The cave swallowed us whole.

  Warmth pulsed through the stone like a heartbeat, and I followed Aria deeper into the winding corridor without question. My claws clicked against the floor—steady, deliberate, and echoing just enough to let me map the tunnel in my mind. Every sound painted a shape: the curve of a ceiling arch, the wideness of a split chamber, the soft shuffle of other dragons far ahead.

  This wasn’t just a horde nest. It was a city inside a mountain.

  I listened harder. Multiple tunnels branched outward in all directions, some climbing steeply, others diving down. There were voices echoing distantly, low murmurs and laughter muffled by the twists of the stone. The Skyfangs lived like they had carved themselves into the earth and grown roots.

  I’d never seen—or heard—anything like it.

  Aria moved confidently, her tail brushing lightly against mine as if to remind me she was still there. Thor followed behind, silent but close, his presence a weight I could feel in every footfall.

  After several turns and a long descent, the tunnel opened into a wide, high-ceilinged chamber glowing with warmth. Smooth stone benches lined the walls, and a massive firepit crackled at its center, surrounded by flickering crystals and woven mats. A few dragons lounged nearby—in human form—talking quietly, watching us.

  Aria shifted first.

  The change rolled over her like flowing water. Wings folded inward, light sparked across her scales, and suddenly she stood in her human form: tall, with storm-gray hair that curled softly down her back, sharp eyes that missed nothing, and an air of calm command. She wore simple, comfortable clothing—fitted layers in soft gray and pale blue that echoed her dragon coloring, warm without sacrificing mobility. Even here, in the middle of her home, she carried herself like a watchful wind.

  Thor hesitated.

  He glanced at Aria, then at me. There was reluctance in the set of his jaw. Protectiveness, maybe. Or caution. But when Aria gave him a small nod, he shifted too—brutal power folded into a broad-shouldered man with bronze skin and white-streaked hair, lightning still sparking faintly in his eyes. He wore close-fitted dark trousers and a sleeveless, storm-gray tunic, practical and reinforced, the kind of clothing meant for someone who stayed ready to fight even when at rest.

  I followed.

  Bones compressed. Wings vanished. And just like that, I stood beside them, my long dark hair clinging damply to my back, violet eyes sharp against the firelight. I was still dressed in what I had worn to the human duke’s court—a flowing gown in deep purple and indigo, embroidered with silver thread, the fabric shifting like dragon scales in the fire’s glow. The pendant at my throat caught the light, as did the earrings that framed my face. I hadn’t changed since I had killed those humans. Power, mystery, and memory clung to the hem of my dress like smoke.

  Aria blinked once, then let out a soft, delighted noise as her eyes swept over me. “Ooh—what is that dress? Stars above, it looks like it belongs in a royal court.”

  Her gaze sparkled with curiosity. “Where did you get it? And more importantly—what were you doing wearing that?”

  I hesitated, my mouth quirking in the faintest smile. I didn’t answer right away, but I felt the subtle change in the room. Several of the male dragons nearby had shifted their posture—some lifting their heads to get a better look, others glancing at one another, as if quietly reassessing who I might be.

  I wasn’t sure if it was the gown or the fact that I had dared to wear it here.

  Either way, they were noticing.

  And Aria was clearly enjoying it.

  I caught Thor’s gaze flicking toward me—but it didn’t linger. His eyes shifted almost immediately to Aria, and something in the way he looked at her made me pause. There was no doubt in my mind. He wasn’t just watching her. He loved her.

  The thought settled into my chest, quiet and certain.

  I turned back to Aria, smile curling a little at the edge. “I wore it for a human ruler. He invited me to a private dinner. He suspected I wasn’t human, and I needed to make sure he understood I wasn’t someone to be toyed with.”

  That made both Aria and Thor pause. Aria’s eyes widened, intrigued. Thor shifted slightly behind her, the tension in his stance sharpening with curiosity.

  “What did you do to him?” Aria asked, half-joking but with a glint of genuine interest.

  “What happened at that dinner?” Thor added, voice low.

  Their questions layered on top of each other, and for a moment, I could feel their attention fully locked on me.

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  Aria gestured for me to sit by the fire, but before I could move, she took me gently by the wrist and pulled me closer. “No stalling now. You’re not getting away without telling us everything,” she said, practically beaming. She guided me to a cushion near the flames and sat beside me, close enough that her warmth was immediate and grounding. Thor followed, settling on her other side—still watchful, still tense.

  I took a slow breath, letting the fire’s glow thaw the stiffness in my bones.

  “I’d heard rumors about the duke,” I began. “That he collected magical creatures—imprisoned them. Used them for sport, for entertainment. So I went to see if the stories were true.”

  Aria’s smile faded, and Thor’s brow furrowed.

  “They were,” I said flatly. “He had harpies. Griffins. A centaur. Even a phoenix. Locked in cages like trophies.”

  I let the memory sharpen my words. “So I killed him. And all his guards. Then I freed every last creature he kept.”

  Silence settled like snow. The fire crackled, but no one interrupted. They just listened.

  Then Thor leaned forward, his voice lower than before. “Who was this ruler?”

  I met his gaze. “He was the Duke of Thalebrook. I don’t remember his full name, but I know he was third in line for the throne. High enough that no one ever questioned what he did.”

