The children laughed again, chasing nothing in particular, whole lives ahead of them. They had no reason to expect violence. Not today.
Which was why it came like a knife to the back.
The first arrow struck the water with a wet thunk. The second embedded itself in a tree just behind Elowen’s head. She turned—and froze.
There were six men from the village. It was the same men that threatened his den from before—he could smell them. Dirty, red-faced, their eyes wild with fear and righteous hatred. And in their hands—swords. Ropes. Torches. Tools of destruction.
“Get the demon children!” one shouted. “Before they grow fangs and burn the rest of us!”
Elowen screamed. Midas was already moving—body convulsing, the sound of bones shifting, magic flaring like lightning through the air. His skin split, wings tearing forth, horns curling into place as his form ballooned into shadow and gold and death.
But they were so close. There was no time to think.Elowen scooped the twins into her arms, one under each arm, their little faces panicked, mouths open in confusion.
She bolted into the trees, trusting Midas to find them where they would hide, branches whipping against her arms, her feet raw and bloodied on the forest floor. Behind her, she heard Midas roar in the way that could crack mountains down the middle and end cities in a breath.
The men had scattered, the stronger ones acting as a distraction for Midas, the others following her.They caught her less than a mile into the trees.
One man tackled her from behind, sending the twins tumbling to the dirt. Elowen fought—biting, clawing, screaming. But they tore her away. Two more men pinned her down, pressing her face into the leaves.
“Hold her. Make her watch.”
Kalen screamed, arms flailing in her direction. His brother just cried, reaching for her. They pinned the children, too.
“No—no, no please!” Elowen sobbed, voice breaking. “They’re children. They haven’t done anything! Do whatever you want to me, just please don’t hurt them!”
“Dragon spawn,” spat the man with the knife. “We won’t let them grow into monsters!”
He turned the blade in his hand. And then there was a scream.
It wasn’t Elowen’s. It was Kalen’s. A high, raw, baby’s scream. They had cut off one of his horns without mercy or remorse. Blood gushed over his face, his sobs hiccupping into something soundless. His twin shrieked, trying to get to him.
Elowen howled, pulling against her restraints witheverything she had. Her wrists tore, her back split open again where a whip cracked down. Once. Twice.
“Stop it!” she screamed. “Please stop! I’ll do anything—just stop hurting them!”
“Cut out her cursed womb!” one of them said. “We must burn it! Purge the world of its evil!”
None of them saw the shadow pass overhead. Not the men. Not Elowen. Not the boys.
They only heard the sound; the sudden silence of the forest, as if the trees themselves had gasped.
Midas landed so hard trees were ripped from their roots from the force. He did not roar this time. He didn’t need to.
The first man was crushed before he could draw another breath. The second was impaled with talons larger than his body. The third tried to run but made it only two steps before Midas’ tail lashed out and snapped his spine like dry wood.
The one that held Kalen’s severed horn like a trophy turned, dagger raised, and Midas opened his jaws.
Flame made of raw rage escaped his throat. It scorched the earth, reduced the trees to ash, superheated the air until the man ceased to exist—not even ashes remained.
Midas stood heaving, breath ragged, smoke rising from the trees around them. His claws were soaked with blood. His wings were trembling with adrenaline and wrath.
And then his eyes fell on Elowen.
She was still tied down with ropes, struggling with panic to break free. She was bleeding and bruised. Midas used his great claws to slice through the ropes, and Elowen instantly scooped her children to her chest, hovering over them like a shield.
Her boys lay on the ground under her, scared and crying—Kalen limp with pain. Midas made a sound then, deep and guttural, an animal’s cry of grief. He stepped forward and lowered his head. He gathered Elowen, then the boys—cradled them all.
He carried them back to the cave in silence.
