The Dragon King and His Fallen Star novel Chapter 162

Chapter 162: Grains of Light

KIERYGAN’S POV

I held my breath as Ashteryn raised the small hammer and struck his bell-the eighth bell.

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The sound was soft, barely a chime, yet it rippled through the valley like the breath before a storm. For a single heartbeat, everything stilled. The battlefield froze. Even the drifting ash hung suspended in the air. Every warrior, every living sou turned toward that one trembling note that cut through the silence.

All except the Light Reaper and his disciples.

Their chanting went on-unbroken, unyielding. The First Song continued, as if the strike had never

happened.

My hope, so recently kindled, began to die.

There was no disruption. No flicker in the rhythm. No backlash of power. Nothing.

Ashteryn’s expression contorted, anguish flooding the mind-link so raw it struck me in the gut. His

shoulders sagged, his head bowed. Even from where I stood, I could feel it-his despair, his

heartbreak. The pain of a man who believed, for one brief moment, he could save the friend who

once saved him.

The Light Reaper’s laughter rolled across the field. He momentarily broke from the chorus, his

voice a hiss of venom and mockery.

“Fools,” he spat. “Did you truly think I would not foresee this? That you would not try to disrupt my

ritual?”

He flicked his wrist. The bell in Ashteryn’s hand screamed as it shattered, fragments scattering like dying sparks before vanishing into nothing. Drea cried out, reaching for the relic that no longer

existed.

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The Light Reaper turned his gaze toward us-toward Eirlys-and leaned closer, his voice a silken thread of cruelty.

“The shackles,” he said, cold and reverent, “were crafted to perfection. From the moment they clasped the Fae’s wrists, her seven grains of light were sealed-each one bound to my bells… and my bells alone,”

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The Light Reaper’s laughter split the night once more-harsh, hollow, and triumphant-as he struck the third bell.

Its toll was piercing-merciless. The instant the metal rang, Eirlys arched in my arms with a strangled cry. Light burst from her chest in a torrent, bright and pure-but it felt wrong. Violated.

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Her scream ripped through the night, cutting straight through my heart. Blood streaked from her nose, her skin slick with sweat and tears as another grain of her light was torn from her.

I bit down until I tasted blood, my arms tightening around her trembling form. “Focus on me, my star,” I whispered through the bond, my voice breaking under the strain. “Just me. Listen only to me, and the voices of our people around us.”

I pressed my forehead to hers, her fading glow painting my skin in gold. “We’re with you, Eirlys. All

of us. You’re not alone.”

My chest burned with fire and grief. “We share your pain,” I breathed. “And we’ll carry it with you.

Until the very end.”

Then a gruff voice broke through the link-Ashteryn’s, hoarse and heavy with despair. “I’m sorry, he

said. I failed you, Eirlys. I should’ve forged something stronger… I should’ve thought it through.”

Her reply came faintly through the bond-soft, trembling, yet unyielding. “No, Ashteryn… she

whispered. You never failed me. None of you did.”

I ran my hand down her back, tracing the trembling curve of her spine. Her skin was cold-too cold

-but I kept my palm there, trying to will warmth into her fragile body. It wouldn’t stop the pain. It couldn’t. Still, I had to try. It was all I could do while her light was being ripped from her, piece by

piece.

Through the bond, I let my voice reach her, even as my chest ached. “If we ever get the chance to live another life,” I murmured, “in any realm, any world… I’ll find you.”

Her lashes fluttered, her gaze met mine. Her lips trembled, but she still managed a small, fragile smile. “I don’t doubt it,” she whispered. “You always do.”

Her voice broke, but her eyes didn’t waver-glowing faintly, trembling, full of faith. “You found me in that tower,” she breathed, a shuddering exhale leaving her lips. “Under the ice…. even in that hidden

cave.”

A faint, pained laugh escaped her throat. “It’s still beyond me how you managed that.”

I brushed a strand of her hair from her face, letting my thumb rest on her cheek. “Because our souls call out to each other,” I murmured aloud,

Eirlys looked up at me, her smile trembling but soft-so achingly calm amid the chaos.

“Did you know,” she whispered, voice weak but clear, “there’s a place where souls go?”

I frowned, brushing my thumb across her cheek, smearing away the blood trickling from her nose. “No,” I said quietly. “I haven’t heard of it.”

Her eyes-those deep amethyst eyes that shattered my resolve the first time I saw them- shimmered faintly as she smiled. “Maybe we’ll find each other there, after all this is over,” she

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Chapter 162 Grains of Light

whispered.

Something inside me splintered, but I forced a smile. “I hope so.”

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A single tear slid down her cheek, and she brushed t away with trembling fingers. “I was there,” she said, her voice breaking. “When I passed out earlier. I saw my mother.”

Her breath hitched. “She told me I must do this. That it’s the only way… that I have to shine my light.

Before I could answer, the Light Reaper struck the fourth bell.

The sound split the air.

Eirlys convulsed, her scream tearing through the battlefield. Blood spilled from her nose, her mouth-a bright scarlet against the fading glow of her skin. I caught her as she sagged forward, holding her tight against my chest.

“Eirlys!” I shouted, but she couldn’t hear me.

Through the bond, I felt nothing but pain-pure, searing, endless pain.

Around us, the silence broke.

Scylla and Ulyanna wept openly, their sobs trembling through the link. Solara’s hands were clasped tight, her usually calm face streaked with tears. Evander’s eyes burned red, but he said nothing.

Ashteryn was on his knees, striking the ground until his knuckles split and blood darkened the dirt. Orryx and Callum stood motionless, rage and helplessness battling behind their eyes.

Then came a thunderous hop.

I looked up-and through the smoke, Nibbles appeared. Massive now, his fur bristling, his growls shaking the air like rolling thunder. He bounded toward us, forcing his way past the others before lowering himself beside Eirlys.

Her lips curved into a fragile, broken smile. She lifted a trembling hand to his cheek, fingers sinking into his soft fur. “Hey… little one,” she breathed. “You don’t have to see this.”

Her hand quivered. “Take him away,” she whispered voice cracking. “Please… someone take Nibbles away from here,”

Evander moved before anyone else could. He placed a hand on the creature’s head. “Come on, buddy,” he murmured softly. “Let’s get you somewhere safe.”

Nibbles refused to move. His massive form trembled, muscles rippling beneath his fur as he pressed closer instead. His breaths came in wheezing, guttural sounds-half growl, half whimper- that almost sounded like words. His nose twitched rapidly, eyes flicking between Eirlys, Evander, and me. As if trying to speak. As if trying to tell us something.

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”

Eirlys blinked through the haze of pain, confusion softening the agony etched across her face.” Nibbles,” she whispered, her fingers shaking as they brushed through his fur. “It’ll be over soon, I just… I just need to shine my light.”

The great rabbit let out another strained, desperate grunt. His paw thudded against the ground, eyes glistening with something almost like understanding.

Evander, who’d crouched beside him, suddenly went still. His hand froze mid-pat, his gaze lifting

from Nibbles to Eirlys.

“Shine your light,” he said quietly, his tone sharpening with thought. “That’s what your mother said,

isn’t it?”

Eirlys nodded weakly. “Yes… she said… it’s the only way.”

Evander’s brows furrowed, his voice dropping into a murmur. “Shine your light… shine your light…”

He repeated the words under his breath, pacing them like a puzzle, his amber eyes darting

between her and the glow spilling from her skin.

Then he froze. His breath caught, and through the bond, I felt his realization before he spoke. He

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