Doctor Dragon And Her Mate

A Better Place

Nina's pov

There were times I was glad I wasn't part of the investigation team or the army. This was one of them. They interrogated my ex and searched the farm house. Our Queen was able to sniff out a faint scent of decaying flesh coming from the area he had planted his vegetables.

They dug the place up only to find two corpses in a single grave - the real owners of the farm. Drake didn't have a choice except to admit to the murders. Hearing about the news of his verdict was a relief. His date of execution was set to two weeks from the date he was arrested.

I didn't intend to witness his death. I had better things to attend to. Like my kids, my job and my mate.

Yeah, he'd have to go there. He was the king's second in command. But me? I'd rather treat my patients in the hospital.

Bree made a full recovery, but made an appointment with the children's psychologist just in case she needed help. I didn't know what horrors she had to endure during the ordeal. I certainly didn't want the memories to impact her future.

A week had passed since that day. Life slowly returned to normal. Everything was the same as before except that we lived in the palace now. Bree and Zoe gleefully agreed to stay in the palace while my father was ecstatic about something else. He was happy to learn that I had finally accepted Blake as my mate.

I got back to my job. Despite being mated to Blake, I didn't want to stop. Being a doctor was more than just a job. Treating my patients was my passion and thankfully Blake not once asked me to stop… unlike someone else I knew.

The days passed by and the day of his execution drew closer. That night, I couldn't sleep. I kept thinking about it. How would it go? What would he say? Did he regret what he did?

I lay awake on the bed when Blake pulled me closer to him.

“You're awake,” he mumbled in his sleepy voice.

“Hmm,” I muttered, snuggling against him. “I couldn't sleep.”

“Something happened at work?” He asked.

I shook my head. I didn't want to tell him that I was thinking about Drake's execution.

“Drake will be executed at around 10 in the morning. You can watch if you want,” he said out of the blue.

My lips parted as I glanced at him. That information wasn't expected. After studying his face for a while I responded.

“I'd rather not,” I said.

“Are you worried about it?” He asked, looking intently into my face. A hint of jealousy lingering in his eyes.

I smirked. “Are you jealous?”

He pouted his lips and narrowed his eyes playfully. “Eh, not really. Maybe a little bit, but not really.”

I snickered. “Why? He's in jail and I'm with you now. You shouldn't be jealous.”

He sighed as he laid back on the bed. “Yeah, but you're still thinking about him.”

My smile faded a little as he looked at me. “Aren’t you?”

“I won't say I'm thinking about him. I was wondering if he regretted what he did. You know… those murders and drugging Bree and everything else.”

He looked at me.

“You're the only one on my mind now. I often find myself wondering what I did in life to deserve you. I think I got lucky.”

He chuckled. “Yeah?”

I nodded. He kissed the top of my head and held me in his arms. “I am the lucky one. You are a gem.” He whispered.

I smiled as I closed my eyes, suddenly finding it easy to relax. His scent and his warmth helped me let go of useless thoughts. Drake may have caused havoc in my life in the past. He might be the reason I had trust issues, but Blake had taught me something else.

Love, care and respect truly existed between life partners. Life truly does get better. We just had to trust our instincts and perhaps have faith in our destiny.

***

The next day was a normal day. Or so I thought.

I was at the hospital after dropping the kids to school when I received a message from the security. My mate was at the hospital to pick me up.

I quickly gathered my belongings and rushed to the gate, my heart thumping erratically in my chest. The worst scenarios kept playing in my mind. Something wrong must have happened. Why else would he come to fetch me during working hours?

“What happened? Are the girls okay? Did Drake escape jail?”

He looked at me and offered a bottle of water. “Yes and no. The girls are fine and Drake is still in our custody.”

I breathed out a sigh of relief.

“You are sweating. Relax. Everything is fine,” he added.

I wiped away the beads of perspiration off my face using a tissue as I took a couple of deep breaths.

They were fine. The girls were fine.

“Why are you here then? I thought something big happened.”

“We need you in the dungeons,” he said.

I frowned. “Dungeons? Someone got hurt?”

He looked at me, his face expressionless. “No. It is his last wish.”

My frown deepened, but it quickly dawned on me. I leaned against the seat and pursed my lips. Inhaling a deep breath and closing my eyes, I tried to relax.

Drake. He wanted to meet me?

“Great. I was hoping I would never see him again.”

A small smile curled on his lips. “He just wants to talk before he is executed. He won't be able to touch you. He will only talk.”

My lips pressed together. “You'd be there with me, right?”

He smiled. “If you want me to.”

I was escorted down the dimly lit corridor of the dungeon. As soon as he saw me he stood up and rushed towards the metal bars.

“Nina!”

“What?” I wasn't happy to see him.

He studied my face and then looked at Blake. “Can you leave? I want to talk to my wife in private.”

I grabbed Blake's arm. “He will stay and I'm not your wife, Drake. I filed for divorce and it would have been finalised if you didn't drag me to court for months.”

He narrowed his eyes on me. “So he's the one that marked you?”

“Not your business, Drake. Why did you want to meet?”

His shoulders hunched, as though he gave up.

“I was hoping… Nina. I'm sorry. I really am. I just… I don't know how to… be better.”

I didn't say anything while he spoke. Just listened.

“I want to learn, Nina. I need help… please…” he looked at me pitifully, pleading with teary eyes.

He was a great actor and a great manipulator. He would never change…

I offered an archaic smile. “It's too late for that. You wouldn't have killed those innocent people if you really wanted to change, Drake. I just can't trust your words. You keep lying and manipulating…” I studied his face. He looked like a little boy who got caught for causing trouble at school. He looked like a sweet person, but looks are deceiving.

“But I have had enough. I don't regret meeting you. You are a reason I have my girls, but I regret not leaving you sooner. Good bye Drake. I'm done.”

I walked away not wanting to listen to more bullshit. I owed him nothing. Not consolation. Not words of encouragement… absolutely nothing.

The Queen met me outside. “He will be executed within an hour. I warn you it will be bloody but it will be a quick, clean cut.

I raised my hand. “No please. I'm good.”

The day ended. The news of his execution spread through the city. A few colleagues who knew who he was asked me about it. It was weird, but I knew the world became a better place without him in it.

End