Chapter 6 The Kingdom of Lies 2

Evan's POV

My father's voice is sharp. "Dragon Tamers were slavers. Pure and simple. They didn't ask for partnerships. They took. Just like you took my son."

Through our bond, I feel Maya's guilt crash over her like a wave. She's staring at the mural, seeing herself in those ancient Tamers. Seeing the truth of what she accidentally became.

"But we fought back," my father continues. "The dragons rose up. We killed every Dragon Tamer we could find. Hunted their families. Burned their bloodlines to ash. And when humanity retaliated with the Purge, we discovered transformation magic. We hid. We survived. And we swore never to let another Dragon Tamer live."

He turns to Maya. "Until you."

The silence is deafening.

"So why am I still alive?" Maya asks. "If your people spent centuries killing my bloodline, why haven't you killed me?"

My father smiles, but there's no warmth in it. "Because you're bonded to my son. Dragon law is absolute—we don't harm another dragon's tamer. It would break Evan's mind, possibly kill him. The bond is that strong."

"Then I'll break it," Maya says immediately. "Right now. Tell me how."

"You can't." My father's smile widens. "Dragon Tamer bonds are permanent. The only way to break them is if the Tamer dies."

It's a lie. I know it's a lie. I felt the power in Maya's bond—she's strong enough to break it if she learns how.

But my father is lying to keep her alive. Because the second she breaks our bond, she becomes disposable. And the dragons who lost family to her bloodline will tear her apart.

Through our bond, I feel Maya's despair. She thinks she's trapped me forever.

"There might be another way," my father says slowly. "The old texts mention a ritual. A way to transform a compulsion bond into a partnership. It's never been successfully performed, but—"

An explosion rocks the mountain.

Alarms screech through the tunnels. Dragons are roaring, scrambling, transforming.

A guard bursts into the chamber. "My king! The Guild found us! They're attacking the eastern entrance with anti-dragon weapons!"

My father's face goes hard. "Impossible. Our wards should hide us from any—"

"They're following a signal," the guard interrupts. "A tracking signature. Coming from..." His eyes land on Maya. "Coming from the Dragon Tamer."

No. No no no.

Through our bond, I feel Maya's horror as she understands.

"The bond," she whispers. "When I bonded you, it sent out an energy signature. Derek said their sensors detected it. They didn't just detect dragon magic—"

"They detected YOU," my father finishes. His expression is murderous. "You led them right to us."

"I didn't know!" Maya's voice breaks. "I didn't mean to—"

"Intentions don't matter!" My father roars. "The Guild is at our door because of you! Three hundred years of hiding, destroyed in one day!"

The mountain shakes again. Closer. The Guild is blasting through our defenses.

And through our bond, I feel it—Maya making a decision. A terrible, self-sacrificing decision.

"Then give me to them," she says quietly. "Let the Guild take me. I'll tell them I was kidnapped. That I don't know where your kingdom is. I'll—"

"They'll torture you," I interrupt. "Maya, the Guild doesn't take prisoners. They take test subjects."

"Better me than thousands of dragons." She looks at my father. "Let me go. Save your people. It's the only way."

My father studies her for a long moment. Then he nods. "Very well. Guards, take her to the eastern entrance. We'll hand her over to—"

"NO!" The word explodes out of me with dragon force. The compulsion chains flare to life, responding to my panic. "Father, you can't! They'll kill her!"

"She led them to us, Evan. She's a threat."

"She's MINE!" My dragon nature erupts. Scales ripple across my skin. My voice drops to a growl. "Bond or no bond, I claim her under dragon law. Anyone who touches her answers to me."

The chamber goes silent.

I just challenged my father. The Dragon King. In front of witnesses.

Through our bond, Maya's emotions are chaos. She's horrified that I'm protecting her. Terrified that I'll get hurt. And underneath it all—guilt. Because she knows the compulsion is making me do this.

Except it's not. Not entirely.

I've been in love with Maya Cross since I was seventy years old and she was eight. Since she stood between me and bullies despite being half my size. Since she smiled at the "quiet new kid" and made him feel human for the first time in decades.

The bond didn't create these feelings. It just made hiding them impossible.

"Stand down, boy," my father says quietly. Dangerously. "Or I'll make you."

"Try it." My wings burst from my back. "I'll die before I let you give her to the Guild."

Another explosion. The eastern wall cracks.

And through the gap, I see them.

Guild soldiers in anti-dragon armor. Derek Hunt on his storm eagle. And standing in the center, her platinum blonde hair glowing in the firelight—

Victoria Lane.

The Guild Master who orchestrated the Purge.

The woman who killed my mother.

She's here. She's found us. And she's looking right at Maya with cold blue eyes that promise death.

Through our bond, I feel Maya's realization: Victoria didn't come for the dragons.

She came for the Dragon Tamer.

And she's not planning to arrest her.

She's planning to weaponize her.