Arya's head throbbed as she sat up, blinking through the dizziness. Her entire skull felt like it had been crushed under a boulder, but at least she was conscious. She quickly scanned the room, noting Valen stirring beside her, equally groggy but alive. That was something.

Before Arya could fully gather her bearings, a cold, mocking laugh echoed through the dimly lit room. The sound sent a chill down her spine.

"You thought to enter my home uninvited?" A woman's voice cut through the silence, sharp and smug.

Arya's muscles tensed, and she instinctively shifted into her darker persona—the Blood Angel. Anger surged within her, and her voice came out dripping with venom. "I don't give a damn about manners. I want answers."

Stepping into the dim light from the shadows was the woman they had encountered before—the masked figure. Arya's eyes narrowed as she recognized the symbol on the woman's mask, a sleek, coiled viper etched in dark, metallic tones. The realization struck Arya like a punch to the gut.

"The Viper," Arya spat, her tone laced with disdain.

The woman's eyes gleamed behind the mask, clearly amused by Arya's recognition. "Ah, so you've heard of me. I suppose it's only fitting that the Blood Angel and the Dragon Prince would end up in my web."

Valen, still shaking off the lingering fog of unconsciousness, glanced between Arya and the masked woman, clearly confused. The Viper noticed his bewilderment and smirked.

"I knew you'd come after me, following every little breadcrumb I left. And now, I have you both. How convenient."

Arya cursed under her breath, her rage simmering just below the surface. "Amateur work," she sneered. "Setting me up for murder? Really? I don't need anyone to pad my death count. But trust me, if you keep this up, I'll happily add you to my list."

The Viper laughed, a high, mocking sound that grated on Arya's nerves. "Oh, how the mighty Blood Angel has fallen. I was beginning to think I'd never get the chance to face you." She stepped closer, her voice lowering in an ominous whisper. "Imagine the Emperor's delight when I bring him the most feared assassin in the realm. And just think how much more he'll enjoy watching you beheaded... after learning you killed his son."

Valen and Arya exchanged a sharp look, their hearts both racing. This was bigger than just capturing them—it was about framing Arya for Valen's murder. Arya's mind raced, calculating how they could escape. The tension in the room was palpable, and she could feel Valen's barely restrained fury next to her.

Valen clenched his fists, his voice sharp and demanding. "Show me your face, Viper."

The Viper hesitated for a moment, then with deliberate slowness, she raised her hands to her mask, unhooking the fastenings before pulling it free. As the mask fell away, Arya's heart nearly stopped.

There, standing in front of them, was Marissa—Valen's sweet, kind-hearted sister.

Valen's voice broke with shock and disbelief. "Marissa...? What in the gods' name are you doing?"

Marissa's cruel smile only widened. "I'm tired of being seen as the innocent little princess. I want the empire for myself. But there were a few... obstacles in my way."

Valen looked as if he had been struck, his entire world unraveling in front of him. "You... you're behind all of this? The attacks, the lies, the abduction...?"

Marissa shrugged nonchalantly, as though her betrayal was of no consequence. "You, father, the whole empire. You're all in my way, and now I'm going to fix that."

Arya's breath caught in her throat. She had never imagined that Marissa, of all people, could be capable of such cruelty. The shock that rippled through Valen was enough to make her heart ache, but there was no time to dwell on it. They were in deep, and it was clear now that Marissa had no intention of letting them leave alive.

The Viper was not just a threat to them—she was Valen's own blood.

~

Arya's body slammed against the bars of the cage, her entire being vibrating with fury. The metal rattled violently under her weight as she let out a snarl, her golden eyes darkening as the shadows within her surged forward, threatening to consume her. She laughed—a dark, twisted sound that sent chills through the room. The Blood Angel was no longer just present; she was unleashed.

"Play all you want, Marissa," Arya spat, her voice dripping with venom. "But you're a fool if you think you can outmatch me in darkness. You play at being cold and cruel. I live in it. And when I get out of this cage, I will make you regret every single breath you've taken."

The threat hung heavy in the air, and Arya's eyes gleamed with a madness she rarely allowed anyone to see. She didn't care if Marissa saw it, though—she wanted her to see it, to fear what was coming.

Marissa, standing smugly before them, crossed her arms and smiled, utterly unfazed by Arya's display of rage. "So much for the infamous Blood Angel. I thought you'd be harder to unravel," she mocked. "All it took was a servant in your room. I didn't even have to try."

Arya's fury reached a new height at that. She slammed herself into the cage again, rattling the bars with a ferocious scream that tore from her throat. The sound was pure rage—a scream promising vengeance, blood, and destruction.

