Chapter 51

“ We need to read through the ancient dragon books,” Kaden said, breaking the silence. He stepped closer, his voice gentler now. “ We need to find out more about the curse placed on Dravonia and how to break it.”

I turned to face him, meeting his gaze. His expression was calm, but I could see the weight of responsibility in his eyes. He was carrying so much—planning an attack, trying to protect innocent lives, and now this looming curse. And on top of it all was the bond between us, a connection I still wasn’t sure how to navigate.

“ Alright,” I said quietly. “ Let’s start.”

We settled at one of the large wooden tables in the center of the library. Kaden pulled the dragon book from the shelves
As we flipped through the book, I found myself lost in the old drawings of dragons, their mighty wings spread wide, flames bursting from their mouths. The images of the dragons fascinated me, and I could feel a strange pull toward the pages as if something within me resonated with the ancient creatures.

Kaden read aloud from one of the sections detailing how the curse had been cast by the strongest witch in Calenthe, a retaliation for the slaughter of the last remaining dragon shifters. It was a curse bound by ancient magic, meant to trap Kyrell and his followers within Dravonian’s borders for eternity. But there was more—something about a bloodline, a connection to the dragons that could be the key to breaking it.

“ We need to find out who carries dragon blood,” Kaden said thoughtfully, his brow furrowed as he studied the text.

My mind wandered back to the strange sensations I’d felt while reading a similar book before. Could it be? Was there a connection between me and the dragons? I’d never known my full heritage, and my powers—FrostFire—were rare and mysterious. It was possible, wasn’t it?

But I didn’t say anything. Not yet. There was too much uncertainty, too many questions I didn’t have answers to. Instead, I kept reading, flipping through the pages as we searched for more clues.

The afternoon passed in a blur of whispered conversations and ancient texts. We found scattered references to the barrier surrounding Dravonia and the possibility of weakening it with elemental magic, but nothing concrete. It was frustrating, but we couldn’t give up. This curse was the key to freeing the people trapped there, and we had to find a way to break it.

As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow through the library’s tall windows, Kaden closed the book with a sigh. “ We’ve made some progress, but there’s still so much we don’t know.”

I nodded, feeling the weight of it all pressing down on me. “ We’ll figure it out,” I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. “ We have to.”

Kaden stood, stretching his arms above his head, and I couldn’t help but notice the way his muscles flexed under his shirt. The memory of our kiss flashed in my mind again, and I quickly averted my gaze, hoping the dim lighting hid the flush creeping up my cheeks.

“ Thank you, Meara,” he said quietly. “ For everything. For helping us, for trusting me.”

I looked up at him, surprised by the sincerity in his voice. For a moment, the weight of our responsibilities seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of us in the quiet library.

“ You don’t have to thank me,” I said softly. “We’re in this together.”

His gaze lingered on mine, something unspoken passing between us. The tension from earlier was still there, simmering just beneath the surface, but neither of us dared to acknowledge it.

Not yet.

For now, there was too much at stake. But I knew it wouldn’t be long before we had to confront whatever was brewing between us. The bond wasn’t something I could ignore forever.

Kaden cleared his throat, breaking the silence. " I have something I want to show you," he said.

I hesitated for a moment, my gaze sweeping over him. He was wearing a black tunic, open at the chest area, tucked neatly into his tight pants, and his boots clicked softly on the stone floor. He looked so damn handsome it ached. I swallowed the sudden lump in my throat and nodded, standing to follow him.

He didn’t speak as we walked quietly through the palace halls, the moonlight filtering through the tall windows, casting silver beams across the floor. Out the back entrance we went, stepping into the cool night air. The silence of the night was almost eerie, broken only by the faint rustle of leaves and the distant chirping of crickets. We kept walking, and for a moment, I stopped, my curiosity shifting to concern.

What could he possibly want to show me out here in the dark?

I scanned our surroundings, my heart beginning to race. The forest loomed nearby, dark and mysterious, and I could barely make out the shadows of trees in the distance. A sense of unease crawled up my spine. What was Kaden up to?

As if sensing my distress, Kaden turned around, his eyes softening when they met mine. “ Don’t worry, little one,” he said gently, walking back toward me. He reached out, taking my hand in his, and the warmth of his touch calmed me instantly. His expression softened even more, almost tender.

“ I will never hurt you. I will protect you with my life,” he said softly, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. I felt a strange flutter in my chest at his words.

I gave a small nod, though the unease in my gut hadn’t fully faded. “ What is it that you want to show me?” I asked, my voice quieter than I intended.

Kaden’s lips curled into a faint smile. “ I brought you out here because there’s something important I need to show you. My dragon form.”

My breath caught in my throat. His dragon form? I’d read about it in ancient books, legends of what dragon shifters could do, but I had never seen one up close—let alone someone like Kaden.

“ I’ve been practicing shifting into my dragon form more frequently,” he continued, “ to make the transitions faster and less painful.”

I frowned, concern lacing my voice. “ It’s painful?”

He nodded, his expression becoming more serious. “ Yes. Shifting takes a toll on my body. The bigger the form, the harder the shift. But I’ve learned to manage it. I want to show you, Meara. I want you to see this part of me.”

I didn’t know how to respond, so I simply nodded again. My heart was pounding in my chest as he stepped back, giving himself room. I instinctively took a few steps away from him, my nerves thrumming with anticipation. The moonlight illuminated his figure as he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, his body beginning to change.

At first, it was subtle—the broadening of his shoulders, the stretch of his arms as muscles rippled and expanded. Then his skin darkened, turning from a deep tan to an inky black, almost as if shadows were crawling over him. I gasped as leathery black scales began to appear, starting at his arms and rapidly covering his entire body. His bones seemed to snap and reform, the sound unsettling, but Kaden didn’t flinch.

His face elongated into a sharp snout, fangs growing and gleaming in the moonlight. His hands turned into claws, long and deadly, and his body continued to grow—larger and larger, until he was towering above me. I backed up quickly, stumbling slightly as I tried to make room for him. My breath hitched as I craned my neck to take in his full form.

Oh, gods.

Kaden’s dragon form was massive. He was easily over three hundred feet tall, his wings spanning twice that length on either side. His body was covered in sleek, black, leathery skin that glistened in the dim light, and jagged black spikes ran down his spine and along the length of his tail. His sheer size had me quivering where I stood.

And his eyes…they were golden, glowing like molten fire. When those eyes locked onto me, something deep within me stirred—something primal, ancient. I couldn’t explain it, but I felt a stronger connection to Kaden in his dragon form than I had in his human one. It was as if his true nature, the essence of what he was, called out to something deep inside me.

I stood there speechless, my heart pounding as I tried to comprehend the sight before me. Kaden’s dragon form was magnificent—terrifying, yes—but magnificent. My breath caught in my throat as I took in every detail, from the way his wings stretched out like sails, to the way his muscles rippled beneath his scales.

His chest rose and fell heavily, his dragon form raw power and strength. I could feel the heat radiating from his body, the intensity of his presence making the air around us buzz with energy.