Chapter 42

Deon’s eyes lingered on me, filled with a mix of worry and something else—hope, maybe. " We’ll figure it out, Kaden. But you need to focus. Try to control your breathing. You were able to shift into this form; maybe you can find a way back."

I tried, closing my eyes and reaching deep within myself, searching for that spark of humanity buried beneath the dragon’s power. But it was like trying to catch smoke with my bare hands. The dragon was strong, overwhelming, and I could feel it resisting any attempt to pull back. Meara’s image flashed in my mind, her pale face, her weak pulse. She was slipping away, and I was stuck here, useless.

" Fuck sakes," I growled, my frustration spilling out in another roar. I couldn’t waste time. I needed to be there for her, to hold her hand and reassure her that she wasn’t alone. I slammed my tail against the ground, sending a tremor through the garden.

Mike stepped closer, his face firm with determination. " We’ll get you back, Kaden. Just hold on. We need you, and so does she."

I nodded, the weight of my new form crushing down on me. I couldn’t let this beast keep me from her. I would find a way back—no matter what it took.

I roared again, thrashing in the garden as frustration tore at me. The more I fought, the deeper the dragon’s hold sank, wrapping around my mind like unbreakable chains. I had tried everything—breathing deeply, forcing calm, reaching into whatever sign of humanity I could find. But it was no use. I was stuck in this form, and Meara needed me.

I closed my eyes, determined to try once more. I focused on the feel of my own heartbeat, the steady thump that had always been mine, and imagined pulling the beast back into the shadows where it belonged. Pain shot through me, sudden and sharp, like someone had driven a spike into my skull. My bones began to break and crack, the sound deafening in my ears. I roared in agony as my body shrank, contorting painfully back into human shape. Every muscle tore and reformed, every bone snapped and shifted. It was torture—like being ripped apart from the inside.

With a final, gut-wrenching scream, I collapsed to the ground, gasping as the last parts of the dragon’s power faded away. I lay there, drenched in sweat, panting as I tried to catch my breath. When I finally managed to lift my head, I looked down at my trembling hands—human once more. The transformation had stripped me bare, leaving me naked, but I didn’t care. Meara needed me, and nothing else mattered.

I staggered to my feet, muscles screaming in protest, but I forced myself to move. I stormed into the palace, ignoring the shock gasps and stares of the servants and guards as I rushed past. The cold marble floor stung against my bare feet, but I pushed on, driven by the urgent need to reach my mate.

As I rounded the corner, Luka, greeted me with a joyous growl. The massive black creature—a blend of a bear’s bulk and a lion’s ferocity—bounded toward me, his eyes glowing with excitement. He rubbed against me, nearly knocking me off balance with his sheer size and weight.

“ I’m happy to see you too, buddy,” I muttered, patting his massive head. Luka’s presence was grounding, a reminder of the strength I still had, even without the dragon’s power coursing through my veins.

But there was no time to waste. I gave Luka a quick scratch behind his ears before continuing my frantic march through the palace halls, Luka padding silently beside me. My senses were still heightened from the dragon form, sharp and keen, as if the beast had left a part of itself behind. I could smell Meara’s faint scent, that mix with sweet flowers and the faint salt of tears, leading me directly to her chamber.

My heart pounded as I neared the doors, the heavy oak seeming like a barrier between me and the only thing that mattered. I shoved them open, bursting into the room without hesitation. The air inside was heavy with scent of herbs and magic, healers rushing around, their faces etched with concentration.

Meara lay on the bed, pale and motionless, her chest rising and falling with shallow, labored breaths. Her hair fanned out across the pillow like a snow-white halo, and her skin was too pale, almost translucent, a stark contrast to the rich blue blankets that covered her. She looked so small, so fragile, and the sight tore at me in ways I couldn’t put into words. Her body was covered in bruises and she lost a lot of wait.

The healers glanced up, startled by my abrupt entrance. One of them, a tall woman with silver hair and piercing green eyes, stepped forward. “ Your Majesty,” she said cautiously, her voice tinged with both respect and concern.

