Page 9 of Captive Heart

The creature on the throne regards the dream-beast for a moment before turning to address the rest of the room.

"The survivors will be enslaved. They will serve us until they are no longer of use."

A collective murmur ripples through the crowd of monsters, and I can feel the weight of their gaze on me. My heart sinks as I realize that my fate is sealed. I will be a slave once again.

But before I can fully process my new reality, my dream beast steps forward. "I claim this one as my own," he says, his voice echoing through the room.

I feel a jolt of electricity run through me as his eyes meet mine. He's as much a monster as the rest of them but when he looks at me it isn't with disgust.

But not everyone is happy with his claim. A female with tangling brown horns steps forward, her eyes blazing with fury. "You can't claim her," she snarls. "That's preposterous!"

My dream beast turns to face her, his expression cold and unyielding. "I can, and I will," he says. "The Elder has permitted it."

The female's eyes narrow, and I can see the anger building inside of her. She's about to lunge at my beast when the creature on the throne, the Elder, speaks up.

"Enough," he says, his voice like a whip cracking through the air. "Zoldryn has claimed the human as his own. She will serve him, and no one else."

The female's face contorts with rage, but she doesn't speak again. Instead, she turns on her heel and storms out of the room.

I'm left standing there, feeling like a piece of meat being fought over by two predators. But as I look into the beast's eyes, Zoldryn's eyes, I can't help but feel a sense of relief. At least I'm not dead.

"Thank you, Elder." Zoldryn's cold voice sends a shiver down my spine as he thanks the Elder.

I watch in awe as he strides over to me, his powerful form radiating an aura of dominance. He grabs the chains linking me to the human boy who had nearly gotten me killed, and with a show of impossible strength, snaps them in two.

I gasp as he scoops me up in his arms, cradling me against his chest. His touch is gentle, yet firm, and I can feel the heat radiating off of him. I'm too stunned to protest, too overwhelmed by the sudden turn of events.

As he carries me out of the room, I catch a glimpse of the other survivors being led away by the monsters. My heart aches for them, but I can't help feeling a sense of relief that I'm not among them. None of the others seemed too keen on sparing us.

As he leaps into darkness, lit only by the occasional flame, I realize I've simply traded one moment of slavery for another. Who knows what

8

ZOLDRYN

Ilift Lyra into my arms, her touch sending a jolt of energy through me. It's as if her very presence amplifies my strength and magic. I can feel the power coursing through my veins, making my scales shimmer and my wings beat with renewed vigor.

"O-Oh…!"

As I transform, Lyra's eyes widen in fear, but she doesn't struggle or try to escape. Instead, she clings to me, her fingers digging into my scales. It's a strange sensation, but not an unpleasant one. In fact, it only serves to fuel my determination to keep her safe and use her to my advantage.

I launch into the sky, the wind rushing past us as we soar above the obsidian empire. The underground obsidian city sprawls out below us, a maze of twisting tunnels with coves and towering spires carved from them.

As we fly, Lyra remains stiff and silent, her gaze fixed on the flames. No doubt her human eyes can't see much with the sparse lighting. I can sense her fear, but there's something else there too. A spark of defiance, perhaps? It's intriguing, and I find myself wondering what she's thinking.

We reach my lair, a secluded cave nestled on the outermost edge. It's a place of solitude and power, far removed from the politics and intrigue of the for the escape I often desire. As I land, Lyra's grip on my arm tightens, and I can feel her trembling.

I can't help but admire her spirit. I've heard it's a rare quality in a human, and one that could prove useful in the days to come. With Lyra by my side, I may just be able to overthrow the Elder and claim the throne for myself.

But first, I need to unlock the full extent of her powers.

I transform back into my dark elf form, the glittering hoard in my lair reflecting in Lyra's wide eyes. For a moment, she seems to forget her terror, her gaze sweeping over the piles of gold and jewels. Then her eyes fall back on me, and a strange pinkness fills her cheeks. I can't help but find it amusing.

"What...what are you?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I am a dragon shifter," I reply, stepping closer to her.

Lyra takes a step back, her eyes darting around the room as if looking for an escape. But there is none. She's mine now, and I intend to use her to my advantage.

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