The Ash Covenant had gone to ground after the failed assault on the Citadel.
Scattered across the kingdom, its members hid in plain sight—merchants, nobles, even a few Dragon Lords who had secretly pledged themselves to the cause of bringing down the barrier. Finding them would require not just power, but patience, investigation, and a network of informants.
The Queen gave Seraphina control of that network.
"They are called the Whisperers," she explained. "Spies and informants who report directly to the throne. They have been tracking Ash Covenant movements for decades, but they need someone to act on their intelligence."
"And that someone is me?"
"That someone is you." The Queen's red eyes were serious. "You have the power to confront any threats they uncover. And you have the bond with Pyre to provide backup if things go wrong."
Seraphina accepted the responsibility, though it meant more time away from the Citadel—more time flying across the kingdom with Pyre, tracking down leads and confronting those who would see the barrier fall.
Her first target was a merchant in the eastern provinces, a man named Darian who had been funneling money to Ash Covenant cells for years.
The confrontation was anticlimactic. Darian tried to run, but there was nowhere to run from a dragon. When Pyre landed in the courtyard of his estate, he fell to his knees and begged for mercy.
"Mercy is not mine to give," Seraphina told him, her voice carrying the layered tones of her merged form. "What can you tell me about the Covenant's plans?"
"They're rebuilding," Darian stammered. "Gathering strength for another attempt. They believe... they believe the barrier can still be brought down."
"How?"
"I don't know the specifics. Only the inner circle has that information."
"Who's in the inner circle?"
Darian hesitated, his eyes darting between Seraphina and Pyre. "I can give you names. But you have to promise me protection."
"I can promise you a trial. A fair one." Seraphina's voice was cold. "But if you're lying to me, if you're protecting those who would destroy everything we've built... there will be consequences."
The names Darian provided led to more raids, more captures, more pieces of the puzzle falling into place. But the inner circle remained elusive—always one step ahead, always forewarned by someone within the Citadel itself.
"There's another traitor," Kestrel concluded after the fifth target escaped before they could be apprehended. "Someone with access to our intelligence, our movements."
"Who?"
"I don't know. But whoever it is, they're good. They've been playing this game for a long time."
Seraphina felt frustration bubbling up through her bond with Pyre. The dragon shared her irritation—after all they had sacrificed, after all they had done, someone within their own ranks was still working against them.
We will find them, Pyre assured her. And when we do...
We'll deal with them. Seraphina took a deep breath, forcing calm. But for now, we need to be more careful. Limit who has access to our intelligence. Feed false information to see what leaks.
That's cunning. I like it.
I learned from the best. Seraphina thought of Kestrel, of the Queen, of all the people who had taught her that power wasn't just about strength—it was about strategy.
The hunt continued.
Weeks turned into months, and slowly, painfully, the Ash Covenant's network began to unravel. Cell by cell, they were exposed, captured, neutralized. Each success brought Seraphina more respect, more authority, more acknowledgment from those who had initially doubted her.
But the inner circle remained just out of reach.
"They're planning something," Kestrel said one evening, studying the intelligence reports. "The remaining cells have gone quiet. That's not surrender—that's preparation."
"For what?"
"I don't know. But it can't be good."
Seraphina looked at him—really looked, taking in the exhaustion that seemed to have settled into his bones over the past months. He had been at her side through everything, supporting her, training her, believing in her when others had doubted.
"Kestrel," she said quietly. "I never properly thanked you. For everything you've done."
"You thanked me by surviving. By becoming what you are." He met her eyes, and something shifted in his expression. "I'm proud of you, Seraphina. More than you know."
The moment stretched between them, charged with something neither of them had acknowledged aloud. Seraphina felt her heart racing—felt Pyre's knowing amusement through the bond.
Perhaps, the dragon suggested, you should tell him.
Tell him what?
Tell him what's in your heart. It's been obvious for months.
Seraphina pushed the thought away, focusing on the reports in front of her. There would be time for that later. Right now, there was work to do.
There was always work to do.