Chapter 47

FORTY-SEVEN

“ I can fight!” Quinn protested, but her words were lost in the rush as Kai directed the fighters like a general born to lead. His own sword appeared as enemy warriors got too close for comfort.

Quinn’s heart lurched as she watched the battle rage. Every near-miss, every deadly exchange of fire and claw, made her want to scream. The rational part of her mind knew these people could handle themselves —had been for centuries before she arrived. But something deeper than logic, more primal than science, urged her to protect them as fiercely as they were protecting her.

The ground rumbled ominously, knocking her off her feet. Massive chunks of rock and ice broke free, triggering a cascading landslide that crashed toward battling forces. Warriors scattered, their formation broken. Several enemy dragons wheeled away to avoid the falling debris.

Her hands scraped against rough stone as she caught herself, heart pounding. The seismic activity was created from the use of black magic. She was sure of it now. Her science couldn’t explain so many things. And magic answered everything.

Their aerial battle sent shockwaves through the air, blue fire clashing against dark magic. A screech rang across the temple ground. Enemy warriors had cornered a group of children. Such cowards, to go after those weaker.

Kai jumped into action, cutting down the dark creatures left and right.

Movement flickered in her peripheral vision. Shadowy warriors advanced, their weapons trained on her. Kai was saving others, so she was on her own. She grabbed a fallen spear, her grip white-knuckled but steady. Her father’s voice echoed in her memory: “The best geologists are the ones who survive to record their findings.”

She ducked under a sword swing, using the spear’s shaft to deflect another blow. The warriors moved like smoke, but the townsfolk were at her side in a heartbeat to defend her with their lives.

One warrior’s blade sliced through her ceremonial robe, drawing blood along her arm. The pain barely registered through her adrenaline, but Kai’s responding roar shook the very mountains.

He abandoned his fight, the children now safe, diving toward her position with terrifying speed.

“Stay close to me.” His voice rumbled like distant thunder. Heat radiated from his scales, warming her chilled skin. “I won’t let them touch you.”

Quinn’s breath caught at the raw emotion in his tone. She could read the fear in his eyes—not for himself, but for her. Her heart constricted painfully. When had this impossibly ancient, powerful being become so precious to her?

She lifted her chin. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Slow applause echoed through the temple chamber. A figure emerged from the shadows, tall and lean with skin like ash. His black eyes sparked with red flames, and dark magic writhed around him like living shadows.

The fight came to a deafening silence, all eyes turned to this new arrival.

“How touching.” Ordan’s smooth voice dripped with mockery. He gestured lazily, and the temple’s remaining magical energies sputtered. “You thought a simple ritual could save your kingdom? Foolish, as always.”

Kai stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Quinn. His armor bore scorch marks from battle, but his voice remained steady. “You’ve endangered my kingdom for the last time, Ordan.”

Magic crackled between them, dark versus light, ancient versus corrupted. Quinn’s analytical mind raced. The ritual circle still held traces of power. If they could complete the ceremony while Ordan’s forces were scattered...

She caught Kai’s eye, a silent understanding passing between them. They’d come too far to fail now. The kingdom’s stability—and their future—hung in the balance.

“Whatever happens,” she whispered, reaching for his hand, “we face it together.”

Whisps of black smoke appeared around Quinn, instantly choking her. This, she couldn’t fight. Magic wasn’t her realm.

Kai grabbed her hand and interlaced his fingers with hers, warm and sure. The touch sent sparks of energy racing up her arm, and the remaining runes flared in response. The pressure around her lungs vanished and she sucked in a deep breath. Maybe there were some things science couldn’t explain. Maybe that was okay.

Ordan’s smirk widened, apparently proud of his little trick.

Kai’s transformation happened in a blur of light and power. Where the man had stood, a massive silver dragon now towered, his scales shimmering like liquid moonlight. With a roar that shook the mountains, Kai launched himself at Ordan who shifted and met her king, her love, head-on in a clash of claws and flame.

Around them, the battle raged on again. The temple’s blue flames flickered, casting wild shadows across ice walls that had witnessed centuries of dragon magic. But this night would be different. This night would decide everything.

She’d crossed galaxies for geological research, but she’d found something far more precious: a cause worth fighting for, a kingdom worth saving, and a dragon worth loving.

Her father’s words came back to her again: “The earth’s greatest changes happen under pressure.” She smiled grimly. Time to prove just how much pressure they could handle—together.