Amber's Fire, Book 3 Of Blood In The Dragon

Conversation 39

Chapter 39

Ripley POV

When I finally got home, I barely had time to step through the door before Dad called me into his office. I sighed. all I wanted was to grab something to eat and then collapse in my room, but instead, I was being summoned. As I entered, he didn’t even glance up from his desk.

“Shut the door and sit down,” he said. My stomach sank. Oh damn… this must be serious. Once I sat, he finally looked at me, his eyes sharp and intense. “So,” he began, “how did it go? Did everything turn out like they wanted?”

I shook my head and told him everything, every last detail, even the arrangements they wanted for the royal’s daughter. His face darkened with anger.

“Are you serious?” he growled, slamming his hand on the desk. “The girl is only five years old! Those… nasty bastards!” He took a deep breath, then leaned back, trying to steady himself. “But listen, I think I might have found the perfect luna…” Before he could go on, I held up my hand. My chest was racing.

“Dad… stop. Right here. I found my mate.”but there's a catch, You can't say anything to anyone,”

“Alright, Ripley. You have my full attention. Who is your mate?”

My hands shook as I stood and quickly closed the door, making sure no one could hear. My heart pounded in my chest. I sat back down, trying to steady my breathing. This was going to break him… I could feel it.

“Dad… it’s the king and queen’s daughter. She’s only five years old.”

His eyes widened so fast, I thought they might pop right out of his skull. He slammed a hand onto the arm of his chair, voice tight and incredulous.

“Don’t…don’t tell me you said anything to her! Don’t tell me you told that little girl! Ripley, it’s illegal! She’s underage! You, you can’t, It’s not right! You can’t do that!”

I swallowed hard, cutting him off before his anger could spiral further. “No! I didn’t say anything to her. I swear! The only thing I mentioned was that others were coming for them. That’s it. Nothing more. I told them I’m not like the others, that I don’t agree with the arrangements everyone else is forcing. I promised them… if they need me, or if they want to see me, I will be there. And then I left. That’s all.”

He froze, the color draining from his face. For a long moment, the room was heavy with silence, broken only by the harsh sound of his ragged breathing. Slowly, almost reluctantly, he sank back in his chair, rubbing his temples as if trying to push the shock out of his mind. Finally, he let out a long, measured breath, tension leaving his shoulders in slow waves.

“Alright… just… be careful, Ripley. You have no idea what this could bring down on you.”

After Dad’s words, the room felt smaller somehow, the air thick with tension. I sat there, heart hammering, mind racing. I couldn’t stop thinking about her, about that tiny, five-year-old girl, unaware of the danger swirling around her, unaware that her very life could be tied to mine. I closed my eyes and let out a shaky breath, trying to calm the storm inside me. But it wouldn’t stop. Guilt pressed on me like a weight, and the thought of her, innocent, trusting,made my chest ache. I can’t let anything happen to her. I can’t.

“What if… what if someone finds out?” I whispered, almost to myself. My hands clenched into fists on my knees. “What if they…”

“Ripley,” Dad said, his voice quieter now but still sharp, cutting through my panic. “You have to stay out of her way. You have to be careful. You can’t… you can’t let anyone know what’s going on between you.”

I nodded, though it felt hollow. Obedience felt like a knife twisting in my gut. “I know… I know,” I muttered.

But even as I said it, my mind was spinning through every possible way to protect her. I could watch from the shadows, I could make sure she was safe without touching the law… but even that thought terrified me..I thought about her laugh, the way she skipped, completely unaware. The way her little hands had clutched mine when she’d trusted me. And just like that, the fear turned into resolve. No matter what the rules say… I will protect her. Even if it costs me everything.Dad’s eyes softened slightly, and I could see the worry etched deep in his face. He didn’t understand all of it, how she had become a part of me before she even knew, but he knew enough to see I couldn’t ignore it. The silence stretched between us, heavy but charged, like the calm before a storm. I swallowed hard, gripping the edge of the chair. The secret wasn’t just mine anymore, it was hers, and somehow, I had become responsible for both our fates. And that thought… made my stomach twist, made my heart pound. I can’t fail her.

