She turned toward the entrance, where the royal guard was already arriving to arrest her, and without wasting a second, she pulled out her amulet, trying to activate it in a panic, desperate to escape.

"AAAHHH!"

The yellow spell ignited with searing, wrathful magic, burning her hand.

"LEA, I WARNED YOU! WHAT YOU'VE DONE IS UNFORGIVABLE!"

The roar in her mind sent her crashing to the ground, clutching her ears with trembling, burned hands, as a trickle of blood seeped from them.

She couldn't escape—he wouldn't let her.

And Lea realized she had been far too naive, thinking she could play with and deceive a Dragon.

He had only trusted her because of their shared past.

But now, it was over. She had touched his treasure, and no one who tried to steal from a Dragon ever lived to tell the tale.

*****

Charlie had never felt more satisfaction in his life than when he dragged that viper, crying and begging, to the dungeon along with all her henchmen and accomplices.

Azura couldn't leave the nes