Page 18 of Captive Heart

I can't help but feel a pang of sympathy for him. "But why didn't they fight back?"

His expression darkens. "They tried. But the vrakken were too powerful. They had the advantage of numbers and strength. My ancestors were no match for them. Many died. Now we have so few females that, for most, mating will never happen."

Zoldryn's words hang heavy in the air as he explains the history of Fouuer Island and the dragon shifters. I listen intently, my heart racing as I try to take it all in. The thought of an ancient race of beings with the power to harness the elements is both thrilling and terrifying.

"So, what does this mean for you and your people now that the glamour is gone?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

Zoldryn's expression turns somber. "It means that we are exposed to the outside world. Protheka and Fouuer Island are no longer hidden from each other. Times are changing, and if we don't change with them… we'll die."

I can see the determination in his eyes, the fierce resolve to protect his people at all costs. It's a side of him that I haven't seen before, and it only serves to fuel my attraction to him.

Without thinking, I cup Zoldryn's face and lean forward to kiss him. His lips are soft and warm, and I can feel the heat radiating from his body as he pulls me closer. The kiss is slow and passionate, and I can feel my heart racing as I lose myself in the moment.

Zoldryn lets out a rumbling growl from deep in his chest as he lifts me onto his lap. I can feel the hard muscles of his chest beneath my fingertips, and I can't help but run my hands over his broad shoulders and down his arms.

"Shall we return home?" he asks me, his voice low and husky.

I nod and when we arrive at the cave, Zoldryn undresses me slowly, admiring every inch of my skin as he does so. I feel self-conscious at first, but his gaze is so full of desire and admiration that I can't help but feel beautiful and wanted.

He lays me down on the bed and curls up behind me, his strong arms wrapped around me as I drift off to sleep. I feel safe and protected in his embrace, and I know that I never want to leave this place.

But when I wake up on the empty stone, my heart drops.

"Zoldryn?" I call out.

Standing, I wrap myself in one of my many dresses and tiptoe toward the exit, calling out to him again. Before I can get very far, a clawed hand wraps around my mouth and yanks me into the darkness.

16

LYRA

When the bag is yanked off my head, I'm momentarily blinded by the sudden light. Blinking furiously, I try to make out my surroundings. It's a cave, similar to Zoldryn's lair, but there's something different about it. The air is colder, and there's a faint scent of sulfur in the air.

As my eyes adjust, I see that I'm surrounded by dragon shifters. Their horns glint in the dim light, and their eyes are fixed on me with a mixture of curiosity and hostility. My heart races as I realize that I'm in trouble.

"What have you done with Zoldryn?" I demand, despite the tremble in my voice.

One of the dragon shifters steps forward, and I recognize her as Nindre. Her brown horns are decorated in fine chains of gold, twisted into intricate patterns, and her obsidian scaled skin gleams in the light. She smirks at me, her brown hair falling in waves around her shoulders.

"Zoldryn?" she repeats, her voice dripping with mockery. "Oh, don't worry about him. He's busy dealing with more important matters."

I glare at her, my fists clenched at my sides. "What have you done with him?" I repeat, my voice louder this time.

Nindre laughs, a cold, cruel sound that sends shivers down my spine. " I know your secret."

I stare at her, confused. "What are you talking about?"

She takes a step closer, her eyes narrowing. "The amulet, stupid girl, I know all about it."

She extends a clawed finger to touch the pendant necklace Brin gave me the night of my escape.

"The necklace?" I question incredulously. She has to be kidding.

Another smug look crosses Nindre's features and she states "Of course you don't know. Humans are so ignorant..."

"What do you mean?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

Nindre laughs, a cold, cruel sound that sends shivers down my spine. "The necklace, stupid girl. It's not just a trinket. It's an ancient amulet of amplification. It magnifies power, magic, strength..."

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