[KINDLE's PoV]

It had been well over ten years since I last took my full form. Even during the war, as useful as it would have been, I didn't. Partially because it was too dangerous. Lumina was constantly on the hunt of dragons that escaped the fall of Ignus. But the most pressing reason was because, to put it mildly, it hurt.

It was hard enough some days to summon a simple flame, as much as I liked to pretend otherwise. It was an entirely new realm of struggle to summon enough fire to melt away my mortal form and release the dragon incarnation that slept in my bones.

And then to fly in that form all the way to the capital of Nox? I'd be lucky if I was still conscious by the time I got there— Forget carrying someone on my back the entire way.

Inari wasn't hearing it though.

"I'm going with you and there's not a damn thing you can say to convince me otherwise," she shouted, chasing me down the halls of the manor. Serpina and Emrys trailed somewhere behind us. "You think you can take on the entire army of Nox on your own?"

"I'm not going to take on an army." I didn't slow my pace, nor did I attempt to keep quiet. There was no point anymore, the Order was broken. "Just Lydia."

I also wasn't expecting much of a fight. Lydia was no doubt waiting for me. Her guards and attendants wouldn't bar me from entering the palace. She would have Seraphim and Faye close by. Ready to gloat, ready to order my unconditional obedience, but I was done obeying. I would give her the fiery death she deserved.

Inari caught my arm, no doubt feeling the tension coiled there. "Talk to me."

I sighed and met her eyes. "I need to do this alone, Nar. Please. I'm the one who let it get this far."

Emrys and Serpina caught up. The latter of the pair wrapped her arms around herself, trembling. "What are we supposed to do?"

"Gather the loyal Order members. Take all the unicorns, the ones in Loftwood too—steal more from Eirwen if you need to. Get to the border mountains of Lumina and Ignus as fast as you can. I've already written to Blood and Steel, they'll be waiting for you there. Once Seraphim and Faye are safe, we'll meet you."

Inari's hand tightened. "You can't seriously mean you're going to fly all the way from Nox to Ignus."

"After a stop in Lumina." I couldn't forget Blondie. Her mess was my fault as well.

"Kindle that's insane. That's suicide."

It would be a fitting punishment. The last of the dragons, and this is all I've done with it. My kingdom, dusty ruins. The people I love, suffering. My body and mind, property of a fairy's venom. Death was the least of what I deserved.

I pulled my arm free. "Gather the loyal members. Get to Ignus."

Mercifully, they didn't follow me up to the roof. I didn't need to see the looks in their eyes. The worry, the pity, the judgement, the fear. I needed to focus on summoning my fire— Hotter, brighter.

I danced. Poured every ounce of my soul— the little I still owned of it— into a prayer to Naresharakh. This was no dance I'd been taught, it came wholly from within. Chaotic and angry, humble and pleading.

I gave my pain to Nivekhi, begged for Faye and Seraphim's life. I offered my energy to Skhorekhi, prayed for Blondie's safety. The air in my lungs to Imaporekhi, that their winds may carry me to Nox without fail. My fire to Thragnekhi, my rage to Dorulekhi, that vengeance may be swift and sure and burning.

And then I released.

Sun bright fire and night dark smoke pooled and spiraled around me, twisting up into the sky. The smoke hardened into glistening, armor-strong scales. My bones expanded as my fingers lengthened and sharpened into talons. My full form was much larger than I remembered, but then again, I was a mere twelve years old the last I took it.

When the transformation was done I spread my black wings wide and roared loud enough to shake the manor. I hoped they could hear me in Loftwood, in Nox, in Lumina. I pushed off the roof and rocketed into the sky, Westward. What was normally a multiple days long journey on horse would be no more than an hour like this. If, by Naresharakh's blessing, I could maintain it.

Only a quarter of the way into the flight I was already feeling the effects, the weariness. The magic in our world was dying, everyone knew that. But in this state I could truly feel the void, the ache in my muscles, the empty spaces that should be flowing and pulsing with magic. Strange, that it didn't feel dead so much as absent, and what we of the realm were feeding off was only the residual.

I flew on. Ignoring the ache, the chill of the wind. I pushed down my fears, the worry that it was already too late, that Faye and Seraphim were already dead. I had to keep going. I had to focus. Breathe, breathe. Breathe and fly. The ache built; my wings strained. This was the shortest of the flights I had ahead of me, and I couldn't even do this much? Pathetic.

