Chapter 37
The mountain did not stay quiet for long. After the vampires and witches left, the air remained heavy, as if something unseen was still watching from just beyond the horizon. Ariana stood near the center of the cliff, her gaze fixed on the distant sky where dark clouds had thickened and begun to stretch outward like a slow-moving shadow.
"They're not hiding anymore," she said quietly. Kael stood beside her, his attention locked in the same direction. "No. They're not."
There was nothing relaxed about him now. His posture remained steady, but every instinct he had was alert, tracking every shift in the sky. Behind them, the Dragon King adjusted slightly, his massive wings settling as his gaze turned outward. "The council gathers its strength."
Ariana turned toward him. "How many are there?"
"Enough to challenge every bloodline," the dragon replied.
Kael let out a quiet breath. "That sounds like trouble." Ariana frowned. "They're supposed to protect balance."