“ Is she—” My voice cracked, the words catching in my throat. I couldn’t even finish the question. The thought of losing her was too much, and I felt that familiar rage bubbling just beneath my skin.

“ She’s stable,” the healer said quickly, sensing my panic. “ But she’s weak, and her body has been through a great deal. We’re doing everything we can.”

I nodded; my jaw clenched tight. I moved closer to Meara’s side, my heart aching at the sight of her so helpless. I brushed a strand of hair from her face. Her skin was cool to the touch, and the reality of how close I’d come to losing her hit me like a punch to the gut.

“ I’, here,” I whispered, leaning down so only she could hear. “ I won’t let anything happen to you. Not now, not ever.”

I glanced back at Luka, who had settled by the door, watching over us with a silent, unwavering presence. He was ready to protect, just as I was. And for the first time in what felt like an eternity, I felt a silver of hope.

I would stay by her side, no matter what it took. And once she was safe, once she was strong again, I would find the red-haired bastard who did this to her. I would tear down every barrier, every wall, and every kingdom if that’s what it took to keep her safe. Because Meara was mine, and I would never let her go.


*****

The Air in Meara’s chamber felt suffocating, weighed down by the sight of her frail form. I stood by her bedside, my mind struggling to grasp this weakened version of Meara with the fierce, fiery woman I knew. Every bruise, every mark on her skin was a silent reminder of how I had failed to protect her, and each one stoked the fire of my rage.

The door swung open, and Deon, Zaden, Mike and Seth stormed in. Their faces were masks of shock and anger as they took in Meara’s condition. My gaze shifted to Zaden, and without waiting, I issued the command.

“ Zaden, start training the soldiers immediately,” I barked, my voice edged with fury I could barely contain. “ We need them ready. I’m going to find a way through that barrier, and when I do, we will unleash hell on every last one of them.”

Zaden nodded, determination flashing in his eyes. He didn’t need further explanation; he knew exactly what was at stake.

But as I turned my attention back to Meara, my anger spiked. Her wrists were marked with visible bruises of captivity, the evidence of chains digging into her skin. The sight drove me insane, and before I could stop myself, I kicked the side table next to her bed. The wood shattered against the wall, splinters flying across the room.

“ I will kill every single person who laid a hand on my mate!” I roared, the sound ripping from my throat, raw and furious. The room shook with the force of my anger, my vision blurring with a mix of rage and helplessness.

Deon stepped forward, his expression a mix of concern and resolve. He knew me well enough to understand the storm raging inside. “ Kaden, you have to focus, Meara needs you right now, more than ever.”
I tried to calm the fury burning within me, but seeing her like this—so weak, so vulnerable—made it nearly impossible. My hands were shaking, my mind consumed with thoughts of vengeance.

Deon, trying to anchor me, pulled me back his shirt, revealing his shoulder where the Shadowfang had bitten him. The skin was smooth, unmarked by the venomous wound that had once been there. “ The poison’s gone,” he said, looking at me with a faint smile. “ I’m healed. I’m ready for whatever comes next.”

I nodded, my mind racing with possibilities. Deon’s recovery was a small victory, but it reminded me that we could fight back against any odds. I turned to him, determination surging through me.

“ I need you to travel back to Calenthe,” I said firmly, my eyes locked with his. “ Find Cassandra. We need her help to figure out how to get through that barrier. Once we do, we’ll make them pay for what they have done.”

Deon’s expression turned serious, and he glanced at Meara before nodding. “ I’ll find a way. For her. For our soon-to-be queen.”

His words resonated deeply, anchoring me. This wasn’t just about revenge; it was about protecting what mattered most. I turned back to Meara, my resolve hardening.

“ Prepare the soldiers,” I said to Zaden, my voice steady but filled with a cold, unyielding anger. “ We move as soon as we have a plan. And when we get through that barrier—” I paused, my voice dropping to a danger whisper, “ –we’ll make sure every one of them suffers.”

I reached out, brushing a lock of hair from Meara’s face with a gentleness I didn’t think I was capable of in this moment. She was the reason I would tear down kingdoms, the reason I would stop at nothing.
I turned back to the others, my voice resolute. “ Get ready. This is just the beginning.”