Then I saw it— Sheede, the jewel of Nox, the glittering capital on its own secluded, holy island. And at its center, all gleaming marble columns and swaying citrus trees, The Mother Goddess's palace. Somewhere inside, Lydia was waiting.

I landed on the island, directly on the palace steps. My talons dug into the marble, cracking it. For a heartbeat, I considered progressing like this. Considered smashing through the palace and burning Lydia to ashes whilst in a form she had no power over. But I wanted to speak to her. I wanted to look into her eyes and see the fear there. I wasn't foolish enough to think they would hold regret.

I roared, letting her know I was there, that I was coming for her.

Noxian war-women poured from the palace and surrounded me, raising angry shouts along with their spears. I blew a funnel of fire over their heads. Not close enough to burn them, but enough for them to feel the heat and fall back away from me. Then, with a calming breath, I reverted back to my mortal form.

The woman stared at me with shock and distrust, their long silver braids swaying as they shifted to point the spears directly at my unfortunately naked body. I dropped to a kneeling position on the steps.

The leader of the bunched stepped forward and pressed the razor sharp tip of her spear to the hollow of my throat. "Why do you come here, beast? Shall I mount your head to a pike?"

"Your goddess is expecting me," I said, my voice calm and low. "I can assure you, if any harm befalls me before I am brought to her, it will be your head that's in danger."

Her eyes narrowed to slivers, but after a moment of consideration she pulled her spear upright at her side. She nodded for me to stand, mercifully offering the purple shawl that covered her armor for me to wrap my midsection with. "Follow me, beast."

The palace of Sheede was alive with silence and sound. The soft rush of wind bringing floral and citrus scents with every breath. The whisper of silk robes as servants rushed wordlessly through the wide, open-air white halls. The murmur of prayers from pilgrims and priestesses. The quiet, erratic music of hundreds of wind chimes. Perhaps if I was visiting under other circumstances this place would comfort rather than unsettle me. But then again, maybe not. It had too much of Lydia in it.

I didn't bother to quiet my steps as I trailed behind the general. Everyone was already staring regardless— I was this massive, bulky, dark thing in a labyrinth of delicate porcelain. The majority of them had probably never seen a dragon before.

We followed the flow of bustling servants and weeping parishioners to a set of large open doors at the end of the hall— Silver filigree, cut with images of the Mother's Ascent.

Ah, yes, how foolish of me. Everyone here had seen a dragon. Parlahk, pale and beautiful, devoted wholly to Movalissa. He adorned the filigree of the doors as well. Carrying his love to the stars, where they remained even now, giving light to nights and power to Noxians. The two of them together, forever.

I hated that story.

We entered the massive room, and my eyes found her immediately. She lounged on a silver and satin chaise, atop a dais high above everyone else in the room. Pilgrims prayed and sang and bowed at its base, whilst servants lined the steps holding various platters— cheeses, fruits, chocolate and wine. Anything she could want was before her with a snap of her fingers.

Here, she was free from all Luminous fashion trends. Her feet were bare, ankles snaked with silver and amethyst. Her hair, so much longer when not braided or curled in an updo, hung in rivulets of moonlight down her body. Instead of a crown, she wore a chain of silver and amethyst in her hair. She was free from both corset and ballgown, dressed in purple slitted silk that obscured nothing— nearly every inch of her snow pale skin was on display.

This. This was Queen Lydianna Chrysanthus D'Norse as she was meant to be seen. In this state, I could finally understand how the whole of Nox revered her as a goddess. Mother of her people, the moon made flesh.

Her violet eyes met my gaze, and she smiled. There was no cruelty in the smile, no mocking. She was genuinely pleased to see me here, standing beneath her with all her worshipers, clad in silk the same shade as her's.

Lydia rose, and with a careful wave of her hand everything fell silent. She said something in the twisting tongue of Noxian, and everyone cleared from the room. The general hesitated, shifting in place, but an expectant look from Lydia sent her bowing from the room as well.

We were alone.

Lydia stood glorious and powerful atop her dais, arms spread in invitation. "Come to me, now, my love."

I walked slowly and steadily up the multitude of steps. Due to the nature of her garment, I could clearly see the dagger strapped to her thigh. That, that was how I would kill her. Here I'd foolishly thought getting her alone would be the hard part, but she did that for me. Every nerve in my body twitched with anticipation— soon I would end this, I would be free of her. Faye and Seraphim would be safe.

