Chapter 2 - The Dragon MotherThe palace shook as if the mountain beneath Frostmir had awakened.

Alona nearly fell.

Darius grabbed her before she hit the floor.

“Stay behind me.”

A second roar rolled through the kingdom.

Windows shattered.

The guards drew their weapons.

Ronan shouted orders, but nobody seemed to hear him.

Everyone was staring at the floor.

A glowing line had appeared beneath Alona's feet.

The mark on her palm was responding.

Three lines of light spread through the marble, forming the same symbol.

Silas stepped backward.

“Seal the chamber.”

Grant stared at him.

“Seal it?”

“Now.”

Ronan's eyes narrowed.

“Tell me why.”

Silas pointed toward the eggs.

“The eggs aren't merely hatching.”

Another crack.

Another burst of light.

“They are opening a gate.”

Alona's heart dropped.

“A gate to where?”

Silas looked at her.

“To the first dragon era.”

Before anyone could ask another question, the chamber doors slammed shut.

Heavy iron bolts dropped into place.

Everett stared at Ronan.

“You're locking us in?”

Ronan did not blink.

“Until we know what is happening.”

Darius still had one hand around Alona's arm.

She noticed.

He immediately released her.

“Sorry.”

She shook her head.

“It's fine.”

The golden hatchling finally emerged.

It was smaller than Alona expected.

Its scales were bright gold, but each one had a tiny white edge.

Its eyes opened.

Blue.

Ancient blue.

The creature looked around the room.

Then it saw Alona.

It stumbled toward her.

Every Alpha instinct in the chamber seemed to scream at once.

Darius felt the pressure immediately.

A royal dragon was choosing a bond.

He whispered, “Alona…”

She crouched.

The tiny dragon climbed into her hands.

The moment she held it, the mark on her palm glowed.

The dragon chirped.

Then something impossible happened.

The other two eggs answered.

The blue-black egg began cracking faster.

The silver egg shook violently.

Alona looked at them.

“They're connected.”

Silas nodded slowly.

“Three royal dragons were never supposed to hatch separately.”

Everett scoffed.

“Convenient.”

Silas looked at him.

“They hatch as a triad.”

Ronan's expression hardened.

“What does that mean?”

“The three dragons represent Flame, Storm, and Moon.”

He pointed toward the golden hatchling.

“Flame.”

Then the blue-black egg.

“Storm.”

Then the silver egg.

“Moon.”

Alona looked at her palm.

“And the mother?”

Silas didn't answer.

Darius did.

“You.”

The room fell silent.

Alona stared at him.

“No.”

“The mark says otherwise.”

“I was born in a farming village.”

Everett laughed.

“You don't even know who your parents were.”

Alona's face changed.

“My mother died when I was six.”

“Your father?”

“Dead.”

“Names?”

“Lena Mercer and Tomas Mercer.”

Silas frowned.

“Mercer…”

He walked toward the ancient archives.

Then stopped.

“I've heard that name before.”

Suddenly there was a knock.

Three slow knocks.

Everyone froze.

No one stood outside.

The guards checked the corridor before sealing the chamber.

Another knock.

This time from inside the wall.

Alona turned.

“There.”

A section of stone beside the throne was moving.

Ronan drew his sword.

Grant raised his shield.

The wall cracked.

A hidden doorway appeared.

Cold air flooded the chamber.

Behind it was a narrow staircase descending into darkness.

Silas whispered, “The Mother's Crypt.”

Everett looked confused.

“The crypt was destroyed.”

“No.”

Silas shook his head.

“It was hidden.”

Ronan looked at Alona.

“Stay here.”

She shook her head.

“I don't think I can.”

“Why?”

She pointed to the staircase.

“I can hear someone crying.”

Darius stepped forward.

“I'll go with you.”

Ronan wanted to object.

Then the golden dragon in Alona's arms suddenly hissed.

Everyone turned toward the chamber doors.

Something scratched across the other side.

Slowly.

Deliberately.

Scrrrratch.

The guards stepped back.

Grant whispered, “That's not a beast.”

Silas's voice was barely audible.

“No.”

“What is it?”

Silas stared at the doors.

“A dragon hunter.”

Everett frowned.

“They died centuries ago.”

Silas turned toward Alona.

“Apparently not.”

The scratching stopped.

The silence that followed was worse.

Then a voice came through the doors.

A man's voice.

Calm.

Almost amused.

“Give me the girl.”

Darius's hand tightened around his sword.

The voice continued.

“You can keep the eggs.”

Alona's blood turned cold.

Then the stranger laughed softly.

“Because without their mother…”

The doors bent inward.

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“…they won't survive the night.”

The first iron bolt snapped.