Chapter 7 Rex Is Born

Elara

The royal guards rushed towards me, and I cowered with the egg in my arms. I knew my end was near. They would snatch the egg and throw me into a dungeon to punish me for no fault of mine. Dragons hated humans, and King Viktor was no different. He would never trust me over his mother. 

“Please, let me go. Why would I harm my sister’s unborn child? I’ve been protecting it all along.” It was a desperate plea. But it did not affect the guards who reached out to snatch the egg from me. 

Lady Phyrallis’s spiteful gaze swept over me. “What the hell is she wearing, Viktor? Why is your cape on her?”

King Viktor snarled at the guards. “That’s enough! Take away the traitor, not Elara!” He gestured towards the thief, and I sagged to the ground with relief. 

The guards murmured their apologies and dragged the thief away while she screamed to prove her innocence. Lady Phyrallis glared at me instead, as if plotting her next revenge on me.

Just then, the egg began to glow, and I gasped, stroking it to calm it down. “Hey, little one! I’m right here. Calm down,” I whispered while the guards lunged for it. I dodged, cradling the egg further away from their grasp. “Go away. You’re scaring it.”

Lady Phyrallis scoffed at me. “Stop the drama. Viktor, have you lost your mind? Why is this woman still here? Seize the egg from her and throw her in the dungeons.”

No one moved as the shell cracked again. “You’re finally hatching!” I placed it on the floor in front of me and knelt before it. “Come on, you can do it,” I muttered softly and knocked ever so slightly on the shell. 

“Viktor, she’ll harm your heir!” yelled the annoying Lady Phyrallis. What was the matter with her? Did she want to traumatize the little thing trying to hatch?

“Stop this, Phyrallis! You’re scaring my heir.” King Viktor’s booming voice rumbled through the air, quieting her instantly. 

I frowned at their exchange. Why did he call his mother by her first name? 

Another crack appeared, and I stared at it, barely breathing. “It’s hatching!” 

King Viktor’s gaze never left the egg as he took two steps to reach me. He seemed more traumatized than the little shit hatching. Another crack formed, and then another until the shell crumbled on one side. A tiny claw pushed through, and the crowd gasped. For the first time, Lady Phyrallis seemed at a loss for words. 

The little golden claw emerged from the broken shell, and the creature inside squeaked. I couldn’t help the tug I felt at my heartstrings. For days I had protected it in ‌alien territory, fighting against all odds. Now my efforts had finally paid off. I had completed my responsibilities. I didn’t know what the future held for me. Maybe King Viktor would finally punish me for Zara’s crimes. But I didn’t care anymore. 

“Come on, little one.” I gently stroked the shell. “I’m right here.” 

The egg responded with another tremor. 

Just then, King Viktor’s voice broke through the silence. “How does it know you? What tricks are you pulling, Elara?” 

I rolled my eyes at his stupid remark. Didn’t he get it yet? “I kept it warm and safe when others couldn’t.”

Lady Phyrallis clenched her hands, glaring at me. “Watch your mouth, bitch!”

“Phyrallis, enough!” Viktor’s cold command sliced through the thick air. 

Lady Phyrallis scoffed. “Are you talking to your mother in that tone, Viktor?” 

King Viktor glared at her. “Stepmother, Phyrallis. You can never be my mother.”

My eyes widened as I finally realized who this woman was. No wonder she tried to harm the egg. 

A loud gasp made me focus on the egg. Another piece of the shell fell away, and a tiny snout appeared. Then two closed eyes appeared, and the baby dragon struggled against the remaining shell. I instinctively pulled the broken pieces away while King Viktor watched helplessly, totally at a loss. 

Suddenly the egg shattered, and a tiny dragon hatched with a tiny squeal and a snort. I tilted my head and watched it hatch in awe. He was covered in shimmering black-and-gold scales, with two tiny wings folded against his back. His horns were barely more than little bumps on his head, while his eyes were golden. They were unmistakably Viktor’s. 

“Rex!” whispered King Viktor as he knelt beside me. “My son.”

But Rex turned and saw me instead of his father. I fell on my butt as he looked at me as if he were a little drunk. After a few seconds, the disorientation faded from his eyes, and they locked onto me. With a little bark, he ran towards me, his tongue lolling out like a happy puppy. 

My eyes widened as I glanced at the shock written all over King Viktor’s face. Before I could say a word, Rex crashed against my chest, and I couldn’t move. My lungs felt crushed and devoid of air. 

“Oh, my God!” I noticed the anger radiating off every creature present around us. The king’s heir had chosen me instead of his father. Would they execute me?

But Rex was lost in a world of his own, rubbing himself against me, licking me like an excited puppy, and making gurgling, happy noises in my lap. I held him close to my heart and looked up at King Viktor, who had gone completely still as he watched us interact. 

“I don’t believe this! Check on the bitch! I’m sure she’s using magic to control your heir, Viktor.” She marched away, leaving us alone in the corridor. 

“Escort them to the nursery!” muttered King Viktor, standing with his fists clenched. 

Two guards led us to another wing, into a newly furnished nursery. It was unlike anything I had imagined a royal nursery would look like.

The walls were painted in shades of midnight blue and gold, with intricate carvings of dragons soaring through clouds. A massive circular window overlooked the snow-covered mountains. A golden cradle stood in the center of the room, surrounded by plush cushions.

A fireplace crackled in the corner, keeping the room comfortably warm. Beyond the nursery was an adjoining bedroom, furnished with a large four-poster bed, a wardrobe, and a private bathroom. It was more luxurious than the one I had previously occupied. 

I placed Rex on his crib, but he stretched his tiny wings and climbed back up my chest. He settled against the crook of my neck. I instinctively wrapped my arms around him. 

Just then the door opened, and King Viktor walked in. He looked different without the crowd surrounding him. His black shirt stretched across his broad shoulders, and his dark trousers emphasized his imposing stature. His expression was unreadable; his golden eyes fixed on the tiny dragon in my arms. My heart constricted with fear.

What was he here for? Would he take Rex away from me now that his son had hatched? Would he finally release me from my responsibilities toward the little dragon? Or had he come to punish me?