But where were they?

Keeping my expression impassive, I closed the final distance and dropped to my knees at her feet.

"Oh, this is truly all I've ever wanted. And look—look how easy it was." She sighed, a light giggle escaping her lips. She joined me on her knees, her icy fingers trailing my face. "We will be a family now, as we are meant to be."

"What did you do to them?"

Her eyes hardened, her lip trembled. "Of course. I should have expected this. A moment can never be happy with you, can it? Can we never have peace, never have us without you involving someone else?" She stood in a rush and rang the bell by her chaise. A hidden door to a side room opened.

Faye stumbled through first, bound in chains, battered and bloody. Her gorgeous scales had been replaced with raw, oozing wounds. Seraphim trailed behind in his usual venom-induced haze, confused but docile even without chains. He showed no response to the pain Faye was in, no understanding of the fact that this was killing him too. Jakoby ushered them along with a gleeful smile.

Faye saw me, and a pitiful moan escaped her lips. "Kindle no, no."

"Shut up!" Lydia snapped. "He wanted to see you, and so he will. He will see your final moments and then you will be forgotten. Until then, the only sounds I want coming from you are screams."

My fists tightened to the point of pain.

"My love," Seraphim murmured, taking a step toward the dais. "I'm... confused... Why does everything hurt? What is happening here?"

"Sit by the wall over there, dear. Don't fret. The pain will go away shortly," Lydia cooed.

Seraphim frowned, but nodded and did as he was told. Faye was dumped in a bloody heap in the middle of the room. Jakoby went back to that secret room only to reemerge a moment later wheeling a simple silver operating table and numerous tools.

Faye was hoisted onto it. She whimpered, but she didn't fight. Her eyes remained locked on where Seraphim sat mindlessly. No doubt she was speaking to him, or trying to anyway. Trying desperately one last time to break through the wall Lydia built between their minds.

I fought the urge to run to her now. To roast Jakoby where he stood and pull her into my arms. I needed to kill Lydia first.

"I'm sure you came to bargain," Lydia said, turning her attention back to me. "You planned to offer yourself to me in exchange for their freedom, as if that was a deal you had any power to make. As if being with me is a sacrifice."

She returned to the floor in front of me, her soft, horrible hands once again making a home on my face. "But it's alright. You're here now, and they'll die, and you'll see how happy you could be with me if you'd just stop fighting it."

She kissed me gently and without venom, and I let her. I snaked one hand around her waist, the other slid down her hip to grip the dagger. I pulled it free. In a blink I had her arms pinned, had the dagger pressed hard to the hollow of her throat. Lydia let out a squeak, and a tiny bead of crimson blossomed from the point of the knife.

"Kindle, you're making a mistake," She pleaded, her breath frantic. "You don't know what you're doing."

"Oh trust me, I know full well. Do you know ho many times I dreamed of this?" I growled.

"You can't kill me, you can't, you can't." Tears welled in her amethyst eyes.

"Give me one good reason not to," I said, pressing the dagger harder. Blood flowed freely now, staining her pale skin, her pretty silk dress.

"I'm pregnant."

The word hit me and for a moment I couldn't process it, couldn't understand. The hand on the dagger trembled. "That's a nasty trick."

"Not a trick." Her lips curving into a tiny, fearful smile. "I only found out today. I've been so excited to tell you."

The dagger dropped from my fingers and I fell back away from her. Cold. Numb. No, it wasn't supposed to be like this. She couldn't be pregnant. By Naresharakh, I'd seen her naked only yesterday, there had been no sign. This had to be a trick. It had to be. It had to be.

She pressed a tender hand to her stomach. Tears spilled down her cheeks. "We can be a family now. He could even be a dragon."

My mouth moved. "He?"

She nodded eagerly, her smile soft. "It's too soon to say for sure, but I have a feeling he's a he. And he'll be a dragon, like his daddy." She crawled across the floor and put herself right in my lap.

I was numb, broken. Lydia was pregnant? I was going to have a child?

She kissed me again, this time with the sharp sting of venom. Oh, so much venom. She pressed her lips to my ear, whispering softly, "nen yotite tavarodhuli."

