Hades was brought to the castle, Kaelith carrying him in her arms—just barely.

Both Averis and Hades were unconscious however, even though Averis's arm was missing and she had bled a lot, it was Hades's condition that worried the Matriarch.

"He's burning," she muttered under her breath. The heat rolling off him was suffocating, alive with hunger.

Any lesser dragoness would have fainted under the weight of his pheromones, but not her.

She knew exactly what was happening. However, she was unsure of the reason. Was it because he faced someone who was nearly as strong as a Duke-ranked?

That could be the reason.

However, rather than the reason of this situation she was more focused on helping her son first.

She pressed forward, carrying him to safety. Two familiar figures rushed to meet her the moment she entered.

"How is he?"

"Why isn't he awake?!"

Peri and Luna closed in around her at once.

Kaelith exhaled heavily, handing the injured Averis to Ava before answering. "He's nearing his awakening. You both must have felt it, right?"

Luna glanced at Peri, then gave a small nod.

Still holding Hades, Kaelith continued down the castle compound. Her voice was sharp as she called to her maid. "Are the preparations ready?"

Avalin nodded quickly, but worry laced her tone as she asked, "But what about his mate, my lady? Without one to share his heat, his core will overload."

That was the truth of dragonkind. A mate was more than a partner—they were the only one who could absorb the storm of heat during awakening.

That was the difference between natural awakening and late awakening.

For those with a dormant core, it grew with them over the years—each battle, each drop of blood shed, each moment of survival feeding its strength. Some believed late awakening give birth to stronger warriors but it brings a huge risk to the bearer as well.

Every battle results in growth of the dormant core. Then, when it finally reached its peak, the core shattered its shell, releasing an overwhelming tide of heat and power.

Without a mate strong enough to absorb it, that heat could destroy even the mightiest dragon.

And Hades's mates… they were not dragons.

Their bodies would break before they could even begin to shoulder his burden.

"Lady Averis is too injured to even consider her as an option," Ava reported firmly. "She's lost too much blood and needs at least a day to recover."

Kaelith clicked her tongue, a subtle sign that she had, in fact, considered Averis as Hades's potential mate.

Luna and Peri exchanged no protest. After all, Averis had been the first to rush out the moment she heard Hades was in danger.

Silence stretched between them, heavy and unspoken, until Luna finally broke it. "Mother… I have someone in mind who could stand as his mate."

Kaelith's gaze sharpened, and she gave a quick nod, urging her daughter to continue.

Peri tilted her head in confusion, clearly unaware of who Luna was referring to.

Luna let out a quiet sigh, then said, "There is one who has not slept a single night since Hades left… one who stood at the castle gates without rest, waiting—praying—for his safe return."

At those words, silence turned heavier, charged with recognition.

No one present needed to ask. They all knew exactly who she meant.

A certain person came to everyone's mind—someone who had been at Hades's side ever since the day he first learned of his origin.

A woman who had grown up with a single purpose etched into her heart: to serve and protect her young master.

She was the one who had shed countless tears when told she could not accompany him. The one who nearly collapsed when word reached her that he was in danger.

Kaelith let out a long breath, her gaze shifting toward the black-haired girl lingering at the edge of the hall.

"Marilyn," the Matriarch called, her voice steady yet heavy with meaning, "come here."

The young woman flinched at the sound of her name. Luna's words still echoed in her mind, hitting her with anxiety. But even with her body trembling, she did not disobey. Step by step, she moved forward, answering the call.

"Tell me, do you love someone?" Kaelith asked. The question alone told the others she had already accepted the idea.

There was no better candidate. Marilyn had been raised within these castle walls, guided under Avalin's watchful care. To Kaelith, she was like a child who had grown up before her very eyes.

She had witnessed Marilyn's quiet devotion, her tireless loyalty to her master. From a young age, the girl had been told who she would one day serve—and not once had she faltered. To Marilyn, serving the Chaos Heir was not a duty. It was a privilege worth shedding blood for.

That was why Kaelith believed she was the most suitable choice.

"No… my lady," Marilyn whispered, lowering her head. "But… I am not worthy." Anxiety twisted across her delicate features.

She wasn't averse to the idea, rather felt herself worthless to stand beside him.

Kaelith's brows drew together. "Nonsense. You are a daughter of the Moonshade clan, Avalin's own sister. You have proven your devotion countless times, and I know you would never betray my son. You are beautiful, steadfast, and, more importantly, someone he trusts and feels at ease with. What more could I ask?"

Marilyn bit her lip, hesitating. "But… what about Miss Emberclad?"

Everyone knew the truth—it was almost certain that Averis would one day become Hades's mate. There had been friction between them at first, yes, but the walls between them had begun to soften. And with the political bond between their clans, the union had seemed inevitable.

"Ah…" Marilyn breathed softly as she suddenly felt a hand take hers.

She raised her head and found Luna standing there, eyes warm with certainty.

"Trust me, Marilyn," Luna said gently. "Hades would feel relief, not doubt, if he saw you beside him. He trusts you… and right now, he needs you."

Peri stepped closer, her voice firm. "Neither of us can help him now. And even if Averis was his intended mate, she is wounded. You are the only one who can stand with him."

Hearing those words, Marilyn flinched.

That's right, her young master was in danger.

His core would be damaged if he doesn't awaken it any time soon.

With a newfound certainty, she nodded, "Okay…I will do it."

°°°°°°°°°

A/N:- More than 150 chap yet no illustration of these beautiful characters, Ahaha. Thanks for reading.

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