Rejected By My Alpha, Claimed By The Dragon Commander

Chapter 7: The Queen's First Stand

He slowly raised his head as I approached. His gaze met mine and his jaw hardened. There was no regret in his eyes. No shame. Not a single teardrop for the stranger he killed for simply refusing him.

My hands formed fists at my sides.

I stepped in front of him, my heart thundering but I refused to show any fear for this madman.

Mira stepped closer to my side. “My Queen, this is —.”

The warrior lowered his head a little. It was barely a nod, then he straightened again.

“Was that supposed to be a bow?” I asked.

His eyes moved over my face. “You are the Queen.”

“Then bow like you mean it,” I muttered, keeping my face stern.

He didn’t move. He didn’t bow either. His expression didn’t even change.

I could feel everyone watching us. The warriors behind me. The people that were gathering around the grave. Mira. Even the men standing beside the warrior looked uncomfortable.

Something inside me snapped and my hand moved before I could fully think about what I was about to do. The slap rang through the cemetery, his head turning to the side at the force. The crowd gasped but I barely heard it because my hand stung like hell. I stared at my hand for a second before looking back at him. My heart was beating so fast at the realisation of what I just did.

Well. There goes my death warrant.

He turned his face back to me, his eyes darkening. He was pissed. I was horrified but I stood my ground. I wasn’t stupid. I knew exactly how much bigger and stronger he was than me. If he wanted to hurt me, I doubted anyone would help me. Queen or not, women didn’t seem to have any power in this region.

But Penelope was dead. And I’d be damned if I just stood there and exchanged pleasantries with this murderer.

“You killed her,” I said.

His eyes stayed on mine. “I claimed her.”

“You killed her,” I repeated.

“That is the law,” he grunted, clearly losing patience.

My mouth fell open. “The law?” I repeated, my voice rising. “You put a blade through a woman's body because she refused to sleep with you, and you're standing here telling me it was the law?”

I walked closer to the grave, my eyes burning. “Did she fight you?”

The warrior didn't answer.

I turned back to him. “Did she say no?”

His jaw tightened but he kept his mouth shut.

I laughed bitterly. “Of course she did.”

Mira touched my arm. “My Queen…”

I pulled away. “No.” My voice shook but I didn't care. “No, I'm not going to stand here quietly while everyone pretends this is okay.”

They all just stared at me, a few of the men shaking their heads. Not at what I was saying. At my behaviour. Like I’m the crazy one.

I pointed toward the coffin. “She had a name. She had a family. She had a life before she came here. She wasn't an object you won because you caught her in a f*****g forest.”

A few people gasped at my language.

“She was a person.” My eyes moved from one face to another. “And you all just stood outside those tents and celebrated while women were being forced to prove they belonged to men they didn't even know.”

I looked at the warrior again. “And now you expect me to stand here and watch you bury her like nothing happened? Like she was your f*****g wife?”

He finally stepped forward.

The warriors behind me immediately moved. I lifted a hand, stopping them in their tracks.

The warrior looked at me, his expression hard. “You are angry because you do not understand Vaelryth.”

I poked my finger in his chest. He barely even moved. “I’m angry because I want justice for Penelope.”

The entire cemetery went silent. I didn’t give a f**k.

Mood Goddess help me for what I am about to do. Don’t let them strike me dead. Would their King even care?

I raised my gaze to the warrior. “Since she was your wife,” the last word came out in a snarl, “and you loved her so much. You shall be buried with her today. Alive.”

The cemetery erupted. They started shouting over one another, some horrified, others demanding that I take back what I said. Mira grabbed my arm but I pulled it from her. The warrior stared at me like I'd just sentenced the King himself to death.

A thunderous roar rolled across the cemetery. Everyone went silent. I looked up and my blood ran cold.

A massive dragon flew over the stone walls, its enormous wings beating hard enough to send leaves and dust swirling across the grass. It circled above us once and I instinctively took a step back.

Was this his dragon? Did he summon it somehow? I really should’ve thought this through.

“This is Vaelryth,” the warrior said. “You will learn our ways.”

“How dare you make demands in the absence of the King?” another warrior beside him muttered.

“That is his dragon,” Mira whispered in my ear. “They will not do anything to you without the King. You will get the chance to plead your case. Let’s just bury your friend.”

I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t say anything. At least I tried fighting for Penelope. I was going to go down in history.

The creature started circling again, lowering itself until its body hovered above the cemetery. Its head turned slowly and its eyes moved over the crowd before stopping on the warrior.

A deep growl rumbled from its chest.

People began whispering. Some stepped back. Others bowed their heads. Even the warriors looked uneasy. I, on other hand, didn't understand what was happening.

I moved. The dragon's head moved with me. My stomach sank. I took another step to the side. The dragon followed. I stared up at it, my heart pounding so hard that I thought I was going to have a heart attack.

It wasn't looking at the warrior. It was looking at me.

Why?

I had no idea.

The son of a b***h warrior had his arms folded.

I was dead meat.