Page 93 of Lost in Fire

How many families will be torn apart? How many young ones murdered?

“I can see the wheels turning,” Vex says with amusement. “You’re beginning to understand the scope of what’s coming. Which brings me to my generous offer.” He crouches down to meet my eyes. “Kill Hargen Cole, and I’ll consider sparing your daughter when the purification begins. She might be an abomination, but she’s young. Perhaps she can be… useful… in other ways.”

The implication makes my skin crawl, but beneath the revulsion is a deeper horror: the impossible choice he’s forcing on me. Save Hargen and watch Ember die immediately, or kill the man I love and maybe—maybe—buy my daughter a little more time in this monster’s world.

No. There has to be another way. There has to be.

But as I look from Ember’s terrified face to Vex’s coldly satisfied expression, I realize that’s exactly what he’s countingon. My love for them both. My inability to choose between the two people who mean everything to me.

“You have until noon to decide,” Vex says, rising to his feet. “The witch’s blood on your hands, or your daughter’s death on your conscience.”

Guards move to escort me from the chamber, but I strain against them for one last look at Ember. Her eyes meet mine, and despite everything—the pain, the fear, the hopelessness of our situation—there’s still defiance there. Still my fierce, brave daughter refusing to break.

“I will protect you,” I whisper, knowing she can read my lips even if she can’t hear me. “Always.”

But as they drag me away, Vex’s final words follow me down the corridor: “Choose wisely, Shadowhand. The future of dragonkind hangs in the balance.”

The metal door slams shut behind me, leaving me alone with the crushing weight of an impossible choice and the growing certainty that we’re facing something far more sinister than I ever imagined.

How could I have been so blind? How could I have missed the depth of his madness?

The questions keep coming, but beneath them all is the one that matters most: How do I save them both when saving one means destroying the other?

The clock ticks toward noon, and my heart breaks a little more with each passing second.

Chapter 31

Hargen

The cell presses in on me without Vanya here. Concrete walls. The ghost of her scent. Fear thick enough to choke on.

Twenty-four hours.

That’s what we had. One night mapping escape routes, pretending we could actually walk out of here alive.

The door bursts open yet again.

“Time for your ceremony, witch.” The guard spits the word like it tastes rotten.

Three of them this time, carrying chains that hum with magic. I’m on my feet before the first one crosses the threshold.

“Where the fuck is she?” I lunge for the nearest guard. “What did you do with—?”

The restraints slam around my wrists. Pain shoots up both arms as the magic bites deep, severing every connection to power I’ve relied on for decades. My knees buckle.

“Where is Vanya?” I strain against bonds that feel like liquid fire eating through my bones.

“Shut up.” The lead guard yanks the chains tight. Blood stops flowing to my hands. “You’ll find out.”

She’ll fight them.

The thought brings cold comfort as they drag me from the cell.

She’ll never surrender.

I fight every step as they drag me along the corridor. I know that it’s pointless, but I’ll be damned if I make things any easier for them.

Lights flicker past me as we move. This isn’t the containment section where I once worked. Ancient dragon symbols throw twisted shadows on the walls. Ceremonial territory. The kind reserved for executions.

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