Page 25 of Brutal Dragon King

The distraction of Kaidën’s surprise might be just what I need so that I don't dwell on the fact that in just less than twenty-four hours, I will have to mate with the human in a ritual to secure an heir for the Kingdom of The Spine.

How will I survive a mating ritual when I've barely survived a kiss?

Perhaps Kaidën's distraction is exactly what I need, and I go through the motions of following the youngest king in the Nayara Dynasty as he leads us to an underground level below his palace in The Shadowlands.

A hum of activity filters through the crack of the elevator doors, and a strange, ruby mist seeps through. The smell of tobacco is ripe in the air when the elevator cube comes to a stop, along with the prominent smell of booze.

“What is this?” I ask annoyedly, nose scrunching when I already suspect what lies behind those doors long before they open up.

“Not another party, Kai…” Jaidën complains with a groan.

“It's not just any party,” Kaidën protests with a grin. He points out one hand as the doors slide apart to reveal a room of low, red light, leather couches, and tables where strippers dance against poles.

“... It's a bachelor party for King Haidën,” Kaidën beams proudly, knocking his shoulder into mine.

Turning appalled, horrified eyes on him, I groan and shake my head threateningly slowly.

“You're not serious, Kai…”

“Of course, I am!” Kaidën replies to me with a proud smirk, forcing us out of the lift with encouragement patted on our backs. “You have a big night tomorrow.”

“You make it seem as if Haidën is marrying the human,” Jaidën grouches irritably.

While the smell of vampires parading the poles as strippers in Kaidën’s dungeon fills my lungs, my dragon grows angry. As do I, glaring at my youngest brother as he urges me to go ahead with a tap on my arm.

“This is very unnecessary, Kaidën,” I scold sternly, but he clicks his tongue and remains persistent as he urges us toward the bar.

“Loosen up, big bro,” he contends with a casual chuckle before entering the bar and pulling out a bottle of his finest bourbon. He brings three glasses and sets them on the counter, then proceeds to pour out drinks for each of us.

I glance at Jaidën, but I find no support when all he offers is a shrug. Fuming internally, I only grab the drink and chug it down in an attempt to remain calm.

I can't believe I've been dragged into this. While Kaidën's eyes sparkle with wonder and delight as he looks around at the strippers working the poles, my irritation escalates.

“Don't be so grumpy, Haidën,” Kaidën offers when he's done downing his drink. “We all deserve a night to live a little,” he grins.

“This is not what we should be doing in a time like this,” Jaidën protests.

“I think it'sexactlywhat we needed,” Kaidën winks. “A night of debauchery, which my vamp girls won't mind at all. See that one over there?” he asks as he points toward a table behind us.

Grouching, I glare disbelieving at Kaidën, plotting his murder mentally while knowing I can't make a single move on my brother, the king. At least, not while we're on his territory in The Shadowlands.

“Come on, Haidën…” he insists, and I only give in to keep him from making a scene in front of the strippers.

Following his pointed finger, I see the stripper he's referring to—a redheaded vampire who flashes a set of sharp, gnarly fangs as her upper lip curls seductively when she notices me.

She slides up the pole, putting on a deliberate show as she twirls and wiggles her fit body in the skimpy black lace set. Looking like a sexual vixen, she licks her lips and proceeds to step off the table with graceful mannerisms.

Truthfully, the stripper is the type of girl I would have quenched my baser desires with if I wasn't set to mate with the human child-bearer.

Actually, if I hadn't met Althea at all…

“Fine…” I relented with a huff, deciding that the only way I could distract myself from my thoughts was by burying my face in the voluptuous bust of a seductive vampire who wouldn't dare to defy me.

Kaidën smirks proudly, twirling his fingers in the air as he calls the stripper over.

“Have fun, Haidën,” he winks at me, nodding at Jaidën as if to prompt him to leave the bar with him just in time for the stripper's arrival.

Groaning as I lose the last bit of my better judgment, I take a seat on a bar stool and reach for the liquor bottle.

---