The Dragon King and His Fallen Star novel Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Fire & Light

KIERYGAN’S POV

I thought I’d be closer to understanding the girl by now, but the more time passes, the deeper the mystery grows. Each answer only births more questions.

I used to think she was some kind of witch. A rare breed, maybe. And yet, they remained tethered to the rule every supernatural being knew by heart: witches burn.

But she doesn’t.

She didn’t burn when the forge blazed. Not when molten steel kissed her palm. She didn’t flinch.

Didn’t blister. As if the fire knew her, claimed her as its own.

That alone should’ve made me wary. Maybe it did. But I couldn’t tear my eyes away. Not even as we walked back to the palace. Not even at dinner, where she sat quietly, forcing herself to eat just

enough to be dismissed.

She looked like she wanted to vanish again, to drown out the noise and retreat into herself like she

always does.

But then she surprised me. Again.

The moment Callum mocked Ashteryn’s name again, the frightened girl I’d come to know vanished. She drove her fork into the meat with a sharp, decisive strike that silenced the table, then turned to face my commander without a hint of fear.

Callum, a battle–hardened strategist with a reputation for sharp instincts, had just been confronted by a girl who barely spoke… and branded a dimwit

I should’ve reprimanded her. But I wanted to laugh And judging by the barely restrained looks around the table… so did the others.

But she wasn’t done. She turned on Mirael next.

Mirael, who never backs down, actually paled when the girl called her out for the name she’d given

her in secret. Mothwit

I was about to step in, to put an end to it, until Mirael screamed. A sharp, bone–deep sound, raw with pain, before she collapsed to the floor.

She didn’t even seem to realize she was lighting up again. But this time, it wasn’t fear. It wasn’t

pain.

It was anger. Raw, unfiltered, and blinding.

I’d never seen her like this. The sparks that danced along her skin were wild and furious, brighter

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Chapter To Fire & Light

than anything I’d witnessed before. The bracelet strained against it, pulling hard, draining her. But it wasn’t enough. Golden arcs still crackled off her, fierce and uncontrollable.

“Girl, stop,” I ordered.

That was the moment it hit her, what she’d done. Guilt, or perhaps a flicker of regret, softened her

expression.

She glanced around the table, meeting each set of eyes. Their expressions varied: shock, fear, even awe. And it only seemed to agitate her more.

She pushed to her feet, trying to run. But she barely took a step before I caught her arm. The moment I touched her, my skin hissed beneath the burn of her light. It seared straight through me.

I, a dragon, was burning.

“I said stop,” I said again, voice low.

Her eyes met mine, wide and glistening. “I… I can’t stop it,” she whispered, yanking her hand away.”

Please. Just let me go.”

I didn’t. If anything, my grip tightened. “No,” I said, steadying my voice. “I need you to calm down.”

“I… I don’t know how,” she whispered again, trembling. “Please. Just let me go. I don’t want to hurt

you. Or anyone.”

Her voice cracked on the last word. Tears spilled freely now, and the light sparking from her skin flared even hotter, angrier. My grip faltered just a little. Every instinct screamed at me to let go.

But I didn’t.

Instead, I did something that surprised even me. I pulled her into my arms.

She stiffened at once, panicked, and began to struggle. “No,” she sobbed, pushing at me with her small hands, light crackling violently between us. “Please. Let go.”

But I held on, one arm across her back, the other pressing her close to my chest. “Shhh,” I murmured against her temple, voice low and steady. “It’s alright. You’re alright.”

My hand moved in slow, soothing circles across her back. I didn’t flinch, even when the burn tore across my skin like fire beneath fire.

Bit by bit, the sparks began to slow. The violent arcs turned to flickers. And then, just like that, it

was gone.

She sagged against me, exhausted. The silence that followed was deafening.

Slowly, she pulled away. Not to run, but to look. Her wide eyes dropped into my arms, her

expression crumbling as she took in the charred skin and angry red marks still knitting themselves

together.

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“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice small and hoarse.

I glanced down at my arms. Smoke still curled from the burns. But even now, the skin is mending. The scaled patches are already smoothing over. Another minute, and they’d be gone.

I gave her a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry about it said, and flexed my fingers. “I heal fast.”

She wiped at her face with trembling fingers. “Can go back to my room, please?” she asked, her

voice barely audible.

I stared at her for a breath, then nodded once.

She didn’t wait for more. She turned and ran, her feet light on the marble, vanishing up the stairs and into the halls beyond.

I remained there a moment, watching the place where she disappeared, before finally turning back

toward the table. They were all staring at me. Wide–eyed. Silent. Questioning.

I ignored them.

Then my eyes dropped, and I noticed Mirael still crumpled on the floor, unmoving except for her shallow, rapid breaths.

No one had helped her.

I snarled, the sound cutting sharply through the room.

“You’re all so damned fascinated watching the girl nearly burn me alive,” I said coldly, “that not one of you thought to help Mirael off the floor.”

The silence cracked.

My gaze locked on Callum. “You,” I snapped. “Since your thoughtless mouth started all this, take

her to the infirmary. Now.”

Callum flinched as if I’d struck him. “Aye,” he muttered, already pushing back his chair. He scratched the back of his head and bent to scoop Mirael into his arms, carefully avoiding my gaze.

“She kind of deserved it, you know. After calling the girl names,” he mumbled under his breath.

I watched them in silence, jaw tight, eyes tracking them until they slipped through the archway and out of sight. Only then did I finally sit down, my burned skin still prickling as it healed, and my thoughts tangled like smoke in the air.

What in the gods‘ names is she?

And why the hell was I… amused and proud?

I called for the council to convene the very next day

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Chapter 16 Fire & Light

For the first time, Ashteryn arrived early, without needing to be summoned twice, when he learned. the meeting concerned the girl. He took the vacant seat beside High Witch Ulyanna, one of my advisors and commander of arcane forces.

Mirael, already healed, save for her pride, sat on my right. Today, her face was bare, her usually immaculate hair less carefully arranged than usual,

Orryx’s arrival completed the council. He shut the door behind him with a heavy thud before taking

his seat at my right.

He was also the first to speak. “Let me just say,” he began, narrowing his eyes at me, “What you did

last night was dangerous. And reckless.”

“I’m still here, aren’t I?” I replied, shrugging.

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