Beside her, Valen stood frozen, processing the scene with stunned disbelief. He wasn't as angry as Arya, not yet, but the betrayal was still sinking in for him. His sister—his sister—was behind all of this. The shock made it hard for him to react, but Arya's reaction was primal. She was far beyond reasoning, far beyond measured anger. She was a storm unleashed, and nothing short of blood would calm her now.

Valen finally spoke, his voice low but thick with pain. "Why, Marissa? Why do this?"

Marissa only shrugged, her tone casual as though they were discussing the weather. "I've always wanted more, brother. You were too blind to see it, too wrapped up in your own world to notice. The empire is mine for the taking."

Arya's eyes flashed with raw fury as she roared once more, a promise of violence on the tip of her tongue. "When I get out of this, I'll tear you apart. You'll beg for mercy before I'm done with you."

But Marissa just smirked, looking down at Arya like a predator watching its prey struggle in vain. "You won't get that chance, Arya. You'll be dead before the sun sets." She turned on her heel, walking out of the room, leaving Arya and Valen in their cage with Arya's manic laughter echoing behind her.

As the door slammed shut, Arya gripped the bars so hard her knuckles turned white, her entire body trembling with the force of her rage. Valen, still trying to make sense of everything, looked at her, unsure of what to do. But Arya... Arya was already planning her escape.

This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

~

Arya had never seen Valen like this—utterly consumed by fury. His face was twisted in anguish as he cursed Marissa, slamming his fists against the cage, his voice full of betrayal. It was as if everything he had believed in was crumbling around him. His words were a mix of rage and guilt as he ranted about all the signs he should have noticed, how blind he had been. He was losing control, unraveling before Arya's eyes.

"Valen, stop!" Arya called out, trying to ground him, but it was no use. His rage had taken over, and before she could stop him, he slammed himself against the bars once more. The pain in his eyes was unmistakable—Marissa's betrayal had shattered him, and now his grief was manifesting into something far more dangerous.

As Valen's body began to change, Arya's heart skipped a beat. She knew what was coming, but there was no stopping it. The sound of bones cracking and flesh shifting filled the air as Valen's form twisted into that of the massive black dragon. His roar echoed through the space, and Arya barely had time to move as the sheer force of his transformation caused the cage to burst apart. She was almost crushed in the chaos, coughing as she tried to pull herself free from the debris.

"Asshole," she muttered under her breath, shaking off the shock as she scrambled to her feet. But Valen—no, the dragon—was already charging forward, his massive frame tearing through the space with reckless abandon. His black scales gleamed in the dim light, and his eyes, once so familiar, were now burning with rage.

Arya cursed as she raced after him, realizing with growing dread that Valen was not just angry—he was completely out of control.

His dragon form bulldozed through the guards like they were nothing, his powerful claws ripping through armor and flesh alike. Flames shot from his mouth, scorching everything in their path. The guards stood no chance. Arya grabbed a discarded sword and fought off the ones who weren't already incinerated, trying to keep up with Valen as he unleashed hell around them.

"Valen! Stop! You're killing them!" Arya yelled, panic rising in her throat. This wasn't what she wanted. She had killed before—too many times—but Valen wasn't her. He wasn't built for this kind of slaughter, for the blood of innocents to stain his hands. He was the righteous one, the good one. She couldn't let him drown in this.

But Valen was too far gone. His massive head swung around, his snarls growing louder as he locked onto her, his eyes unrecognizing, full of fury and pain. He didn't know who she was anymore.

Arya barely dodged as he snapped his jaws at her, the sharp teeth grazing the air where she had been standing moments before. Her heart raced as she realized the full extent of the situation. Valen wasn't himself—he was lost to his dragon instincts, to his rage. And Marissa... Marissa was probably long gone by now, leaving Arya to deal with the wreckage of her brother's wrath.

Arya cursed again, realizing she had no choice. She couldn't let Valen continue like this, destroying everything in his path, nor could she let him kill her in his blind rage.

"Valen! It's me! Arya!" she screamed, trying to break through to him, her voice hoarse with desperation. But his only response was another earth-shaking roar as he swung his tail, sending debris flying.

Arya dodged once more, gritting her teeth. She had to find a way to reach him—to stop him—before he did something neither of them could undo.

~

Arya sprinted through the crumbling tunnels, her heart pounding as Valen's massive form chased her, the ground shaking with each powerful step. The chaos of the basement echoed around her, debris falling from the ceilings as he crashed through the remnants of the house. She could hear the rage in his roars, could feel the heat of his fury in the air.

"Valen!" she shouted, desperation clawing at her throat as she ducked beneath another swing of his tail. "It's me! You have to listen!"

