Chapter 3

Serena's POV

I never expected the cold-blooded black dragon tyrant everyone talks about to use a pet name like that.

I drink the nectar, cheeks warm, and shake my head. "Your control's getting better."

"That's all thanks to you." Austin's eyes burn with something close to worship, and he bows his head to kiss the back of my hand. "There's a lords' council today in the capital. Every clan's sending a representative. Will you come with me?"

Of course I will. I can't wait to see what kind of joke Rein's turned into this time around.

By the time we reach the council hall in the capital, a massive stone building, the meeting hasn't started yet, and nobles from every clan are already crowding the room.

"Look, it's Prince Rein and Lady Lilith!" someone calls out from the crowd.

I follow the sound. Rein walks in wearing gaudy gold enchanted armor, head held high, chest out. Lilith trails beside him looking fragile and pale, like she's poured every last drop of strength into blessing him.

"Feel that power coming off Rein? Is that the fox bloodline's blessing at work?"

"Looks like the Golden Lions are finally getting their king."

Nobles crowd around, falling over themselves to flatter him. Rein soaks it up, scanning the room, and his eyes land on me fast.

He pulls Lilith along and strides over, a mocking grin already on his face. "Well, if it isn't my noble almost-princess, Serena. What happened, couldn't even afford a decent robe running with that monster?"

He says it loud on purpose, making sure everyone nearby turns to look.

The simple black dress I have on is actually made from some of the rarest material in the realm. Rein just doesn't know enough to recognize it.

Lilith puts a hand to her mouth, faking concern. "Sister, it must be so hard living out there with the dragons. Look how weak your power feels. Not like me. I've worn myself down blessing Rein, but as long as he breaks into the sacred tier, I'll give everything I have."

It's a nice little performance, bragging on herself while tearing me down at the same time.

I'm about to answer with something just as cold when Austin steps in front of me first.

His whole frame blocks me from view, and he looks down at Rein, murder simmering behind those dark red eyes.

"Back off, you loud-mouthed lapdog." Austin doesn't even raise his voice, but it hits hard enough that a couple of nobles near Rein actually drop to the floor.

Rein's face goes rigid. Humiliated in front of everyone, he yanks the sword from his belt. "Austin, you uncivilized beast! I'll show you what real power looks like, what the Golden Lions can do with Lilith's blessing behind me!"

He roars and forces everything he's got into the blade. His gold armor flares bright, and gold fire climbs up the sword.

The crowd gasps and backs away, bracing for some catastrophic spell.

But right as Rein raises the sword to bring it down on Austin, the gold flame just dies, like someone doused it.

Worse, his armor starts groaning under its own weight and splits open at the seams.

Rein freezes mid-swing. Whatever power he had drains out of him in seconds, like air hissing out of a punctured balloon.

"What's happening? Where did my power go?!" Rein shouts, panicked, trying over and over to pull his magic back together. Nothing. Not even a spark.

The hall goes dead silent for a beat, then breaks into laughter nobody bothers to hide.

"That's the power that was supposed to break into the sacred tier? He can't even manage a fireball?"

"I think that armor's just too heavy for him. Wore himself out."

Lilith goes pale and rushes over. "Rein, are you overworked? It has to be my blessing, it's too strong, your body just needs time to adjust!"

Austin doesn't bother giving them a second look. He turns, takes my hand gently, voice soft. "Baby, the air's foul over here. Let's go sit somewhere else."

I hold back a laugh and let him lead me away.

"That was pretty hot, what you just did," I murmur close to his ear.

His ears go red almost instantly. He tightens his grip on my hand, voice barely audible. "As long as you don't think I'm too rough."

The whole mess at the council turns Rein and Lilith into a joke across the capital. Word is Rein went back to Golden Lion territory and smashed every mirror in his room, then locked Lilith out for two weeks straight.

For someone that desperate to sit on the throne, that vain, getting humiliated in public probably hurt worse than dying would have.