The Bearer's Shadow

Gather power. Lose yourself. After the battle at Aethermoor, Kael Thornheart escapes aboard the damaged Stardrifter carrying six unstable shards, a young dragon bond, and a growing fear that the power inside him is changing who he is. When a mysterious force begins manipulating folded space along the frontier, the crew is drawn into a hidden war between dragon riders, Bearers, and the ruthless Preservation Initiative. The Initiative claims it can save the galaxy by controlling those who carry shard power. But its methods leave broken bonds, silenced magic, and lives permanently changed. To survive, Kael must learn that protecting people does not mean controlling them or carrying every burden alone. With Lyra beside him, Ignis choosing whether to trust him, and danger closing in from every direction, Kael faces enemies who would turn Bearers into weapons and allies who may be hiding their own bargains. Somewhere beyond the frontier lies a living prison built from folded space. Somewhere else waits a forgotten power capable of undoing what should never have been changed. But every answer brings Kael closer to a terrifying possibility: the greatest threat may not be the enemy hunting him. It may be the shadow growing inside him. The Bearer's Shadow is Book 2 of The Chronicles of Draconia, an epic space-fantasy adventure of dragons, ancient shards, found family, dangerous magic, and the cost of choosing who you become.