  Thor’s eyes darkened. “Duke Calder of Thalebrook.”

  Aria turned toward him, surprised. “You know him?”

  Thor gave a short nod, tension returning to his frame. “My brothers and I dealt with him once. A trade agreement. He wanted dragonshard ice, and when we refused, he threatened to send troops into the lower valleys of our territory. I remember thinking then that I would enjoy killing him.”

  He looked at me again, slower this time. “You did what needed to be done.”

  Aria exhaled a breath that was half a laugh, half a sound of awe. “And you got to see a phoenix? I’ve never seen one—not even in the sky. They’re legendary.”

  Thor nodded, surprise flickering across his features. “Neither have I. They’re more myth than reality.”

  “Thank you,” Aria said softly, her tone sincere now. “For freeing them. All of them.”

  I didn’t know what to say to that. So I just nodded.

  Then Aria’s curiosity returned like a flood. “But why were you living among the humans? What were you doing there all this time? How did someone like you end up in their cities?”

  I felt the weight of those questions—sharp, personal.

  I didn’t tell them everything. I couldn’t. Not yet.

  So I answered only part of the truth. “My family is gone. They died a long time ago. And without my sense of smell, I didn’t feel like I belonged among dragons anymore. Humans don’t rely on scent the way we do. Among them, I didn’t feel broken. I just felt… different. But accepted.”

  We kept talking long after the fire had burned low. The other dragons drifted away in quiet pairs or alone, giving space without comment. Eventually, it was just the three of us.

  Then Thor stood. “I’ll give you two some space,” he said gruffly, casting a glance at Aria that said more than words. He lingered a moment longer, reluctant, then turned and left the chamber.

  As his footsteps faded, I turned to Aria.

  She smiled. “He trusts me,” she said simply, then tucked her legs beneath her on the cushion, fully settling in beside me.

  “He loves you,” I said, watching the way she softened in the firelight. “It’s in the way he watches you. I can hear it—in the way his heart settles when you speak, the rhythm of his breath around you. It’s steady. Constant.”

  Aria’s smile deepened, and a faint pink rose to her cheeks, but she didn’t deny it.

  We sat like that for a while—quiet, warm.

  Then she tilted her head and asked, “Do you know who leads this horde?”

  I blinked. “I assumed Thor—”

  “He’s one of them,” she said. “There are three brothers. Thor, Vaerik, and Veskairan. Thor and Vaerik are both lightning dragons. Veskairan is ice. Together, they rule Skyfang.”

  That explained a lot—the discipline, the sheer size of the mountain complex, the power that buzzed just beneath the surface. A horde led by a powerful family like these three brothers—if Thor was any indication of what the others were like—would attract many. Strength, loyalty, and legacy carried weight among dragonkind. It was easy to see how dragons from far and wide would come to call this place home.

  Aria continued, “Most of our horde is made up of ice, lightning, and wind dragons. A few light dragons too, but you…” She leaned forward slightly. “You’re the only sound dragon I’ve ever met.”

  “There aren’t many of us,” I murmured, feeling the weight of that truth settle deep in my bones.

  “Well,” Aria said, nudging my shoulder with hers, “you’re here now. And you’re not alone anymore.”

  We stayed there long after the others had gone, the fire crackling low beside us. I could still hear the storm raging beyond the mountain walls—wind howling down the peaks, snow scraping over the stone. But here, wrapped in warmth and firelight, it felt distant. Powerless.

  I was so grateful that Aria had insisted I come with them. If she hadn’t… I didn’t know where I’d be.

  As we talked, our voices dropping to softer tones, I felt something I hadn’t in a long time—a connection. Familiar, but rare. I hadn’t felt this kind of bond with another dragon since my horde had been destroyed. Since I lost everything.

  And yet, here she was.

  Not my blood. Not my past. But maybe, just maybe, something like home.

  We yawned at the same time, and both laughed, the sound soft and genuine between us.

  Aria stood and stretched, then reached out a hand to me. “Come on, Elle. Let’s get you somewhere warm to sleep.”

  I followed her as she led me through a side corridor, deeper into the stone tunnels. “You can rest here tonight,” she said as we reached a smaller chamber lit by a gentle glowstone. “In the morning, feel free to explore. I’ll find you when I can and introduce you to some of the others.”

  I nodded, grateful. My muscles ached, my eyes heavy. But my heart—my heart was lighter than it had been in a long, long time.

  Aria lingered in the doorway a moment longer. Her gaze softened as she looked at me, then she said gently, “You should consider staying, Elle. Not just for the night. I don’t know why, but I feel this pull toward you—like you belong here.”

  The words caught me off guard. But something about the way she said them… made it feel like maybe she was right.

  After she left, I wandered deeper into the chamber and opened the wardrobe tucked against one wall. Soft, well-worn clothing was neatly folded inside. I pulled on a loose tunic and pants—simple, warm, and comforting in a way I hadn’t expected.

  Then I dropped onto the bed and lay back, staring at the ceiling.

  Her words echoed in my mind.

  She felt a pull toward me.

  And I… felt something too. A quiet thread tying me to her, to this place. It wasn’t love, or loyalty—not yet—but it was connection. Something I hadn’t felt with another dragon since my horde was taken from me.

  Maybe this could be home.