I Only Tame Dragons

Chapter 85 Von's Past 1

Von smirked to himself as he edged around the clearing, keeping to the shadows.

He had always been able to sneak in and out of the castle undetected when he lived here. The secret passage was hidden deep within the forest, a place known only to him—a narrow crack in the outer wall that had been long forgotten by the current inhabitants and couldn't be repaired with magic.

It was how he used to escape his duties and venture into the world beyond.

He moved quickly now, his pulse steady, his instincts guiding him.

The passage was close, and if he remembered correctly, it should still be there, untouched and unguarded.

Von slipped between two massive oaks and into a narrow pathway, hidden from view by thick, overgrown vines.

The air was cooler here, almost damp, and the sound of the forest grew muffled as he descended deeper into the shadows.

There it was—just as he had left it.

The crack in the stone wall was barely noticeable, hidden beneath a curtain of ivy and moss.

Von brushed the greenery aside, revealing a narrow opening just large enough for him to squeeze through.

He ran his fingers along the stone, a wave of nostalgia washing over him as he remembered the countless times he had snuck out this way as a young elf.

With a quick glance over his shoulder to ensure no one was watching, Von slipped through the crack, his body moving with practiced ease.

The passage was dark and tight, but it eventually opened up into a dimly lit corridor within the castle walls. The faint glow of enchanted crystals embedded in the stone provided just enough light to navigate by.

Von allowed himself a brief moment to relax. He was inside.

Any ordinary man would have been instantly captivated, lost to her enchantment if they lacked the skills or mental fortitude to resist.

This was no ordinary woman. She was the crown jewel of Crownjade Woods—the princess herself, the most beautiful elf in all the lands. Her majesty, Princess Lyralithra Sylvaran-Velorian.

"Von . . ." Lyra's voice cracked as her eyes filled with tears. In a rush of emotion, she ran toward him, throwing her arms around his neck, clinging to him as though she never wanted to let go. Her body trembled against him. "I thought .

. . I thought I would never see you again." She sobbed into his chest, her voice raw with disbelief. "This . . .

this isn't a dream, right?"

Von pulled her even tighter, holding her close as if the world outside them didn't exist. He buried his face in her golden hair, savoring the moment he had longed for all these years. "No," he whispered, his voice soft and filled with warmth. "This isn't a dream. I've really come back."

Find your next read at empire

Lyra stepped back slightly, looking up at Von, her tear-filled emerald eyes studying every line of his face as if trying to commit it to memory, afraid he might disappear if she blinked.

But then, suddenly, her gaze shifted, panic setting in as her eyes darted around the room. She gently pushed herself out of his embrace, trembling.

"Y-you can't be here," she stammered, her voice shaking. "If Eryn finds out you've returned, he'll . . . he'll . .

."

Von's expression softened as he reached up, wiping away her tears with his thumb. He offered her a calm, reassuring smile. "Relax, Lyra. Eryn can't touch me," he said confidently, pulling out a bronze badge from beneath his cloak, the insignia gleaming in the low light. "I'm protected by this."

Lyra's eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat. "That's . . . a Bronze Player's Badge?" Her voice quivered with disbelief. "You're entering the competition?

Is that why you've come?"