The Dragon Heir (BOOK#1)

CHAPTER 1

✨️THE DRAGON HEIR✨️

✨️The Search Of The Syrax✨️

✨️CHAPTER ONE✨️

*Melike pov*

Revenge. I was craving for revenge. I had faith in myself that sooner or later, everyone that hurt me will sit down to a banquet of consequences. It's been 12 years now since I was exiled from the land of my father by my auntie, and all those years, I had been fighting against all kinds of disgusting shit. I spent my life in foreign lands. So many men have tried to kill me. I've been chained and betrayed, raped and defiled. Do you know what kept me standing through all those years in exile? Faith. Not in any gods. In myself. In Melike Kantakouzenos. I was born to rule the Seven Kingdoms, and I will. My parents always told me to have faith in our ancestors. The dragon. They had been the greatest helpers of my ancestors, The Kantakouzenos family. They help us to conquer many lands and defeat our enemies. This was when my father had separated the kingdom into seven parts for his seven siblings, but my evil auntie was too selfish to be satisfied with the little one she had. She began to put corruption and fight between her siblings which led to the war for years and after the death of my parents, I was exiled from my father's land as I was too young to possess the iron throne. All those years of craving for justice and revenge. My father always had faith that the dragon of Kantakouzenos had never gone extinct and that they were still here somewhere trying to find their way back home. I decided to search for them in order to start a war against my auntie. I have been searching from the north Aquilonia to the south of Azulon Valley. I was determined to harness its might, I ventured into uncharted territories, where danger lurked at every turn search for the Syrax. The only mystery place that I haven't explored was The Sentinel land. This land was mysterious itself. Just like my dumbass cousin who reigns over it. Today I planned to stay at the cave of Waterstone in Azulon to have some rest in order for me to go to Sentinel of Howling overnight. Sentinel is known for its cave system. I take advantage of the information that my dad used to give me when I was younger to try to find the Syrax. As the sun set down I was ready to go. I walked for days without food as I arrived at Sentinel land I immediately run to hunt for something to eat. Sentinel was know for there wolves. The were lead by their one an only Alpha which was my cousin Ava. Lately a war break down between my auntie and Ava. Ava had tried anything in her power to stop my auntie from rebelling against everyone but that bitch was to selfish to listen to her. Since The Drakenian had a strong army the Sentinels land was in critical condition, Ava parent's was my parents closest allies. I wish that I could help them. But I need to find The Syrax in order to do so. I settled myself down deep inside The Sentinel caves so that no one can find me, I start searching from up to down. The air inside the Cave of Sentinels was thick with the smell of damp stone and something else, an acrid tang that I couldn't quite place. I squinted, the faint glow of my lantern barely penetrating the mist that clung to the cavern walls. My heart hammered against my ribs, the rhythm mirroring the incessant drip, drip, drip of water from unseen stalactites above. Suddenly, a muffled groan echoed through the cavern. I whipped around, my lantern beam sweeping across the cavern floor. And there, sprawled against a rock, was Ava, my cousin, her face pallid, her face covered with bruises. A scream, choked back, tore at my throat. Ava! What had happened? Fear, cold and sharp, pierced through the hope that had sustained me for so long. I rushed to Ava's side, my hands trembling as I checked for a pulse. It was weak, barely there. My mind raced, trying to make sense of the situation. Ava had been searching for me, I knew that. Had she been attacked? By the Syrax? But the whispers, the old stories, spoke of a dragon who wouldn't harm a living creature, only protecting the one that he was meant to be destined with. With a surge of determination, I lifted Ava's head, my own tears stinging my eyes. I couldn't leave her here, not like this. She wouldn't. Using my cloak as a makeshift stretcher, I managed to hoist Ava onto my back. Wait, Where was Fenrir, the wolf who had always been Ava's unwavering protector? Why had he not come to her aid? And Sir Talal, the man who had promised to protect Ava, was nowhere to be found? All of these events are so weird right now. Determined to find answers, I gently carried Ava out of the cave and into the safety of the surrounding forest. As I tended to my cousin's wounds, I vowed to uncover the truth behind this all these events and bring justice to those responsible for harming my loved one. For some reason I had a really bad feeling about all this. Worry gnawed at my gut as I scanned the dense forest, searching for a safe haven. After walking for hours in the forest. I found a clearing bathed in dappled sunlight, a moss-covered log offering a makeshift bed. Gently laying Ava down. My own body ached, but I pushed the pain aside, focusing on my cousin. 'Ava?' I whispered, my voice thick with concern. Ava's eyelids fluttered, then snapped open, revealing eyes wide with terror. 'Melike,' she breathed, her voice strained. You're awake!' I exclaimed, relief flooding through me. 'How do you feel?' Ava clutched at her chest, her breathing ragged. 'The witch... she... she took my parents.' My heart sank. 'What do you mean? Where are they?' Ava recounted her story in a trembling voice. The witch, our aunt, had lured them to the castle with promises of a grand celebration of Ava's wedding. But once they were inside, the air grew cold and heavy, and the witch's true intentions became clear. She said...' Ava's voice broke. 'She said ... I were tainted, corrupted by magic of the wolves, and that she had to... to... ' 'To what?' I urged, my voice tight with fear.
Ava closed her eyes, a tear sliding down her cheek. 'She said she had to... to kill me. If I accepted to become the Luna of The Sentinels of Howling.' My parents makes me escaped the castle with the help of Talal and Fenrir but they were both killed with no mercy by auntie Delilah. I felt a wave of cold dread wash over me. That witch had corrupted Ava castle too! 'We have to stop her,' I said, my voice resolute. 'We have to save your castle, and we have to get me my iron throne!' Ava looked at me, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and hope. 'But what can we do? She's so powerful, so evil.' I took Ava's hand, my grip firm. 'We have to find the source of her power, that's corrupting everything. And then... we have to break it.' Ava hugged me and I hugged her back.