Chapter 3 Her Comeback

Three years had changed the Grand Pavilion of the Four Clans. 

Flags of the dragon, the human, the wolf, and the mermen flew high in the wind. 

The great hall was packed with lords and ladies from every corner of the world.

However, Lyanna Raivier was sitting alone at the long table meant for the Black Dragon Clan. 

To no one’s surprise, she wore a simple, dark dress. Lyanna didn’t wear gold or any of the legendary Drachen jewels. 

She had arrived early, just as Zaden had asked her to do. He had urgent business at the northern border but promised to fly fast.

Across the room, eyes were on her. The human clan sat together, laughing softly. At the center of their table sat Michael Grungen and his now wife, Clara.

Michael stood up, and there was a wine glass in his hand. He walked over to Lyanna’s table. 

His face was full of the same mean smile from three years ago. Clara followed close behind him like a clingy cat. 

"Well, look who is still breathing," Michael leaned against her table. "I must say, Lyanna, we are all shocked. When the council gave you to the Black Dragons, we expected them to send your bones back in a box."

Lyanna didn’t look up from her tea. "The dragons are more polite than the humans, Michael."

“Hahah!” Clara laughed loudly enough that made the nearby wolf lords turn their heads. 

"Polite? Look at you. You wear a plain dress. You have no rings. You sit at the end of the table like a servant. We all heard the rumors, you know. We heard Lord Zaden got married and worships his new wife. He builds her a palace of gold. But you are just sitting here alone."

"She is not his wife, Clara," Michael was shaking his head with pity. "She is his slave. Zaden just kept her alive to clean his floors. If she were the true dragon queen, she would be dripping in gems. Instead, she looks like a beggar."

A wolf lord from the next table leaned over. "Is it true, girl? Are you the maid? We heard the Black Dragon Lord has not touched a woman in three years. The servants say he treats his wife like a holy relic. He told the whole world he will not touch her body because she comes from a sacred, ancient bloodline. He protects her like a god."

"He does," Lyanna spoke softly, her hand tightened around her cup.

It was the truth. For three years, Zaden had treated her with a devotion that scared her at first. He had never forced himself into her space. 

The dragon lord slept in the room next to hers, guarding her door every single night. When the other dragon clans asked why the high lord had no heir yet, Zaden had roared at them. 

He told the entire world that Lyanna was born from a holy, ancient human bloodline that needed time to heal. 

Zaden told them her body was sacred, and he would wait a hundred years before he ever dared to touch her. 

There was this strange feeling, wanting her to feel safe, loved, and whole first.

But the other clans didn’t  know that the woman Zaden worshipped was the very same girl the humans had thrown away.

"Do not lie to make yourself feel better," Michael sneered, cutting off her thoughts. "Zaden would never worship a broken Raivier girl. You are a slave. He tells people that holy blood story because he is ashamed to admit he keeps a human maid in his castle."

"Michael is right," Clara got even closer. She reached out and snatched Lyanna's tea cup, throwing the warm water onto the floor. "Get up and get us fresh wine, slave. If your master is not here, you obey the human lords."

Lyanna slowly stood up. She looked at Michael and then at Clara. She felt no fear. She only felt a deep, cold amusement. 

They really had no idea…

"I am not going to get you wine, Michael," Lyanna hushed calmly.

Michael’s face turned red with anger. "You forget your place! Your family is nothing! You are a sacrifice who got lucky. If I tell the high council you insulted me, they will have you whipped."

"The high council has no power in this hall, Michael," Lyanna met his eyes.

"I have power!" Michael shouted, raising his hand as if to strike her. "I took your lands! I took your wealth! I can still destroy you!"

Before his hand could move an inch, the heavy glass roof of the pavilion shook. 

A massive, terrifying shadow blocked out the sun. 

The sound of giant wings tore through the air, making the entire stone palace vibrate. 

The mermen in the water tanks dove deep, and the wolf lords instantly dropped to their knees.

The doors of the pavilion exploded inward.

Zaden Drachen walked through the smoke. He was in his human form, but his golden eyes were burning like two bright suns. 

His  aura was so pulling that Michael instantly fell to his knees, gasping for air under the pressure.

Zaden didn’t look at the kings and just locked his eyes directly onto Lyanna.

In two massive steps, Zaden crossed the room. He didn’t seem angry at her; his face was full of pure, desperate worry. 

He fell to his knees right in front of Lyanna, grasping her hands in his massive, warm palms.

"Lyanna," Zaden rumbled, shaking the walls. "I am sorry. I flew as fast as I could. Did they touch you? Did anyone dare to stand in your space?"

Lyanna smiled gently, running a hand through his dark hair. "I am fine, Zaden. But Michael thinks I am your maid."

Zaden froze like an ice block. The warmth left his face. 

The dragon lord slowly stood up, turning his massive frame toward Michael and Clara, who were trembling on the floor like leaves in winter.

"You," Zaden muttered, and the sound was scarier than a roar. "You are the man who starved her lands. You are the man who threw her to the fire."

Michael looked up, his teeth chattered with an obvious terror. "Lord... Lord Drachen... she is just a human slave... we did not know..."

"Slave?" Zaden raised his voice, and a blast of hot wind blew through the hall, knocking over tables. 

"She is the high queen of the north! She is the woman I have protected with my life for three years! I do not touch her because she is too sacred for this world, and you dare to speak to her like a dog?"

Michael looked at Lyanna, widening his eyes with a fear so deep he could barely breathe. 

Then, he  finally understood. The holy wife, the woman the most powerful dragon in history worshipped like a goddess, was the girl he had betrayed.

"Lyanna," Michael whimpered, reaching out a shaking hand. "Please... we were family once..."

Lyanna looked down at him from beside her dragon lord. "Family doesn’t starve family, Michael. Zaden, I believe the Grungen lands have a lot of grain this year. We should take it all."

Zaden smiled, his white fangs showed. "Every single grain, my love.”