Page 78 of Dragon King’s Duty Bride

Sia stayed aware of her surroundings until they were safely within the castle gates. Something deep within her recognized the scent of danger and tightened its grip around her heart.

Chapter 27

Lucas

Lucas was reviewing reports when he heard the familiar rhythm of Sia’s footsteps in the corridor. Before the door even opened, something in the cadence told him something was wrong.

He looked up from the desk just as she stepped into their bedroom, her brow creased in a way that instantly tightened his chest.

“What happened?” he asked, rising.

She shut the door behind her and leaned against it for a second as though collecting herself. “I went to pick Celeste up from her dance lesson today.”

Lucas crossed the room toward her. “And?”

“There was a man there.”

The words were quiet, but they carried weight.

Lucas’s jaw tightened. “What kind of man?”

“I don’t know who he was.” Sia pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “He was just Strange. He spoke to me as if he already knew me. Said he always knew the important royals.”

Lucas felt the familiar protective heat surge through him. “What else did he say?”

“Not anything that was really out of line,” she said, frustration flickering across her face. “It was just… odd. It was more the really creepy feeling he gave me.”

Lucas reached her and pulled her into his arms without another word. She melted against him immediately. For a moment neither of them spoke. The quiet of the castle bedroom wrapped around them, but Lucas’s mind was racing.

Crystafalls had always been safe, safe enough that guards felt ceremonial rather than necessary.

Until now.

“We can’t ignore this,” Lucas said finally.

“I know.”

His arms tightened around her. “From now on, if either you or the girls leave the castle walls, there will be guards.”

Sia groaned softly into his shoulder.

“I hate it,” she murmured.

“So do I.”

They had always walked through town freely, whether shopping or Celeste’s dance lessons, with no escort, no problems. But Lucas had ruled long enough to know when instinct demanded caution.

“This changes things,” he said.

Sia leaned back slightly to look up at him. “You think it’s that serious?”

Lucas brushed his thumb gently across her cheek. “I think you were unsettled enough to tell me,” he said. “That means something.”

She smiled faintly, then reached up and kissed him. His hands slid around her waist, drawing her closer. But then he paused.

“The girls are all safe and sound?”

“They’re in their room doing their studies.”