Chapter 161: This Can't Be Altima
**Avery**
I open my link to my mates. ‘This isn’t Altima. That wasn’t my brother’s shade just now either. It was this thing in front of us.’ They nodded in agreement. The mysterious stranger stared at us.
The air hangs heavy with anticipation, a tangible weight pressing against our chests as the sinister figure’s melodic voice slithers through the clearing. It echoes around us, “Welcome, Queen of Dragons,” he purrs, his tone smooth as silk but laced with an undercurrent of danger. His eyes, a piercing silver, glint with an unreadable intent, like a predator sizing up its prey. “We’ve been expecting you.”
My heart hammers against my ribs, a drumbeat of both fear and defiance. This place—it’s not Altima Island. The air feels wrong, charged with an unnatural energy that prickles along my skin. It’s an illusion, a Siren’s song, I’m certain of it. My hand instinctively brushes the dragon-scale pendant at my throat, a tangible reminder of who I am and what I’m capable of, down to the talisman, which now glows and heats up.
I glance at my mates, their faces a mirror of my own unease. Cassius stands tall, his lean frame coiled like a spring, his hand resting possessively on the hilt of his sword. His piercing blue eyes scan the surroundings with a predator’s intensity, as if he’s already mapping out our escape route. Clint’s green gaze flicks between the figure and me, his jaw clenched tight enough to crack stone. His body is a taut line of muscle, ready to unleash hell at a moment’s notice.
Conner, ever the strategist, leans close to James, his voice a low murmur that carries the weight of urgency. “This isn’t right,” he says, his bright blue eyes flickering with concern. “We need to get her out of here.” James, his regal bearing unwavering, steps slightly in front of me, his green eyes flashing with a protective fire. His muscular frame seems to grow larger, as if daring the figure to make a move.
Donn, his usual smirk replaced by a rare seriousness, stands at my side, his void-like eyes seemingly piercing through the illusion itself. His long black hair falls like a curtain around his face, but I can feel the intensity of his gaze. Vincent, his tattoos glowing faintly with magical energy, radiates a dangerous energy that makes the air around him hum. His amber eyes lock onto the figure with a predatory gleam, as if he’s already imagining the man’s demise.
“Who the fuck are you?” I demand, my voice steady despite the turmoil within. My fingers curl into fists, the nails digging into my palms. “What the hell do you want from us?”
The figure laughs, a sound that sends shivers down my spine. It’s not a laugh of amusement, but of calculated malice, like a cat toying with a cornered mouse. “You, Queen Avery, are the key. The key to unlocking a power that will reshape the world.”
“And what power is that?” I ask, my voice laced with steel. My hand tightens around the pendant, the scales cool against my skin.
“The power of the Primal Flame,” the figure says, his voice dropping to a whisper that carries across the clearing. “A force capable of consuming all, or forging a new era of dominance.”
My blood runs cold. The Primal Flame. A legend, a myth whispered in the darkest corners of dragonkind lore. A power so immense, so destructive, it was said to have been sealed away eons ago. My mind races, my thoughts a tangled mess of fear and curiosity. Could it be true? Could the power to destroy everything I hold dear be lurking within me?
“Don’t listen to him, Avery,” Cassius growls, his hand tightening on my shoulder. His touch grounds me, a reminder of the strength we share. “He’s playing mind games. Trying to fuck with your head.”
“He’s right, love,” Clint adds, his voice a low rumble that vibrates through me. “We’ll protect you. We won’t let anyone hurt you, not while we’re still breathing.”
Their words, their unwavering faith, anchor me. I take a deep breath, feeling the familiar warmth of their presence, the unbreakable bond that ties us together. “We are not afraid of you,” I declare, my voice ringing with newfound resolve. “And we will not let you use me for your twisted purposes. You can go fuck yourself.”
The figure’s smile widens, revealing teeth that are just a touch too sharp, too predatory. “Oh, but you already have, Queen Avery. The Primal Flame resides within you. It’s been awakened, simmering just beneath the surface, waiting to be unleashed. And when it is, you’ll burn everything in your path.”
Panic claws at my throat, a cold hand tightening around my windpipe. Could it be true? Could I be the vessel for such destruction? My mates sense my distress, their hands closing around mine, their bodies pressing closer, a wall of muscle and determination.
“Don’t let him get to you,” Donn says, his voice a low growl. His void-like eyes meet mine, and for a moment, I see something in them—a depth, a darkness that reassures me. “He’s full of shit, Avery. You’re stronger than this.”
Vincent steps forward, his presence commanding, his tattoos glowing brighter. “If this Primal Flame is real, then we’ll control it. Together. You’re not alone in this, my Queen.” With a wave of his hand, the illusion shatters. The clearing dissolves, and we find ourselves back in the eerie forest, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves. The trees loom overhead, their branches like skeletal fingers reaching for us.
“What now?” Conner asks, his voice tight with tension. His eyes dart around, taking in the surroundings, his mind already calculating our next move.
“We keep moving,” I say, my mind racing. “We need to find Altima Island, uncover the truth about the Primal Flame, and stop whoever is behind this before it’s too late. I won’t let them use me like some fucking puppet. There is an end to this rabbit hole, and it lies with my brother, not some twisted version.”
As we push deeper into the forest, the weight of the figure’s words hangs heavy over us. The Primal Flame within me. A power I never asked for, a burden I never wanted. But if it’s the key to saving our world, then I will learn to wield it. For my mates, for our kingdom, and for the future of all beings.
The path ahead is treacherous, shrouded in shadows and whispering secrets. But we are not alone. We have each other. And together, we will face whatever darkness awaits. My hand tightens around Cassius’s, feeling the strength in his grip. Clint’s arm brushes mine, a silent promise of protection. Conner’s sharp eyes scan the horizon, ever vigilant. James’s presence looms behind me, a shield against the unknown. Donn’s smirk returns, a flicker of defiance in the face of danger. And Vincent—Vincent’s power hums in the air, a reminder that we are not just survivors, but fighters.
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