Chapter 224

Kael's POV

I crept through the damp tunnel entrance, every sense on high alert. As a dragon, my perception extends far beyond human capability—a gift that's saved my life countless times. The deeper I ventured into this labyrinthine cave system, the stronger the stench of dark magic became. Recent. Potent. Dangerous.

My jaw tightened. Something terrible happened here, and I'd bet my scales it involved Lyrien.

Reaching a junction where several tunnels branched outward, I closed my eyes to better focus. Years of serving Selene taught me to recognize magical signatures like humans recognize faces. A subtle current pulled me toward the leftmost passage—a siren call of residual energy that made my blood run cold.

Stay focused. Find Lorcan. Bring him out the cave.

The tunnel expanded into a spacious cavern, and what I found confirmed my worst fears. A makeshift altar dominated the center, its stone surface stained with dark residue that reeked of sacrificial magic. Surrounding it were ingredients I recognized all too well—nightshade, wolfsbane, crushed crystals still humming with magical residue, and rune stones arranged in deliberate patterns.

I knelt to examine them without disturbing their placement. "Dark magic," I whispered, recognizing the distinctive arrangement. My stomach dropped when I identified the second set of symbols. "And compulsion runes."

A soft sound behind me triggered my combat instincts. I spun around, muscles coiling for attack.

"Kael!" Lyrien stood at the entrance, silver eyes wide with apparent relief. She rushed toward me, her hair disheveled, breathing rapid. "Thank the gods I found you!"

The moment I saw her, something felt... off. I couldn't immediately place it, but a warning whispered through my instincts. To human eyes, she appeared perfect—the same luminescent skin, the same silver-flecked eyes. But my draconic senses picked up subtle discrepancies that made me pause.

Something's not right with Lyrien.

My heart quickened, but I kept my expression neutral. If something was wrong, I couldn't let on that I suspected.

"Lyrien?" I replied cautiously. "What are you doing here? It's dangerous."

"I sensed Lorcan," she explained breathlessly, glancing nervously over her shoulder. "I managed to slip away from Alaric to come looking."

As she spoke, I studied her more carefully. The posture seemed slightly wrong—Lyrien always carried herself with the unconscious grace of someone with lunar blood. This Lyrien stood too rigidly, too calculated. Then I noticed the faint lunar glow that typically surrounded the real Lyrien was dimmer, almost absent. My suspicion deepened.

Could this be an impostor? Or is something affecting Lyrien herself?

I inhaled subtly, and another piece fell into place. Her scent was wrong—lacking the distinctive moonflower essence that always clung to Lyrien's skin. Instead, there was a faint magical residue, the kind that accompanies transformation spells.

My mind began racing through possibilities. A shapeshifter? A magically created doppelgänger? Someone glamoured to appear as her? Whatever the case, this deception required significant magical skill.

"You shouldn't have come alone," I said, maintaining my concerned facade while my suspicions solidified.

She moved closer, her face twisting with emotion. "Kael, there's something else. Last night, after you left..." She hesitated, tears welling in her eyes. "Alaric isn't who we thought. He... he forced himself on me."

That's when certainty struck like lightning. The real Lyrien would never present herself this way—so helpless, so victimized. The Lyrien I knew faced her challenges with fierce determination, not tears and trembling. And the accusation against Alaric? Absurd. I'd seen their interaction—respectful, cautious, professional.

This is definitely not Lyrien. It's a calculated impostor.

"What?" I allowed shock to register on my face, now fully committed to playing along.

"His plan all along was to bring me back to the mortal realm where he could have me to himself," she continued, voice breaking convincingly. "I only trust you, Kael. I trust you completely, and now... now you're all I have left."

I let anger flare in my eyes, playing my part while inwardly analyzing the situation. This impostor was trying to isolate Lyrien from her allies—suggesting whoever was behind this wanted Lyrien vulnerable.

"I should have seen through his deception," I growled, hands clenching into fists. My mind worked furiously behind the act. If they're using Lyrien's form to manipulate me, they must know about our connection. They're targeting her inner circle. But why?

"We need to find Lorcan first," she insisted, reaching for my arm.

When she touched me, the final confirmation came. Her touch lacked the electric connection that the real Lyrien's always carried—that subtle resonance between lunar energy and dragon magic. No doubt remained in my mind.

This is an impostor. And the real Lyrien could be in danger.

"You said you sensed Lorcan," I said carefully. "What exactly did you feel?"

The impostor hesitated. "It's... difficult to explain. A connection between us, something that's always been there since we were born."

They don't know about the twins' faded connection, I realized. This is my chance to collect information while appearing to be fooled.

"You mean mate bond?" I said thoughtfully, watching her closely. "That could be invaluable. But if you can sense him, wouldn't he also sense you? Wouldn't he know you're here?"

A flicker of uncertainty crossed her face. Got you.

"The bond isn't always... reciprocal," she fumbled.

"I see," I replied, subtly shifting my position to block her path to the exit. I needed to keep this impostor talking, find out what they knew. "And what about your powers? Have they been affected by whatever Alaric did?"

"My powers are fine," she answered quickly. "Though I've been... conserving them."

The final nail in the coffin. The real Lyrien had been overwhelmed by her newly awakened abilities since her resurrection—she would never describe them as "fine."

"Of course," I said smoothly. "We should proceed carefully then. After you."

As the false Lyrien turned toward one of the tunnels, I allowed my eyes to briefly shift to their true draconic nature—golden and slitted. A subtle display of my true self, a promise of what would come.

I'll play your game for now, impostor. Lead me to your master. Lead me to the truth.

My rage built beneath my calm exterior. Dragons are patient predators. We can wait decades for the perfect moment to strike. I would follow this deception to its source, discover what had happened to the real Lyrien, and then...

Then they would learn why dragons are the most feared creatures in any realm.