12. Zoldryn

12

ZOLDRYN

I stride into the throne room, my footsteps echoing off the stone walls. The Elder sits on his throne, his obsidian scales gleaming in the torchlight. He looks up as I approach, his eyes narrowing.

"Zoldryn," he greets me, his voice a low rumble.

I stop a few feet away from the throne and bow stiffly. "Elder," I say, my voice tight.

He leans forward, his eyes boring into mine. "What have you learned from the human?" he demands.

I bristle at his questioning, my contempt for the old shifter's leadership growing internally. I want to tell him that I've learned nothing new, that the human is as much of a mystery to me as she is to him. But I can't admit that. Not yet.

"I'm still working on it," I say, my voice carefully neutral. "She's...unusual."

The Elder snorts. "Unusual? Is that all you have to say?"

I clench my fists, my claws digging into my palms. I want to lash out, to tell him that he's the one who's unusual, hoarding resources and riches while the rest of us suffer. But I can't. Not yet.

The Elder's eyes narrow as he leans forward, his tail swishing impatiently behind him. "You were the one who suggested we keep her alive, Zoldryn. And yet, you've made no progress in discovering information about the vrakken."

I grit my teeth, trying to keep my anger in check. "I'm working on it," I say through clenched teeth. "It's not as simple as just asking her."

The Elder snorts. "You're the second eldest dragon shifter on this island. You should be able to handle one small human. Perhaps we should kill her, as Nindre suggested."

I feel a surge of resentment at his words. He may be the Elder, but he's no better than the rest of us. He hoards resources and riches, leaving the rest of us to fend for ourselves. And now he expects me to bend to his will without question.

I feel a flicker of hope. Maybe he'll finally see the value in keeping her alive. "No," I say. "She could be a valuable asset to us."

But the Elder's expression remains unreadable. "Or she could be a liability," he says coldly.

I clench my fists, my claws digging into my palms. I want to argue, to tell him that he's the one who's being short-sighted. But I know it would be futile. For now, I'll have to bide my time and wait for the right moment to make my move.

I'm about to argue further when a guard bursts into the throne room, panting heavily. "Zoldryn, you're needed on the surface immediately," he gasps. "Your slave…"

My heart sinks. Something's happened to Lyra. I don't wait for the Elder's dismissal before I turn on my heel and sprint out of the room, my scales rippling as I shift into my dragon form.

I find Lyra surrounded by a group of shifters, her dress torn and her face bruised. She's trying to fight them off, but she's no match for their strength. I let out a roar that shakes the ground, landing and shielding her with my massive wing.

I glare at the shifters who are still within earshot. "Who did this?" I demand, my voice low and dangerous.

One of them steps forward, a sneer on her face. "She was trying to escape," she says. "We were just teaching her a lesson."

She was trying to escape? I stare long and hard at the one who spoke. No. He's a liar.

I shift back to my human form and rush to Lyra's side, pulling her into my arms. "Are you all right?" I ask, my voice rough with concern.

She nods, wincing as she touches her face. "I'm fine," she says, her voice shaking. "But they...they were going to..."

I clench my fists, my claws digging into my palms. I want to tear them apart for daring to lay a hand on her. "She's mine," I snarl. "No one touches her without my permission."

Nindre steps forward, her eyes narrowed. "Why do you care so much about the human?" she asks. "She's just a slave."

I don't answer her. I don't want to reveal Lyra's powers, not yet. Instead, I scoop her up into my arms and turn to leave.

The shifters part to let me through, their expressions a mix of confusion and fear. I can feel their eyes on me as I carry Lyra away, my protectiveness stunning them all. How dare they jeopardize what I've been working at for weeks!

If she had died, all would have been lost!

My gaze drops to her small trembling form as she breathes unsteadily in my arms. Her gown has been practically shredded, all of her jewelry I'd gifted her torn from her body with claw marks as evidence.

Those ignorant fools. They almost ruined everything.