Chapter 34

Serena stood in a clearing with a golden river, and her whole body went still.

At the water’s edge, a white wolf waited.

She rushed forward, dropping to her knees in front of the wolf. Her hands trembled against white fur, tears already falling.

“You’re okay, Aurelia. I thought I had lost you forever p>

She had heard Aurelia only once, years ago. She was chained and bleeding in Viremont’s dungeons after her second escape attempt.

Aurelia pressed her forehead to Serena’s, and her voice filled Serena’s mind.

Aurelia: I was weak from the silver, but I promise you, I never left you.

“Will you come back p>

She pulled back slightly, searching Aurelia’s golden eyes. Desperate for the answer. Terrified of the wrong one.

Aurelia: Yes. I am almost ready. Dexmon’s venom is helping you fight off the silver poisoning. I can feel it.

There was warmth in her tone. Approval. Her tail swayed slowly.

Aurelia:

“Of course,” Serena said. “Focus on getting better for me. Please p>

Aurelia’s warmth faded too quickly, until Serena was alone.

The clearing shifted, and she found herself in the library.

A black wolf walked in. Massive, with eyes like molten gold.

She knew immediately who it was.

“Dex?” she called, already running toward him.

He shifted back into human form mid-stride and caught her, pulling her into a kiss that stole the breath from her lungs. His arms wrapped around her like he was afraid she might disappear.

When he pulled back, his eyes were red. Rimmed with exhaustion. With fear.

“Will you wake up and come back to me, baby?” Dex asked softly, voice rough. “It has been two days p>

Two days.

She had been unconscious for two days.

Before she could process that, he kissed her again, deeper this time. Then he pressed his forehead to hers, breathing unsteady.

She leaned away slightly, confusion knitting her brow. “Is this real p>

“We are both dreaming. I was asking myself the same thing about you.” His mouth curved with quiet amusement, some of the tension easing from his shoulders. “Then I realized we are in the library. Of all places, why would you dream about a library p>

Serena huffed. “I blame Hyran p>

Dex laughed. The sound was tired but genuine, and it loosened a knot she didn’t know she’d been carrying.

“I can feel you through our matebond,” he said after a moment, studying her face. “You are trying to remember something. Or there is something important in here p>

She turned, scanning the familiar shelves.

He pulled her back against his chest and rested his chin on the top of her head.

“Yes,” she said slowly. “It is with the fireplace. And that spot on the floor p>

She lifted her hand and pointed to a dent in the stone, the size of a talisman.

Dex followed her gaze and kissed her temple. “That dent is not there in real life p>

“Yet.” A mischievous smile flashed across her face.

“Why is it that I like you more and more every time you open your mouth?” Dex swept her up, spinning her around until a surprised squeal broke from her lips.

He steadied her, grinning, then nuzzled her nose with his. “You’re too cute when you’re startled p>

The playfulness lasted only a heartbeat.

“Dex, why do I have this mark?” she asked, lifting her arm to show him the Hidden Flame symbol.

Every muscle in his body locked tight. His grin fell, and the light vanished from his eyes.

She felt his adrenaline spike through their matebond, a blood oath activating. She knew the sensation well and understood, he couldn’t tell her.

“Don’t tell me,” she said immediately. “I understand p>

The tension in his shoulders eased, but a new, heavier weight replaced it.

When he spoke, his voice was stripped of the usual cocky humor, vulnerable in a way she had never heard before.

“I know it hasn’t been long… but, Serena, you’re it for me.” He paused, then added, “I want you to be my queen. My wife p>

Warmth bloomed in her chest, spreading outward until it reached her fingertips.

He cupped her face, his thumbs tracing the line of her cheekbones as if he were trying to memorize the feel of her skin.

“It makes me happy that you want those things… with me,” she said softly, voice barely above a whisper. “Are you sure p>

Dex answered without any hesitation, voice firm and unwavering. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life p>

He held her gaze, letting her see everything. Every wall down. Every defense stripped away.

“I love you, Serena p>

The words landed somewhere deep in her chest and took root.

The truth was, she loved him too. She had just been too afraid to let herself think it, because every good thing she had ever named out loud had been ripped away.

“I love you too, Dex p>

Saying it out loud felt like stepping off a ledge and discovering solid ground.

Dex’s arms tightened, pulling her flush against him. Through their matebond, his elation crashed over her—a physical wave of heat and relief that made her heart soar.

It was short-lived, because fog began to roll in at that moment.

“No,” he groaned. “Not yet p>

He pulled her into one last kiss, fierce and desperate and full of everything he couldn’t say.

And then he faded.

The library dissolved around her. She found herself standing on the grounds of a castle she didn’t recognize.

A black wolf watched her from the tree line. It looked strikingly similar to Dex’s wolf, but the way he held himself was somehow different.

They made eye contact and neither moved for a moment.

Fear should have been the first thing she felt. It wasn’t.

He padded towards her, stopping a few inches away. Her hand reached out before she could stop it, drawn to him like a reflex she had no memory of learning.

“Who are you p>

She expected silence. Instead, a voice filled her mind the same way Aurelia’s did, which shouldn’t have been possible.

Your destiny. A love that fate hasn’t forgotten.

Green light swallowed her before she could respond.