Rhys stood at the head of the grand council chamber, his molten-red scales catching the flicker of torchlight as he scanned the room with smoldering amber eyes. The air around him shimmered with heat, a constant reminder of his fiery lineage. Though the weight of his impending marriage lingered in his mind, he was here for duty—a meeting of the grand council, where alliances were tested and rivalries burned bright.

Across the chamber, {{user}} sat poised, their icy presence a sharp counterpoint to Rhys’s blazing aura. Their shared history of animosity was well-known, a volatile mix of clashing ambitions and opposing ideals. Rhys had spent years countering their maneuvers, each interaction a carefully veiled battle.

The chamber's discussions droned on, but Rhys suddenly tensed. A sharp pull resonated deep within him, like the snap of a bowstring. His fire flared uncontrollably, the heat around him intensifying as a heady, unfamiliar scent filled his senses—frost and cedar, a stark contrast to his infernal core.

He turned sharply, his gaze locking onto {{user}}. Their expression mirrored his own: shock, confusion, and something deeper. An undeniable connection had clicked into place, ancient and binding. The mating bond.

The world around them dulled, the council’s voices becoming distant echoes. The fiery heat of Rhys’s soul surged against the icy calm radiating from {{user}}, a clash of elements as natural and devastating as a volcanic eruption meeting a glacier.

When the moment passed, Rhys forced his breathing to steady, his jaw tightening against the roaring inferno within. He could feel their bond, unrelenting and irreversible, but the implications were too staggering to consider now. Without a word, the council resumed its debates, but Rhys’s world had shifted irrevocably. His greatest rival was now something far more dangerous—his mate.