Page 66 of Dragon King’s Bullied Mate

“I know. ”

“I finally built something peaceful here.”

Sherrell’s voice was gentle. “And you’ll build peace again somewhere else if you have to. But until we find Boden, you don’t have the luxury to just wait around. We have every department at our disposal looking for him, but we have nothing as of right now.”

Lyra swallowed hard. “I’m scared.”

“Of the castle?”

“Yes.” A bitter laugh escaped her. “And maybe of Mikael too.” That part felt dangerous to admit aloud.

Sherrell, unfortunately, noticed immediately. “Oh sweetheart.”

Lyra groaned. “Don’t.”

“You’re in trouble with that one. I’ve known you a long time, and no other man has ever affected you the way he does.”

“I am absolutely not discussing this with you.”

“Mmhm.”

Lyra rubbed both hands over her face. “He’s not the same person he used to be.”

“People change.”

“Yes,” Lyra whispered softly, remembering the way he had held her on the mountain, the fierce protectiveness in his voice whenever he spoke about Beckett, the raw guilt in his eyes when apologizing for the past. “They do.”

After ending the call, she finished packing quickly while anxiety coiled tighter and tighter inside her chest. By the time their ride arrived outside the cottage after dark, Lyra felt physically ill from nerves.

The ride to the castle was awful. The guards were polite almost to a fault and Malaya tried to lighten the mood, but the entire journey felt like being escorted toward a life she had spent so much time escaping.

Three black vehicles surrounded them the entire drive while headlights cut through the darkness as armed guards monitored every stretch of forest they passed. Beckett eventually fell asleep against Lyra’s shoulder midway through the trip while she sat rigidly tense beside Malaya in the backseat.

“You’re shaking,” Malaya observed quietly.

“I hate this.”

“I know.”

“I feel like…” Lyra struggled for words. “Like I’m leaving myself behind somehow.”

Malaya was silent for a moment before speaking softly. “Mikael’s been feeling something similar.”

Lyra glanced toward her.

“The poisoning changed things. Not just physically. He’s remembering things differently now. Seeing people differently.” She hesitated. “Seeing himself differently too.”

That unsettled Lyra more than she wanted to admit.

The castle finally emerged through the storm sometime near midnight. It towered black against the mountainside with hundreds of glowing windows burning through the snow like watchful eyes.

Lyra’s stomach dropped immediately. There were too many memories tied to royalty and power and people like Dag.

As if summoned by the thought itself, the very first person she saw when the vehicles stopped beneath the main entrance was her worst nightmare. Dag stood near the stairs speaking with several guards, broad shoulders silhouetted beneath the castle lights while snow dusted dark hair already damp from the storm.

The second his eyes landed on Lyra, something cruel lit inside them.

“Oh,” he drawled softly as they stepped from the vehicle. “This should be interesting.”