Chapter 191

Chapter 191
Valencia’s POV
"There isn't. The dragon god contract prevents the Ogden family from using dragon power. But if I transfer that power to someone outside the family, someone not bound by the contract, then it can awaken again."
"But you're talking about sacrificing yourself for a baby. A baby who might not even survive to adulthood. Who might not have the will or the ability to fight Ashwood."
"She will survive. And she will fight." Ophelia's voice held absolute certainty. "I've seen it."
"Seen it? What do you mean?"
"I have the gift of foresight. It's weak. I can't see everything. But I can see the major threads of fate. And I've seen this child's future. She will grow strong. She will face Ashwood. And she will win."
Kiora sat back down slowly. "Even if everything you say is true, how will this child know what to do? How will she know about Ashwood? About her purpose?"
"That's why I need your help."
Ophelia reached into her pocket and pulled out a folded paper. She handed it to Kiora.
"What is this?" Kiora asked.
"A map. It shows the weak points in Moonfall Ridge Pack's defenses."
Kiora unfolded the paper. Studied it. Then looked up at Ophelia with shock on her face.
"You want me to give this to someone who would attack Moonfall Ridge Pack?"
"Yes. I want you to give it to Alpha Marcus."
"Marcus Langston? "
"Exactly. Marcus is greedy. Ambitious. Right now Aldermere is in chaos. Perfect time for him to expand his territory. He won't refuse an opportunity to easily take new land."
Kiora's hands trembled as she held the map. "You want Marcus to destroy Moonfall Ridge Pack. The pack where you're planning to hide this child."
"Yes."
My vision blurred with tears. No. This couldn't be true.
"Why? That makes no sense."
"When Marcus destroys Moonfall Ridge Pack, this child will lose everything," Ophelia continued. "She'll be taken as a slave. She'll disappear into obscurity. Ashwood won't hunt for a slave. No one pays attention to slaves. She'll be beneath his notice. Safe in her suffering. And that suffering will forge her into a weapon."
"You're talking about deliberately causing the death of innocent people," Kiora said. Her voice shook. "Kevin and Sienna are good people. They don't deserve this."
"No one deserves what Ashwood has done. But war requires sacrifice. And if Kevin and Sienna's deaths can create the warrior needed to defeat Ashwood, then it's a price worth paying."
I wanted to scream. To rage. But I couldn't move. Couldn't speak. I could only watch this horrible truth unfold.
Kiora stood up again. She paced across the room. "This is madness. You're asking me to orchestrate a massacre. To condemn a child to years of slavery and abuse. All for a revenge that might never happen."
"It will happen. I've seen it."
"Your visions aren't absolute. You said so yourself. The future can change."
"Not this future. This child's fate is fixed. She will fight Ashwood. She will win. But only if she's properly forged by hardship first."
Kiora turned to face Ophelia. "There has to be another way. Can't we just tell her the truth when she's older? Explain what Ashwood did? That would be enough motivation."
"No. It wouldn't. Words are cheap. Real hatred, real determination, only comes from personal loss. From pain so deep it changes who you are."
Ophelia stood and walked to Kiora. She placed the baby in Kiora's arms.
"Look at her. She's peaceful now. Innocent. If she grows up safe and comfortable, she'll stay that way. She'll never have the strength to face Ashwood."
Kiora looked down at the baby. At me. Tears formed in her gray eyes.
"But if she loses everything," Ophelia continued. "If she's forced to survive as a slave. If she learns what real cruelty looks like. Then she'll have the fire needed to burn Ashwood's kingdom to the ground."
"This is too cruel," Kiora whispered.
"Ashwood slaughtered my entire family. Children. Elderly. Everyone. He showed no mercy. So I will show no mercy in creating the weapon that destroys him."
Kiora was quiet for a long time. She just held the baby and cried silently.
Finally, she spoke. "Why are you telling me all this? Why not just do it yourself?"
"Because I need your help with something else. Something even more important."
Ophelia took the baby back from Kiora. She laid the baby down gently on a cushioned chair.