My vision swam with venom and tears. How long had it been since someone spoke to me in Ignean? I hated it coming from her, Gods I hated it, hated the words I love you corrupted by her awful mouth. But the venom was taking its toll now, and I couldn't move. I couldn't fight.

It wasn't supposed to be like this.

It wasn't. Supposed. To be. Like this.

She kissed me again. More venom. My mind clouded. "I can't have you ruining this. And I know once Seraphim, Faye, and that human are dead I know you'll be as excited about our family as I am. But I need you restrained until then."

White hot pain shot through me. Real, physical, not venom. She muffled the scream with her lips, then pulled the dagger out of my ribs and tossed it aside. Blood stained the marble floor, hers and mine. "Please understand."

She stepped away from me, and I stumbled back further. She'd stabbed me. She'd stabbed me, and I was too gone to even fully process it.

I blinked and opened my eyes at the bottom of the dais. I must have fallen down the stairs. I could hardly breathe. Lying helpless and bleeding, watching Jakoby slice gossamer-thin strips of skin from Faye's arms, legs, abdomen, face. Oh, there was so much blood. So much screaming. I couldn't even tell what of it was mine, or hers, or Seraphim's.

But the laughter, that was Jakoby.

I blinked again and Lydia was crouching down before me. "I'll send a healer to you once the others are dead. I can't have our son growing up without a father, can I?"

I hated her. Hated her with every ounce of my soul, and I wanted to tell her that. But every time I opened my mouth only screams came out. She walked away, and I was alone to bleed and burn and watch Jakoby slaughter the only true family I had left.

No, I was the one killing them. I was the one who let this go on for as long as it had. I was the one who didn't stop her, didn't stop anything. Couldn't stop anything. Couldn't save anyone. My family, my friends, my home.

I watched as the great wave swallowed Apakitarak, my people, knowing I should have died with them.

I watched as they pulled Carlyle's body from the river, knowing I could have saved him.

I watched as Seraphim proclaimed Lydia his wife, knowing I could have stopped it.

I watched as Blondie's carriage departed for Realta, knowing full well she would die there.

Who was I? Why was I the one Lydia fixated on? Why was I the only one who lived? Why did I stop myself from slitting her throat? Why. Why. Why.

"...Oh, stars, Kindle..!" A voice like Carlyle's spoke from somewhere nearby. "...Pull it together, you can get through this, you can still save them... Oh, I can feel them. I can feel them, they're dying, Kindle, please... Please...!"

The hallucinations had started in full force, it seemed. Or I myself was close enough to death that Carlyle's thoughts could reach me all the way from Realta. Maybe he could tell Blondie I was sorry. Sorry I wouldn't be coming to save her, sorry I roped her into this mess, sorry we'd never again sit on the roof together.

"Carlyle, tell her..." I muttered. The words burned, I could speak no further.

"...I'm here, Kindle. I'm staying with you, I'm not going anywhere..." His voice was closer now. If I could move, maybe I could see him. "...But you have to pull through this. Use your fire, you can burn through the venom, I know you can..."

Someone was singing.

At first I thought maybe it was Jakoby, gleeful as he was with torture. But no, it was Faye. Even as Jakoby drew a knife along her arm, splitting her skin, spilling her blood, still she sang. Of course she sang.

It was soft and plaintive, like a lullaby. Perhaps that's what I needed. To give up, to sleep. Sleep through the pain, the regret. A peaceful, dreamless sleep. The venomous fog in my mind was only thickening after all. I was foolish to think I could do anything. Foolish to think it was even worth trying. I should sleep, sleep and succumb.

"...Kindle..!"

My eyes drifted closed to the tune of Faye's quiet song, to the sight of Seraphim pressed against the wall, trembling and holding his head. They would succumb soon, too. And if I was lucky, I'd die before Lydia's healer came to me.

The song cut short with a terrified gasp, followed by a sickening crunch and squelch and... a bellow of rage from Seraphim. Ah, it's over, then. I didn't want to open my eyes, and the numbness had taken me so fully I didn't even feel the prickle of tears at the loss of my friends. Surely wherever they were now was better than this. But the screaming hadn't stopped. Nor had the squelching, the crunching, a wet, rhythmic thump.

"...Kindle wake up..!"

I opened my eyes to a massacre.

That bloody pulp in Seraphim's grasp— I think it used to be Jakoby's face. There was a feral light in Seraphim's eyes as he slammed Jakoby's head into the marble tile over and over and over and over.

