Chapter 190

Valencia’s POV

Kevin and Sienna nodded slowly.

"I need to tell you the truth about the dragon god contract," Ophelia continued. "The truth that only the royal family knows."

She took a deep breath.

"Two hundred years ago, my ancestor Angelo was disgusted by war. Our founder Raven had used dragon power to conquer and terrorize. Angelo wanted to end that legacy. So he made a contract with the Dragon God."

"The contract required the Ogden family to completely give up the ability to transform into dragons. In exchange, the kingdom received peace and prosperity."

Kevin's eyes widened. "The royal family gave up dragon power? But the legends say—"

"The legends are wrong. Or rather, they're incomplete. Yes, we gave up the power. And for two centuries, we had relative peace. People no longer lived in fear of dragon fire. Diplomacy replaced conquest. Peace replaced war."

"But now that peace is broken," Sienna said quietly.

"Yes. Winston Ashwood has destroyed everything. And he didn't do it alone." Ophelia's voice grew harder. "Ashwood has lion shifter power. That's why he could so easily slaughter my family. We had no dragon strength to fight back with."

I felt shock run through me. Lion shifter! That was real.

"The only way to defeat Ashwood is to break the dragon god contract," Ophelia said. "To restore dragon power to this world."

"How?" Kevin asked. "Can a contract with a god simply be undone?"

"Not undone. Transferred." Ophelia looked down at the baby in the stone basin. "The contract can be moved to a new vessel through a ritual. But the ritual requires sacrifice."

Sienna's hand flew to her mouth. "No. Princess Ophelia, no."

"I'm going to transfer my dragon power into this child. Along with my life force. When she grows up, she'll have the strength needed to fight Ashwood. She'll be able to avenge my family."

"There has to be another way!" Sienna's voice cracked. "You can't just—"

"There is no other way. My family is dead. My parents, my siblings, everyone. If my death can create hope for vengeance, then it's worth it."

Kevin stepped forward. "Why this child? Why her specifically?"

Ophelia didn't answer directly. "She has a special destiny. I can feel it. The dragon power will take root in her in a way it couldn't in anyone else."

"But she's just a baby," Kevin said. "She can't consent to this. She can't choose—"

"None of us can choose our fate. I didn't choose to be born into a royal family that would be slaughtered. She didn't choose to be born in a time of war. But we both have roles to play."

Ophelia moved to the center of the altar. "When this is done, raise her well. Teach her to be strong. And when the time comes, when she's old enough to understand, tell her the truth. Tell her what she carries inside her. Tell her what she needs to do."

"Princess—" Sienna started.

"Promise me. Both of you. Promise you'll help her become what she needs to be."

Kevin and Sienna looked at each other. Finally, they both nodded.

"We promise," Kevin said.

Ophelia closed her eyes. She began chanting in a language I didn't recognize. The dragon runes on the walls blazed brighter. The entire chamber started shaking.

Red light rose from the altar. It surrounded Ophelia's body. Her eyes opened. They glowed pure gold.

Red scales appeared on her skin. Dragon power awakened inside her. The light grew brighter. Ophelia's body became transparent. Dragon essence flowed out of her like liquid fire. It streamed toward the baby in the stone basin.

The baby started crying. Not from pain. Just from the strangeness of it all.

Red light wrapped around the tiny body. Penetrating every cell. Changing her from the inside out.

I watched the baby's eyes begin to change. From brown to deep purple. Ophelia's eye color. My eye color.

Ophelia's body grew more and more transparent. Her life force draining away along with the dragon power.

But her face held a calm smile. She watched the baby complete the transformation.

Finally, when the last trace of red light disappeared, Ophelia's body turned into particles of light. They scattered in the air and vanished.

She had sacrificed herself. Given everything to this baby.

Kevin and Sienna rushed to the altar. Sienna lifted the baby into her arms. The baby had stopped crying. Purple eyes looked up at them quietly.

I pressed my hand over my mouth. Tears streamed down my face.

The baby was me.

Ophelia hadn't just given me her dragon power. She'd given me her life.

And I'd been carrying that burden since birth without knowing it.

"No wonder," I whispered. "No wonder the dragon felt so separate from me. It wasn't really mine. It was hers. Ophelia's power. Ophelia's essence."

The vision began to fade. Kevin and Sienna's faces blurred. The underground chamber dissolved.

The darkness shifted again. New images formed around me.

I stood in a dim room. Heavy curtains covered the walls. Only a few candles provided weak light. This looked like a nobleman's secret chamber.

Ophelia stood in the center of the room. She looked more exhausted than in the previous vision. This was clearly before the baby transfer ceremony.

The door opened. An elegant woman walked in. She had gray eyes. A noble bearing. Her movements showed caution and wisdom.

Ophelia called her Aunt Kiora.

My heart stopped.

Kiora. That was Logan's mother's name.

I stared at the woman. Trying to see Logan in her features.

"Thank you for coming," Ophelia said. Her voice was tired. "I know this was dangerous for you."

"Of course I came," Kiora replied. She sat down in a chair across from Ophelia. "Your message said it was urgent. What's happened?"

"Everything is falling apart faster than I expected. My parents are dead. My brother and sister are dead. Most of the royal guard is dead."

Kiora's face went pale.

"I don't have time for grief. I need to act now before Ashwood finds me too."

"Where are you hiding?"

"In safe houses around the capital. Moving every few hours. But I can't run forever. Ashwood has trackers. They're hunting down every member of the Ogden family. Every person with dragon blood."

Kiora leaned forward. "Then leave Aldermere. Go south to Valdoria. Or west across the ocean. Get as far away as possible."

"I can't." Ophelia's voice was firm. "I have something more important to do first."

"What could be more important than your life?"

"Revenge. And the future of this kingdom."

Ophelia stood and walked to a small table. She picked up a bundle wrapped in cloth. Carefully unwrapped it.

Inside was a baby. The same baby from the previous vision. Me.

Kiora's eyes widened. "Ophelia. Whose child is that?"

"It doesn't matter whose child she was. What matters is whose child she will become."

"I don't understand."

Ophelia sat back down. She held the baby gently in her arms. "I'm going to transfer my dragon power into this child. Along with my life force. When she grows up, she'll have the strength to defeat Ashwood. She'll avenge my family."

"Transfer your power? That's possible?"

"Yes. Through an ancient ritual. But the ritual will kill me."

Kiora stood up abruptly. "No. Ophelia, you can't. There has to be another way."