THE MAN WITH GOLDEN EYES

Elara didn't sleep.

How could she?

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw those golden eyes staring at her from the darkness.

The Dragon King.

The thought alone sent chills down her spine.

She had spent years hearing stories about him.

Stories of a merciless ruler who commanded dragons and fire.

Stories of a beast disguised as a man.

Stories of a king who took human brides and never returned them.

Now she knew one thing for certain.

He was real.

And he had been watching her.

The first rays of dawn spilled through her window, but they did little to calm her racing thoughts.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Elara?"

Mira.

Elara quickly stood and opened the door.

The moment Mira saw her face, she frowned.

"You look terrible."

"I didn't sleep."

"I figured."

Mira stepped inside carrying a basket of fresh bread.

The familiar smell normally would have made Elara smile.

Today, it didn't.

"You keep thinking about yesterday?"

Elara laughed bitterly.

"How am I supposed to think about anything else?"

Mira remained silent.

Because there was no answer.

The Choosing had changed everything.

In two days, Elara would leave Ashvale forever.

The realization made her chest ache.

Suddenly, loud shouting echoed outside.

The girls exchanged worried glances.

"What now?" Mira muttered.

They rushed outside.

The entire village seemed to be gathering near the northern fields.

Fear prickled along Elara's skin.

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.

The moment they arrived, she understood why.

A dragon was circling above the village.

Gasps and screams erupted from the crowd.

Children cried.

Farmers dropped their tools.

The enormous creature glided through the sky, its dark scales reflecting sunlight.

It was larger than any building in Ashvale.

Far larger.

Its wings stretched across the heavens like storm clouds.

Elara's heart nearly stopped.

The dragon released a powerful roar.

The sound shook the ground beneath their feet.

People scattered in panic.

Some fell to their knees praying.

Others ran for cover.

But the dragon wasn't attacking.

It simply descended.

Slowly.

Gracefully.

Until it landed in the center of the field.

The earth trembled beneath its weight.

Silence followed.

No one dared move.

Then something impossible happened.

The dragon's body began to glow.

Golden light covered its massive form.

The crowd gasped.

The creature's wings folded inward.

Its enormous shape shrank.

Scales melted into shadows.

Within seconds, the dragon was gone.

A man stood where it had been.

Tall.

Powerful.

Terrifyingly handsome.

His black hair moved gently in the wind.

A dark coat draped over broad shoulders.

Ancient golden eyes scanned the crowd.

The same eyes Elara had seen last night.

A sharp breath escaped her lips.

Him.

The Dragon King.

The villagers immediately bowed.

No one needed an introduction.

His presence alone demanded obedience.

Everyone lowered their heads.

Everyone except Elara.

For some reason, she couldn't look away.

The king's gaze swept across the crowd.

Then stopped.

On her.

The world seemed to disappear.

His eyes locked onto hers.

And stayed there.

Elara's pulse pounded violently.

Why was he looking at her?

The silence stretched.

Neither of them moved.

Neither of them spoke.

Then the king finally walked forward.

The crowd parted instantly.

No one dared stand in his path.

Each step carried an overwhelming authority.

By the time he reached her, Elara could barely breathe.

He was taller than she had imagined.

Far more intimidating.

And strangely beautiful.

Which only made him more dangerous.

"You are Elara Winters."

It wasn't a question.

It was a statement.

His deep voice sent an unexpected shiver through her.

She swallowed.

"Yes."

The king studied her carefully.

As if searching for something.

As if trying to solve a mystery.

His expression remained unreadable.

Finally, he spoke.

"You are smaller than I expected."

The crowd collectively stopped breathing.

Elara blinked.

Of all the things he could have said—

That was not what she expected.

A spark of irritation pushed aside her fear.

"You're ruder than I expected."

Several villagers gasped.

Mira nearly fainted.

Nobody spoke to the Dragon King like that.

Nobody.

Yet a strange expression crossed his face.

Not anger.

Not outrage.

Amusement.

For the briefest moment, the corner of his mouth lifted.

The sight shocked everyone.

Including him.

The smile vanished instantly.

His golden eyes darkened.

"Interesting."

Elara wasn't sure whether that was a compliment or a warning.

Before she could decide, the king turned toward the village chief.

"The preparations are complete."

The chief nodded nervously.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The king looked back at Elara.

"You leave tomorrow."

Her stomach dropped.

Tomorrow?

Not in two days?

Tomorrow?

"No."

The word escaped before she could stop it.

The king raised an eyebrow.

"No?"

"I don't want to go."

The crowd froze.

Again.

The king stared at her silently.

Seconds passed.

Then he stepped closer.

Close enough for only her to hear.

His voice became low.

Dangerously low.

"You believe this is your choice?"

Fear crawled down her spine.

But she refused to look away.

"No."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"Good."

Then he straightened.

Without another word, black wings erupted from his back.

The villagers screamed.

Wind exploded across the field.

The Dragon King launched himself into the sky.

Within moments, he disappeared beyond the clouds.

Leaving stunned silence behind.

Elara stood frozen.

Her heart racing.

Her mind spinning.

Tomorrow.

She was leaving tomorrow.

And for the first time, she wasn't sure what frightened her more.

The Dragon King himself.

Or the strange feeling that, beneath those cold golden eyes...

He was hiding a secret.

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