"—and that's how I knew, kind of," Darkstalker said with a deep chuckle, his tone rich with amusement. "Moon talked about you too, and how pretty you were." His massive talons reached out, brushing gently against the top of my head. As soon as he touched me, a wave of warmth spread through me, soft and all-encompassing, as though it flowed straight from his soul into mine.

The doubts I had harbored, the wariness that had lingered since the moment I saw him, began to dissolve, like frost melting under the morning sun. His presence no longer felt as overwhelming, his intentions less enigmatic.

"I see now she's not wrong," he added, his voice quieter, almost tender.

I felt heat rise to my face and ducked my head slightly, caught off guard by the compliment. But his words carried a weight that lingered in my mind. Slowly, I lifted my eyes to meet his, curiosity and uncertainty warring within me.

"Did you see a future," I began hesitantly, my voice barely louder than a whisper, "where I would sit beside you on the throne?"

Darkstalker's smile grew, a rare softness gracing his features as his icy blue gaze locked with mine. Without a word, he stretched a massive wing around me, his scales brushing against my own like a velvet curtain. The gesture was both protective and possessive, his warmth enveloping me completely.

"Yeah, I did," he said, his voice rich with certainty. "You do have interesting futures ahead of you, my lover."

His words sent a jolt through me, a mixture of astonishment, intrigue, and something else I couldn't quite place. I wasn't sure what the future held, but in that moment, it felt as though the path forward had already been set in motion. And I wasn't sure I had the strength—or desire—to step off of it.

"I was sent to stop you," I said, my voice trembling with both resolve and uncertainty. My claws glinted as I flexed them nervously, my gaze fixed on the ground. "You know that, right? Then why are you so friendly toward me? Why don't you just kill me?"

Darkstalker threw his head back and let out a booming, melodious laugh that echoed through the mountains like a song and a storm combined. It sent a shiver down my spine, not entirely unpleasant. His laughter was disarming in its sweetness, a stark contrast to the shadowy power he exuded.

"Oh, love," he said, his voice dropping into a tone so tender it felt like velvet brushing against my scales. "I don't kill the people I can easily turn to love instead."

Before I could process his words, he reached out, his massive talons gently brushing down the length of my spine. The touch was featherlight, yet it sent a cascade of sensations through me that left me momentarily speechless. Leaning in, he whispered into my ear, his breath warm and intimate, "After all, I do want dragonets with you, and that future doesn't involve us killing each other."

My heart skipped a beat, a mix of shock, confusion, and something else I wasn't ready to name flooding my chest. Before I could formulate a response—whether it would be outrage, denial, or something softer—the sound of flapping wings interrupted us.

Winter landed with a thud, his silvery-white scales gleaming against the dark backdrop of the mountain. His ice-blue eyes burned with fury, and his teeth flashed as he hissed at Darkstalker. "Midnight, what in the moon's name are you doing with that murderer?" His wings flared wide, his posture tense and ready for a fight. "Get away from her!"

Before I could react, Winter lunged forward, colliding with Darkstalker in an attempt to tackle him. But Darkstalker, enormous and unyielding, didn't so much as flinch. It was like watching a leaf crash into a boulder.

Darkstalker looked down at Winter with a bemused smile, his expression almost pitying. "Oh, Winter, Winter," he said, shaking his head slowly. "You are too gullible, really. And you are far too easily fooled by rumors."

Winter snarled, his claws scrabbling against Darkstalker's impervious scales as his wings flapped furiously. "She's too smart for your manipulations," he spat, glaring up at him. "She won't fall for your lies."

I stood frozen, torn between the two dragons. My mind raced as I tried to make sense of the emotions swirling within me, the tension building with every passing second. This wasn't just a clash of ideals—it was a battle for trust, and I wasn't sure where my loyalty lay anymore.

Darkstalker's massive claws closed around Winter's struggling form, pinning the smaller dragon's wings gently but firmly against his sides. Winter snarled and thrashed, but it was like watching a storm batter against an immovable mountain. Darkstalker's grip was unshakable.

"I don't need her to fall for any lies, dear prince," Darkstalker said smoothly, his voice dripping with calm confidence. "Because, you see, it's all the truth." His cold blue eyes gleamed as he lowered Winter to the ground, releasing him with a calculated ease that made the act feel almost dismissive. Winter recoiled, his gaze still burning with defiance as he backed away.

Just then, the sound of talons clicking against stone signaled more arrivals. Moon and Qibli appeared at the edge of the clearing, their wings folding as they stepped forward. Moon's wide silver eyes immediately locked onto Darkstalker, her jaw dropping slightly.

