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Chapter 2

Lyra's POV

My heart pounded against my ribs as Kaelen gripped my hand and pulled me deeper into the forest’s shadows. His cold fingers were like a lifeline, steady and firm, but the chill they carried sent shivers up my spine. The forest loomed around us, dark and unwelcoming, but Kaelen moved with purpose, his sharp eyes scanning every shadow as if the trees themselves might attack.

“Kaelen,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “What is going on? Why did you save me?”

He didn’t slow down, didn’t even look back at me. His tone was calm but sharp with urgency. “You were in danger, Lyra. They were coming for you. I couldn’t let that happen.”

I stumbled slightly on the uneven ground, and his grip on my waist tightened. His touch sent an unexplainable warmth through me, despite the icy tension in the air. “Who was coming? What do they want with me?”

Kaelen finally paused, turning to face me. His silver eyes met mine, glinting like moonlight through the thick canopy above. “You don’t need to know right now. All that matters is getting you to safety.”

His words made my stomach churn with unease. “Safety? Kaelen, my coronation is happening tonight. I can’t just—”

“Exactly why you must leave now!” His voice was sharp, cutting through my protests like a blade. “Your kingdom depends on you, Lyra. Without you, there is no Dragon Kingdom.”

I froze, his words hanging in the air between us. The weight of them pressed down on me like the crown waiting for me back at the palace. “And what about you? Why are you doing this? You’re not part of my world. You’re—”

“A vampire,” he finished for me, his voice soft but tinged with bitterness. “I know what I am, Lyra. And I also know I don’t belong in your world. But that doesn’t mean I’ll stand by and let harm come to you.”

The sincerity in his voice made my chest tighten. I wanted to argue, to push him for more answers, but something about the way he looked at me so fierce, so determined stopped me.

“Where are we going?” I asked instead, my voice quieter now.

“To a safe place,” he said simply. “But you can’t stay here long. You need to go back.”

The thought of leaving him made my heart ache in a way I couldn’t explain. “I don’t want to leave you,” I admitted, barely above a whisper. “Not after everything you’ve done for me.”

Kaelen’s lips curved into a faint smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “You have no choice, my queen.”

The way he said “my queen” sent a shiver down my spine. It wasn’t just the title—it was the reverence in his tone, the way it made me feel like I was something more than just a girl caught between duty and desire.

We continued through the forest until Kaelen abruptly stopped. He released my hand, and the loss of his touch left me feeling cold and exposed. He turned to face me, his silver eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my breath catch.

“Listen to me, Lyra,” he said, his voice low but commanding. “There’s a threat—an attack planned against your kingdom.”

“What?” My voice rose in alarm, but Kaelen quickly held up a hand to silence me.

“I’ve already stopped it,” he said firmly. “The attackers won’t make it past the borders. But you must go now, before anyone realizes you’ve been gone. Your father is waiting. Your people need you.”

Tears pricked my eyes as his words sank in. He had risked everything for me—for my kingdom. “Why would you do this, Kaelen? Why would you put yourself in danger for me?”

He stepped closer, his expression softening for the first time. “Because I couldn’t bear to see you hurt,” he admitted quietly. “You’re... important to me, Lyra. More than you realize.”

My breath hitched at his words. The way he looked at me, like I was the only thing that mattered in his world, made my heart ache with emotions I couldn’t name.

Kaelen took my hand, his cold fingers wrapping gently around mine. He bent down, his gaze never leaving mine, and pressed a soft kiss to my knuckles. The gesture was so tender, so unlike the fierce warrior I had seen moments ago, that it left me speechless.

“My highness,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “My queen. Please take care of yourself.”

Before I could respond, before I could ask him to stay or tell him how much his words meant to me, Kaelen straightened and stepped back into the shadows. “Go now, Lyra. Be the queen your people need. I’ll always be watching over you.”

And with that, he vanished into the darkness, leaving me standing alone in the silent forest.

---

The grand hall of the Dragon Kingdom buzzed with anticipation as I stepped through the towering doors. The smell of incense and the glow of flickering candles filled the space, but I barely noticed any of it. My mind was still spinning from what had just happened.

My father, King Thalric, stood by the ornate throne at the center of the hall. His proud eyes met mine as I approached, but I could see the hint of sadness beneath his regal composure. This was the moment he had prepared me for all my life, but I wasn’t sure I was ready.

“Lyra,” his voice boomed, silencing the murmurs of the crowd. “Come forward, my daughter.”

The sea of people parted as I made my way toward him, my steps slow and deliberate. I could feel their eyes on me, their hopes and expectations weighing heavily on my shoulders.

As I reached the foot of the throne, my father took my hands in his. His grip was firm, grounding me in the moment. “You are ready, Lyra,” he said, his voice filled with conviction. “You will lead our people with wisdom and strength. I have no doubt.”

His words brought tears to my eyes, but I blinked them back. I couldn’t show weakness now. My father released my hands and lifted the crown from the throne. The cold metal pressed against my brow as he placed it on my head, and I felt a surge of power coursing through me.

“Rise, Queen Lyra,” the priestess announced, her voice clear and strong.

I stood slowly, the crown feeling heavier than I had imagined. The crowd erupted into cheers, their voices echoing through the hall, but I barely heard them. My eyes were drawn to the far end of the room, where a shadowed figure stood in the doorway.

My breath caught as the figure stepped forward, his pale features illuminated by the torchlight. Kaelen.

Our eyes locked, and for a moment, the rest of the world faded away. He didn’t say a word, but the faint smile on his lips spoke volumes. It was a promise, a reminder that he was still out there, watching over me.

And then, as quickly as he had appeared, he was gone, melting back into the shadows.

The cheers around me grew louder, but my heart was elsewhere. I was Queen Lyra now, the ruler of the Dragon Kingdom. But a part of me couldn’t stop thinking about the mysterious vampire who had risked everything to save me.

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