But his eyes were wild, consumed by rage. Each time she thought she could reach him, he would snap at her, his talons just grazing her skin, leaving her gasping in pain. Arya felt the sting of despair as she realized how far gone he was. She had to get through to him before it was too late.

"Let her die there!" came a cruel voice from the shadows, a familiar laugh that sent ice through her veins. Marissa.

Arya barely had time to register her presence as she twisted and dodged, trying to evade Valen's relentless pursuit. "You think this is funny?" she yelled, adrenaline fueling her anger. "This is your brother!"

Marissa's laughter echoed mockingly through the tunnels. "Oh, but it's so entertaining! A famed hero for killing the Blood Angel? Can you imagine? Everyone will cheer for him! And you?" Her voice dripped with malice. "You'll be nothing but a forgotten whisper."

"No!" Arya shouted, her resolve hardening. "Valen would hate himself for this! He wouldn't forgive himself for killing me!"

"Goodbye, Arya!" Marissa called out, her tone dripping with satisfaction. "See you at the ball!"

With a fierce determination, Arya pushed herself harder, dodging another strike from Valen's talons. She could feel the panic rising in her chest as she narrowly avoided being caught. Just as she thought she might escape, his grip closed around her leg. The force of his slam sent her crashing to the ground, breath knocked from her lungs.

Gasping, she struggled to push herself up, but Valen's massive head loomed over her, his maw filled with sharp, white teeth. Arya felt a surge of fear, but something deeper—familiarity and connection—stirred within her. With a shaky hand, she reached out and gently petted his snout, feeling the warmth of his scales beneath her fingertips.

"Hey, big guy," she said, forcing a laugh despite the tension. "You know, making me sweat this much in two days is rough. Though, I have to admit, I prefer sweating tangled up in bed with you."

In that moment, something in Valen's snarl shifted. The rage in his eyes faltered, replaced by confusion. Arya felt a flicker of hope as she saw the familiar glimmer of recognition begin to break through the storm of fury.

"Valen, listen to me!" she urged, her voice steadying as she ran her hand over his snout. "You're stronger than this. Remember who you are! Remember us!"

His breath came out in sharp, hot puffs, and she could feel the tension in his muscles beginning to ease, even if just a little. Arya held her breath, praying that he would find his way back to her, that he would push through the darkness that threatened to swallow him whole. She needed him to fight against the rage—against Marissa's betrayal.

"Please, Valen," she pleaded softly. "I need you. I don't want to die here, not like this. We can still find Marissa, we can still stop her!"

For a heartbeat, the world around them faded, and all that existed was the connection between them.

~

Valen shifted back, collapsing onto Arya with a heavy thud, and she burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the basement. The tension of the moment melted away, replaced by the absurdity of just how close they had come to disaster. "Well, I guess I'm a badass until you enter the room, huh?" she joked, still catching her breath. "You really pulled the Dragon card there, and it wasn't fair!"

Valen shot her a glare, though a hint of a smile tugged at his lips. "You're lucky I didn't bite you in the heat of the moment," he said, shaking his head. But he knew she was just trying to cope; twice now, she had faced death, and this was their way of finding a little light in the chaos.

He rolled off her and helped her up, his hands steadying her as she regained her footing. But as they stood together, something shifted in him. He pulled her into a tight hug, burying his face in her hair. "I'm sorry for losing control, Arya. I—"

"It's alright," she interrupted gently, her arms wrapping around him. "You fought against it. You came back. That's what matters."

Valen tried to say it again, to express the guilt gnawing at him, but Arya silenced him with a soft kiss on his cheek, her warmth grounding him. "We need to get out of here quickly," she urged, her tone shifting back to seriousness. "We need to regroup and figure out what we discovered. Marissa—she's the Viper. This is all part of her plan."

The weight of that realization hung heavily in the air, and they both felt the chill run down their spines. Marissa, his beloved sister, had betrayed them in the most unimaginable way.

They hurried out of the safe house, the shadows of the tunnels closing in around them. Arya led the way, her instincts sharp and alert, while Valen's mind raced with thoughts of how to confront the betrayal. Each step felt heavy with the weight of what they now knew, but the adrenaline of their escape pushed them forward.

As they emerged into the night, the cool air hit their faces, refreshing yet laced with unease. Arya glanced at Valen, seeing the turmoil in his stormy blue eyes. "We need a plan," she said, her voice steady despite the chaos swirling around them. "We can't let Marissa get away with this."

"Agreed," Valen replied, determination igniting within him. "But we have to be careful. If she knows we're onto her, she'll strike again."

They shared a look of mutual understanding, knowing that they had to tread carefully. Together, they would unravel Marissa's web of lies, and Arya was determined to protect Valen from the pain of betrayal. With their hearts pounding and their resolve solidified, they began plotting their next move against the Viper.