Chapter 40
The mountain was quiet, but it did not feel peaceful.
Ariana stood near the edge of the cliff and looked out across the horizon. The sky was wide and slowly turning brighter as the sun began to rise. Soft light spread across the clouds, painting them in gentle shades of gold and pink. It should have been beautiful.
But it did not calm her.
Something heavy pressed against her chest, and it would not go away.
Something was coming.
She could feel it clearly now.
It was not just a thought. It was not fear without reason. It was something deeper, something inside her that reacted to the world around her.
Behind her, the dragons rested across the cliffs. Some were lying still with their wings folded close to their bodies, while others remained alert, watching the sky like silent guards. Even in their calm state, they looked powerful. They looked ready.
Waiting.
Just like her.
