Page 21 of The Dragon King's Awakening

"Critical how?"I ask, my amusement fading at her tone.I know that look—the one that means something's gone seriously sideways.

The maps spread across her conference table catch my eye.They're alive with magical markers, pulsing and shifting in patterns I've never seen before.This is the kind of high-level tactical display usually reserved for war rooms.

"We're facing a crisis," Racha says, her earlier warmth giving way to steel."One that makes your hunt for the Golden One seem like a training exercise."

Max's excitement dims, and he edges closer to his sister.The kid's usually a bouncing ball of energy, so his sudden stillness sets off every warning bell I've got.

"The Titans have escaped."Corey's Boston accent thickens with tension."Tartarus himself is coordinating with us for the coming fight.We've called in the big guns for this too.General Nikhil arrives tomorrow to help form a battle plan."

Beside me, Zahraxis goes even more still, if that's possible.I would have expected him to lash out again at the mention of his ancient nemesis, but no—this is different.This is the kind of stillness that comes from genuine shock.

"Tartarus?"Rachel and I speak at the same time, though I suspect for different reasons.While shock colors my voice, something else flickers across her face—recognition, maybe?But before I can puzzle that out, Racha's already moving on.

"Yes.And where Tartarus is involved..."She exchanges a loaded look with Corey."…Chaos usually follows."

I feel Rachel tense beside me at that word, but again, there's no time to analyze why.The doors burst open as another group of advisors sweeps in, all wearing jade pendants that mark them as court officials.Their auras pulse with barely contained urgency.

"My Queen," one starts, then stops short at the sight of Zahraxis.The entire group bows deeply.

"The Golden One," another whispers, awe and fear mingling in his voice.

Zahraxis recovers his composure and straightens, finally in his element."You speak of the Titans as if they were more than legend," he says, his formal tone carrying an edge of challenge."Even in my time, they were merely stories to frighten hatchlings.Tartarus too was a creature of legend, his name often invoked to make the young ones behave."

Racha fixes her sharp gaze on him."Then you never encountered them?The texts suggested the old gods and the ancient dragons shared power?—"

"The texts are wrong."Zahraxis' voice carries the weight of centuries."The Titans were imprisoned long before the Mother Dragon mated with Fate.The old gods retired to their own realm not long after, leaving the mortal world to the higher races.But echoes of their battle against the Titans remained."

The room goes quiet.Even the constant hum of the city beyond the windows seems muted.Max slides from his chair and moves to Racha's side, slipping his small hand into hers.

"Then we truly have no advantage beyond Tartarus and his guards," Racha says, her composure cracking just slightly.

"Tartarus."Zahraxis tests the name like a bitter wine."Even the Dragon Council feared what lay in his depths."

"The Dragon Council," Racha says carefully."You served them, didn't you?"

I notice Rachel's attention sharpen at the mention of Tartarus, but my focus stays on Zahraxis as he inclines his head.There's a weight to this conversation that goes beyond mere history.

"I served them.Before."The words come out clipped, pained."Before everything changed."

Hidden beneath his words is that old animosity for the cause of his imprisonment.Again, I'm surprised that his need for vengeance has taken a back seat to this new threat.Perhaps he isn't as single-minded a dragon as he seemed only a day ago.Or the Titans really are a big enough threat that he's willing to let go of his hatred of the man who imprisoned him.

Racha exchanges a look with Corey, some silent communication passing between them.She straightens, her bearing suddenly more queen than friend."Then we need you at full strength.Immediately."Her gaze sweeps over the three of us."The Court's healers can expedite your recovery, but we'll need your willing participation."

"At full strength?"Zahraxis bristles."My mate's power will restore me naturally?—"

"Not fast enough," Racha cuts him off."If you'd arrived at full power, it would be different.But you're barely more than feral.Centuries of captivity have depleted your magical reservoir."She gestures to the maps, where magical markers continue their restless dance."We have fewer than three days, Ancient One.And we need every advantage we can get.You're from a time when dragons still had enough power to imbue more than a single queen in a generation.When you are fully healed, you'll be a formidable ally in the fight."

"I will not submit to Court magic."Golden scales ripple beneath his skin."My hunter is the last dragon I will ever submit to."

I feel a strange tug in the center of my chest when he refers to me as "his hunter,” and it isn't just the recognition that makes my stomach flip.It's as if he deliberately plucks at the bond that's formed between us over the past day since I caught up to him.As if to suggest hemightsubmit again, but only to me.

"This isn't about submission," Racha says, her voice gentle, but firm."The old ways are gone, Zahraxis.The Court serves the brood now, not the other way around."

I feel the war between pride and pragmatism radiating from him."What exactly does this ritual entail?"

"Nothing invasive," Racha says."The healers create a circle of power that amplifies natural energy flow."She pauses, studying the three of us with renewed interest."Though I sense there's already something forming between you."

"The bond happened naturally, from the moment we reached the island," I say, feeling that subtle pull toward both of them."But we haven't marked one another yet."

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