Chapter Eight
1340 Words
The Dragon King’s Return
The palace had fallen silent again.
Elena stood beside Kaizeren on the balcony, watching the moonlight spread over the mountains.
“So someone really saw you?”
“Yes.”
“And they'll tell the others?”
“They will.”
“Then they'll come here?”
“Eventually.”
Elena looked at him.
“Aren't you worried?”
“No.”
“You waited centuries for this moment.”
“I did.”
“And now you're finally going back.”
Kaizeren's golden eyes hardened.
“Yes.”
“To your kingdom?”
“Yes.”
“And you'll take your throne back?”
“I never stopped being its king.”
Elena smiled faintly.
“That sounds very arrogant.”
“It is.”
She laughed softly.
Then her expression became serious.
“What about the dragons who betrayed you?”
“I'll deal with them.”
“Will you kill them?”
“If they stand in my way.”
Elena lowered her gaze.
“I don't want to become part of a war.”
“You won't.”
“You promise?”
“I have no intention of dragging you into my affairs.”
She looked at him.
“Then why are you taking me with you?”
His gaze settled on her.
“Because you're under my protection.”
“Until the two years end.”
“Yes.”
She nodded slowly.
Then she remembered what he had said earlier.
“You called me your mate.”
“Yes.”
“You really believe that?”
“I don't know what else to call what I feel.”
“What do you feel?”
Kaizeren took her hand.
The familiar golden light immediately appeared beneath their skin.
Elena stared at it.
“This only happens with me?”
“Yes.”
“Never before?”
“Never.”
She looked into his eyes.
“Then perhaps you're right.”
His expression softened.
“You believe me?”
“I don't know.”
She smiled faintly.
“But I know something is different when we're together.”
Kaizeren's fingers tightened around hers.
“I feel it too.”
Elena quickly looked away.
“You're becoming too honest.”
“You asked me to be.”
“I regret that.”
“You shouldn't.”
She laughed softly.
For a moment, the world seemed peaceful.
Then Kaizeren spoke again.
“When we return to my kingdom, everyone will know who you are.”
Elena's smile faded.
“They'll know I'm human.”
“Yes.”
“They may reject me.”
“Let them try.”
“Kaizeren…”
His voice became firm.
“You saved my life. No one will touch you without facing me.”
She stared at him.
“You really are possessive.”
“Yes.”
“You admit it so easily.”
“I have no reason to deny it.”
He gently lifted her hand.
“I will announce you as my mate.”
Her heart skipped.
“Before everyone?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I won't hide you.”
Elena looked down.
“I've never belonged anywhere.”
Kaizeren's expression softened.
“You do now.”
She slowly looked up.
“With you?”
“With me.”
Her heart beat faster.
Before she could answer, a distant sound echoed through the mountains.
Wings.
Kaizeren immediately turned toward the sky.
Elena stepped closer.
“Is that them?”
“Yes.”
“Your people?”
“Yes.”
A dark shape appeared above the mountains.
Then another.
Elena's heart began racing.
“They're coming.”
Kaizeren looked at her.
“Stay beside me.”
She nodded.
“I'm afraid.”
“I know.”
He took her hand.
“You don't have to be.”
“Why?”
“Because they'll see me first.”
He stepped forward, his golden eyes glowing beneath the moonlight.
“And when they see you beside me…”
His gaze dropped to their joined hands.
“They will understand.”
Elena swallowed.
“Understand what?”
A faint, confident smile appeared on his face.
“That the Dragon King has returned.”
His gaze shifted toward the approaching figures.
“And that he did not return alone.”
Elena stood beside him, her hand still held tightly in his.
For the first time, she wasn't standing before Kaizeren as a prisoner or a sacrifice.
She was standing beside him.
The approaching dragons descended through the clouds.
And when the first one saw the black-haired man standing on the balcony, he stopped in midair.
His eyes widened.
“The King…”
Kaizeren's golden gaze rose toward the sky.
His voice carried across the mountains.
“Tell them.”
The dragon stared at him in disbelief.
“Tell everyone…”
Kaizeren's grip on Elena's hand tightened.
“…that their king has returned.”
More dragons appeared behind the first.
One after another, they descended from the clouds, their enormous wings cutting through the night air.
Elena instinctively moved closer to Kaizeren.
There were so many of them.
She had never seen anything like it.
“Are they all your people?”
“Yes.”
“They look shocked.”
“They have every reason to be.”
One of the older dragons slowly approached the balcony.
He transformed before landing, revealing an elderly man with silver hair and sharp golden eyes.
He dropped to one knee.
“Your Majesty…”
Kaizeren said nothing.
The old dragon's voice trembled.
“We were told you died.”
“I did not.”
The man lowered his head.
“We searched for you.”
“I know.”
“We believed the seal had killed you.”
Kaizeren's expression remained cold.
“It nearly did.”
The old dragon finally noticed Elena.
His eyes widened.
“And she is…?”
Kaizeren moved Elena slightly closer to him.
“She is Elena.”
The old dragon stared at their joined hands.
Kaizeren's voice became firm.
“My mate.”
Silence fell.
Elena's heart raced.
She hadn't expected him to say it so easily.
The old dragon looked at her again.
“A human?”
Kaizeren's eyes flashed.
“Do you have a problem with that?”
“No, Your Majesty.”
“Good.”
The dragon immediately lowered his head.
“She saved my life.”
Elena looked at him in surprise.
Kaizeren continued,
“She broke the seal that held me for centuries.”
A murmur spread among the dragons.
Elena felt uncomfortable under their attention.
Kaizeren noticed immediately.
He stepped slightly in front of her.
“Enough.”
His voice was quiet, but the entire courtyard fell silent.
“No one will question her tonight.”
He looked over the gathered dragons.
“She is under my protection.”
Then his golden eyes hardened.
“And whoever dares to harm her will answer to me.”
Elena stared at him.
She had never heard anyone speak with such certainty.
For the first time, she understood something important.
Kaizeren wasn't merely protecting her because of their agreement.
He meant every word.
He turned toward her.
“Are you tired?”
“A little.”
“Then we go inside.”
He extended his hand.
Elena placed hers in it.
The moment their fingers intertwined, a warm smile touched his lips.
“Welcome to my kingdom, Elena.”
She looked toward the countless dragons gathered below.
Then back at him.
“I haven't even seen it yet.”
“You will.”
He gently pulled her toward him.
“Tomorrow.”
And as the dragons watched their king disappear into the palace with the human woman beside him, none of them could have imagined that her arrival would change their king far more than the broken seal ever had.
Because Kaizeren had returned to reclaim his throne.
But he had also returned with the one woman he could no longer imagine losing.
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