17. Zoldryn

17

ZOLDRYN

I storm into the throne room, my long strides echoing off the stone walls. The Elder sits on his obsidian throne, a smug look on his face. "You summoned me?" I ask, my voice laced with irritation.

"Ah, Zoldryn," he says, his tone dripping with false warmth. "I have some unfortunate news."

My heart sinks. I know what's coming.

"The shipwreck survivors," he continues, "are useless. They will be disposed of."

Rage surges through me. My fists clench at my sides. "No," I growl. "Lyra is mine and will not be touched."

The Elder raises an eyebrow. "You care for this human?"

"She has value," I say through gritted teeth. "She is mine."

The Elder chuckles, waving his hand dismissively. "Not anymore. The decision has been made."

Three figures emerge from the shadows and grab me. I struggle against their grip, but it's no use.

"You can't do this," I snarl. "I am next in line to become The Elder. You need me."

The Elder smirks. "I don't need anyone. Especially not a dragon who lets emotions cloud his judgment."

I glare at him, my anger boiling over. I won't let this stand. I'll find a way to save Lyra, to save my plan.

Before I can respond, the doors to the throne room burst open with a resounding crash. A group of dragon shifters drag in a struggling Lyra, her eyes widening in fear as she takes in the room. I roar furiously, trying to break free from the dragons holding me back.

"Let her go!" I bellow.

The Elder watches with amusement as I struggle. "You see, Zoldryn, you thought that you could kill me and become the new Elder? And, even better, you thought you could use some stupid human girl to do it?" He barks out a hissing laugh, throwing his head back in arrogance.

The reality sets in: he knows everything. My plan, my secret weapon…

Nindre makes her entrance, her brown horns reflecting the dim light of the throne room as she follows behind Lyra. With a smug smile playing on her lips, she saunters up to me, a self-satisfied sway in her step. Before I can even react, she delivers a stinging slap to my face.

"You never should have chosen her over me, Zoldryn," she hisses, her voice dripping with venom. "She isn't even special. She's just a human whore who got her hands on a powerful amulet. But you were too blind to see that."

Powerful amulet? The thought echoes in my mind as my eyes flick over to Lyra. Sure enough, I see her clutching a necklace in her hand, the magical amulet that must be the source of the power I've sensed in her.

Nindre yanks my face back to hers, her grip tight on my chin. "Don't look at her! Look at me!" she snaps. "You never should have wasted your time on a pathetic human who chose to betray you, anyway."

My heart sinks as I meet Lyra's gaze. The truth of Nindre's words is written all over her face. She has chosen a side in this battle, and it's not mine. I never considered that she would be able to do that. It never crossed my mind that she could turn on me.

My hopes of using Lyra's power against the Elder have been destroyed by her apparent betrayal. But that somehow isn't what bothers me most. It's the look of hurt and confusion in her eyes that cuts me deeper than any dragon's claws ever could. The pain I see there is a knife twisting in my chest, a reminder of the trust I've lost.

I can feel the anger building inside me, a burning rage that threatens to consume me. I roar furiously, trying to break free from the dragons holding me back. But it's no use – I'm outnumbered and outmatched.

As I struggle against my captors, I can't help but feel a sense of despair settling over me. My plan has failed, my hopes have been dashed, and the woman I thought was my ally has turned against me. I'm left with nothing but my own regrets and the bitter taste of defeat.

But even in the midst of my despair, I can't let go of the pain that burns within me. My little human, my Lyra.

How could she betray me?