16. Lyra

16

LYRA

W hen 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..."

I stare at her in disbelief. "An amulet?"

My heart sinks as I realize that I've been played for a fool. I've been wearing a powerful ancient amulet of amplification this whole time, and I had no idea. No wonder Brin wanted me to take it so badly. She probably didn't want Viccar to get his slimy hands on it.

But before I can say anything else, Nindre continues. "Zoldryn has been using you for the amulet's magic."

I feel a cold chill run down my spine. Is that why I've been feeling so weak and tired lately? Is that why Zoldryn has been so insistent on keeping me close?

I try to push the thought away, but it's like a dark cloud hanging over me. I can't shake the feeling that I've been used and manipulated by everyone around me.

And now, I'm at the mercy of Nindre and her dragon shifter friends. I don't know what they want from me, but I have a feeling it's not going to be good.

I take a deep breath and try to steady myself. I need to think clearly and come up with a plan. But before I can do anything, Nindre speaks again.

"What? Did you think he actually cared for you?" her smirk of satisfaction intensifies as she realizes I did. "You poor, stupid creature. Zoldryn wants to overthrow the Elder but needed the amplification power to succeed."

No , I tell myself as my heart shatters behind my ribcage. He cares, he… He cares about me.

Nindre's words hit me like a punch to the gut. I can't believe what I'm hearing. Zoldryn has been using me this whole time? For the amulet's power?

I try to deny it, to tell myself that Nindre is lying, but deep down I know she's telling the truth. My heart feels heavy in my chest as I realize that I've been nothing more than a pawn in Zoldryn's game. He never cared about me, not really. He only cared about the power I could give him.

Nindre's voice cuts through my thoughts. "That's why he wanted to save you so badly. He had no clue that you weren't the source of amplification. That you're nothing more than a pathetic human."

I feel a surge of anger at her words. How dare she talk to me like that? I may be human, but I'm not pathetic. I've survived slavery, I've escaped from my master, and I've managed to stay alive in a world full of dragon shifters. I'm not weak.

But before I can say anything, Nindre offers me a deal. "If you help me kill Zoldryn with the amulet, I'll set you free."

I stare at her in disbelief. Is she serious? Can I trust her?

I think back to Zoldryn's fierce hatred for the Elder, the way he talked about overthrowing him. It's true that Zoldryn wants power, and it's possible that he's been using me to get it.

But can I really betray him like this? Can I kill him in cold blood?

Isn't that what he would have done when he had no more use for you? Once he discovered the amulet held the true power?

I don't know what to do. My head is spinning with confusion and anger and betrayal. I need time to think, to figure out what my next move should be.

But one thing is clear: I can't trust anyone in this world. Not Zoldryn, not Nindre, not anyone. I'm on my own, and I need to find a way to survive.

"Why not kill me and take the amulet for yourself," I say finally, my voice barely above a whisper.

Nindre's eyes narrow as she studies me, her lips curling into a smirk. "If it was that easy, you would be dead already."

She steps closer, staring at where the pendant rests on my chest. "It's enchanted to only work for whoever the wearer gives it to."

I feel a sudden weight lift off my shoulders as I realize the truth. The amulet has been protecting me this whole time, keeping me safe from harm.

Nindre's expression turns impatient. "You can either continue to be a pawn in Zoldryn's game, or you can join me and take control of your own destiny."

I hesitate, unsure of what to do. On one hand, I don't trust Nindre. She's been nothing but cruel to me since the moment we met. But on the other hand, at least she's been honest.

Has anything Zoldryn has done contained a shred of truth?