4: Darken War

19: Alexandria

Chapter Nineteen: Alexandria

My next movement was a swift, practiced sweep of my arm, calling upon the ancient magic humming in my blood. A protective barrier of molten gold flared to life, encasing Seraphina, Calista, and Thalira in a dome of shimmering light. The air crackled as the spell locked into place, like divine thunder contained.

I turned to the girls, allowing a rare, soft smile to grace my lips. "Do not move from that spot," I said with firm gentleness. "I promised to protect you—and I will."

My hand dropped to my weapon. Behind me, Alexander stepped forward, already drawing his sword. His eyes—those same golden eyes I shared—were narrowed with resolve. His jaw was set. I could feel his tension radiating through the air like heat before a lightning strike.

Across from us stood the triplets—Silas, Alaric, and Sebastian. Brothers, once dear, now twisted shadows of themselves. Flames danced at Silas's fingertips, cold mist wrapped around Alaric's form, and spiraling droplets of water hovered around Sebastian like an orbiting crown.

Silas took a casual step forward. "You know," he drawled with mock kindness, "if you just let us bring Brother Alexander with us and kill you, the others can go free."

I tilted my head slightly, letting the silence stretch with the weight of insult. "You want Alexander alive and me dead?" My voice was ice. "What reason would you need him alive for?"

"He knows," Alaric said with a smirk, nodding toward my brother. "He was in Father's study after all."

My eyes cut sharply to my twin. "Alexander." My tone was a whip crack. "What are they talking about?"

He hesitated a second too long. "I don't know, sister," he replied evenly.

"Liar," Calista said softly from behind me, but I already knew. I could feel it in the core of my being—our bond fraying just slightly under the pressure of deceit.

I clenched my fists. "We will talk about this after," I muttered, my words already burning. Then I surged forward.

The air exploded with motion.

Alexander lunged at Alaric, their blades colliding with a metallic scream. The force of their clash sent up a burst of snow and sparks as frost clashed with steel. I raised both swords and met Silas and Sebastian head-on. Silas hurled flame after flame at me, each one growing in size and heat, while Sebastian lashed out with spears and whips of water.

I spun, ducked under one, and countered with a wave of raw energy. It caught Silas in the chest and sent him skidding back, but Sebastian was already circling. The water around him surged upward like a tidal wave and collapsed over me.

I gasped, barely catching a breath before the sphere of water consumed me completely. It held me suspended mid-air like a prisoner in glass. I looked around. No way out. I was trapped in a prison of water.

Their voices distorted through the liquid, distant echoes.

"Alaric," Silas called. "Can you freeze this?"

"I'm a bit occupied right now!" Alaric shouted through gritted teeth. Outside, I caught glimpses of Alexander driving him back, blow after blow, with near-feral precision.

"Too bad," Silas muttered, stalking closer to the bubble. "Guess I'll have to boil her alive instead."

The water began to heat. Slowly at first, then rapidly. The temperature climbed like wildfire. Steam clouded my vision. My skin burned—but not from pain. From power.

The fools.

They forgot I was a dragon.

The hotter it got, the more strength it gave me.