Chapter 43 WHEN THE VOID STIRS

Chapter 43 WHEN THE VOID STIRS
WHEN THE VOID STIRS

AZRATH’S POV

I noticed the clouds in the sky were turning a dark red color.

It was not the red of sunset or fire, instead, it looked like blood had been smeared across the heavens. I felt it before the alarms started to ring and before the dragons took to the air in panic, this was not normal at all.

I stepped onto the highest balcony of the palace and looked up. The clouds were curling like wounded beasts in the sky. They were circling inward as if some unseen force was drawing them. The wind howled through the spires of Drakoria, carrying fear with it.

Dragons filled the sky, some of them were roaring in confusion, while the others fled toward the peaks as if distance could save them.

I knew this omen, and it was a bad one. I had prayed never to see it again.

The elders quickly gathered in the great hall, all of them rushing in at once but the moment I entered, the noise fell away.

“The sky has stained red,” one of them said in a shaky voice. “Only one thing causes this.”

I already knew the answer, but hearing it spoken made my jaw tighten.

“The Void Queen,” another elder whispered. “Only her rising can bring this sign. The world remembers her, even if we try to forget.”

My thoughts snapped instantly to Seraphine.

Before anyone could speak again, a loud and broken scream tore through the walls like something being ripped apart from the inside. I felt it echo through the bond between us, a sudden spike of pain that nearly drove me to my knees.

I was moving before I realized it.

I reached the cave where I'd kept her in seconds. The entire place was in chaos. Objects lay shattered across the floor and at the center of it all was Seraphine.

Her body was curled on the floor while her hands clutched her ribs. Her body was shaking violently. Her breath came in sharp gasps, blood spilled from her lips, soaking into the stone beneath her.

“Seraphine,” I said, dropping to my knees beside her.

She looked at me, but her eyes were unfocused, as if she were seeing something far beyond the room. Her lips continued to tremble.

“It hurts,” she whispered. “It’s inside me. It’s waking up.”

I could feel it too now.
I could feel the ghost's presence that had lingered within her, it was no longer silent now, it was clawing against her from the inside desperately.

I gathered her carefully into my arms. She was burning hot, her skin was flushed, and her heartbeat was racing too fast. Another wave of pain wracked her body, and she retched, blood spilled from her mouth onto my shoulder.

Fear cut through me as I carried her out, walking towards the palace.

Before I could move further, the doors to the hall slammed open and Kaelia walked in.

I froze for a second.

She looked untouched by the chaos outside. Her scales were gleaming, her eyes were bright and alive, her lips curved into something close to a smile. She looked refreshed, almost pleased, as if the red sky thrilled her instead of terrified her.

The elders followed her, raising their voices as they poured into the chamber.

“There she is,” Kaelia said, pointing at Seraphine. “The cause of it all.”

I rose slowly, still holding Seraphine against me. My flames flickered along my arms, responding to the threat in my voice before I spoke.

“Leave,” I said to them.

Kaelia ignored me. She turned to the council instead, making her voice loud and clear. “The signs are undeniable. The sky, the panic, the corruption spreading through our land. The Void Queen is stirring, and she is wearing the body of a wolf.”

Murmurs rippled through the place.

“She must be killed,” Kaelia said flatly. “Now, before it is too late.”

Something snapped inside me.

“No,” I growled.

Several elders hesitated, but others straightened, nodding slowly. Fear was a powerful thing, and Kaelia knew how to use it.

“She is dangerous,” one of them said. “We have already lost dragons. If this continues—”

“If anyone takes one more step toward her,” I said, my voice rising with the heat in the room, “I will burn this hall to ash.”

The flames surged higher, licking up the walls. The stone beneath my feet cracked.

Kaelia finally looked at me, the smile on her face widening.

“You see?” she said to the elders. “He is already lost to her. She has twisted him.”

I stepped forward, fire rolling off me in waves. “You dare speak of twisting when you walk in here smiling at the sight of fear?”

Her eyes flashed. “You are choosing her over your kingdom.”

“I am protecting what is mine,” I said. “And what is innocent.”

Kaelia laughed softly. “Innocent?” She gestured toward Seraphine, who whimpered in my arms as another spasm of pain ran through her. “That thing inside her nearly destroyed Drakoria once. It will do it again. And when it does, it will be your fault.”

A faction of nobles stepped forward, standing beside her. I recognized their faces, their ambitions. They did not look at Seraphine with fear alone, but with opportunity.

“Enough,” I said, my patience growing thin. “All of you will leave. Now.”

Kaelia’s expression hardened. “You cannot silence this forever, Azrath. The elders will see reason to demand blood.”

I leaned closer to her, my voice dropping to a deadly calm. “Touch her, and there will be nothing left of you to regret it.”

For a moment, we stared at each other, fire and fury locked between us.

Then Kaelia smiled again, slow and sharp.

“Watch your back,” she said softly. “Kings fall when they stop seeing clearly.”

She turned and walked out, her followers trailing behind her. The elders hesitated only a second longer before leaving as well, fear driving them away from my flames.

When they had all left, I looked down at Seraphine.

Her body had gone limp and her breathing had become shallow. Blood stained everywhere; her lips, her chin, and my chest.