Blood of Dragons, Ink of Fate
The living room was still.
Lady Greengrass held Astoria tightly, tears soaking into her daughter's hair. Relief—pure and overwhelming—filled the space.
It was Daphne who broke the silence.
"…Keith," she asked softly, eyes still lingering on him, "your eyes earlier—what were they?"
Cassandra nodded, curiosity mixing with awe.
Keith inhaled slowly.
What he was about to say could not be unsaid.
"What I tell you now," he said evenly, "does not leave this room."
The weight of his voice was unmistakable.
Lord and Lady Greengrass straightened.
Lord and Lady Vole followed suit.
Daphne, Astoria, and Cassandra nodded together.
"We understand," Lord Greengrass said gravely.
Keith closed his eyes.
The Truth Revealed
"When I used that power," Keith said, opening his eyes again, "it wasn't only magic."
He paused.
"I am part dragon."
The world seemed to stop.
Shock rippled through the room.
Astoria's lips parted.
Daphne's breath caught.
Cassandra stared, unblinking.
The parents were no better.
"A… dragon?" Lady Vole whispered.
Keith said nothing.
Instead—
His form shifted.
Golden light unfolded like dawn.
Wings—vast, elegant, radiant—spread behind him. Horns curved with regal symmetry. Scales shimmered like polished sapphire and molten gold.
Not monstrous.
Divine.
For a long moment, no one spoke.
Then—
Daphne stepped forward.
Her cheeks burned as she reached out, fingertips brushing the edge of his wing.
"It's… warm," she whispered.
Astoria followed, touching his horn with reverence rather than fear.
Cassandra's hand rested lightly against his shoulder, eyes shining.
"You're beautiful," she said simply.
Keith allowed the moment—then slowly returned to human form.
An Ancestor Remembered
"My bloodline traces back to Temar Runcandel," Keith explained.
"One of my earliest ancestors was not merely a hero of legend—he was part dragon."
The parents went pale.
Temar Runcandel.
They knew the name.
Every ancient house did.
"…The Dragon Vanguard," Lord Greengrass murmured.
"But no one ever recorded—" Lord Vole began.
"Because it was hidden," Keith said calmly.
Silence followed.
Then, without hesitation—
"You have our word," Lady Greengrass said firmly.
"This will never leave us."
Lord Vole nodded.
"So long as House Vole stands."
The daughters echoed them immediately.
Keith inclined his head once.
"Thank you."
Ink and Oaths
That evening, the formal marriage contracts were drafted.
No theatrics.
No bargaining.
Just clear terms, mutual protection, and shared future.
Keith signed first.
Then—
House Greengrass.
House Vole.
The seals burned briefly with magic—then settled.
It was done.
The World Takes Notice
The next morning, the wizarding world woke to a headline that sent shockwaves through Britain:
RUNCANDEL–GREENGRASS–VOLE ALLIANCE FORMED
KEITH ARGUS RUNCANDEL ANNOUNCED AS FIANCÉ OF DAPHNE GREENGRASS, ASTORIA GREENGRASS, AND CASSANDRA VOLE
In manors and ministries alike—
People paused.
Read.
Reread.
And understood.
The balance had shifted.
Quietly.
Irreversibly.