Chapter Seven
1842 Words
Something More
Elena woke to warmth surrounding her hand.
She opened her eyes slowly.
Kaizeren was sitting beside her bed, his fingers still wrapped around hers.
She stared at him.
“You're still here?”
“Yes.”
“You stayed all night?”
“You needed the rest.”
She looked down at their joined hands.
“You could have woken me.”
“You were sleeping.”
“You didn't sleep.”
“I'll sleep later.”
Elena studied his tired face.
“You should rest.”
“I will.”
“When?”
“Later.”
She sighed.
“You always say that.”
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
“You're concerned about me.”
“I need you healthy.”
“For the agreement?”
“Yes.”
He looked amused.
“Of course.”
Elena pulled her hand away and sat up.
Her leg barely hurt now.
She looked down at it.
“The pain is almost gone.”
“Your body is healing.”
“Because of my touch?”
“Yes.”
She looked at him suspiciously.
“You really don't know why I can do this?”
“No.”
“But you're the Dragon King.”
“I don't know everything.”
She smiled faintly.
“That's the first humble thing you've said.”
“I wasn't being humble.”
She laughed softly.
Kaizeren stood.
“Come.”
“Where?”
“I want to show you something.”
Elena hesitated.
“Is it safe?”
“With me?”
“Yes.”
He looked offended.
“I promised not to hurt you.”
“I know.”
“Then trust me.”
She slowly placed her hand in his.
The familiar warmth immediately returned.
Kaizeren's eyes softened.
Elena noticed.
“Does it really help that much?”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“Enough for me to feel my strength returning.”
They walked through the quiet palace.
Elena looked around at the abandoned halls.
“Did all of this belong to you?”
“Yes.”
“You lived here alone?”
“For centuries.”
“That sounds miserable.”
“It was.”
She looked at him.
“Why didn't you restore it?”
He remained silent for a moment.
“Because everything here reminds me of what I lost.”
Elena squeezed his hand without thinking.
Kaizeren looked down at their hands.
She quickly tried to pull away.
“Sorry.”
“Don't.”
His voice softened.
“You don't have to apologize for touching me.”
She looked at him.
“I thought you hated being touched.”
“I did.”
“And now?”
He lifted their joined hands.
“Now I'm reconsidering.”
Her heart skipped.
She quickly changed the subject.
“Where are we going?”
“To the eastern wing.”
A moment later, he opened a massive wooden door.
Elena stepped inside and froze.
Bookshelves filled the enormous room.
“You have a library.”
“My private library.”
“Can I read these?”
“Anything you want.”
Her face brightened.
“Thank you.”
Kaizeren stared at her.
“What?”
“I like your smile.”
She immediately looked away.
“You really say whatever you're thinking.”
“You asked me to be honest.”
“That doesn't mean you have to say everything.”
“Why not?”
“Because you make me nervous.”
“I know.”
She shook her head.
“You're impossible.”
He smiled.
“And you're curious.”
Her eyes fell on a large portrait hanging at the end of the room.
Several dragons stood behind a younger Kaizeren.
“Are these the ones who betrayed you?”
“Yes.”
“You trusted them.”
“I did.”
“And you still want revenge?”
“Yes.”
“What will you do?”
“I'll take back my kingdom.”
“And then?”
“I'll return to the throne.”
Elena smiled.
“You'll be king again.”
“I never stopped being king.”
She laughed.
“That sounds arrogant.”
“It is.”
He stepped closer.
“When I return, you'll come with me.”
Elena's smile faded.
“To your kingdom?”
“Yes.”
“As your mate?”
His gaze settled on hers.
“Yes.”
“But I'm human.”
“I know.”
“They might hate me.”
“Let them.”
“They could blame me for your return.”
“Then they will answer to me.”
Elena stared at him.
“You really intend to protect me.”
“I already told you.”
“Why?”
Kaizeren was silent.
“Because you saved me.”
“That was our agreement.”
“No.”
His golden eyes held hers.
“You could have left me there.”
“I couldn't.”
“You could have chosen yourself.”
Elena looked down.
“I wanted to survive.”
“You did.”
She looked up.
“So did you.”
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Kaizeren gently touched her cheek.
Elena held his gaze.
“You're warm.”
“So are you.”
She smiled faintly.
“That's not very romantic.”
“I wasn't trying to be romantic.”
“You were.”
“Perhaps.”
She laughed softly.
Then Kaizeren suddenly went still.
Elena noticed.
“What happened?”
“I hear something.”
“What?”
“Wings.”
Her expression changed.
“Is it one of the dragons who betrayed you?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
“I don't know.”
The sound grew closer.
Kaizeren moved in front of her.
“Stay behind me.”
Elena stepped closer instead.
“How close?”
“Closer.”
She stood beside him.
Another distant roar echoed through the mountains.
Kaizeren's eyes narrowed.
Then the sound disappeared.
Elena exhaled.
“It's gone.”
“For now.”
“Was it dangerous?”
“Not this time.”
She looked at him.
“You're worried.”
“I'm cautious.”
“Same thing.”
A faint smile touched his lips.
“Perhaps.”
He took her hand again.
“Come.”
“Where?”
“Back to your room.”
“Why?”
“Because I need to prepare.”
“For what?”
His golden eyes turned toward the dark sky.
“For the moment my people discover that their king is alive.”
Elena's heart began beating faster.
“And what about me?”
He looked at her.
“You'll be beside me.”
Chapter Eight — The Dragon King’s Mate
The palace was quiet again.
Elena stood beside Kaizeren on the balcony, looking at the mountains.
“So someone really saw you.”
“Yes.”
“Then they'll tell the others.”
“Yes.”
“And they'll come here?”
“Eventually.”
Elena looked at him.
“Aren't you worried?”
“No.”
“You waited centuries for this.”
“I did.”
“Then you're really going back.”
Kaizeren's expression hardened.
“Yes.”
“To your kingdom.”
“Yes.”
“And you'll take your throne back.”
“Yes.”
She hesitated.
“What about your enemies?”
“I'll deal with them.”
“Will you kill them?”
“If they stand in my way.”
Elena sighed.
“I don't want to be involved in a war.”
“You won't be.”
“You promise?”
“I have no intention of dragging you into my affairs.”
“Then why take me with you?”
His gaze settled on her.
“Because you're under my protection.”
“Until the two years end.”
“Yes.”
She nodded.
Then she remembered something.
“You said I'm your mate.”
“Yes.”
“You really believe that?”
“I don't know what else to call what I feel.”
“What do you feel?”
He took her hand.
The familiar golden light appeared beneath their skin.
“This.”
Elena stared.
“This only happens with me?”
“Yes.”
“Never before?”
“Never.”
She looked at him.
“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 looked away.
“You're becoming too honest.”
“You asked me to be.”
“I regret that.”
He smiled.
“You shouldn't.”
She laughed softly.
For a moment, the world felt peaceful.
Then Kaizeren spoke.
“When we return to my kingdom, everyone will know who you are.”
Elena's smile disappeared.
“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.”
She looked down.
“I've never belonged anywhere.”
Kaizeren's expression softened.
“You do now.”
Elena 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 raced.
“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…”
He looked at 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.
And neither of them knew that this moment would soon change everything.
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