I clenched my jaw at my father’s words, staring down at my hands.

Don’t get close to his daughter. Like it was that easy.

“My dragon won’t like that,” I muttered, leaning back in the chair. “He’s already restless. He felt her… he knows.”

My father sighed, rubbing his temples like I’d just handed him the biggest problem of his life. “Well, your dragon is going to have to learn control,” he said firmly. “You’re not just some pup anymore, Ripley. You’re acting Alpha when I’m gone. You don’t get the luxury of losing control over a bond like this.”

I nodded, even though every part of me resisted it. “I know… I just..” I stopped, exhaling slowly. “She’s a kid, Dad. A little kid. She was… happy. Innocent. Running around like nothing in the world could touch her.”

And yet… everything was already trying to. The room fell quiet for a moment.

“You said others know about her?” he asked, his voice sharper now.

I nodded immediately.

“Yeah. Not just the Alphas in that room. Something else… darker. My dragon felt it. They’re watching her, waiting.”

That wiped the last bit of calm off his face. “Then this isn’t just about a bond,” he said. “This is about protection.”

“That’s why I spoke to them,” I added. “I didn’t tell them about the mate bond, but I made it clear, I’m on their side. If anything happens, I’ll be there.”

My father studied me for a long moment, then gave a slow nod.

“You did the right thing.” Relief hit me, but it didn’t last long.

“Because you’re going back,” he continued. I blinked. “In a few days?

“Yes,” he said. “But not as some curious Alpha’s son. You’re going as an ally. You’ll train, observe, and stay close to the King.”

“And stay away from her,” I finished quietly.

He didn’t hesitate. “Exactly.”

I let out a humorless chuckle, shaking my head. “Yeah… sure. Stay away from my mate. That’ll be easy.” My dragon growled low in my chest, clearly disagreeing.

My father stood, walking over and placing a hand on my shoulder.

“This is bigger than what you want right now,” he said. “If you care about that girl, and I know you do, you’ll do this the right way. You’ll wait.”

Wait. Years of it. Watching from a distance. Protecting without claiming. It sounded like torture. But when I thought about her, her small voice, the way she tilted her head like she already understood more than she should…

“I’ll wait,” I said finally.

My father nodded once. “Good. Because when the time comes…”

His eyes hardened.,“You won’t be the only one coming for her.”

A cold feeling settled in my chest.,Yeah… I already knew that. And that was exactly what scared me.

I couldn’t stay frozen in that chair. Every second I lingered meant she could be in danger. I had to think, had to plan, but carefully. One wrong move, one slip of the tongue… and I’d ruin everything, maybe even get her hurt.,I ran through possibilities in my mind. I couldn’t go to her directly, that was forbidden. The law didn’t care about intentions, only actions. I couldn’t risk the royals finding out.

So I watched. I observe. I wait. I started making mental notes:

Keep tabs on who comes and goes near her. Learn the schedules, routines, who protects her, who threatens her. Only step in where the law allows, where it wouldn’t draw attention. Stay invisible, but always alert. It was going to be like walking a knife’s edge, and I could feel the tension in my chest at the thought. Every choice mattered. One mistake, and it wouldn’t just be my life in danger, it would be hers. I thought about her laugh again, the way she trusted me without knowing why. That tiny spark of innocence, that fragile little life… I had promised myself I’d keep it safe. No matter the law, no matter the consequences, I had to. I stood, pacing the room, imagining the scenarios, running through escape routes and safe paths. Every step, every plan, had to be airtight. I had to be smart. I had to be patient. But mostly… I had to be ready. Because someone is coming for her. And I’m the only one who can stop it. The weight of it settled on my shoulders, heavy but necessary. I clenched my fists, feeling the surge of determination. I didn’t know exactly how this would end, or if I could keep her safe forever, but one thing was certain: I wouldn’t let her face the storm alone. And even if the world called it forbidden… I would protect her.