"Oh," she breathed, her voice soft with a mixture of awe and unease. She blinked, taking in the towering figure of the ancient dragon. "Oh, wow... you're... bigger than I thought."

Qibli shot her a quick, concerned look before shifting his attention to Darkstalker, his expression guarded but curious. "And here I was, thinking the stories might be exaggerated," he said with a nervous chuckle, though the tension in his shoulders betrayed his wariness.

Darkstalker turned his attention to them, his icy gaze softening slightly, as if amused by their reactions. "I do tend to have that effect," he said, his voice smooth and almost teasing. "But don't worry, little ones. I don't bite—unless I need to." His grin widened just enough to reveal the gleaming tips of his sharp teeth, and a shiver ran down my spine.

Moon's silver eyes flicked nervously to me, her wings twitching. "Midnight... are you okay?" she asked, her voice barely louder than a whisper.

I hesitated, glancing between Darkstalker and the others, the weight of their gazes pressing down on me. "I... I'm fine," I said finally, though my voice trembled slightly. Whether or not that was true, I wasn't entirely sure.

Darkstalker let out a low, amused scoff, his lips curling into a smirk. "Of course she's fine," he said, his tone dripping with self-assurance. He tilted his head slightly, his cold blue eyes glinting with mischief. "I mean, she's met her soulmate. Why wouldn't she be fine?"

Winter snarled, his silver wings flaring wide as frost began to form at the edges of his claws. His piercing ice-blue gaze burned with fury as he snapped, "Well, you're not her soulmate! And for a second, let's not forget you're a murderer, you bastard!"

Before either could move further, I quickly stepped between them, raising my talons and flaring my wings in a plea for calm. Darkstalker's massive wing began to stretch out, perhaps in defense or warning, but I held my ground.

"Please, don't fight," I said, my voice trembling but resolute as I glanced between them. The tension was suffocating, thick enough to cut with a claw, but I couldn't let it escalate.

Turning to Darkstalker, I met his gaze, my heart pounding in my chest. "But he's right," I said, my voice softer now but steady, carrying the weight of truth. "I'm not your soulmate."

Darkstalker's smirk faltered, just for a fraction of a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly as if calculating what my words meant.

"I'm here to stop you," I finished, my tone firm, though my talons shook slightly where they rested against the stone floor. My heart screamed at the boldness of my declaration, but my mind knew it was the only truth I could hold onto.

For a moment, the world seemed to pause. Darkstalker's gaze bore into mine, an inscrutable mix of emotions flashing across his face—amusement, intrigue, and something darker, something unreadable.

Darkstalker huffed, his massive chest rising and falling with a theatrical sigh. "Well, you keep saying that," he said, his tone laced with exasperation, "but I can't see it in any of your futures." His tail flicked lazily behind him as he fixed me with an almost bored expression. "Are you sure it's not some delusional dream these two"—he waved a claw dismissively at Winter and Qibli—"have put in your head?"

Both dragons bristled at his words. Qibli was the first to bark back, his tone sharp with frustration. "WE DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE REAL until now!" His amber eyes blazed as he glared at Darkstalker, his usual calm wit replaced by a raw, unfiltered anger.

I sighed, feeling the tension rise around me like a storm cloud. Carefully, I draped a wing around Winter, who stiffened before climbing onto my back. His icy blue eyes stayed locked on Darkstalker, a fierce determination in his glare. "Darkstalker," I said evenly, hoping to defuse the situation before it spiraled further, "please, just don't trigger my friends."

Darkstalker tilted his head, his expression a blend of mock innocence and mild amusement, but he didn't respond. I took a deep breath and folded my wing back, stepping away from Winter to face Darkstalker directly.

"I'll go and talk to you alone," I said firmly. "But we're doing it on my terms. We'll head to the rainforest—there are more dragons there in case you decide to hurt me, and I know Queen Glory. She'll be watching."

Darkstalker's eyes narrowed slightly, the faintest flicker of annoyance flashing across his face. "Fine," he said after a pause, his tone grudging, though it carried an undercurrent of intrigue.

Without waiting for further debate, I spread my star-speckled wings and leapt into the air. The cool mountain wind rushed past me as I climbed higher, the tension in my chest easing with every beat of my wings. Behind me, I heard Darkstalker grumble something under his breath, but he followed without further argument.

The flight to the rainforest was silent, save for the rhythmic sound of wings cutting through the air. I kept my eyes on the horizon, focusing on the lush green expanse ahead. My heart was heavy with uncertainty, but at least now, I'd have the safety of Glory's territory—and maybe a moment to understand what exactly I was dealing with.