Page 84 of Mantle

The Guardian Movement knew that there was something that bound ruling dragon power, but even they didn’t know the details.

“It’s a living magical seal,” I told Kai. “Bound to the heir’s blood and soul at birth. It exists as a physical key forged in dragon bone with that imbued within it. It unlocks a mythical chamber beneath the throne where ancestral fire, laws, and fate-binding contracts of dragon kind are kept. It can be usedto transfer power, rewrite succession laws and seal or break bloodlines.”

“I see. Without it, House Vortimer cannot take power.”

“Exactly.”

Kai’s hand slipped from mine and he stepped up to Draven. “You’re asking a lot of him.”

“I’m aware.”

“Emotion has been known to cloud a dragon’s instincts.”

“You think I’m lying and that he’s not able to pick up on it because of how traumatizing and upsetting the subject matter is to him?”

“It crossed my mind.” Kai smirked in that menacing way. “Fortunately for you, since the moment you revealed yourself, I’ve been mind-linking with the rest of ourfamilyhere, and I’ve had Ariana Martel running a truth spell, glamoured by Nyx without your knowledge and completely undetectable to even draconic senses.”

He’d been doingwhat?

In the next moment, Ariana teleported right on my other side with Nyx beside her.

Draven jolted, clearly caught off guard. “Incubus,” he said coolly, greeting Nyx while trying to recover his composure. Then his gaze shifted to Ariana—sweeping over her with something like reverence. He bowed. Not deeply, just a half-bow. But even that was major coming from him. From a dragon. And especially one bowing to someone who wasn’t a high-ranking dragon. “I am honored, deity,” he said.

She stepped forward right where Kai was, still up in his space.

As she did, Kai stepped back.

She held out her hand to Draven. “You’ve been speaking the truth this entire time and your intentions are honorable. This is an awful situation, and I see you working hard to do right byVorzyr whom it’s clear, despite your attempt to hidethataspect, you greatly admire and respect.”

“Yes.”

“This must be his choice, though. Do you understand?”

“I do.”

I moved behind her and slid my hands around her waist as I pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Thank you, goddess.”

She turned into my touch and smiled softly. “Of course. We’d do nothing less for you.”

I smiled back and released her. “I’m ready,” I told Draven. “This is the way it must be.”

Draven nodded and watched as I uttered the ancient incantation that they were all hearing for the first time, while my red magic spark on my palm.

I turned said palm upward and the key materialized right there.

A shard of bone, blackened by flame, carved with ancient draconic runes. Its handle was shaped like a twisted fang, and at the base, a flickering ember never stopped pulsing—my dragon fire trapped inside.

I held it out to Draven and he took it in awe, feeling the weight of it all.

“Give the Dracoryn Realm the ruler it deserves—House Vortimer.”

“Thank you, Vorzyr. I swear to you that your brother will never suffer or be scarred as you have. He will know love, he will know of you. And he will know peace and agency. I am very sorry that it was denied you.” He looked out at all four of us. “Although it seems that you have that now with your… new family.”

“I do.”

Just as Draven hid the key away with his magic, Kai held up his hand. “One more thing before you take your leave.”

Kai’s power flared briefly, and then he was holding out a tiny bracelet to Draven.

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