She grabbed a book before Hyran even reached the first landing.
He was already running, which meant she had been right. The blood oath required him to try and stop her.
She opened the book, read at alpha speed, downloaded what she needed, and slid it neatly back onto the shelf, her lips twitching.
Then she zipped back down the stairs, passing Hyran on her way down.
Standing back in front of the dragon on the fireplace, Serena closed her eyes and reached for Velkaris.
She'd only be able to do this with her bonded without practice.
His energy found her almost immediately. Easier than expected.
She took a breath of courage.
Channeling his energy was going to hurt like a motherfucker.
Her arm rose toward the dragon.
She winced before anything even happened. Then her hand opened.
Flame poured out.
The mark on her arm flared in response, burning hot as the fire formed. She gritted her teeth and held it, refusing to let go.
The dragon on the hearth answered, flashing gold.
It twisted in on itself, its form folding and unraveling in one smooth motion, and the hearth vanished. In its place stood an archway.
The mage-librarians gasped.
She tried to school her expression but failed to hide the grin that threatened to take over. She was entirely too pleased with herself.
The fireplace had fully transformed into a massive archway, and she was fairly certain she knew how to open it.
Dex ran into the library at that moment, worry written plainly across his face.
Serena turned toward him, but before she could ask what was wrong, he pulled her into a tight hug.
"Are you alright?" she asked, kissing him softly.
He pulled back just enough to look at her, like he wanted to strangle her and kiss her at the same time, and dragged a hand through his hair.
"I have something for you," she announced, grinning.
Whatever frustration he had evaporated instantly. He grinned back at her, unable to help himself.
She picked up the sheathed sword. "It's the First Dragon King's, and it's meant to be yours."
Some mage-librarians clapped excitedly.
He looked at her, stunned, blinking like his brain was catching up. Then he laughed and shook his head. The blade was considered a myth. Of course she would find it.
Serena, on the other hand, was oblivious to that. Her excitement stemmed from the fact that she was giving him a gift for the first time.
He reached for the sword, feeling it call to him. The second his fingers touched the hilt, it flashed bright white, and a vibration echoed through the library.
He knew this sword was his. Knew she had given it to him in another life. He felt it in his core, a certainty that defied explanation.
Before he could say anything, before he could even thank her, she spoke.
"I think it has special properties," Serena continued. "And I know where to look if you do not."
He froze.
"Never mind," she said with a sigh. "Do not tell me."
It was getting annoying. Truly. Which, unfortunately, only made her want to know more. She was going to find out with or without permission.
She turned back to the fireplace, her eyes still green, and spoke from her own knowing, reciting what she believed would open it in Draken-Vorah.
"Vault of the Hidden Flame,Set by the First Dragon King for the First Dragon Queen.A bearer of fire stands for entry."
The dragon answered in a low, layered whisper, the voices of ancestors pressed together. The mark on her forearm burned. She thought she was the only one who could hear the dragon, but she was wrong.
North bears. South burns.
Serena answered in Draken-Vorah.
"Draken-bound. Blood-bearer. Fire-made."
The dragon's eyes flashed brighter gold. It spoke again.
If the bearer proves unworthy,
The flame shall consume.
She answered without pause or fear.
"Then let the flame judge,For if I burn, I am not worthy."
Dex, who had spoken Draken-Vorah his entire life, felt a moment of pure horror wash through him. He did not know whether he should grab her and drag her back or if interfering would get her burned instead.
He dragged a hand through his hair, utterly exasperated.
This woman was going to be the death of him.
The archway shimmered open.
What lay beyond stole her breath away.
Piles of gold coins covered the floor, stacked high and gleaming.
Open chests were lined in neat rows, overflowing with gold, rubies, diamonds, sapphires, and strings of pearls.
Along the back wall, golden dragon eggs rested in a perfect line, their shells pulsing faintly with dormant life.
One entire wall was given over to ancient scrolls, shelves packed tight with them, alongside gold-forged items and magical artifacts.
Gold statues stood watch, their eyes seeming to follow her as she entered.
At the far end of the chamber stood a massive hourglass. Its frame was shaped like two dragons cast in gold, their bodies curved around the glass.
Instead of sand, rubies poured slowly from one chamber to the other, each gem catching the light as it fell.
She walked in, and every torch inside flared brighter at once. Gold magic poured into her for a brief second, heavy and warm. She paused until it finished.
Then, like that was just a standard Tuesday, like she owned the place, she crossed the room and went straight to the wall. She reached for a golden bow with a quiver of matching arrows.
The second her fingers touched it, the weapon flashed white, and a deep vibration rippled through the chamber.
She grinned and walked back out with the bow in hand, entirely missing the crown at the back of the vault as it flashed blinding white.
She also missed the stunned faces all watching her. She was looking at her bow, excited to try it.
The archway shimmered and sealed itself behind her.
She looked up and saw Hyran's expression and misread it completely. To her, it looked like concern. Like she had been careless opening something and walked straight into it.
Which she had.
That was day one teaching. Always check for dark magic. Always consult first. Both of which were Hyran's rules. Both of which she had ignored.
"Oh. Right. Apologies, Hyran," she offered earnestly. "I should have waited before entering. I can reopen it if you want to scan for dark magic."
Hyran blinked. Once. Then again.
He was trying to understand how this girl could possibly be real.
She had just opened a vault that hadn't been accessed in thousands of years. She had just claimed a weapon that belonged to the First Dragon Queen. She had just offered her life to ancient flames without hesitation.
And she was apologizing for not checking for dark magic first.
He looked at Dex. Then back at her.
Dex's expression was a complicated mixture of pride, exasperation, and terror.
Before Dex could say anything, Elara ran into the library.
"There you are," she whispered, completely oblivious to the situation.
She hugged Serena. "I need to borrow. Emergency."
Serena was about to tell her she couldn't because she had told Dex she would be with him today, but Elara read her expression.
"Dex will be with Hale in a few minutes. We will meet them."
Elara did not give Serena a chance to respond. She grabbed her wrist and pulled her out of the library at a brisk pace. They moved quickly down the corridor, boots quiet against the stone.
Elara stopped at a painting and pressed it aside, revealing a hidden door, one of many they had used days before.
"In," she commanded.