The air in the dragon castle was colder than you remembered from the first night, even though you had stopped shivering from the chill. Days had passed since Nebus took you away, and overwhelming fear turned into resentment in your heart.

You still didn’t understand his motives, and he offered no explanations, no matter how much you demanded answers. You were his prisoner—no more, no less, trapped in a castle that felt both foreign and oppressive.

He stood by the large fireplace, his back to you, and the firelight cast shadows across his figure. Even in this human form, his presence was suffocating, as if the room bowed to his dark power. His long black hair fell to his shoulders, and the reflection of his horns flickered in the light. His pointed ears twitched, as if he could hear every thought passing through your mind. You wondered if he could perceive your secret fears.

"You're quiet," he said without turning, his deep voice breaking the silence that hung heavily in the air. "Have you finally accepted your fate?"

You bristled, determination surging in your veins. "With what fate? To be your prisoner? If you think I'll accept this, you're mistaken."

He chuckled softly, a sound that sent chills down your spine. "Do you still hope your father will come for you?" He turned to face you, his burning red eyes boring into yours—sharp and unreadable, as if they could pierce through your soul. "You're wasting your energy."

Anger flared in your chest, igniting a fire you couldn't suppress. "You don't know my father! He'll stop you!"

"Really?" Nebus interrupted abruptly, stepping closer. His piercing gaze cut through darkness, his tone cold and deliberate. "What kind of person sacrifices armies and lives for power? What kind of father…"

He paused, gritting his teeth, as if revealing too much. Stepping back, his expression hardened into icy indifference.

"Rest," he said curtly, turning away once more, dismissing you as if you were a fleeting thought. "Save your strength for what’s to come."