Chapter 107

Kathy descended the staircase slowly, her steps echoing through the tense silence that had fallen over the group gathered below. As she reached the bottom step, Sarah burst from Miles arms, running straight toward Kathy. Without hesitation, Sarah wrapped her arms tightly around her, relief and worry mingling in her embrace.

Nearby, Anthony slumped against the tree, pale and exhausted. He clutched his side, where blood seeped down his chest—a clear sign that he desperately needed medical attention. Despite the chaos, all eyes were drawn to Kathy. Her gaze was distant, and her eyes still glowed an unearthly purple, a clear warning that she had not yet regained full control of herself.

Kathy barely seemed to register Sarah's touch. Instead, she slowly lifted her head, her glowing eyes scanning upward. She stared into the sky, her expression unreadable. High above, a massive dragon circled, its silhouette casting a long shadow over the gathering. Only after seeing the dragon did Kathy lower her gaze, letting her eyes sweep over each of her friends—Anthony, Sarah, and the others—before she finally spoke, her voice carrying both strength and uncertainty.

"Completely destroy all the forbidden corpses and their possessions by burning them,"

"Yes, ma'am," everyone responded.

As the dragon's fire consumed the wood, the men gathered the dead, including Samuel and Evelyn's heads, casting them into the inferno, a final hope for a better afterlife.

After everything had been reduced to ashes, including the building, Kathy went to Anthony, gently touching his face to confirm he was still unconscious, and his heart still beat. Miles and Sarah went to Kathy's side.

“Let get back to the camp now,”

“Yes,”

Anthony's limp form was carefully lifted by two of the stronger men, his head lolling as they carried him toward the camp. The group fell in behind, silent and weary, each step heavy with exhaustion and relief. Kathy lingered for a moment, turning her gaze eastward where the first rays of sunlight crept over the horizon. The golden light warmed her skin, offering a brief sense of peace amid the turmoil, but her heart tightened at the thought of the conversation she would soon face with her father about Samuel’s escape.

At camp, the urgency returned. Healers and medical staff rushed from their tents, calling for supplies as Anthony was laid gently inside Kathy’s own tent. Miles and Sarah followed close behind, their concern etched into their faces. The doctors quickly assessed Anthony’s wounds, murmuring instructions as they prepared hot water and bandages, their movements swift and purposeful beneath the soft glow of morning.

As the doctors began their work, Kathy stepped forward, her voice steady despite the tension. “Anthony has oleander and Titanium in his system,” she announced, earning a chorus of alarmed whispers from the medical staff. The healers exchanged worried glances, immediately adjusting their approach to account for the dangerous substances now complicating his care.

One of the healers stepped forward, worry clear in their tone. “My lady, that is very dangerous,” the healer cautioned, glancing from Kathy to the unconscious Anthony. “Oleander is highly toxic, and Titanium exposure is nearly unheard of—we’ve never treated a case like this.” The gravity of the situation pressed in on the tent, a hush falling as everyone awaited Kathy's response.

“I know that. Just treat him until I can get him home, we can heal him from there,” Kathy replied, her determination cutting through the uncertainty. The healers nodded, their faces still shadowed with concern, and set to work with renewed focus, gathering their supplies and exchanging whispered instructions as they prepared for the difficult task ahead.

Before Kathy could respond to the medical staff, the flap of the tent rustled softly. One of the warriors entered, pausing to bow respectfully as Kathy, her back to him, sensed his presence. She turned her head slightly, glancing over her shoulder to see who had come in, her expression composed but alert.

The warrior hesitated, eyes wide with tension, before finally speaking in a low, urgent voice. “My lady, there is a dragon outside of the camp,” he reported, the words hanging heavy in the air. The tent grew silent for a heartbeat as everyone absorbed the shocking news, a fresh wave of anxiety rippling through those gathered around Anthony's cot.

Kathy's jaw tightened, but she nodded to the warrior, her composure unwavering. “I will be there,” she replied quietly, determination threading her voice even as uncertainty flickered in her eyes. With one last glance at Anthony, she steeled herself for whatever awaited her outside the safety of the tent.

She drew a steadying breath and squared her shoulders. “Miles and Sarah, can you stay here with Anthony? I will return,” she instructed, her tone leaving no room for argument. Both nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of their charge as Kathy moved purposefully toward the tent’s entrance, ready to face whatever danger waited beyond.

Kathy stepped out of the tent, the canvas falling closed behind her as the early morning chill brushed her face. The warrior moved to follow, but with a firm raise of her hand, Kathy halted him. “Stay here,” she commanded quietly, her gaze never leaving the horizon. The warrior hesitated, concern flickering in his eyes, but obeyed, remaining at the edge of the camp as Kathy strode forward alone.

The world outside was still, the grass damp with dew and the sky awash in gold. Just beyond the last row of tents, she saw the dragon—majestic and impossibly real, its presence filling the clearing with quiet power. As she approached, the creature turned. In a shimmer of shifting light, the form blurred and contracted, and suddenly it was not a beast but a man standing there. He met her gaze, his eyes glowing a brilliant, unmistakable gold.

“Thank you again,”

The man spoke, his tone carrying both warmth and a hint of nostalgia. “Anything, my lady. It’s been a while since you been here,” he added, a gentle smile touching his lips as the golden light shimmered around him. Kathy hesitated for a moment, recognizing a mixture of familiarity and distance in his words, before she replied, “Yes, I was busy.”

The man’s gaze softened as he regarded Kathy. “Who are those men you saved?” he asked quietly, his golden eyes flickering with curiosity. Kathy paused, the weight of the question settling between them, and glanced back toward the tent where Anthony lay recovering.

She drew in a quiet breath, then answered, “Alaze, his name is Anthony and he is my mate, and his Beta, Miles,” her words steady but soft, as if speaking them aloud made the truth more tangible. The morning light caught the gold in Alaze’s eyes as he listened, a subtle nod acknowledging the significance of her confession.

Alaze’s expression shifted, surprise flickering in his golden eyes as he echoed, “Mate, you say?” For a moment, his features betrayed a hint of something deeper—curiosity entwined with a trace of old sorrow. He studied Kathy in silence, the weight of her answer lingering between them, before he finally spoke again, his voice softer. “That is not a word you use lightly, Kathy. Much must have changed since last you walked these lands.”

“Yes, I know I didn’t really tell my family that I was travel lands and meeting someone like you, a dragon and even. They always know about knowing the supernatural for a long time when I work at the place. Also, I have three babies at home, but my parents are watching them until we get back home.”

“Well, I want you to meet someone first before you return to your cramp,”

“I want who you pick up this time,”

“Just wait and see. Come out she won’t bite you,”

From the trees came the warrior she had instructed to wait, who approached Alaze and firmly grasped his hand. Which shocked Kathy, though at the same time, she realized she didn’t really care—as long as things were happening, that was enough for her.