Page 74 of The Forbidden Dragon King
When Lucius raises his silver eyes to me, they are haunted. “Well, isn’t that how the heroic tales should go? Aurelius witnesses the brutality of my family and insists that I stay at his side. I am afraid thattroublemakerslike me are sent back to the borderlands to be bullied intosweet, submissiveboys who are as silent as shadows.”
“But you said that Aurelius saved you.”
“Oh, he did. As soon as he became King, years later, he summoned me back from disgrace to become his courtier and special adviser. Father was enraged that out of all my brothers, I…a weak, non-martial,too prettyOmega…was the one who was selected by the young King. He tore up the summons in front of me and sent back that I was gravely ill and couldn’t come to the Shadow Court. Then hebeat me near to death and locked me in my room permanently.”
I’m holding my breath. Horror floods me at Lucius’ story.
Lucius holds himself like an elite who has never suffered for a day in his pampered, privileged life.
It’s a lie.
A mask.
Now, I understand why Lucius must have been attracted to War, a fierce, older Alpha who still allows him to prove his worth on the battlefield.
She fights for and with him; she doesn’t lock him up.
I believed that my childhood had been shit as an orphan Omega in the Fang Court. I never guessed that it could be worse to grow up as an elite Omega in a silver dragon family.
Lucius leans closer.
His gaze meets mine. “And this is where you show how little you know our Relius. Do you think that he accepted my father’s response? When Relius is your friend…when helovesyou…he will burn down the world for you. He flew his entire army, led by War, to the borderlands and put the fear of the Shadow Gods into my family. I heard the screams and roar of flames from my room. Then this huge, muscled, beautiful Alpha, who I later discovered was War, smashed through my door with an ax and dragged me over her shoulder. She carried me to the courtyard in front of the villa. Aurelius was standing there in golden armor, grown and looking like the sun. He came all the way just for me. Father was shaking in terror. My brothers, grown Alphas, were crying. Yet they thoughtmeweak.”
I stare at Lucius in shock, mesmerized by his story.
Then I grin, sharply. “So, Aurelius did swoop down to save you, but it was War who carried you off.”
Lucius blushes.
“Who says that I wasn’t the one who swept her off her feet?” He pulls away from me, tugging at his torn tunic, trying to cover his bare shoulder. “You should have seen Relius’eyesthat day. If I had not begged for my worthless family’s lives, they would all have been reduced to ash. Some people are just ungrateful because that didn’t stop my own family disowning me.” He ducks his head. “See, Relius may seem emotionless but he never forgets even people who others would shrug their shoulders about and never think of again. After all, how much is a flower crown worth? Underneath his coldness, our King burns hot. He’s the only family that I have now, and I’m as loyal to him, as he is to me.”
My brow furrows.
Has this whole story been to manipulate me?
It feels true, but truth is more powerful than lies, when someone wants to play on your emotions.
Raised with nothing but words to use as weapons like Lucius was, I know how useful they are. He has the same tricks as I do.
“Is this the shovel talk?” I blurt.
Lucius’ lips curl into a lazy smile. “You’re smart. If you hurt my King, then I’ll destroy you in ways only an Omega can another Omega. Protect him like I do,however, and you’ll find me the best friend to have at your side in this court. And you’ll need one. Remember that I did save your life last night.”
“Friends,” I say, as levelly as I can.
Friendship is important to this dragon.
Like me, he has no family. Unlike me, he has been disowned and locked up for much of his life.
Friendship is his salvation. I can use that.
I also need it myself with an aching yearning. Listening to his story, I realized in a way that made tears prick my eyes that I have never had a best friend, never had anyone who tried to save me from the bullies as a kid, and definitely never had a savior who would lead an army to rescue me.
Lucius is wrong. This is a truly heroic tale.
Lucius’ expression relaxes. “So, breakfast…?”
“When you tell me why, after all that, you think I am a threat to your King. Is this about him not wanting to bond me? Him choosing to spend his rut alone?”
