Khan's POV Still panicking, and unable to answer the lady, I got on my horse when she told me to, and she rode away. We were hiding in what seemed to be one of their hideouts.

She was tending to the very injured person that was with her while I was in constant battle with my conscience. I had killed more than three people in one night, just because of one experience. Why did I even think to save people I know nothing about.

“Will you keep shaking there? Or will you come over here and help me?” She asked, and I raised my head to look at her.

“Who are you?” I asked, and she paused to take a look at me.

“Liora Vale, leader of the Flaming Beacon Cult.” She said, and my eyes widened. I almost felt joyful that I hadn't wasted all the people I killed. I had worked for a good cause eventually.

“Why? Why were you there? What happened?” I asked her.

“Get me a bowl of water from the back first.” She growled, and I immediately sprung to my feet to do her bidding. My chest was heaving, and it was like my heart was on fire, but I could ignore it for a second to do the bidding of the great leader.

I paused for a while as my heart started beating faster than anyone's heart should be beating. I almost fell to my knees because it felt like I was being controlled. I was getting dizzier by the minute, and my legs had started shaking.

“Are you bringing the water or not?” Liora asked. Her voice drew me back to reality, making me take hold of myself despite the struggles I had with my heart.

“Coming.” I growled, getting the bowl, filling it with water, and then heading back.

She took the bowl from me, and then put a bloodied cloth inside, squeezed out the blood and brought it out back again.

She folded another cloth, and asked him to open his mouth. He did just as she asked.

“I clearly said in the courtroom that none of you should come for me. Weren't y'all listening?!” She snapped angrily. “Bite hard on the fucking cloth!!”

She restructured his bones, leaving him screaming.

The man was now sleeping, and we were sitting opposite each other. She was taking a beer while in deep thoughts, probably trying not to think about the crazy things that had just occurred.

“What's your name?” She asked, looking straight at me.

She's the definition of a gorgeous woman. Her white skin was stained with blood from the battle, but her green eyes looked very innocent like she was just given birth to. She had long brunette hair that had been braided.

“Khan.” I responded, taking a sip of the cold water I had gotten from the back.

“Well Khan, thank you.” Liora muttered, still keeping her eyes on me. “You seem old enough.”

I scoffed, taking a gulp this time.

“What were you running from?” She asked, and my eyes widened. “Or better still, who?”

“Someone I used to work for.” I responded, deciding to be truthful.

“Why?”

“She accused me of raping her.”

“Well, did you?”

“No, I didn't.” I answered.

“So, was she your first kill? Or was it someone else?”

“A guard. Every single thing happened tonight.” I sighed, unable to close my eyes as damning things were happening to me at a very fast rate.

“Be calm, I believe you.” Liora said, resting her back. “Where will you go now?” She asked, taking a gulp from her beer.

“You need to have a bath and then have some sleep too.” I shrugged, looking at her.

“That can't be tonight.” Liora sighed, standing like she sensed a threat. “Every single place would be swarming with soldiers, and we need to be alert. Any slacking moment would be life determining.”

“Well…” I sighed, resting back into the chair. “My life got worse in just a few minutes.”

“I wasn't guilty of rape, but I am not guilty of murder.” I sighed. “Of a lot of people.”

“What then would you say about me?” Liora chuckled, moving her chair close to me.

“Well, you're doing yours for the greater good.” I argued.

“That means you only murdered one person for a selfish reason. The others were to save me.” Liora said, and I nodded calmly, almost getting lost in her eyes.

My heart started thumping against my ribcage again, this time like it wanted to burst open. I closed my eyes as this was worse than the usual times. Palpitations have never been new to me, but this is a discovery. This wanted to take my life.

“What's wrong with you?” Liora asked, taking a step closer to me. She was about to touch me, and a feral animal inside me wanted to jump at her just to feel her touch when a loud voice came.

“We know you're in there, Liora Vale!” The leader called.

“Shit!” Liora snapped, turning her back and walking to a small hole there was. She was peeping outside.

“Surrender, and this doesn't have to get uglier than it already is.” He shouted.

“It's the fucking army.” Liora hissed, walking towards me. If only I could listen to her. I was too busy trying to stop the feral part of me that wanted to make its debut tonight. “There are about a hundred castle guards out there that we definitely can't kill.”

“So, let's turn ourselves in?” I asked.

“No. Not you.” Liora growled. “You've done nothing wrong.”

“I will turn myself in, and hopefully, they won't come searching.” She added, and I scoffed.

“You speak like I'd actually let you go out alone.” I muttered, standing although I wasn't feeling like myself.

“Why?” Liora asked, shaking her head.

“Come out now before we storm the place!” The leader shouted.

“We're coming!” I yelled, and I could hear several feet shuffling.

Every sound had gotten enhanced somehow, and my senses felt sharper, but it felt like they were missing something to reach their full potential.

“You just made it impossible to save you.” Liora hissed, and I shrugged. The aggressive boldness that had come upon me was unexplainable .

We headed outside, and Liora turned back to look at me for a second.

“Thank you.” She muttered, hugging me tightly.

My heart started thumping fast again. I hugged her back, holding her tight, doing every possible thing not to take a sniff of her.

Why am I being so creepy tonight?!

She broke from the hug just before I was about to lose my cool and walked outside. I followed behind, feeling lighter and heavier at the same time.

“We are unarmed!” Liora said, raising her arms.

I tried doing the same, but I started feeling so much pain in my body. I started sweating profusely, and my body heated up so much that I could feel it from within.

“Tell your accomplice to rise!” The leader yelled.

“Khan, what's going on?” Liora turned, kneeling behind me to help me rise.

“Geez, your body is on fire.” She muttered, still holding me.

“I'll order my men to release their arrows if you both don't rise now!” He yelled.

“Khan, what's happening?” She asked, and I began to lose consciousness.

“My back hurts.” I growled, feeling like my back was about to be torn apart.

“Please, help him. He's not involved in any of this.” Liora begged, trying to help me stand.

“Argh!” I screamed.

“Fucking rise up!” He yelled, and I staggered to my feet, screaming in pain.

“He's up, calm down.” Liora yelled, standing in front of me.

“Now, get on your knees.” He ordered again.

I could feel something tearing out of my back, and I immediately fell to my knees, unable to keep standing.

“Holy fuck.” Liora muttered, pulling back as whatever was coming out shot out.

“Oh fuck!” The guards muttered, all pushing back.

Slowly, I regained my eyesight, and I felt stronger as the seconds passed.

“Khan?” Liora called as I stood up, raising my head to see her.

“Golden fucking eyes.” The leader of the army muttered.

“He's the dragon.” Someone cried out.

“The dragon of Castmere!”