The Dragon Kings' Forbidden Witch

PYROS made a sound.

A low, rumbling laugh that echoed through the cavern.

And it was not a kind sound.

His golden eyes fixed on the three kings, and his voice emerged, rough and powerful, carrying the weight of centuries of guardian duty and the burden of disappointment.

”Sensible my foot.”

The words were blunt, cutting and carrying no mercy.

”Call them stupid.”

The word landed like a blow.

”They’ve been living for over two centuries.”

The Crimson Dragon’s voice dropped lower, becoming more dangerous.

”And they have not been able to break the curse that plagues them.”

The revelation that shows that the ancient dragons knew, that these kings had been searching for the Mother of Dragons for two centuries and had failed. That the curse remained unbroken. That all their power and all their resources and all their effort had been insufficient.

The weight of that truth pressed down on the kings like stone.

AERIS made a sound.

Laughter....distinct, genuine laughter from the throat of an ancient dragon.

It was not cruel. It was almost affectionate, in the way that an ancient being might find amusement in the struggles of the young.

She turned her head to acknowledge her male companion, her damaged wing rustling as she moved.

”They are young and foolish.”

Her intelligent eyes moved to study all three kings again.

”Maybe also blind.”

The word hung in the air between them.

The suggestion that they were missing something obvious. Something that should have been apparent. Something that made their failure all the more glaring.

Her voice shifted tone.

The amusement fading. The seriousness deepening.

”You have spent over two centuries, and you are still unable to locate the Mother of Dragons.”

She tilted her head and looked at them. ”Does that make you wise, young kings, Or does it make you foolish?”

Her golden eyes burned with intensity.

”You have the entire kingdom at your feet. and yet you are still unable to locate a girl.”

The words struck the kings harder than any physical blow could have.

Draeven stepped forward slightly.

His golden eyes still showing INFERNUS beneath, but also showing vulnerability. The admission of a king who understood the cost of pride.

”We don’t even know if she is born yet.”

The confession that their search had been blind.

That they had been hunting for someone who might not exist in the present moment. That they had been searching for a child who might not have been born into the world.

The uncertainty that had plagued them, made their efforts seem futile.

”For two centuries, we’ve searched,” he continued. ”We’ve looked in every kingdom, every corner of the world. And we have found no evidence that the Mother of Dragons exists.”

His voice dropped lower.

”We don’t even know if we should be looking for someone already born, or if we’re supposed to wait for her arrival, or if the prophecy was wrong, or if we misunderstood....”

But AERIS cut him off.

Her voice emerged like a blade, sharp and certain and absolute.

”Oh, she has been born.”

The certainty in those words was absolute.

Carrying knowledge that only centuries of watching could provide.

Knowledge that suggested the ancient dragons had seen what the kings had not.

”And we need you to bring her to us as soon as possible.”

Kaelen’s eyes flashed.

The pale blue of GLACIUS blazing even brighter, burning with an intensity that was almost white-hot despite being ice-cold.

His entire body tensed.

The possessive instinct of his dragon surging to the surface with such force that it overwhelmed everything else....reason, caution, diplomacy.

All of it burned away in the face of the ancient dragon’s command.

His hands clenched into fists at his sides.

The barely restrained violence radiating from him like heat from a forge.

He moved forward abruptly, stepping directly in front of the dragon.

His transformed body showing scales now, showing the presence of GLACIUS almost fully manifest in his human form.

”What makes you think that we will allow her near you?”

He moved a step forward. ”What business do you have with her?”

The demand for explanation mixed with refusal.

The youngest king making clear that the Mother of Dragons....if she existed, if she was real, belonged to him. Belonged to them.

Would not be given to ancient beings, no matter their power.

AERIS regarded him with what might have been disdain.

Her voice carried amusement mixed with dismissal.

”Yet another foolish one.”

Kaelen’s hands clenched even tighter at the words.

The insult landing with force that his age and pride could not deflect.

Draeven moved to stand beside his brother.

His voice carrying the authority of the First King, but also a desperate need for understanding.

”Do you know who she is? Do you know who the Mother of Dragons is?”

His golden eyes burning with intensity.

The implication clear: if these ancient beings were making demands about her, they must understand her significance. They must know what they were asking for.

The cavern seemed to hold its breath.

And then....

AURYN moved.

The gold dragon, who had been silent and still and watching from his coiled position, lifted his massive head slightly.

His ancient voice emerged, not rough like PYROS, not sharp like AERIS, but carrying the weight of centuries of knowledge.

Deep and resonant, like the earth itself speaking.

Like the voice of time made manifest.

”Of course we know.”

His head turned to look more closely at Draeven. ”We aren’t as stupid as you boys.”

His golden eyes...ancient beyond measure, fixed on all three kings with an intensity that suggested he saw through them. Saw into them. Understood their fears and hopes and desperate desires with clarity that transcended normal perception.

And then his voice dropped even lower.

”Your duty now is to locate her.”

The words falling like stones.

”Claim her, And break your curse as soon as possible, Because you don’t have much time left.”