Things were rapidly spiraling out of control. Luniarnai, now bound by chains and surrounded by the oppressive heat of the Sky Kingdom, could hardly believe how swiftly her world had collapsed. She had once been free—free to explore, to be herself, away from the icy grip of her past. But now? Now she was a prisoner, held captive not only by her chains but by the looming shadows of her heritage.

Queen Scarlet, perched on her throne of clouds, had demanded a price from Queen Glacier for the return of her estranged daughter. The terms were simple yet brutal: a handful of diamonds from the IceWing treasury, or else Luniarnai would remain as Scarlet's trophy, a living reminder of the IceWings' weakness. Queen Scarlet's ruby eyes glittered with cold amusement as she watched the unfolding drama, clearly enjoying the game of power and manipulation she had orchestrated.

Luniarnai's chains rattled as she shifted, the weight of her situation pressing down on her. She had never wanted this. Never wanted to be dragged back into the icy politics of the IceWing royal family. She had long ago accepted that she was no longer a part of their world, no longer bound by their cold expectations.

But fate had other plans.

As if summoned by the very tension in the air, Queen Glacier arrived in a flurry of frost and snow, her regal presence filling the room with an almost palpable chill. The IceWing queen's eyes were as cold as the glaciers she ruled, but there was a flicker of desperation in them that Luniarnai had never seen before.

Luniarnai's heart thudded painfully as her mother locked eyes with her, but before any words could be exchanged, another figure appeared beside Queen Glacier. Princess Snowfall, Luniarnai's younger sister, glared down at her with all the disdain a royal sibling could muster.

"You're a disgrace to the family," Snowfall spat, her voice sharp like a shard of ice. "I don't know why Mother would want you back. Queen Diamond was right to send you away to the Night Kingdom." Snowfall's eyes burned with a venomous hatred, a mixture of jealousy and superiority that stung Luniarnai's soul. "You were nothing but a disappointment then, and nothing has changed now."

Luniarnai felt her chest tighten at her sister's words. Snowfall had always been the favored one—the obedient princess, the one who had stayed by their mother's side, the one who had excelled in the cold politics of the IceWing court. Luniarnai had always been the outsider, the one who dared to challenge the rules, who wanted something more than the cold, rigid expectations of the IceWing royal family.

But Snowfall's cruelty still stung, as if the years apart had never truly diminished the sharpness of their sibling rivalry.

Queen Glacier, her face a mask of stoic authority, finally spoke, her voice colder than ever. "Release my daughter, Queen Scarlet. This negotiation has gone on long enough."

But Scarlet, always the calculating monarch, smiled slyly. "Ah, but the price is still not paid in full, is it, Queen Glacier? A handful of diamonds is hardly an amount that would justify such a... valuable prisoner."

Luniarnai winced at the word "prisoner." She wasn't just some pawn to be bartered away—she was a dragon with her own choices, her own future. But that future now seemed uncertain, slipping through her claws like water.

As her mother and Queen Scarlet continued their tense standoff, Luniarnai was left to stew in the weight of her family's judgments. Her sister's words echoed in her mind, carving deep wounds into her pride. "Disgrace." "Disappointment." Snowfall was right—she was nothing like the IceWings they expected her to be. But what was she? The RainWing who had escaped her past? Or the IceWing who had never truly wanted to be a part of the icy world she had come from?

All Luniarnai knew was that she was trapped. Trapped between her past and her future, between the family who had cast her aside and the life she had fought so hard to create. If she was ever going to break free from this web of lies, betrayal, and broken ties, she would have to do it on her own terms. But right now, that seemed almost impossible.

The cold of the IceWing court pressed in around her like a suffocating fog, and Luniarnai, no longer the carefree RainWing, knew she had to make a choice. One way or another, the ties that bound her were going to snap—and she would be the one to decide how and when that would happen.

Queen Glacier's icy demeanor didn't falter as she stepped forward, her tail raised in a clear, calculated gesture of authority. "I will give you the diamonds you want once Luniarnai is home with us," she declared, her voice frosty and unyielding. Her pale blue eyes flickered briefly to her daughter, a cold, unreadable gaze that did little to reassure Luniarnai. "I will send a messenger to you if you still want them so dearly."

Queen Scarlet's ruby eyes sparkled with amusement at the exchange, a sly smile curling at her lips. "Ah, always so businesslike, Glacier," she purred, flicking her tail lazily as if she were merely discussing the weather. "Very well. But we shall see how long your patience lasts, hmm?"

Luniarnai couldn't help but flinch at the sound of Peril's voice as the dragonet stepped forward. Peril's presence was as fiery as ever, her scales glowing in the dim light, heat emanating from her body like a furnace. The sight of her reaching a claw toward Luniarnai's chains made her shudder involuntarily—too much heat, too much power, too much danger. As the heated air around her began to burn, Luniarnai shook herself free from the remaining chains, her wings instinctively flaring. The chains fell away with a soft clink, leaving her feeling strangely liberated yet still shackled by her situation.

Then, with a growl, Luniarnai turned her gaze toward Garnet, who stood near the entrance to the chamber. His smug, almost mocking expression grated on her nerves as she stepped forward, her eyes burning with anger.

"Give me at least one before I leave," she demanded, her voice low and quiet but carrying the weight of the storm brewing within her.

Garnet's stance remained arrogant, and he stood tall—too tall for Luniarnai's liking. He didn't seem bothered by her plea at all, his lips curling into a near-smirk as he studied her. "It's enchanted by an animus, you foolish traitor," he taunted, eyes glinting with cruel satisfaction. "You get nothing."

Luniarnai's heart twisted with frustration, and a pang of bitterness lodged in her chest. She had once hoped that her moonstone necklace could serve as a symbol of her new life—a lifeline from her past. But now, it was a reminder of everything she had lost. The necklace, the magic, the protection—it was gone. Stolen by Garnet, and with it, the only thing that could have allowed her to remain true to herself.

As the reality of her situation set in, Luniarnai knew one thing for certain: she wasn't going to let this be the end. She wasn't going to let Garnet or Queen Scarlet dictate her fate. With a deep breath, she turned her back to them and walked toward the door, her wings brushing the cold stone floor.

Her journey, her true journey, had only just begun.