"This child's fated mate is your son. Logan."
Kiora's eyes went wide. "What? How could you possibly know that?"
"I told you. I have foresight. I've seen their future together. Logan will find her. Save her. Love her. And together they'll be strong enough to face any enemy."
"Logan is just a child himself. He's only thirteen years old."
"I know. But in eighteen years, he'll be a powerful Alpha. And this girl will be the woman he's destined to protect."
Kiora shook her head. "This is too much. You're planning people's entire lives like they're pieces on a chess board."
"That's exactly what I'm doing. Because if I don't, Ashwood wins. He conquers Aldermere completely. Then he turns his attention to Valdoria. And the entire continent falls under his rule."
"You can't know that for certain."
"I've seen enough. The threads of fate are clear. If I do nothing, everyone loses. But if I set this plan in motion, there's a chance. A real chance to stop him."
Ophelia walked to the window. Looked out at the dark night.
"I need you to leave Logan. Leave your family. Stay hidden and watch over this child as she grows up. Protect her from the shadows."
"You're asking me to abandon my son?"
"Yes. Because if you don't, Logan will grow up weak. Protected. Never facing real hardship. He won't become the Alpha this girl needs."
Kiora's face crumpled. "How can you ask this of me?"
"Because you're the only person I trust. The only person with the skill and the motivation to do this right."
"What motivation could I possibly have to abandon my child and protect a stranger?"
Ophelia turned from the window. Her purple eyes locked onto Kiora's gray ones.
"Because you're Ogden family too. Your mother was King Caspian's cousin. You have our blood in your veins."
Kiora's breath caught.
"The Ogden massacre isn't just my tragedy. It's yours too. Your cousins are dead. Your family line is nearly extinct. Don't you want revenge for that?"
Tears streamed down Kiora's face. "Of course I want revenge. But not like this. Not by sacrificing innocent people."
"There is no clean revenge. No justice without cost. You can either help me create the weapon that stops Ashwood, or you can do nothing and watch him conquer everything."
The room fell silent except for Kiora's quiet crying.
"What exactly would I need to do?" Kiora asked finally.
"Before you leave Logan, leave a prophecy about purple eyes. Make sure Logan remembers this prophecy."Ophelia's expression softened slightly. "Watch over the baby. Make sure she survives childhood. When Marcus attacks Moonfall Ridge Pack, make sure she's captured alive, not killed. When she's older and about to be sacrificed by Marcus, create a distraction. Attack the ceremony site disguised as a rogue. Make enough chaos that Logan can rescue her."
"And then?"
"Then your job is done. You can disappear. Live your life. But you can never reveal yourself to Logan. He can never know you're alive."
"Never?" Kiora's voice broke. "I can never see my son again?"
"If he knows you're alive, he'll search for you. Try to bring you back. That distraction could get him killed. No. It's better if he believes you're dead. Better if he focuses all his energy on becoming stronger."
Kiora wiped her tears away. Her hands were shaking.
"This is the cruelest thing anyone has ever asked me to do."
"I know. But will you do it anyway?"
A long silence stretched between them.
Finally, Kiora nodded. "Yes. I'll do it. For the family that was killed. For the chance to stop Ashwood. I'll do it."
"Thank you."
Ophelia embraced Kiora. Both women were crying now.
"I'm sorry," Ophelia whispered. "I'm sorry for asking this of you. I'm sorry for all the pain this will cause. But I don't see any other way."
"Neither do I," Kiora said. "Goddess help us both."
They separated. Kiora picked up the map showing Moonfall Ridge Pack's weak points.
"I'll deliver this to Marcus within the week. I'll make it look like intelligence I gathered myself. He'll never suspect it came from you."
"Good. And Kiora? When you watch over the child, don't get too close. Don't let yourself care too much. It will only make everything harder."
Kiora nodded and left the room. The door closed softly behind her.
Ophelia stood alone in the darkness. Her shoulders shook with silent sobs.
Then she turned. Looked directly at where I was standing.
I froze. Could she see me?