Chapter 107

***Allen***

The portal between Earth and Drakora hung in the sky like a gaping wound, its edges crackling with unstable energy. I stood at the edge of the stronghold, staring up at it, my chest tight with dread. The two worlds were merging, and there was nothing we could do to stop it.  

“Allen.”  

I turned to see Tharos approaching, his expression grim. “We’ve got a problem.”  

“What now?” I asked, my voice sharp.  

“Morgath,” he said, his voice low. “He’s here.”  

My stomach dropped. “Where?”  

“Outside the stronghold,” Tharos said, his jaw tightening. “He wants to talk to you.”  

I clenched my fists, my mind racing. Morgath wasn’t the type to show up without a plan. Whatever he wanted, it wasn’t good.  

“Fine,” I said, my voice cold. “Let’s see what he wants.”  

I stepped outside the stronghold, my eyes narrowing as I saw Morgath standing in the clearing. His forces were gathered behind him, their eyes glowing with malice.  

“Allen,” Morgath said, his voice smooth and dangerous. “It’s been a while.”  

“What do you want, Morgath?” I asked, my voice sharp.  

He smirked, his eyes gleaming. “Straight to the point. I like that. Very well. I’m here to make you an offer.”  

“An offer?” I repeated, my brow furrowing.  

“Yes,” he said, stepping closer. “The worlds are merging, Allen. You can’t stop it. But you can survive it. All you have to do is give me Jane.”  

I froze, my chest tightening. “What?”  

“Give her to me willingly,” Morgath said, his voice low. “And I’ll ensure your survival. You and your people will be spared. But if you refuse…”  

He didn’t finish the sentence, but he didn’t have to. The look in his eyes said it all.  

“You’re insane,” I said, my voice shaking with anger. “I’m not giving you Jane.”  

Morgath’s smirk faded, his eyes narrowing. “Think carefully, Allen. This is your last chance. Give her to me, or I’ll take her by force.”  

I stepped forward, my fists clenched. “Jane is mine to protect. If you want her, you’ll have to go through me.”  

Morgath studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he nodded, his lips curling into a cold smile. “Very well. You’ve made your choice.”  

He turned and walked away, his forces following close behind.  

“Allen,” Tharos said, stepping closer. “What are we going to do?”  

I didn’t respond, my mind racing. Morgath wasn’t going to wait. He was going to attack, and soon.  

“Get everyone inside,” I said, my voice low. “We need to prepare.”  

Tharos nodded, his expression grim. “Understood.”  

I stood in the center of the stronghold, my heart pounding as I barked orders. “Tharos, take the dragons and reinforce the walls. 

Tharos nodded, his expression grim as he turned to the dragons. “You heard him! Move!”  

The dragons shifted into their true forms, their massive bodies moving with surprising speed as they reinforced the walls with stone and magic. I could feel the ground trembling beneath my feet as they worked, the air filled with the sound of cracking stone and shifting earth.  

“Kael,” I said, turning to him. “Get the humans armed. Swords, bows, anything they can use.”  

Kael smirked, crossing his arms. “Already on it. They’ll be ready.”  

I nodded, my chest tightening as I turned to Lyra. “Lyra, set up communication lines. We need to know what’s happening everywhere at once.”  

Lyra nodded, her expression serious. “I’ll make sure everyone’s connected.”  

I watched as she moved through the crowd, her hands flying as she set up the communication lines. The stronghold was a flurry of activity, everyone working together to prepare for the inevitable attack.  

But even as we worked, I couldn’t shake the feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach. Morgath wasn’t going to wait. He was going to attack, and soon.  

“Allen.”  

I turned to see Jane standing in the corner, her face pale as she worked with the healers to prepare for the wounded.  

“Jane,” I said, stepping closer. “Are you okay?”  

She nodded, her eyes filled with determination. “I’m fine. Just… tired.”  

“You need to rest.”  

“I will,” she said, her voice weak. “But not now.”  

I didn’t respond, my jaw tightening as I looked away.  

“Allen,” she said, her voice soft. “What’s going to happen?”  

I hesitated, my chest tightening. “I don’t know. But whatever happens, we’ll face it together.”  

She nodded, her eyes filled with determination. “Together.”  

But even as we prepared, I couldn’t shake the feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach. Morgath wasn’t going to wait. He was going to attack, and soon.  

And then, just as the sun began to set, the sound of footsteps echoed outside.  

“They’re here,” Kael said, his voice low.  

“Get ready.”  

The floors started cracking, Morgath’s forces appearing outside causing a lot of havoc as they could not enter the stronghold. The battle had begun.