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“D-down the h-hall…” she manages to get out. “I’m okay…just g-go.”
Mina is far from okay, but I don’t have the luxury to argue with her. Vivia will see to it that her wife’s okay after she finishes disemboweling Otis. Let his blood feed the stone and serve as a reminder that turning against your people has consequences.
Mina all but pushes me away. She clearly needs the attention of a healer and leaving her feels wrong, but inside, my dragon rages. My control slips and I shift back, letting my dragon take the lead.
Fucking finally, he growls at me.
Rose's presence is a beacon now, leading me to her. I feel her and every emotion running through her. She’s so scared and her soul calls out to me, even if she doesn’t realize what’s happening.
I fly down the hall, but not before I hear the sickening crunch of bones behind me. I spare a glance down to see Otis’s neck bent at an odd angle. If he isn’t dead, he will be shortly and I have no capacity to mourn him.
Rose is just beyond the door at the end of the hall that leads to the meeting room. Screams erupt, sending a chill down my spine. I don’t bother using my tail to open the double doors. I soar right through the petrified wood, splintering it into hundreds of tiny pieces.
Fire engulfs the room and I hear Rose scream. My head jerks to the side, seeing my wide-eyed wife trembling and completely vulnerable. She doesn’t possess the leather scales of a dragon. Her skin will burn immediately.
And I’m too far away from her.
Time slows and the sound around us silences.
Aeron’s fire comes in hot, burning the wooden table and chairs. Flames lick at the floor and ceiling, coming closer and closer to Rose. Even from this far away, I see the sweat dripping down her forehead.
Before the fire can stake a claim to Rose, Aracelia wraps her body and tail around Rose, taking the brunt of the fire. A small grunt is the only indication Aracelia gives to show her discomfort.
Rose’s head pops up behind Aracelia, her eyes fixated on me. Joy, that seems so out of place in this room, spreads across her face. “Malix!” she gasps, before Aracelia pulls her back down and away from Aeron.
My presence is known if it hadn’t been before. Aeron is slow to turn around and for a lesser dragon, I would assume it’s because they’re fearful. But not Aeron. Never Aeron. He only fears a future where what he wants doesn’t come to fruition.
“My King,” he spits, moving his hulking body closer to mine. “Welcome home. You’ve missed so much while you were gone.”
“You had no right.” My voice is barely my own. Low and gravely, a predator just begging to come out.
“I have every right to protect my people! Someone has to. Dragon’s Keep doesn’t need a weak king. I did what you couldn’t. All dragons are awake and getting the care they need. I used the human like you should have. Now we might actually stand a chance against the Nephilim.”
All dragons? “What the fuck did you do, Aeron?” I hiss, crouching low.
“I kept your precious human in the cellar until she awakened my people.”
“Your people?”
“Yes.” The word is like a purr on Aeron’s lips. “I challenge you for the title, young Malix. To the death.”
There hasn’t been a challenge for the title of king in over two centuries. Kings are revered and respected among our people and in return, we provide for our kingdom. This much power is easily corruptible and if Aeron had his hands on the title, Dragon’s Keep would be only one step above a prison.
I may be more cautious in my approach to the kingdom, but not once did I ever think about anything other than giving my people the best opportunity for survival. I made deals that sacrificed my well-being to keep my kingdom’s best interests at heart in order for the kingdom to thrive.
I will not have a power-hungry tyrant take it from me or my wife now.
“To the death,” I agree.
And Aeron strikes.
Aeron is just shy of being an elder dragon, but his age isn’t a detriment. If anything, his experience aids him. He has studied and known me since I was a hatchling. For that reason alone, I know this fight isn't going to be easy.
Aeron’s teeth make contact with my flank. Pain laces up my body and I hear Rose scream my name. Her tortured cries are almost enough to make me regret my choice to agree to this death match, but there is no other way to settle this.
Aeron must be stopped. I should have seen it a long time ago. A mistake I don’t plan on making again.
Aeron’s dragon is large, standing a few feet taller than me. I’m far bulkier though and much angrier than this bastard is. He messed with my mate and because of that, I can’t allow him to live.
