Page 14 of Brutal Dragon King

Does she not know that her life is in my hands, now more than ever?

My insides are boiling now, burning under the first layer of skin. Shallow breaths come like hot pants as I take another step forward, towering over her and casting her in the darkness of my shadow.

The cool, wet air is dense with the heat of my breath, swirling clouds of smoke blowing from my nostrils when they flare. Ryu is on standby when his hand goes to his sword, but I put my hand up to stop him from proceeding.

Not only is the human’s blatant refusal to show me respect enraging, but somehow, it’s also intriguing. If it was any other human, she’d be dead by now.

But I decided that I was going to have fun showing her exactly who I was.

The commotion outside with the rebellious human draws attention from the inside of the palace, and I hear the doors parting behind me.

The familiar clink of heels on the tiles signals Aerwyna’s arrival outside. I recognize the distinct way she walks because I know her well.

She’s been my royal secretary, handling administrative affairs ever since I was old enough to fill the throne. With a blazing glare set on the human, I growl again and grate, “You think I'm unsure of my power?” I scoff. “I’m about to show you just how powerful I am.”

The declaration is met with a frown from her. Glancing at Aerwyna, I address my royal secretary, who, unlike the human, doesn’t hesitate to bow.

“Show the child-bearer to the guest room in my quarters,” I commanded. The decision is impulsive, since the humans that come to The Spine as child-bearers are thrown into the slave quarters underground. “Only if she tries to escape, bring her to me.”

Even Aerwyna gasps. “Your Majesty, the slaves’ quarters are already prepared for your child-bearer’s arrival.”

I turn slowly, deliberately, directing my glare on Aerwyna in a way that declares my authority. From my periphery, I can see that the human remains frowning.

Even she knows that no human stays in the palace.

“Do you dare to question your king?!” I roar at the secretary, who flinches when my words strike her as if they were a hand across her face. I unsheath my sword and flash it through the air, the sharp edge just a dangerous inch from Aerwyna’s neck.

“N-no, Your Majesty,” Aerwyna whimpers, shaking her head while it’s bowed. “Forgive me. Please.”

I let the density simmer a little more, watching Aerwyna’s entire frame shake with fear. I wouldn’t really kill her, but I’m sending a strong message to the human not to challenge me.

“Take your orders and get out of my sight,” I roar, removing the sword from Aerwyna’s neck and hitting the point to the ground with a loud clink. Turning my face toward the palace and showing the human my back, I scoff in dismissal. “She will remain in the guest bedroom until I say otherwise.”

I glance over my shoulder and square my eyes with a menacing threat at the human. By now, her bottom lip trembles with the fear I wanted to instill in her. “You will not leave the bedroom.”

The council of guards files forward, marching toward the palace with Aerwyna leading them to where she’ll show the human to my sleeping quarters. When the human glances over her shoulder, I see the look of fear in her eyes, her bottom lip trembling as her body shakes in Ryu’s firm grip.

I make sure to meet her eyes, mine blazing with the rage that she would dare to challenge me. I don’t know why my impulsive decision to keep her in the palace, under my watchful eye, feels right.

Perhaps this is how I’ll make her life a misery. Personally. While she’s asleep right beside me.

When the entourage entered the palace, I let out the breath I’d been holding only in the human’s absence. The rain stops, and there’s a sense of fresh air I’m able to breathe.

She’s going to be difficult, but I’m going to prove that I am true to what I’m known for in the land as the tyrant dragon king. I always get my way.

Even if I’m not sure what I want right now, or why my dragon wants the girl.

Blowing out a frustrated breath, I return my sword to its holster, then flash into dragon form to fly back to the throneroom. I can’t be wasting precious time on a mere peasant, myslave.

That’s what she’ll be, I decide when I land on the balcony. A slave, who will be treated like she doesn’t even exist. Besides, I have to take care of my royal duties as the king. We plan on overthrowing Hestios and conquering Khyronia.

I will not let a slave distract me from more important things.

Chapter 5 - Althea

I glance over my shoulder, only to find the king’s dark, piercing eyes boring into my soul. For a hot moment, I recognize once again how incredibly striking he is. Beautiful, even. But a predator is only alluring to its prey as a manipulation tactic, to make the hunt easier for him.

A shiver runs through every inch of my stout frame, and not even the soldiers that cuff my hands with ruthless grips feel as strong as the king’s eyes on me.

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