Chapter 6 Saving The King’s Heir

Elara

All my focus was on the egg in her arms as she sprinted down the corridor. With King Viktor and his guards hot on her trail, I was no match against them.

“Stop her!” yelled King Viktor. 

The guards surged forward, but she darted faster through an open archway, nearly knocking an expensive vase as she disappeared around the corner. 

“She’s heading towards the Eastern Wing!” yelled a guard. 

King Viktor didn’t hesitate, transforming right in front of me into a humongous red dragon with terrifyingly bright red eyes. I staggered backward and stared at his massive wingspan and dark gray scaled armor in awe. He exploded down the corridor, his enormous wings striking the walls as he lunged after the woman. 

The guards followed him, shifting into dragons one after another and taking flight through the enormous archway.

I didn’t think and ran after them, trying hard to catch up. I had no idea where the eastern tower was, but I followed the thunderous sound of wings beating against the air. A shrill scream filled the air as they surrounded her, blocking her escape. 

I raced around the corner and saw the woman standing at the edge of a high stone balcony. The egg was in her hands. King Viktor’s dragon form hovered several feet away, his enormous red and black wings spread wide.

“Put it down,” he growled.

The woman shook her head frantically. “Stay back or you’ll lose your heir.” 

The egg trembled violently in her arms. A thin crack had appeared across its shell, and my stomach dropped.

“No, don’t...” I panicked, but she raised her arms to throw it down the cliff-side into the abyss below. 

“Don’t come close.” Her eyes held the desperation of a woman on the verge of execution. 

“Just release the egg, and we’ll let you go,” I coaxed, but she looked down at the egg and flashed us an evil smile. 

“Too late.” With that, she raised her arms above her head to hurl the egg into the air. 

Just then, King Viktor lunged forward, and his claws caught the woman’s wrist just as she tried to hurl the egg over the balcony. She shrieked, and the egg slipped out of her hand.

“No.” I threw myself forward without a thought, catching the egg before it could hit the railings. I nestled it against my chest, relief flooding through my body. I had saved it. 

However, the next instant, I felt myself falling freely through the air, heading straight towards the abyss below. I had no idea when I had leaned over the railing to save the egg. The sharp, craggy cliff-side stared back at me, and I screamed in horror, clutching the egg as tightly as possible to my chest. 

Then something massive swooped beneath me, and I landed on his back just inches before I struck a sharp peak. 

A collective gasp echoed through the castle. 

I held onto the egg and to the gigantic scales of the dragon who had saved me. It was King Viktor. He was beyond furious. And when he opened his mouth and roared, every part of the kingdom rumbled. 

Despite the near-death situation, I was acutely aware of my core touching his bare back. Through the soft fabric of my underwear, I could feel every sinew in his muscles tense as he carried us back to the castle. He wasn’t immune to me either. 

I closed my eyes to drive those wicked thoughts away. Why was I drawn to a monster like him? He was my sister’s mate. I shouldn’t harbor such thoughts about him. I shivered, trying to wrap those wanton thoughts up. 

‘Focus, Elara! Focus on the egg!’ my conscience prodded me. I felt King Viktor stiffen beneath me. Could he read my thoughts?

He flew into the castle through the enormous arched window and landed, easing me off his back gently. He shifted right in front of me. I stumbled with the egg still clasped to my chest. But he shielded my fall against his broad chest.

I opened and closed my mouth, too shocked to really comprehend what was happening. His arms tightened around me, and I rested my cheek unconsciously against his chest. His heart was racing, and so was mine. Why did it feel as if I belonged there? I raised my head and stared at the man. From so close to his heart, I couldn’t help but notice how well-built he was. He was brawny and thick in all the good places. I had to admit; he was really handsome with a sharp face and a well-defined jaw. The subtle stubble suited him so well. My gaze swept over the faint scar over the bridge of his nose and ‌the dark blue tint decorating his chest with tattoos. 

Suddenly his dark eyes caught mine, and I looked away instantly, feeling ashamed that I had been ogling him shamelessly. How could Zara reject such a gorgeous creature?

“What were you thinking? You could have lost your life!” he growled, his tone thick with raw fear. 

His voice jolted me out of my trance. My cheeks flushed as I noticed the guards all around. They had shifted back into their humanoid forms and had captured the culprit, pinning her to the ground and waiting for King Viktor’s orders.

I eased out of his embrace, still guarding the egg. “I couldn’t let any harm fall on your heir, Your Highness. It’s my responsibility to protect it with my life.”

He gaped at me for a minute before collecting himself and turning to a guard. “Escort her to the chamber.”

Just then, an elegantly dressed middle-aged woman with alabaster skin, a ruby-red mouth, and golden curls cascading to her waist emerged from the same room. “What’s going on here?” she asked in a cool tone, then raised her chin upon seeing King Viktor. But the moment her gaze fell upon me clasping the egg, her lips pressed into a thin line of fury. 

King Viktor glared at her, his eyes throwing daggers at her and his jaw clenching. “You know very well what this is. Did you think you could get away with harming my heir?” His voice was terrifyingly calm, but the woman’s face lost its color. 

“That’s a lie. I have no hand in this. She’s making up stories to cover her crime. Execute her!” she yelled, pointing at the female staff. 

He let out a sharp, twisted laugh that sent an unpleasant shiver down my back. “Phyrallis, answer me or face the consequences.”

My eyes widened as I realized who this was. The mysterious Lady Phyrallis, who wanted to destroy the king’s egg. No wonder he was so mad at her.

The female staff panicked and sobbed, her face twisting with hatred for her employer. “I’m innocent, Your Highness. She forced me into this, or I would lose my job. Please don’t execute me.”

Lady Phyrallis panicked and glared at me. “This is all her doing. They’re together in this. She has framed me, Viktor. How can you accuse me, your mother? You know I cannot harm anyone.”

I gasped in shock. So, Lady Phyrallis was the king’s mother? How could she harm her grandchild? All eyes turned toward me, waiting for me to speak. “I didn’t do it,” I whispered, looking down at the floor. 

“Lock her until she admits her crime,” yelled King Viktor. My heart sank with despair, and I waited for my punishment. I knew they would never believe me over his mother.