of my brother. The fire. The screams. The black smoke rising over our village. They said it was the Inferno, just a random, crazy attack. But it felt personal.And then

MORWENNA’S POVHazel’s question hit me deeper than she knew.Somehow, I knew the truth.Somehow… I didn’t.Everything had become complicated. The curse wasn’t ordinary. I knew that much. And deep inside, I knew Seraphine was connected to it. But knowing and proving were two different things. I had no proof.I walked past Hazel and sat slowly on the bed.“Come, dear. Sit beside me. There’s something you must know.”She hesitated, then walked toward me and sat down carefully.I took a deep breath.“Seraphine is my sister… not just my sister. She is my twin.”Hazel froze.“What?” she whispered, standing up so fast the bed creaked.“Yes,” I said quietly.The room suddenly felt cold.“Does Dravon know about this?” she asked.“No,” I answered. “He doesn’t.”She stepped away from me.“If you’re Seraphine’s sister… why aren’t you a dragon? You’ve never shifted before. You’re a witch. How can you also be a dragon?”Her questions were sharp, but I couldn’t blame her. I stared at her, not knowin

Weeks later I was also initiated into the dragon court. Even though I hated the idea of becoming a priestess, I was excited because it meant I would finally be close to Seraphine again.“Morwenna are you sure you want this?” my mom asked when she walked into my room on the day of the initiation. She sat beside me on my bed and looked at me carefully.“Yes mom,” I said as I looked into her amber eyes. I could see the worry in them. Deep down I knew she did not want me to leave.“Yes mom, I would do anything to be close to Seraphine,” I said with a small smile even though my heart was beating fast.“Okay darling, anything to make you happy,” she said softly even though I could still feel she was not completely okay with it.“Come dear,” she said as she opened her arms and I rushed into her embrace.That night the initiation was performed according to the laws and customs of Eldorado. The ceremony took place inside the dark stone court. Torches burned along the walls and the rain poured

DRAVONS POVNathan stood in front of me with his arms crossed. His purple eyes did not move away from my face. He was studying me the same way a hunter studies an animal that is trying to escape.The courtyard around us was quiet. The noise of the market could still be heard in the distance but here it felt far away.For a few seconds neither of us spoke.I knew Nathan too well. When he looked at someone like that it meant he had already decided he was not leaving until he got the answers he wanted.And I could not give him those answers.Not today.Maybe not ever.I took a slow breath and looked toward the small street behind him.That was the only way out."Nathan," I said quietly. "Move."He did not move.Instead he gave a small smile."You think I'm just going to step aside?""I am not here to fight you.""Then talk.""I can't."Nathan shook his head slowly."You keep saying that."I took one step forward.He stepped forward too and blocked the way.I felt my jaw tighten."Nathan

Dravon!!!I moaned as his lips moved over my skin, warming me up from within. Yes, he was doing things to my body things no one else could. Not now, not ever.“I'm willing to make you beg tonight, my queen,” he said against my skin, making me shiver.My legs couldn't hold up anymore as my back rested against the wall. For a moment his lips left my skin, making me hiss in pleasure as I stared at him, wondering why he had stopped.“Dravon?” I tried to say, but he brought his hands against my lips as I kept staring into his deep blue eyes the ones that always made me mesmerized and still did.Then, ever so slowly, his hands brushed against my skin, taking off my hands and placing them above my head with a little force. Then he took the other, placing it across the first one as I kept staring at him while he stared back at me with his gaze full of pleasure.“I would love to have a good taste of those fruits you call lips, and I wouldn't be needing any distraction, my queen,” he said with