Page 17 of Wings of Shadow
I shake my head slowly. “I... I know he’s from another dragon clan,” I stammer, suddenly realizing I’m missing something crucial.
“Kaisner Drachenstein isn’t just a guy from another dragon family.” She pauses. “He’s the king of his clan—the king of all the dragon clans in Germany and Eastern Europe. A Master of the Dark Arts, a warlock of formidable power and... questionable morals.”
“Questionable morals?” I echo with a frown. “What do you mean?”
“Oh boy,” she says under her breath. “Where to begin?” Sam scratches her temple as her gaze drifts away. When her eyes find mine again, she continues. “Kaisner knows no authority but his own. He’ll cross lines others wouldn’t dare approach—forbidden magic, dangerous alliances, whatever it takes to get what he wants. The magical community whispers about rituals that should have been buried centuries ago, about entities he’s summoned that most wouldn’t even speak of. He doesn’t just break the rules, Clarissa… He burns them.”
A chill runs down my spine. “But the man I met...” I trail off, confusion knotting in my chest. “He was magnetic, yes, but there was kindness there too. Gentleness, even. How can that be the same person?”
“That’s part of what makes him so dangerous,” Sam whispers, reaching out to take my hand. “Nik’s mentioned him before. He disapproves of everything Kaisner represents. Says he’s the worst kind of leader—all raw power and unpredictability. Kaisner Drachenstein rules through fear and force, not the honor and tradition our kin respects.”
Her fingers tense slightly around mine.
“Clarissa, listen to me. Kaisner is not someone to be trifled with. If he’s taken an interest in you... well, it can’t be for anything good.”
I swallow hard, my mind racing. The memory of Kaisner’s touch, his intense gaze, takes on a sinister edge in light of this new information. “What should I do?” I ask, hating how small my voice sounds.
Sam squeezes my hand. “For now? Keep your distance. Don’t engage with him if you can help it. And Clarissa?” She waits until I meet her eyes. “Promise me you’ll be careful. There’s no telling what someone like Kaisner might be capable of.”
I nod, trying to ignore the part of me that still thrills at the memory of our encounter. “I promise,” I say, hoping I sound more convinced than I feel.
The sharp edge of her concern softens, and I notice a shift in her expression—a different kind of worry settling in her eyes, one she’s striving to hide from me.
“There’s something else troubling you, isn’t there?” I ask gently, recognizing that look. “Is it the situation with Cassandra? This mysterious meeting is getting to me, too. I can’t shake the feeling there’s more to it.”
“Yes, Cassandra’s been acting strangely lately,” Sam admits, her fingers intertwining with mine. But a certain guardedness still seems present in her expression.
“It’s something else, though. Isn’t it?” I press, trusting my gut.
Sam hesitates, choosing her words carefully. “It’s just... with Nik away on this tour, I can see how much it’s changing him. The responsibility, the pressure to prove himself worthy.” Her voice drops, quieter now. “Dragons weren’t meant to carry that kind of burden alone.”
“He’s not alone,” I remind her gently, squeezing her hand. “He has you. And that makes him stronger than any clan ever could.”
Samara’s features soften. Her gaze drifts to the photo on my desk—the three of us at my birthday party, Nik’s arms around both Sam and me, all of us laughing and carefree.
“Gods, I miss him,” she murmurs, the words escaping like breath pressed from a wound. More than longing—mourning. “Not just being apart... I mean, I miss him. The way he used to be. Before his dragon’s awakening.”
Her voice falters. She turns slightly, as if the photo’s weight is too much to bear.
“You know,” she adds quietly, “it’s not easy, being in love with the enemy.”
She catches herself then, lips parting as regret flashes across her face. The slip hangs between us, heavy and unresolved.
I nod reassuringly, my heart aching for them both. Their path is fraught with obstacles, but the love shining in Samara’s gaze speaks volumes. “You two are proof that love can conquer all barriers,” I say fiercely. “And you have my support, always. When the time comes, it will be an honor to call you not just my sister, but my queen.”
Sam’s head snaps up, eyes wide. “Queen?” she repeats, confusion etched on her face. “Nik is the Draken alpha... I don’t think ’queen’ is the term you’re looking for.” She shrugs with a shy smile.
I freeze, realizing too late my misstep. “Hasn’t he told you?” I ask hesitantly, stomach twisting. “Nik intends to gather all the dragon families and unite them under a single banner.”
“The... Draken’s banner,” Sam says slowly, understanding dawning.
I nod, swallowing hard. “That’s why he left on tour. He will proclaim himself King of the Dragons. So, technically...”
“That would make me...” Samara murmurs, stunned. “At some point…”
“Our queen,” I finish softly. “The queen of all dragon shifter clans.”
We sit quietly, the magnitude of it all sinking in.
