Contract Marriage With Alpha Snow novel Chapter 434

Chapter 434: The Dragon’s Lair

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Chapter 434

~Kaid’s POV~

I tossed Zara my pack before stepping forward and stripping out of my clothes. The cool water lapped at my ankles as I waded in, sinking into the river’s depths.

She was right—the water was unlike anything I had ever felt before. It wasn’t just cool—it pulsed with energy, tiny sparks of warmth igniting against my skin wherever the currents brushed past me.

I stayed in only as long as necessary, then stepped out, shaking the water from my hair. Zara had already pulled her boots back on, arms crossed as she watched the sky shift into twilight.

"Here." I reached into my pack and pulled out a spare shirt, tossing it to her. "Yours is still damp, and let’s not forget, sweaty."

Zara caught it, raising a brow. "You sure? Cause I did wash off the sweat from my tank top."

I smirked. "I’d rather you not complain about being cold all night."

She huffed but didn’t argue. Pulling the oversized shirt over her frame, she rolled the sleeves up before fastening her belt around her waist. It swallowed her smaller frame, but somehow, she still managed to look effortlessly fierce, especially when she tied her jacket around her waist.

"Better?" I asked.

She shrugged. "It’ll do."

We didn’t waste any more time.

With night settling over the realm, we made our way toward the cliffs, following the path carved by ancient dragon talons.

The terrain grew rougher, the air tinged with the scent of embers and ozone. The closer we got, the more the magic in the air thickened, pressing against our skin like an unseen force.

After nearly an hour of climbing, we came upon three caves—each one yawning into the mountain’s side like the mouths of slumbering beasts. The air was noticeably warmer here, the ground lined with faint scorch marks.

Zara glanced at me. "Which one?"

I studied them carefully. Although each cave was identical in size, the energy seeping from it was different.

The first pulsed with an unsettling warmth, the kind that felt almost too inviting. The second was eerily quiet, with no sounds of wind or movement within its depths.

The third... felt empty.

Zara seemed to sense it too. "That one," she said, nodding toward the last cave. "Something feels off."

We stepped inside, torches in hand, the soft glow illuminating the rocky walls. Our footsteps echoed as we ventured deeper. The air grew colder while we walked silently.

Then, at the very end of the cave—nothing.

The chamber was empty. No dragon. No relics. No signs of life.

Just an abandoned space filled with cold air and shadows.

Zara frowned. "There’s nothing here."

I clenched my jaw. "Then we’re missing something."

Because there was no way we had come all this way... for nothing.

"Oh shit!" Zara sighed as she rubbed her palm over her face.

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~Zara’s POV~

I exhaled, scanning the empty chamber with narrowed eyes. The cavern stretched wide and dark before us, its jagged walls glistening faintly under the light of our torches.

But there was nothing—no relics, markings, or signs of the dragon we sought.

I turned to Kaid. "This doesn’t make sense. This realm is alive with magic, and yet this cave feels... dead."

He ran a hand through his damp hair, his expression unreadable. "Maybe we’re missing something."

I stepped forward, brushing my fingers along the cool stone. "There has to be a sign. A clue."

Someone lived here. Not just anyone. Someone royal.

Kaid stood, his gaze wary as he took in the room. "This isn’t just some hidden cave," he murmured. "It’s a dwelling." _{fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓}