Page 34 of Brutal Alpha Dragon

Mother sighs, a feeble smile appearing on her lips. “She’s been here for a week now, Draco. I think it’s time she meets the rest of your family.”

I hadn’t realized my error until Mother brought it to light. Locking Lily away was my idea. And I can see now that it wasn’t my family’s initial expectation of me. As the Alpha of the Aurora Dragons, I was meant to bring my mate to Aurora Island to be celebrated. It was meant to be a joyous occasion, my family knowing that the legacy of the Vulkans would be continued.

Not knowing where I stand on the matter, I’d chosen to keep Lily locked in her bedroom until I decided. In hindsight, I’ve disappointed my family. But I cannot ignore my own beliefs.

“Forgive me, Mother,” I apologize as I hang my head, “I didn’t mean any disrespect by keeping her locked away. I just—” my voice falters, and I purse my lips.

“I know how you feel about humans, Draco,” Mother accepts with kindness in her voice. “But in doing so, you’re creating resentment between yourself and the girl. It cannot be easy for her. She had a life before this one, I’m sure.”

A long moment of silence passes as I digest this. I’d seen it myself, after all. Before being dragged to the island, Lily Turner did have a life. Waiting tables at a tavern in Seattle and attending classes at the college. Even a family—who she’d been stolen from.

The guilt gnawing on my conscience completely wipes away my appetite. As I sit wallowing in self-loathing, Mother stands up and prepares a new plate of food. I look up when she pushes the plate toward me.

“You know what is needed,” Mother assures me. “Kairo hasn’t taken dinner up.”

I recognize that this is probably my intervention. As I lifted the plate off the table, I thanked my mother and took my leave. Perhaps the introspection is what I needed to feel less aggrieved by my circumstances. And see it from Lily’s perspective.

When I near her bedroom, I notice that the door stands ajar. A moment of panic is only doused when I hear Lily’s voice from inside. Even though I’d given Kairo strict instructions not to visit Lily today, I’m not upset that she’s here.

“What is he like when he’s not being mean?”

I take a step closer to eavesdrop when I hear my sister’s reply.

“Oh, he’s wonderful, Lily. He’s the most caring out of all my brothers.”

“Really?” Lily wonders aloud. “I would really like to meet that version of him.”

My heart stops when I realize that all hope isn’t lost. Despite everything, Lily is still open to the idea of me showing more humility.

As my lips lifted into a smile I could not control, I entered the room.

Chapter 14 - Lily

I’d been in and out of sleep all day. With only the fruits from the basket as my sustenance for today, I grab an apple and bite into the crisp flesh.

The juicy fruit isn’t as sweet on my tastebuds as it should be. I know it’s because I haven’t had much of an appetite after spending most of my day wallowing in my sorrows.

With Kairo’s absence from the day, I’m left to once again reminisce over the family I’ve left behind.

Or rather, the family I’d been stripped from when Draco abducted me and brought me here. Wherever this place is. The small glimpse of the outer edges of my prison wasn’t enough to build a clear picture. After all, it’d been nighttime, and nothing seemed familiar enough to draw a clear picture from.

Another night befriends me as the sun sets with an orange glow. The mystical hues eventually fade, leaving the silver rays of the moonlight to filter through the blinds. I stare forlornly at the hazy mist on the window, longing to see beyond what appears to be a shield.

There’s a reason I can’t see past it. Whether it’s a good one or not, I haven’t quite figured it out yet. All I do know is that I’m here for Draco’s twisted reason.

The dragon man expects me to give birth to dragon children for him. A dignified sex slave of sorts. If there’s any dignity in what he is.

He’s a monster that haunts nightmares. Even if he’s the man who brought pleasure into my dreams.

Sighing with a heavy heart, I drag my feet toward the bed when the door comes crashing in. It’s the first sign of life from outside ever since Draco left this morning.

But I’m relieved when Kairo comes rushing into the bedroom.

“Lily!” she exclaims, seemingly out of breath. Her cheeks are flushed as if she’d been running a marathon to get here. It makes me wonder what the rest of this place looks like. But my imagination doesn’t have the opportunity to run wild when Kairo waltzes across the room and pulls me into a hug.

“Oh, my God!” she breathes with exasperation as her arms remain tightly wound around me. “I’m so glad to see you.”

Chuckling nervously, I draw back to frown at her. “What’s going on?”

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