Chapter 2: Bound by Flames

"Did you think I'd let you fall alone?"

The world cracked around them as the mountain shook violently, and the winds howled with celestial fury. Lyria's heart raced, her mind still reeling from the confrontation with the Celestial Empress. She struggled to find her footing as Kael's arms held her steady against the collapsing landscape. The very air was thick with the scent of ozone and the unmistakable crackle of power being unleashed.

"Hold on," Kael growled, his deep voice cutting through the chaos, but Lyria was already gripping onto his arm tightly, her gaze darting toward the sky. It was no ordinary storm—they were under attack.

In a flash, golden lightning shot down from the heavens, aimed directly at them.

Lyria reacted instantly, pulling free from Kael's grasp and raising her hand toward the sky. Her power surged to the surface, creating a shimmering barrier of light just as the bolt of celestial energy struck. The force of the impact reverberated through her body, almost bringing her to her knees, but she held firm.

"Lyria!" Kael's shout echoed behind her as she struggled to maintain the barrier. The celestial lightning was relentless, pushing against her defenses with overwhelming force.

"I can hold it," she said through gritted teeth, though the strain was evident in her voice.

Kael's eyes darkened. "You shouldn't have to." He stepped forward, fire erupting from his fingertips, golden and fierce. With a single motion, he unleashed his dragon flame, the power of it colliding with the lightning, driving it back toward the sky. The air shimmered with the collision of their combined forces, the very fabric of reality bending under the weight of their power.

As the last of the lightning dissipated, Lyria dropped her hand, panting slightly from the effort. Kael's gaze flicked toward her, his expression unreadable, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—concern, perhaps.

"You didn't need to do that," Kael said, his voice low, his hand reaching out to touch her arm. The warmth of his skin against hers sent an unexpected jolt through her.

She pulled back, shaking her head. "I wasn't going to let you face that alone."

His lips curved into a faint smile, but it was tinged with something darker. "You're going to get yourself killed protecting me, princess."

Before Lyria could respond, the ground beneath them gave way with a deafening roar. The mountain collapsed, sending rocks and debris cascading down the cliffside. Lyria's eyes widened in alarm as she lost her footing, the ground crumbling beneath her.

For a split second, everything slowed. She felt herself falling, the wind rushing past her ears, her heart pounding in her chest. This is it. She reached out instinctively, searching for something—anything—to hold onto, but there was nothing but the empty air.

Just as the abyss threatened to swallow her, a powerful hand grabbed her wrist, yanking her out of freefall. Kael pulled her into his arms, his wings—large and black as the night sky—unfolding behind him. He hovered in the air, his wings beating against the storm as he held her close, his body shielding hers from the falling debris.

Lyria gasped, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck as she clung to him. The sensation of being so close to him—of his heartbeat against hers—was overwhelming. She looked up at him, her breath catching in her throat.

"You have wings," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the wind.

Kael chuckled, a low rumble that vibrated through her. "You're full of surprises, but I figured this one would come as a shock."

She hadn't noticed them before, but now, seeing the black wings stretch out behind him, powerful and majestic, it made sense. He was the Dragon King after all, a being of unimaginable power. But seeing him like this—so close, so vulnerable—made her see him in a different light.

He looked down at her, his eyes dark and intense, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. "You saved me," he said softly, his voice laced with something she couldn't quite place.

Lyria swallowed hard, her heart pounding. "I told you, I wasn't going to let you fall alone."

For a second, she thought she saw something flicker in his gaze—something like admiration, or perhaps regret. But before she could dwell on it, the mountain roared again, more rocks tumbling down around them.

Kael's wings beat harder, carrying them away from the collapsing peak and toward the safety of the valley below. The sky above them darkened as the storm intensified, but Kael's presence, his strength, made Lyria feel safe despite the chaos around them.

As they landed on solid ground, Kael gently set her down, his wings folding behind him as they disappeared into the shadows. Lyria stumbled slightly, her legs still shaky from the fall, but Kael caught her arm, steadying her.

"We need to keep moving," he said, his tone more urgent now. "The Empress won't stop until she's taken everything from us."

Lyria's brow furrowed. "Why? Why is she doing this?"

Kael's expression darkened. "Because she fears what we are."

Lyria blinked, confusion clouding her mind. "What we are?"

Kael's gaze locked onto hers, the intensity of it nearly overwhelming. "You still don't remember, do you?"

"Remember what?" she asked, frustration bubbling up inside her. "What is it I'm supposed to know?"

Kael hesitated, his jaw clenched as if he were battling some inner turmoil. "In time, you'll understand. But for now, trust me when I say the Empress will do anything to keep us apart."

Lyria opened her mouth to protest, but before she could speak, a figure emerged from the shadows—a tall, imposing figure draped in dark robes, his presence sending a chill down her spine. His eyes gleamed with a predatory intensity, and his lips curled into a sinister smile.

"So this is where you've been hiding, Dragon King," the figure said, his voice smooth and cold as ice. "You've caused quite the stir in the Celestial Heavens."

Kael's expression hardened, his body tensing as he stepped protectively in front of Lyria. "Ilyas."

Lyria's breath caught in her throat. Ilyas. She had heard whispers of his name—a powerful and dangerous figure who ruled the Abyssal Realm. His loyalty to the Celestial Empress was well-known, and his ruthlessness was unmatched.

"What do you want, Ilyas?" Kael growled, his hand moving toward the hilt of his sword.

Ilyas's smile widened, his eyes flicking toward Lyria. "Oh, I'm not here for you, Kael. I'm here for her."

Lyria stiffened as Ilyas's gaze lingered on her, a sense of dread washing over her. "Me? Why?"

Ilyas chuckled softly. "You don't know, do you? How amusing."

Kael's hand tightened on his sword, his voice low and dangerous. "You won't touch her, Ilyas."

Ilyas raised an eyebrow, his smirk never faltering. "Perhaps not today. But make no mistake, Dragon King. She belongs to the heavens. And when the time comes, she will remember who she truly is."

Lyria's heart pounded in her chest as Ilyas's words echoed in her mind. Who she truly is? Before she could ask what he meant, Ilyas vanished into the shadows, leaving behind an eerie silence.

Kael turned to her, his expression grim. "We need to go. Now."

Lyria nodded, her mind racing with questions, but one thing was clear: whatever she had forgotten, whatever the Empress feared—it was far more dangerous than she could have ever imagined.

"You don't have to protect me from the truth, Kael. Not anymore."