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NATALIE
The first step when doing something new was to take a breath. So I did that. I took a deep breath and thought of what I wanted—to reach out to Cedric through our sire bond.
Back at Cedric's castle, he’d commanded me not to move—and I couldn’t! My bond to him had felt like chains wrapped around me that he controlled. At the time, I’d hated it. And now, I needed to go back to that place.
Gradually, I felt a weight pinning me down, and I saw the chains in my mind. Link by link, they appeared, like serpents slithering around their prey, and soon, I arrived in a room filled with endless white fog.
When I laid a hand on the chains, it felt like I was physically touching them—they weren’t just something brought to life by my imagination. I could feel how cold the steel was, its rough surface, and its weight.
“Cedric!” I called, rattling the chains that extended into the thick fog, feeling like a dog chained to a wall. “I know you can hear me!”
I rattled the chains again, like Tedara, trapped in her dark cave, so often did.
“Dragon King! We need to talk!” I yelled, and the silence stretched on.
But I wasn’t going to give up so easily. I tried to release my chaos, but it turned out to be just as trapped as I was, unable to move beyond the chains.
When I heard footsteps, I stopped moving.
"Well, well, look who showed up." Cedric's voice echoed from every direction, and suddenly the chains fell, turning to dust around my feet.
Too bad I was only physically free of them—I was still sired to Cedric. The closer his footsteps got, the more I could feel his presence in me. It was as if he was a part of me.
It made me sick.
“You’ve made it very difficult for anyone to find you,” I replied. “I had to think of something.”
"Clever girl, using our bond," he replied. And finally, I could make out his form in the fog. "Now, let's see if it was a wise decision on your part…or a foolish one.”
The fact that he could ask that question so casually—as if he hadn’t stolen my mate from me—was irritating. His nonchalant and smug tone definitely rubbed me the wrong way. I still couldn’t believe I'd sat beside this man, not knowing he was the one responsible for so many deaths.
Cedric finally came fully into view, and my jaws clenched. I had to remind myself I wasn't looking at Rumir, but it was hard. They still looked like twins.
"We need to talk," I said.
Cedric shrugged. “Clearly,” he answered. “I assumed that’s why you were screaming my name. So talk, wolf. I’m listening. Or do you expect me to already know what you want?"
“Release Rumir,” I said. “Release him, Cedric.”
He just smiled. “Rumir is fine where he is,” he said. “He’s fine how he is. He's never been better, actually. But aren’t you being a little selfish? The great savior Natalie contacting me just to ask about her mate instead of, I don't know, being everyone's hero and trying to find me?"
"I don't need to do that," I replied.
He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned forward. “And why is that, Natalie?”
“Because I'm going to find you, regardless," I replied.
He stared at me for a few seconds, before he started to chuckle. And then, his laughter grew, and before long, he was howling. Then, suddenly, his laughter abruptly stopped, and his eyes narrowed.
But I didn’t look away. I held his stare, even though I saw nothing but darkness behind his eyes.
"You know, I wasn't a fan of yours in the beginning," he said. "I felt my son deserved far better than a wolf mate, especially one he had to share with another. But you've proven me wrong." He walked forward and stopped in front of me.
"You're an interesting young woman—brave, reckless, and very persistent," he added, leaning towards my ear. "I saw your strength at my castle, where you managed to break free even after I activated our sire bond. So, rest assured that Rumir is fine. And my invitation for you to join me still stands. Why should someone like you have to die in this war?”
He walked away, and I found that I couldn't turn.
"The strength you possess is what I want for my new world," Cedric continued. "I only have room for the strong, and you and my son will have a place there.” He turned back to me. “There was an attack on the City of Souls last night, wasn't there? You know it's only going to get worse—and for the Mortal Realm, too. But I think it's becoming clearer that the gods can’t win this war, isn’t it? Why choose the losing side, young goddess? You’re wasting away for them.”
