The Princess's Revenge Chapter 138

Valencia's POV

The battle erupted.

Axel moved like silver lightning, charging into the mass of warriors. His claws tore through armor. His jaws closed around throats. Blood sprayed across the courtyard stones.

He was magnificent. Even wounded, even dying, he fought with a power I'd never seen before.

But there were too many.

Over a hundred warriors surrounded him, attacking from every direction. Swords stabbed into his sides. Spears pierced his shoulders. Axes cut into his legs.

Axel's silver fur turned red with blood. So much blood.

No. No, no, no.

I grabbed a fallen sword from the ground and tried to help him. A warrior came at me from the left. I blocked his strike and kicked him back.

Another warrior swung at my head. I ducked and slashed upward. My blade caught his arm. He screamed and fell back.

But more kept coming.

A sword cut across my shoulder. Pain flared hot and sharp. Blood ran down my arm, soaking my sleeve.

I barely felt it. All I could see was Axel, fighting desperately against impossible odds.

His movements were slowing down. His silver coat was completely red now, matted with blood from dozens of wounds. Every step looked like agony.

I felt his absolute determination to protect me, even if it killed him.

A spear stabbed into Axel's back leg. He stumbled.

"No!" I screamed.

Three warriors rushed him at once. Axel tried to dodge, but his injured leg gave out. He crashed to his knees.

The warriors didn't stop. They swarmed him, their weapons rising and falling. Each strike opened new wounds. Each blow drove him closer to death. His front legs trembled. His massive head hung low.

Still, even on his knees, even bleeding from a hundred wounds, he positioned his body between me and the warriors.

A warrior came at me with a sword raised high. I tried to block, but another one grabbed my arm from behind. The sword in my hand fell to the ground with a clatter.

"Let me go!" I struggled against his grip.

The warrior in front of me smiled cruelly. He raised his sword, aiming for my heart.

Axel roared. Somehow, impossibly, he found the strength to lunge forward. His jaws closed around the warrior's arm. The man screamed as Axel's teeth crushed bone.

But it cost him. Five more warriors attacked Axel's exposed back. Their swords stabbed deep, piercing vital organs.

Axel released the warrior and collapsed. His body hit the ground hard. His silver fur was so soaked with blood it looked black in the torchlight.

"Logan!" I tore free from the warrior holding me and ran to Axel's side.

I dropped to my knees beside him. His golden eyes looked up at me. They were dimming, the light fading.

Valencia, his voice whispered through our bond. I'm sorry. I couldn't protect you.

"No. No, you're not dying. You can't die."

The warriors formed a circle around us. Their weapons were ready. Elton pushed through the crowd. His face was flushed with triumph. His eyes gleamed with madness and satisfaction.

"Finally," he said. "Finally, you're finished, Logan."

He drew his own sword. The blade caught the torchlight as he raised it high.

"I'm going to enjoy this," Elton said. "I'm going to savor every moment of your death. And then I'm going to make your dragon whore watch as I mount your head on the castle walls."

Axel tried to rise. His legs trembled. He managed to lift his head a few inches before collapsing again.

Valencia... run...

"I'm not leaving you!" Tears streamed down my face. "I won't leave you!"

Elton stepped closer. He positioned his sword over Axel's heart, preparing for the killing blow.

I looked down at Logan, at his beautiful silver wolf form covered in blood and wounds.

Something broke inside me. A sound tore from my throat—not quite a scream, not quite a roar. Pure anguish and rage combined into something primal.

I can't lose him. I won't lose him.

I closed my eyes and reached deep inside myself. Deeper than I'd ever gone before.

But this time was different. This time, I wasn't begging.

I was making a vow.

Dragon, I said in my mind. My inner voice was steady, absolute. I know you can hear me. I know you've been waiting for something. So here it is.

I offer you everything. My life. My soul. My future. Whatever you want, it's yours. Just save him. Please, save Logan.

I'll give up anything. I'll sacrifice anything. Just let him live.

The vow resonated through my entire being. It came from the deepest part of my soul, carrying absolute sincerity and determination.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then I felt it.

Deep inside, something stirred. Something vast and powerful beyond comprehension.

The dragon woke up.

Heat exploded through my body. Not painful heat—this was power. My eyes snapped open. I could feel them changing, burning. The world around me took on a reddish tint.

"What—" Elton stepped back, his sword lowering slightly.

Power surged through my veins like liquid fire. My skin began to glow. Red light poured from my body, pushing back the darkness.

The warriors nearest to me stumbled backward. Their faces filled with fear and confusion.

Red scales erupted across my arms. They spread up my neck, across my chest, covering my entire body in seconds.

"Goddess," someone whispered.

My body began to expand. Bones cracked and reformed. Muscles stretched and grew. My clothes tore as my form changed.

Within seconds, I wasn't Valencia anymore.

I was the red dragon.

My body filled half the courtyard. Massive wings unfurled from my back, each one larger than a house. My tail swept across the ground, sending warriors scrambling.

Red scales covered every inch of me. My claws—each one the size of a sword—scraped against the stone as I shifted my weight.

The courtyard fell completely silent.

Every warrior stared up at me with expressions of pure terror. Even Elton had gone pale, his sword hanging forgotten in his hand.

I lowered my enormous head toward Axel. My golden dragon eyes—each one larger than his entire head—looked down at my mate.

He was so small now. So fragile.

Gently, carefully, I pressed my snout against his side. The touch was as soft as I could make it.

Logan. I'm here. You're safe now.

Axel's golden eyes opened. They looked up at me with recognition and love. His body began to shift. The transformation looked painful. He didn't have enough strength left for it to be smooth.

Within moments, Logan lay on the ground in human form. His body was covered in wounds. Blood pooled beneath him, spreading across the stones.

But he was smiling. Looking up at me with those gray eyes I loved so much.

"Valencia," he whispered. "You're beautiful."