Page 66 of The Cursed Queen

It took every ounce of willpower I could muster not to let my dragon loose. To allow him to hunt down Baxus and incinerate his body until he was nothing more than a pile of ash. That would solve all our problems. Even my human mind loved the idea of putting an end to the bastard. What stopped me was my love anchoring me to my senses, and my fated mate needing my support.

She wasn't what I was expecting at all since first laying my eyes on her. Every time my mind settled on the type of person I thought she was, she'd proven herself to be the complete opposite. I thought she was a spoiled, pampered princess who merely acted out of guilt to free us. Talking with Ryu and learning about how the princess lived in ridicule and abuse squandered that assumption.

What she was doing, what she was constantly risking, went beyond guilt. The princess—Sera—saw the injustice and vowed to do something about it. Not because she had to, but because she wanted to. She was willing to kill the woman she knew to be her mother for our freedom.

How could I hate her for that?

I also thought she might be disgusted with the news of my and Ryu's relationship, but that also had proven false. Ryu said he never brought up our relationship with Sera during theirtraining. He figured she would learn on her own and decide if we were worth perusing. I was bolder, so I told her the truth. Instead of repulsion, she thought our relationship was beautiful. She insisted we stay together if Ryu and I were truly happy together.

There was nothing heartless or malicious about this stunning beauty the fates deemed mine. She was a druid, but unlike her people, she carried a benevolent aura. She left me speechless, which was only the second time that had happened to me. The first being when I first laid eyes on Ryu.

Same-sex relationships were common among our kind, so when it was made public that Ryu and I were together, nobody cared that we were two men. The only problem came with Ryu being tainted blood; meaning him being a hybrid. I wasn't sure if the same could be said for druids, so I waited with bated breath for Sera's response when I told her.

I wasn't Ladon. Hatred over the druids didn't consume me. I may not like them, but after interacting with Sera and Virgil, I concluded that maybe some druids in Iferia weren't lusting for power and hatred. My dragon knew what he wanted the moment we discovered she was ours. My only apprehension was what that would mean for Ryu and I.

I still didn't know what to do.

"Your pacing, my love," Ryu's voice broke through my clutter of thoughts.

I stopped pacing, as he correctly mentioned.

"Tell me what's troubling you." Ryu stood from where he sat at the foot of his cot, walked over to me, and relaxed the tension throughout my body with a single kiss. His lips were as magical as his flames.

"The princess," I said.

"What about her?"

"She's not what I expected. She deserves more credit than I gave her. Seraphina's a remarkable individual."

"That she is," Ryu agreed, a featherlight smile forming on his lips. "I didn't realize how much she and I would have in common. I knew we were hybrids, but to think she was crafted to feel weak and useless, from her people and the queen, her mother."

"Queen Verania's a witch," I growled. "A soulless succubus who would sell the souls of her people for the promise of power."

"I agree. I remember my former master from Quolong speaking ill of the druid queen. She's visited our region frequently to have tea with the Mage King. Not much was known about their altercations, but whatever the topics were about, it wasn't good."

"The sooner we stop her, the better. We must rescue our captured brothers, and Sera will end the queen's life for good."

"Oh?" Ryu quirked a brow in amusement. "Feeling confident of the princess, huh?"

I could only scoff to hide my embarrassment. "Don't be ridiculous. Of course, I have confidence in her strength. We've been training her, have we not? With our help, she can take on anybody who stands in her way. That includes Baxus."

Baxus; just hearing his name had my love scrunching his nose like he smelled something bitter. "I'd do away with him myself if Lord Igneel allowed. Now he wants to lead our den? You realize we'd all be at his mercy if he gets his way."

"He won't," I barked with finality.

Like hell, Baxus would become our new dragon lord. He was a decent warrior, but was more stubborn and hardheaded than I was. I stayed clear-headed in battle, but Baxus' attitude hindered him. That may be the best way for Sera to win whatever challenge Baxus had in mind for the right of leadership.

Speaking of my mate, her floral aroma alerted me of her presence before the drape to Ryu's cave opened, and she walked in. Ryu and I were instantly on alert.

"Sera, is everything okay?" Ryu asked, his protective instincts kicking in.

"Y-Yes. My apologies for bothering you guys, but I, uh—" Sera's gaze fell to the floor, chewing on her bottom lip while her fingers twiddled together in front of her. She was nervous about something.

I cupped her chin and lifted her head. "Speak up, Princess. What's the meaning of this visit?"

My voice came out slightly sterner than I meant to, which had Sera shrinking back rather than opening up. I wanted to kick myself for frightening her.

"You truly don't have a gentle soul in your body, do you, my love?" Ryu asked with a narrow gaze, then softened as he stepped to the princess and enveloped her in his arms.

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