Page 43 of Beneath Scales and Shadows
“Protect what’s mine.” His gaze didn’t waver from the activity below. “By any means necessary.”
“Even if it means risking yourself?” Sora pressed, concern evident in her voice. “You’re their king. The last pure-bred dragon alpha of your line.”
Ignis turned to her then, crimson eyes holding hers with unwavering intensity. “I would burn Celestoria to its foundations before allowing them to harm you—and continue their genocide of my people.”
The declaration hung between them, both promise and warning.
“You forget,” Sora countered, drawing herself straighter as she lifted her chin. “I’m not just some helpless omega to be protected. I have knowledge they don’t expect.”
“What do you mean?”
A smile curved her lips, cold and calculating in a way he hadn’t seen before. “I spent my academic career studying medieval weaponry and battlefield strategy. I can identify vulnerabilities in Celestorian military formations from historical patterns. Their aerial defenses will have predictable weaknesses based on their infantry-centered approach.”
Surprise and admiration flashed across Ignis’s features. “You would use your Earth knowledge against them?”
“Knowledge is power,” she replied simply. “And I know exactly how to exploit their tactical blindspots.”
Ignis watched her with growing respect. This wasn’t just the omega every part of him craved, but a true partner—a queen with her own strengths to complement his.
“Then we plan together,” he decided, nodding. “Your human insights combined with draconic strategy.”
As they turned to join the gathering war council, a messenger approached, breathless with urgency.
“My King.” The young delta bowed hastily. “Our spies report that the royal family has moved your assassin Coal to the dungeon beneath the castle. Princess Jewels has taken personal charge of his interrogation.”
Sora’s blood ran cold. “Interrogation” likely meant torture—or worse, essence extraction.
“And there’s more,” the messenger continued, voice dropping. “The king threatens to execute not only her family but her friend Lyra.”
“Lyra?” Sora gasped, covering her chest. “She was helping me. She must have been discovered after we escaped.”
Ignis’s expression darkened further. “How much time do we have?”
“Three days until their ultimatum expires,” the messenger replied. “But our sources suggest they won’t wait that long to begin the extractions.”
Sora stepped forward. “I have to go back.”
“I told you it’s a trap,” Ignis growled, wings flaring, shielding her from her rash decision.
“I know.” Her eyes met his without flinching. “But traps work both ways.”
An understanding passed between them. She wasn’t going to back down, nor was he. Ignis nodded slowly, recognizing the strategic value of what she proposed.
“Not alone,” he insisted, his voice leaving no room for argument.
“No,” she agreed, slipping her hand into his, silver scales meeting ruby. “Together.”
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
SORA
Sora walked beside Ignis, the silk of her gown whispering against the stone floors as they approached a set of substantive double doors she hadn’t seen before. A pair of dragons etched in ruby and obsidian stone for scales adorned the entryway. Two sentinels stood at attention, wings folded tightly against their backs, tails loosely hung by their sides, eyes forward but alert to every movement.
“Where are we going?” she asked, trying to mask her nervousness as guards bowed deeply at Ignis’s approach.
His crimson gaze shifted to her, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. “To the Alliance Chamber. Representatives from our allied kingdoms have answered our crow call and have arrived to meet you.”
A flutter of panic seized her chest. “Meet me? But I’m not—”
