It had been a few days since Zebedee's hatching, and peace had finally settled over the castle—for now. I sat on a soft cushion near the nursery, watching the tiny dragon as he cooed and shifted in his nest of silken blankets. His crystal-like skin shimmered every time the light touched him.
Alohi sat beside me, resting her chin on her hand as she observed me closely.
"You know," she finally said with a teasing smile, "you're very… mother."
I blinked at her. "Mother?"
"Well, come on," she giggled. "Zebedee is technically your kid with Xenos. The magic, the blood, the feather, everything. You're basically co-parenting a dragon baby."
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't stop the small smile tugging at my lips. "I suppose you're not completely wrong."
"Honestly, Sage, you and Xenos? You're like the perfect couple." Alohi nudged me playfully. "You're both powerful, balanced, and I swear, every time he looks at you, I think his heart stops."
I lowered my gaze to Zebedee, feeling my chest tighten.
"I do love Xenos," I whispered. "With everything I have. But… ever since I met Vyrmoth, there's this... strange connection. Like we were supposed to find each other. Like he's the missing piece I didn't know I was looking for."
Alohi's playful expression dropped instantly, her tone sharpening. "Don't you dare, Sage."
I looked up, blinking innocently. "What?"
"Don't you dare cheat on Xenos," she said firmly. "I know you, and I know your heart's been through hell lately, but you have everything with him. Don't throw it away for some forbidden fantasy."
Before I could answer, the door burst open. A maid stumbled in, breathless and pale.
"Lady Sage! Lady Alohi! It's the brothers—Lord Xenos and Lord Vyrmoth—they're fighting!"
My heart stopped. "Fighting?!"
"To the death!" the maid whimpered. "With their magic—it's brutal!"
"Who started it?!" I demanded.
"Lord Xenos," she whispered, terrified.
Alohi and I exchanged a panicked glance before bolting from the room.
---
The castle's battleground roared with the violent crackle of magic as we arrived.
Blue flames collided with sharp ice spikes, lightning tearing across the open air. The two brothers stood opposite one another, both bloodied, their clothes shredded, their faces twisted in rage.
"XENOS! VYRMOTH!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.
Neither stopped.
Xenos's wings snapped open, sending a wave of heat toward his twin, while Vyrmoth deflected it with a crystalline ice shield, panting heavily.
"STOP IT!" I shrieked again, running into the middle of the arena, ignoring Alohi's desperate calls to stay back.
I rushed toward Xenos first, my voice sharp and venomous.
"YOU'RE THE WORST!" I screamed at him, slapping him hard across his cheek. His head snapped to the side, blood dripping from the corner of his lip. "What is WRONG with you?! You're acting like a child! Like some jealous little boy who can't control himself!"
His chest heaved, staring at me wide-eyed, his breathing ragged. "Sage—"
"NO!" I cut him off, tears blurring my vision. "I am so sick of your possessiveness. Of you constantly trying to control who I speak to, where I go, who I trust! Vyrmoth has done NOTHING wrong. This is all you—your jealousy is ruining everything!"
I turned my back on Xenos, ignoring the shattered look in his eyes, and ran straight to Vyrmoth, who was on his knees, coughing as blood dripped from a gash on his shoulder.
I knelt beside him, cupping his face in my hands as if the rest of the world didn't exist. "Shh... it's okay. I'm here." My magic poured into him, glowing softly as I began healing his wounds.
Vyrmoth smiled weakly. "You always know how to fix things, Sage."
Alohi stood frozen behind us, watching the scene with a mixture of horror and frustration, while Xenos remained silent—staring, broken, the flame in his eyes dimming.
And just like that, the entire castle watched as the perfect couple shattered before their eyes.
The soft glow of the candles flickered in Vyrmoth's room as I gently dabbed a damp cloth along the wound on his collarbone. His skin was still bruised, but my healing magic had closed most of the deeper cuts.
He sat silently, watching me with calm, gentle eyes. The complete opposite of his brother's stormy rage.
After a long pause, I finally asked, my voice quiet but heavy, "What happened, Vyrmoth? What started all of this?"
Vyrmoth exhaled slowly, leaning his head back against the headboard. "Your closeness to me. That's what started it. Xenos can't handle it." He glanced down at me. "He sees what's between us, Sage. Even if you haven't admitted it yet."
I swallowed hard, my heart tightening. "There's nothing—"
"There is," he interrupted softly, but kindly. "I feel it too."
I bit my lip, looking away, but before I could say more, Vyrmoth gently took my hand. "We need to speak to Smokey," he said. "We need clarity."
I hesitated for only a moment before nodding.
He shifted on the bed, pulling me gently down beside him. I laid on my side next to him, feeling his arm loosely drape across my waist as we both closed our eyes.
The familiar white space welcomed us — endless, blinding light stretching into infinity.
And there, as always, stood Smokey. His tall, ancient figure radiated peace, but tonight his face was serious.
"Sage," Smokey said, his voice echoing. "Since you met Vyrmoth… have you felt something?"
I looked at him nervously, my voice shaking. "I… I feel very connected to him. Like we understand each other without speaking. Like we've known each other long before we ever met."
Smokey nodded, his eyes gentle but heavy with meaning. "That is because you were meant for him, Sage. You two were destined to find each other."
My breath caught. "But… Xenos—"
"Xenos was not part of your fate, child," Smokey said softly. "You were always meant to be with Vyrmoth. The bond you and Xenos share was powerful, yes, but it was forged by circumstance. This—" He gestured between Vyrmoth and me. "—is soul-tied."
Vyrmoth squeezed my hand gently, his eyes soft.
My mind swirled with confusion and guilt, but before I could respond, Smokey's voice faded, and the blinding light vanished.
---
I blinked my eyes open, still lying next to Vyrmoth on his bed.
But we weren't alone anymore.
Xenos stood at the foot of the bed, his eyes dark and burning with fury. His fists clenched, his chest rising and falling rapidly as his gaze shifted from me to Vyrmoth.
"Xenos—" I started quickly, sitting up, but he took a step forward.
"You slept with him?" His voice trembled, low and dangerous.
"No! It's not what you think, we were connecting with Smokey—" I rushed out, desperate to explain.
"Don't lie to me!" he roared.
He spun around, pacing like a caged beast, trying to hold back his anger. But when I moved toward him, reaching out, he snapped.
In one furious movement, his hand struck me across the face with a force that sent me crashing into the small table by the window. The crash echoed as the wood splintered beneath me.
For a moment, there was only silence.
The sting burned hot across my cheek as I gasped for breath, eyes wide in shock. I tasted blood in my mouth.
Xenos froze, horrified at what he had just done, his breathing ragged. "S-Sage—"
But I didn't wait for him to speak. My heart shattered, my body trembling. I staggered to my feet, locking my wide, tear-filled eyes onto him before turning and running out of the room.
And this time, I wasn't sure I wanted him to follow.