Chapter 3
Selina's POV
The ice dungeon was the cruelest punishment in the Dragon Kingdom.
Cold enough to freeze blood solid. Worse, it drained your magic until you died.
I lay sprawled on the frozen stone, pain ripping through my abdomen. Each wave hit harder than the last.
"Ah—" I cried out, trying to summon magic to ease the agony.
The dungeon door scraped open. Draco walked in, several Dragon Priests behind him.
"Draco..." I struggled to lift my head, grabbing his pant leg. "My stomach... something's wrong..."
"You DARE complain about pain?!" His boot sent me sprawling. "Ivy lost the baby because of you!"
I froze.
"The baby's gone." He crouched and grabbed my hair, yanking my head back. "Your poison killed our child. Satisfied?"
"I didn't—"
"SHUT UP!" He let go. My skull cracked against the floor. "The Dragon Priests say the toxins are killing Ivy. She needs that half witch's heart inside you to survive. Give it up."
My eyes went wide. "No... I can't... I already gave you half. Taking the rest will kill me..."
"Kill you?" He laughed, sharp and cold. "The old texts are clear. Witches who sacrifice their hearts lose magic—not their lives. Six years ago you said you might die. But here you are. Still breathing."
"That was different! It was only half—"
"Enough." He stood. "If you die, you can join my kid. Take it."
"NO! Draco! Please... stop..." I fought against the hands holding me down.
But the Priests were already chanting. Purple circles flared across my chest.
"AAHHH—!"
White-hot agony tore through me.
The half-heart was being ripped out. I felt everything tear—every vein, every nerve screaming. My nails scraped stone, leaving bloody marks.
"Stop... please... AAHHH—!"
Draco looked away. "Finish it."
The Priests pushed harder.
One final scream, and the crimson half-heart was gone, sealed in crystal.
Draco grabbed it and ran—off to save Ivy.
I crumpled to the floor, hollowed out.
Without magic, the cold invaded without mercy.
Then the cramps in my belly got worse.
"Ah... no..."
Warmth trickled down my thighs, pooling on frozen stone.
My vision swam. Oh God. I knew what this meant.
The baby... my baby...
From a month ago, during Draco's heat, before Ivy came back.
I never even knew I was pregnant.
And now...
With the last of my strength, I grabbed the crystal necklace—the Silver Wolf betrothal gift.
I crushed it.
Then everything went black.
Deep night.
Draco paced his study. The healer had just confirmed—Ivy received the witch's heart and was fully healed.
But panic clawed at his chest, like he was losing something he'd never get back.
"LET ME IN! I'm going to KILL that BASTARD!"
Maya's voice exploded outside.
"BANG!"
The door burst open. Maya stormed in, eyes wild with rage.
"Have you lost your MIND?" Draco shouted.
"MY mind?" Maya hurled something at him. "YOU'RE the monster!"
It was Selina's robe. Soaked in blood.
Draco caught it. The fabric was still wet, still warm.
He froze.
"How could you rip out her heart?!" Maya's voice cracked. "Do you have ANY idea she was PREGNANT?!"
All color drained from Draco's face. "What?"
"She was PREGNANT! Over a month!" Tears streamed down Maya's face. "You KILLED your own child!"
"No... that's impossible..." Draco staggered back. "She didn't tell me..."
"She didn't KNOW!" Maya screamed. "She's been fighting your wars nonstop—how would she notice?!"
Draco spun toward the door. "I need to see her—"
"Too late."
He stopped. Turned slowly.
"What?"
"Selina's gone." Maya's voice went flat. "She left for the polar regions. To marry Count Carl."
"NO!" Dragon fire blazed in his eyes. "She loves me! She wouldn't—prepare the portal NOW! I'm going after her—"
"You think she wants to see you?" Maya laughed, bitter and broken. "Forgot to mention something, Draco."
She met his eyes.
"Three days ago, Selina drank the Oblivion Potion."
The words hit like a physical blow.
"She'll never love you again. NEVER."
