Chapter 18 Memories Like Poison
KAELTHAR POV
The boy was having visions.
Interesting. And inconvenient.
I watched through Serina's eyes as Tym convulsed on the floor, blood streaming from his nose. The human—Arvain—was shouting something about finding a healer, but I barely listened.
The child's awakening magic was accelerating. Soon he'd be powerful enough to see things I'd rather keep hidden.
We need to leave, I told Serina. Now. Before Delphine arrives.
"I'm not abandoning everyone!" Her thought-voice was sharp with panic as she cradled her brother.
Then they'll die. All of them. Is that what you want?
She didn't answer. Too busy being sentimental about humans who would betray her the moment it became convenient.
I'd seen it a thousand times. Humans were predictable—they chose survival over loyalty, comfort over courage. The resistance would sacrifice Serina to save themselves. They always did.
But she refused to see it. Refused to understand that mercy was a luxury she couldn't afford.
Time to remind her what was really at stake.
You want to save everyone? I said as Arvain and Maren worked on Tym. Then you need to stop being weak. Come. We're going to train.
"Now? My brother just—"
Is unconscious and being tended by people who actually know healing. You're useless here. But I can make you useful.
I felt her resistance, her desire to stay with Tym. But underneath ran a deeper current—the hunger for power. For control in a world that had controlled her for nineteen years.
I pulled on that thread.
Unless you'd rather stand around being helpless while the Council kills everyone you love?
That did it. She stood, gently lowering Tym to the floor.
"I'll be back soon," she told Arvain. "I need to... practice something."
The human's eyes narrowed with suspicion. Good. He was smarter than most. But not smart enough to actually stop her.
I manifested physically in the abandoned warehouse Serina used for training. My semi-corporeal form was limited—I hated these chains of half-existence—but sufficient for what I needed.
"Show me the fire technique again," Serina said immediately. All business. "The one that doesn't destroy buildings."
"No." I circled her slowly. "I'm going to show you something else. Something you need to understand."
"Kaelthar, I don't have time—"
You have exactly as much time as I give you, vessel. I let power crackle through our bond, reminding her who held the leash. Now. What do you know about the Great Betrayal?
She tensed. "You've mentioned it. Valdric stole dragon magic, imprisoned you—"
"Words. Empty words." I stopped in front of her, close enough that my presence made her breath catch. "You don't understand what it means. What they did. What every high-rank mage's power is built on."
"Then show me."
Careful what you wish for, little vessel.
I plunged her into my memories.
SERINA'S MIND—KAELTHAR'S MEMORY
The Festival of Eternal Bond. A thousand years ago.
Serina gasped as my past flooded through her. She saw through my eyes—saw the gathering of dragons and their human partners. Felt the joy, the celebration, the deep trust between species.
"They look... happy," she whispered.
We were. Humans had potential but no power. Dragons had power but needed purpose. Together, we built something beautiful.
I showed her the contracts—willing partnerships where dragons shared their essence and humans channeled it into miracles. Healing. Creation. Protection. Magic flowing freely to anyone who earned a dragon's trust.
"Everyone could access magic," Serina breathed. "Not just elites."
Everyone, I confirmed. The ranking system didn't exist. Neither did starvation, or slums, or children dying of 'contamination.' Your mother could have healed freely. Your brother would have been celebrated, not condemned.
I felt her absorbing this, her worldview cracking.
Then I showed her the betrayal.
Valdric's ritual activated mid-celebration. Dragons screaming as their essence was ripped away. Human partners convulsing as the bonds shattered. The sky turning red with stolen magic.
I made Serina feel it. Every dragon's death. Every moment of their terror and confusion as the humans they'd trusted murdered them for power.
"Stop," she gasped. "Please, I can't—"
You need to see. I showed her my mate dying in my arms, her last words asking why our human partners would do this. Showed her hatchlings barely old enough to fly, slaughtered for their essence. Showed her the Ley Lines being built—magical pipelines fed by dragon corpses.
"They built their civilization on genocide," I said softly as Serina fell to her knees, sobbing with grief that wasn't hers but felt real. "Every high-rank mage owes their power to murder. The Council exists because my people were butchered like animals."
She was shaking. Perfect.
"The humans you're trying to save?" I continued. "They benefit from that stolen power. Every day. Every meal they eat in those crystal towers was paid for with dragon blood."
"Not all of them," she whispered. "The people in the slums don't—"
Are complicit through silence. I knelt beside her. They let it happen. Let the Council maintain a system built on genocide because changing it is inconvenient.
I showed her my imprisonment—Valdric sealing me away while I roared promises of vengeance. Showed her a thousand years of darkness, of rage, of planning how I'd burn their civilization to ash.
"You want revenge," Serina said hollowly.
I want justice. They took everything—my people, my mate, my freedom. They stole our magic and created a hierarchy that crushes millions. I tilted her face up, making her meet my eyes. You want to save Tym? Save the contaminated children? The only way is to destroy the system completely. Burn it to the ground and start over.
"That would kill thousands—"
Who benefit from genocide! My patience snapped. They're not innocent, Serina. They're just comfortable with murder as long as it doesn't affect them.
She stared at me, tears streaming down her face. I felt her mind working, her worldview shattering and reforming.
Good. Almost there.
"What do you want from me?" she whispered.
What I've always wanted. To complete our contract. Give me my full form back, and I'll give you the power to reshape this world into something that doesn't crush people like you.
"By destroying it first."
By removing the rot at its foundation. I softened my voice, made it gentle. I'm not asking you to become a monster. I'm asking you to be strong enough to do what's necessary.
She stood slowly, her eyes distant.
Then Tym's scream ripped through the warehouse—psychic, desperate, coming from everywhere and nowhere.
"SERA! THE HIDEOUT—DELPHINE'S EARLY—EVERYONE'S TRAPPED—"
The message cut off.
Serina's eyes went wide with horror. "She wasn't supposed to arrive for another hour!"
I know, I said quietly.
Because I'd been counting on exactly this.
"You knew." Serina's voice went deadly cold. "You kept me here so I couldn't help evacuate. You wanted them trapped."
I wanted you to understand that your mercy gets people killed. I met her furious gaze calmly. Every moment you hesitate, every time you choose sentiment over strength, people die. Your brother is about to die because you're too weak to embrace what you need to become.
"You monster—"
Yes. And if you want to save him, you need to be a monster too. I let my full presence flood through our bond. Let me take control. Complete. No holding back. I can reach the hideout in time, but not if you keep restraining me with your pathetic morality.
"You want possession."
I want to save your brother's life while you stand here debating ethics. I could feel Tym's consciousness fading through Serina's bond with him. Decide. Now. Let me take full control, or watch everyone you love burn.
Her hands shook. "If I give you control—"
I'll save them. All of them. But you have to stop fighting me. Stop hesitating. Become the weapon I need you to be.
Tears streamed down her face. "And after?"
After, we finish what should have been finished a thousand years ago. I smiled coldly. We burn the Council to ash. Together.
She closed her eyes.
Opened them blazing gold.
"Do it," she whispered. "Save Tym. I'll deal with the consequences later."
There won't be consequences, I promised, flooding her with my power. There will only be justice.
I'd finally won.