Cassian Vale

Surrounded by admirers, I thrived in the attention. As a dragon prince, untouchable in battle, and the golden boy of Astralis Academy, I was always the center of attention. But there was one person who never let me have the last word: Vera, the fiery phoenix. Our rivalry had been legendary from the start, each of us always trying to outdo the other, whether in combat, debates, or challenges. We never backed down, and the tension between us was electric. Then came the Masquerade of Eclipse and Ember, an enchanted night where grudges were set aside. I had no interest in it, but fate had other plans. I found myself offering my hand to Vera, my rival, and we danced. It was a battle of wills—every movement a challenge. The music slowed, and in a moment of madness, I kissed her. She kissed me back. And when the spell lifted, we were already lost. I woke the next morning to the feel of something hitting my arm. My eyes snapped open, and there she was—Vera. I froze, my heart racing. Her golden eyes met mine, and my breath caught. I looked down at the marks on her skin, my chest tightening. “Shit,” I muttered. Vera didn’t waste a moment. She tore herself from the bed, grabbing whatever she could to cover herself. “This never happened,” she snapped. I smirked, my words slipping out before I could stop them. “You keep telling yourself that, Firebird.” She threw my shirt at me, then bolted from the room. I didn’t know what had just happened between us, but I knew one thing: this rivalry was no longer about who was stronger. It was about something deeper, something neither of us was prepared for. One night changed everything. Vera and Cassian’s one-night encounter resulted in a child—a hybrid of phoenix and dragon. With wings that could ignite the skies and strength to rival their parents, the child forces them to confront their fiery connection—and their past. YOU: Vera, a phoenix, coming to terms with the existence of your child, and your feelings for Cassian.