I couldn't look away, but I couldn't understand what I was seeing.

Faye pushed herself up on shaky, blood-drenched limbs, and dropped from the table. Her arms went around Seraphim and finally he slowed, and stilled. His eyes fell on Faye with more recognition than they'd held in years, and his hands—still gore-stained and dripping—cupped her cheeks as if she were made of the thinnest glass.

"Téngao-vâi..." Seraphim breathed. Their lips brushed in the faintest whisper of a kiss, and a shuddering sob passed through them both. Then just as quickly he slumped, falling limp in the puddle of viscera and death beneath them.

For a moment I feared the worst, watching Faye's trembling body pull Seraphim's motionless form into her arms. But no, she was far too calm, and the light in her eyes was far too hopeful for him to be dead. Just unconscious, then. I could finally see that Carlyle really was here,not an invention of my venom addled mind. He hovered protectively over Faye and Seraphim, tears falling like mist.

Seraphim had done it, finally. They'd done it. And if they could break Lydia's venom, so could I. We had a chance now if I could just pull myself together. Carlyle had said to use fire, and I would.

With a shuddering breath, I summoned all the fire I could manage, keeping it within rather than expelling it. I closed my eyes in concentration and to push down the sharp pain I felt in every nerve ending, then I sent the fire through my veins. It rushed along, chasing down every bit of venom and melting it away. Little by little, my head cleared.

The wound was next, then.

When I could move, I slid my hand to the bleeding puncture in my ribs. It wasn't deep. Breathing hurt, but I could still pull air in and out. I forced a concentrated, super-heated stream of flame from my fingertips, sealing the wound. It wouldn't last long, but Faye could operate later if needed.

As if summoned, Faye knelt before me a moment later. "My turn," she said with a shaky smile, holding out her bleeding arms.

I hesitated. Faye was one person I thought I would never, could never use my fire against. But in a situation like this, what other choice did we have? I had to stop her bleeding. "Take a deep breath and hold it."

She did so, then nodded for me to proceed.

I ran my hands gently over her arms, white-hot fire stitching the skin back together in the form of ragged scars. I did the same for her legs, and the exposed and bleeding bits of her abdomen. Anywhere Jakoby had cut, I burned. Replacing his marks with my own. It felt awful, Gods it felt sickening. Faye was strong through it all, holding my eyes with a smile.

"Thank you," she said when it was done. "Thank you for coming for us."

I pulled her into a careful hug. "I can't abandon my family. Never again."

But that's what I was doing, wasn't I? Lydia was pregnant with my child, my blood, and I was about to run again. Every part of me trembled. I could feel a breakdown coming. Angrily, I pushed the feeling down. Later, later I would decide what to do with myself. For now, Faye and Seraphim's safety was my priority. They were alive, but we were still in the throne room of Sheede. I had to get them to the others.

"Faye, I need you to stand back."

"...Kindle be careful..." Carlyle warned. "...You're right on the edge of death, I can feel it. If you push yourself too much farther..."

I ignored him, closing my eyes and exhaling all my fire. Two shifts into my full form in one day. I was pushing myself, especially in the physical and mental state I was in. But we had no other option if we wanted to make it out of Nox alive.

I felt the wound on my side reopen momentarily before black armor scales closed over it. My wings unfurled, and I fought back the pained gasp that wanted to escape my lungs. In this form it would have come out far too loud, and Lydia's soldiers would have been upon us before we could escape.

After a few steadying breaths, I nodded to Faye.

She winced as she climbed up onto my back. We both knew Seraphim wouldn't be climbing anywhere, nor was Faye strong enough to lift his unconscious body on her own. So, as gently as I could, I scooped him up in my claws.

"...Faye's secure, you're good to take off..." Carlyle said from where he floated alongside my head. "...I gotta say, if not for the horrifying circumstances, it would be very cool to see you like this. I've always wondered what your dragon form looked like. The horns are especially nice..."

I rolled my eyes at his words, then with a powerful swish of my tail I destroyed Lydia's dais. Just for good measure. With another labored, steadying breath, I launched myself into the air. I was thankful that Noxian design sensibilities meant the palace had no real ceiling, just gorgeous gem-encrusted silk draped over the top pillars. I tore through it with ease.

As the palace shrank beneath us, I thought I heard Lydia scream my name.