The atmosphere in the grand chamber of the High Council was thick with anticipation. Each session of Kelan Benedict’s trial seemed to draw more attention, and today was no different. The seats were filled with nobles, council members, and high-ranking officials, all waiting for the latest developments. Kerrigan and Conor had prepared meticulously, knowing that every word, every action, could tip the scales.Conor, as Deinmaar of Celia, had taken on a greater role in the trial. His presence was no longer just symbolic. People looked to him not only for spiritual guidance but also for political leadership. His words carried weight, and with Kerrigan’s growing influence, the two of them had become a formidable force. But Conor could feel the pressure mounting, the tension in the air growing heavier with each passing day.The trial had already stretched into weeks of evidence and testimony, but everyone in the room knew that the real battle was being fought beneath the surface—between the
The late afternoon sun bathed the capital in golden light as Conor stood next to Kerrigan, his eyes scanning the crowd gathered for the press conference.People had come in droves, eager to hear Kerrigan speak, to rally behind her cause in the ever-escalating trial against Kelan Benedict. The courtyard was filled with murmurs of anticipation, the tension in the air thick and palpable.Conor’s heart pounded, though not from the anxiety of the public event. It was something deeper—a gnawing sense of unease that had been building within him for days. Celia’s power, ever present inside him, had begun to feel different.Stronger, yes, but also less controlled. He and Kerrigan had always been able to rely on the golden motes of light that manifested when their dragons’ energies connected, a symbol of the balance between Celia’s wisdom and Abraxas’s raw force.But lately, those moments of harmony had grown more tenuous, slipping just out of their grasp.As Kerrigan took the stage, her voice c
The High Council chamber was colder today, its stone walls shadowed by the late afternoon light. Conor leaned against one of the carved pillars, his mind still replaying the chaotic scene from the press conference earlier.Kerrigan’s voice, once a clear command that rallied crowds, had faltered, and their bond—usually a source of strength—had nearly broken in front of the entire kingdom. Conor rubbed his temples, feeling the weight of Celia’s power, heavy and restless inside him.Kerrigan stood a few paces away, surrounded by Reilynn and Evelynn, her focus entirely on the conversation at hand. She was strategizing, discussing the next moves in the trial against Kelan Benedict, and though she exuded confidence, Conor could sense the tension simmering beneath her calm exterior.She was pushing harder, speaking louder, her influence growing with every passing day. The people were rallying behind her, and she was becoming more than a leader—she was becoming a symbol.Conor glanced at her,
Conor sat alone in the dim light of his chambers, staring at the soft flickering flame of the single candle burning on the table before him. His thoughts were a storm, swirling endlessly around the same question that had haunted him since the rally—Valtas.Celia’s cryptic mention of it had seemed almost a passing remark at first, something he could brush aside as he dealt with the more immediate threats of the trial and the pressures of his and Kerrigan’s growing powers.But the rally had changed everything. The surge of power between him and Kerrigan had been a warning—one he could no longer ignore. Their connection, while strong, was becoming more dangerous with each passing day.Abraxas’s warlike energy, barely restrained, pulsed within Kerrigan, and Celia’s wisdom, though powerful, was becoming harder to control. And now, Valen’s words about Kerrigan’s rise to power lingered in the back of his mind, adding yet another layer of doubt.“Valtas,” Conor muttered under his breath, as if
The grand hall of the royal palace was a masterpiece of gilded excess, designed to remind everyone who entered that they stood in the presence of power. Marble pillars reached skyward, inlaid with veins of gold and silver that caught the light of the chandeliers above.The air was heavy with the scent of perfumed oils and roasting meats, mingling with the low hum of conversation. Nobles in elaborate silks and jewels filled the room, their laughter and whispered gossip a backdrop to the King’s carefully orchestrated spectacle.Kerrigan stood at the edge of the gathering, her posture poised but her mind alert. She had been invited here by King Ryu Pinion himself, a gesture that many saw as a high honor.But Kerrigan knew better—this wasn’t an honor, it was a test. The King wanted to see her up close, to measure how far her influence had spread, and to push her into making a public choice she wasn’t ready to make.Across the room, Conor lingered near one of the far walls, his presence d
The grand palace, usually alive with the constant hum of activity, felt strangely subdued in the dim light of dawn. King Ryu Pinion paced the length of his private council chamber, the opulent surroundings failing to soothe the turmoil brewing within him.Tapestries depicting long-dead kings and their triumphs hung from the walls, but today they seemed more like ghostly reminders of past glories—glories that felt increasingly out of his grasp.Kerrigan Lokir. Her name was on everyone’s lips. Ever since the banquet, whispers of her rise had grown louder. In the eyes of the people, she was no longer just a force of change; she was becoming a symbol of what the kingdom could be.To some, she represented a new era, a future where the crown and the people stood united. But to King Ryu, she was a threat—a dangerous, uncontrollable force that he had failed to tame.He stopped by the window, looking out over the sprawling capital. The city was waking up, bathed in the pale light of morning, bu
The moon hung low over the capital, casting long shadows across the cobblestone streets. The palace, illuminated by the glow of countless lanterns, seemed almost serene from the outside—a far cry from the turmoil brewing within. Kerrigan’s private chambers were quiet, save for the distant hum of activity from the banquet that had finally ended. She had managed to keep her composure through the long evening, but now, as she paced the length of the room, her thoughts were in chaos.She had been holding her emotions in check since the King’s proposal, but the weight of his words was crushing her. Marry him? Become his queen? The thought had chilled her to the bone. The King’s offer was not just a marriage proposal; it was a bid to control her, to bind her influence to his throne, and to use her as a tool to solidify his power. But more than that, it was a direct threat—to her independence, her ambitions, and to the love she shared with Conor.Kerrigan’s heart clenched as she glanced towa
Kerrigan looked up at him, sensing the shift in his tone. “What is it?”Conor hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “Our bond—it’s more than just a connection between Celia and Abraxas. It’s binding us, deeper than I think either of us realized. Celia’s been warning me… if we don’t take action soon, someone else will. The King isn’t the only one who sees your power, who wants to use it. Khalid, the court, they’ll all try to claim you if I don’t—”Kerrigan interrupted, her voice gentle but firm. “Conor, no one is claiming me. Not the King, not Khalid. And not even you. This is my choice.”Conor nodded, but the fear was still there, gnawing at him. “I know, but… the Valtas is something we can’t ignore. If we don’t decide what we are, others will make that decision for us. And they won’t be kind.”Kerrigan’s breath hitched, the truth of his words sinking in. They were on a precipice, and every day they waited was another day the world tried to pull them apart. She loved Conor fiercely,