Draven’s dragon rumbled with menace even from his position in Lila’s protective embrace.It changes everything, Veyra.
Veyra’s dragon launched skyward without another word, her plans clearly unraveling faster than she could adapt. Soon, very soon, justice would be served for his parents’ murders.
Lyric’s mental voice carried formal authority now.I will notify the council immediately that our new queen is the Queen of Fire reborn. The coronation will proceed at dawn.
Make it so,Draven responded.And Lyric—triple the guard tonight. Trust me.
As Lyric’s dragon disappeared into the distance, Lila shifted back to her human form in the shallow water, her naked body immediately pressing close to assess his injuries. Draven followed suit, his transformation sending fresh waves of pain through his burned skin.
“Let me see,” she commanded, her hands hovering over the worst of the burns on his chest and shoulders. Her touch was clinical yet tender, those beautiful green eyes cataloging every injury with professional precision.
“They’re not that bad,” he insisted, though his voice came out strained.
“They’re bad enough,” she replied firmly. “We’re going back to the castle right now so the healer can treat these properly. And you’re going to rest until you’re fully healed.”
Even through his pain, Draven felt his lips curve into a smile. His queen was already taking charge, protecting her king in every way. “I’m not going to miss you being crowned tomorrow. Or celebrating our success at the Bondfire Ritual.”
“Then I’ll tell Lyric to bring the council and nobles outside the castle grounds.” She stood, water cascading from her body in ways that made his blood heat despite his injuries. “We can have the coronation in the gardens.”
“That’s never been done before,” he pointed out, though admiration colored his words.
“Well, I’m showing them a new way of doing things.” Fire sparked in her eyes—not dragon fire, but the flames of a born leader. “They’ll listen to their new queen.”
Damn right they will.
“You’re going to lead them in ways they never could’ve imagined. I can’t think of a better person to rule beside me.”
Without waiting for his further input, she shifted back into her beautiful crimson dragon. Draven remained human as she carefully lifted him in her claws—an arrangement that should have wounded his alpha pride but instead filled him with deep satisfaction. His queen was protecting him, claiming him, showing the world that their bond transcended traditional power dynamics.
As they soared toward the castle through the blazing afternoon sunlight, Draven’s thoughts turned to tomorrow. Lila would finally receive the recognition she deserved, and Veyra would face justice for her crimes.
Tomorrow, everything changes. Tomorrow, my queen takes her rightful place, and our enemies will fall.
The cooling balm and the healer’s attention awaited, but more importantly, so did the dawn that would see his Lila crowned as the Queen of Fire.
Several hours later, the healer’s cooling balm had worked its magic on Draven’s burns, leaving him wrapped in pristine white bandages that made him look more vulnerable than he’d ever appeared in his life. The irony wasn’t lost on him—here he was, the most powerful dragon shifter in the Southern Dragon Dominion, being tended to like an invalid while his mate refused to leave his side.
Not that I’m complaining. If it were up to me, she would be by my side every second.
Lila sat on his massive bed, her fingers tracing gentle patterns along his uninjured forearm. The mate bond thrummed between them, her presence soothing the residual ache from the explosion better than any healer’s remedy ever could.
“Nyra discovered something fascinating about my lineage,” she said, her voice carrying that particular note of excitementhe’d grown to adore. “My great-great-great grandfather was a royal guard here two centuries ago. I have noble blood and actual ties to your kingdom.”
Draven’s chest swelled with pride, though he kept his expression neutral. “Nyra told me last night. I was planning to celebrate that revelation properly after our success today, but then?—”
“The explosion.” Her jaw tightened, those green eyes flashing with fury that made his dragon rumble with approval.
“That wasn’t just the sacred fire being too intense because of our strong mate bond, was it?” she pressed.
“No,” he replied sharply. “That was sabotage. Veyra must have planted some kind of device to detonate if our ritual succeeded—which it did, spectacularly.” His lips curved into a predatory smile. “She wanted to eliminate us both when her original plan failed.”
Lila shot to her feet, pacing with the restless energy of a caged predator. “This woman is actively trying to kill us, Draven. We should arrest her tonight. Why are we still waiting?”
Because I want to watch her world burn publicly, just like she tried to burn mine.
“Patience, my queen.” He caught her wrist as she passed, tugging her back to the bed with gentle insistence. “Tomorrow, we will expose her in front of the entire council and noble houses. She’ll be ruined forever before we throw her in the dungeons and lose the key.”
The fire in her eyes banked slightly, replaced by something softer. “I don’t mean to change the subject. But can I invite Liam and Harper to the coronation tomorrow? I know it’s short notice, but?—”
