Page 56 of Brutal Dragon King

“Don’t ever leave me again, Althea…” he whispers forlornly, staring up at me through his lashes. “You are mine now, and forever.”

I nod slowly, my soft moans slowly escalating as he increases the firmness and speed of his thrusts. I can hear his thoughts, and know that every word he says is true.

Forever starts right now, and it’s thanks to the baby growing inside me that I will get to live an immortal life, just like my dragon king. He sounds grateful for getting to have me around forever.

Just as I am grateful that I have a chance at a blissful life beside my dragon king.

Epilogue - Haidën

One Month Later

“... The crack is widening,” Jaidën informs us of the latest unfoldings of the crack in the surface of Wyrmwood Forest, where the Wyrm’s awakening timeframe remains unknown.

He’d taken his group of soldiers out to the forest to check up on things since I’d been busy tending to my pregnant mate. I’d warned my brothers that I wouldn’t be as involved as I usually am unless the crack hit the willow tree a few meters down the line.

That’s the point the oracle prophesied for the full awakening of the treacherous creature—if the crack reached that point, it would mean the crack was large enough for the Wyrm’s resurrection.

It’s just a matter of waiting now.

“I would have put that thing back to sleep if I could,” Mother grouches with a grimace, reaching for her wine on the table. “I swear, once it’s awake…”

“Maybe if you did a good job the first time around…” Kaidën comments snidely, prompting Mother to set her glass down with a deliberate force that clinks on the table as she glares at him.

I shake my head disappointedly. The youngest son and our mother have never truly gotten along. He blames her for our father leaving us.

Dysfunctional family dynamics couldn’t even escape the royal dragon shifter race.

I clear my throat, wanting to maintain decorum and keep this meeting as brief as possible.

“Jaidën…” I address the second oldest Nayara Dynasty King. “... How are things in Khyronia?”

My brother’s chest puffs up with pride. Because of his attention to detail in combat, he’d been tasked with getting Khyronia in order after we’d successfully overthrown Hestios two weeks ago.

Jaidën straightens up before replying, “The Kingdom of Khyronia is under control. The people understand that their king is dead and that the Nayara Kings will rule over them now.”

“Good…” I pause, taking a look around the table before deciding that I’ll finally break the good news to them.

After learning that Althea was pregnant, I’d kept it a secret, at least until we conquered Khyronia and had the kingdom safely in our hands.

“Althea is pregnant,” I blurt without further ado. I see no reason to keep this a secret when the news of her pregnancy brings with it hope that the Wyrm will be dealt with accordingly.

The oracle said that it would be a grave threat only if none of us sired an heir with a human.

Mother claps her hands in delight while my brothers take turns to congratulate me with slaps on my back and proud smirks. Once the congratulations are over and I’ve hugged my mother, I sink back into my chair, glancing at the window to see Althea returning from her evening run.

Ever since she discovered her new power, she’s been training every night despite my insistence that she needs to rest and nurture our growing baby. But Althea being Althea means she’s stubborn and won’t sit idly around.

I chuckle under my breath, turning back to my family.

“Since she’s pregnant with the heir of The Kingdom of The Spine, I’ve decided that Althea will be more than just my mate. She will be my queen.”

Mother gasps audibly. “What?!” she exclaims in horror. “A human will be this kingdom’s queen? A slave?”

A sudden burst of anger floods over me. “She isnota slave! She is my mate, and soon to be Queen of The Kingdom of The Spine.”

My blunt response is met with silence, but the hostility isn’t something I wasn’t expecting. I know how my family feels about the lowly humans, and I understand how my decision will change the trajectory of how things operate in my kingdom.

I’ll deal with that later. For now, not even Althea knows what I’ve decided. I’ve been wanting to surprise her with the news and make it a special occasion.

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