Chapter 4 - The Beast Beneath FrostmirThe mountain blinked.

Once.

The entire kingdom felt it.

People ran into the streets.

Bells rang from every tower.

Snow slid from the roofs.

The palace shook so violently that the marble pillars groaned.

Alona clutched the three dragons.

“What is that?”

Silas was staring out the window.

“An Elder.”

Darius looked at him.

“There hasn't been an Elder dragon in Frostmir for a thousand years.”

Silas swallowed.

“That's why everyone believed the old records were myths.”

Ronan stepped toward the window.

“Can it attack us?”

Silas nodded.

“It can destroy the kingdom before dawn.”

Everett stared at Alona.

“This is her fault.”

Darius turned.

“Choose your next words carefully.”

“The eggs woke because of her.”

“No.”

Everett pointed at her.

“Everything changed when she touched them!”

The golden dragon growled.

Tiny flames spread across its nostrils.

Alona stepped between them.

“It's okay.”

The dragon calmed instantly.

Everett went pale.

“You see?”

Alona looked at him.

“No.”

“What?”

“You're afraid of them.”

Silence.

Everett's expression hardened.

“You should fear them too.”

Alona looked down at the three dragons.

For the first time, she realized something terrifying.

She didn't fear them.

Not even a little.

The silver dragon touched her wrist.

Another vision hit her.

She saw the palace long ago.

Hundreds of people stood in the throne room.

At the center was a woman with silver hair.

On her shoulder sat three enormous dragons.

The woman wore a crown.

But she wasn't a queen.

She was standing beside a man.

An Alpha king.

He was holding her hand.

Then soldiers stormed the room.

The woman screamed.

The dragons attacked.

The vision ended in fire.

Alona staggered.

Darius caught her.

“What did you see?”

“A betrayal.”

Silas closed his eyes.

“The War of Three.”

“You know about it.”

“Yes.”

“Then tell me the truth.”

Silas looked at Ronan.

The king nodded.

Silas sighed.

“Three hundred years ago, the first royal dragon mother vanished.”

“What happened?”

“She was betrayed by the Alpha throne.”

Alona stared at him.

“Why?”

“Because the dragons refused to obey.”

Ronan's expression darkened.

“What are you saying?”

Silas spoke slowly.

“The dragons were never created to serve the king.”

The chamber went silent.

“They were created to protect the kingdom from the king.”

Everett stepped back.

“That is treason.”

Silas looked at him.

“That is history.”

A thunderclap exploded outside.

The Elder dragon's head rose above the mountain.

Its scales were black.

Its eyes were gold.

Two enormous wings unfolded across the horizon.

Then it roared.

A shockwave hit Frostmir.

The palace walls cracked.

The three babies screamed.

Alona fell to her knees.

A fourth heartbeat answered from beneath the palace.

THOOM.

She looked down.

“There are four.”

Everyone froze.

“What?” Darius asked.

Alona pressed a hand to the floor.

“Four heartbeats.”

Silas's face changed.

“No.”

“What?”

“There are only three royal eggs.”

“Then why can I hear four?”

Silas rushed toward the old archives.

He tore through scrolls.

Then stopped.

His hands began to shake.

“Your Majesty.”

Ronan approached.

Silas held up a faded drawing.

Three dragons stood around a woman.

But beneath them was another symbol.

A fourth egg.

Black.

Completely black.

Alona stared.

“Where is it?”

Silas looked at the floor.

“Underneath the palace.”

Everett whispered.

“It was never opened.”

Silas nodded.

“Because it wasn't supposed to hatch.”

Alona heard the heartbeat again.

THOOM.

The fourth heartbeat was slower.

Heavier.

Angrier.

Then the silver dragon suddenly flew out of her arms.

It landed on the cracked floor.

Its tiny claws scratched away the marble.

Darius stepped forward.

“What is it doing?”

The silver dragon stopped.

It looked at Alona.

Then it looked down.

A single drop of blood fell from Alona's hand.

The instant it touched the floor…

the entire palace went dark.

Every flame died.

The fourth heartbeat stopped.

For three seconds, there was absolute silence.

Then something below them whispered.

Not a roar.

Not a growl.

A woman's voice.

“Alona.”

She knew the voice.

She had heard it only once in her life.

In a dream.

Her mother's voice.

“Do not hatch the fourth.”

The palace doors slammed open.

The Crowned Fang hunter stood outside.

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