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NINE RIDERS HIT THE GROUND—THEN THE BROKEN DRAGON LET ONE WOMAN TOUCH THE WING THAT TERRIFIED HIM / Chapter 20 / 20

Chapter 20 - THE DAWN OF THE UNBROKEN

Three months later.

The high cliffs of the Imperial Citadel had been completely transformed. The heavy iron bars, chains, and dark cages were gone, replaced by sprawling, open-air stone roosts filled with fresh water springs, soft straw beds, and abundant sunlight.

The Iron Spire had been permanently dismantled by order of the Crown. Lord Vane, Warden Drake, and Kael were now serving life sentences in the salt mines, their ill-gotten fortunes seized to fund the new Sanctuary of the Shadow Flight.

Marlo stood at the edge of the high cliff, looking out over the endless blue ocean. Beside her stood Alistair, wearing the golden sash of the newly appointed High Director of Military Oversight.

"The Directorate approved the final budget today," Alistair said, hand-offering a sealed parchment to her. "The Sanctuary is officially an independent entity. No military officer can order a dragon into battle without your personal medical clearance."

"Good," Marlo said, taking the document with a small smile. "Because we have fifty more rescues arriving from the western provinces next week."

A soft, warm breeze blew past them as a massive black shape landed quietly on the cliff ledge behind them.

Nyx rested his enormous snout against Marlo’s head, his amber eyes shining brightly in the afternoon light. His left wing was fully healed now—not perfectly smooth, but strong, flexible, and completely free of pain. Alongside him landed the Silver-Wing, now named Ren in honor of Marlo’s sister, her brilliant scales catching the sun.

"You changed everything, Marlo," Alistair said softly, looking at the dozens of dragons soaring freely in the sky above the cliffs. "You taught an entire empire how to listen."

Marlo leaned her forehead against Nyx’s scaled snout, wrapping her arms around the creature who had once terrified every trainer in the realm.

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Nyx let out a magnificent, thunderous roar that echoed across the mountains and seas—not a roar of pain or fear, but a roar of absolute freedom.

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