Page 67 of Caged By the Lich

Kaz's eyes snap open, and he turns abruptly towards the center of the cave. Without a word, he drops to his knees and begins sifting through the sand with his bare hands. I hold my breath, watching intently as his fingers comb through the gritty particles.

Then, I see it. A glint of something in the dim light. Kaz's hand closes around the object, and he slowly rises to his feet.

"Is it...?" I can barely get the words out.

Kaz nods, his eyes wide with disbelief. He opens his palm, revealing a single, iridescent scale. It's no larger than a gold coin, but it seems to pulse with an inner light, shifting colors like oil on water.

The one thing I came here to find. A rumor that other lords were chasing but they didn't have the right magic to get here. They didn't have Kaz.

Even though it was only a possibility, we managed to find it. The very thing that everyone thought had been lost.

"A dragon scale."

31

ATHENA

Iwatch Father pace the length of our grand hall, his agitation palpable in every step. It's been weeks since Astrid was mated, and his paranoia has only grown. I stand silently, my hands clasped in front of me, the picture of obedience. But inside, I'm seething.

"You are not to leave the grounds without an escort, Athena," Father declares, his voice sharp. "And your lessons will now take place within the fortress walls."

I bite my tongue, tasting blood. "Yes, Father," I murmur, the words bitter on my lips.

He nods, satisfied with my apparent compliance. But he doesn't see the rebellion brewing beneath the surface. He's always seen me as the quiet one, the obedient daughter. How wrong he is. That was always Astrid.

As I turn to leave, I catch a glimpse of myself in a gilded mirror. My honey-blonde curls are perfectly coiffed, my dress immaculate. The very image of a proper demon lord's daughter. I want to shatter that reflection.

In my chambers, I consider the last few weeks. At this point, I can barely breathe without it being reported to my father. Thewindows, once offering a view of freedom, now mock me with their newly installed magical wards. I press my palm against the cool glass, feeling the buzz of magic that keeps me trapped.

My thoughts drift to Astrid. My sister, once a prisoner, now walks freely by V's side. I've seen the change in her - the confidence in her stride, the spark in her eyes. She's found herself in the most unlikely of places, while I suffocate in my own home.

I don't know how much longer I can take it.

As it turns out, one day.

The next night at dinner, I push the food around on my plate, appetite lost as Father drones on about new security measures. The clinking of silverware grates on my nerves.

"Furthermore, Athena, I've decided to limit your time in the library," Father announces. "Too much knowledge can be... dangerous."

My fork clatters against china. "Excuse me?"

Father's eyes narrow. "You heard me. Your studies will be closely monitored from now on."

"This is ridiculous," I snap, pushing away from the table. "I'm not a child, Father. You can't keep me locked away forever."

"I can and I will," he growls, rising to his feet. "After what happened with your sister-"

"Astrid made her choice," I interrupt. "And she's happier for it. When will you understand that your suffocating control is pushing us away?"

Father's face darkens. "You dare question me? I am protecting you!"

"You're imprisoning me!" I shout, my carefully cultivated composure cracking. "I can't breathe without one of your spies reporting back. I'm tired of being watched, cornered, treated like I'm made of glass!"

"Enough!" Father roars, slamming his fist on the table. Dishes rattle, and I flinch despite myself. "You will do as I say, Athena. I am your father and your lord. My word is final."

I glare at him, chest heaving. "And if I refuse?"

His eyes flash dangerously. "Then you will face the consequences of your disobedience. Do not test me, daughter."

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