Chapter 44: Protect Me

**Lysandra**

It hit me like a ton of bricks—sharp, sudden, and impossible to ignore. 

This feral beast was him.

That was why Drakar always left, why he begged me to leave when things began to spiral. 

He wasn’t even trying to protect himself. 

He was trying to protect me.

I should’ve listened. I should’ve ran when he asked me to.

But I didn’t.

And now, here I was, alone in the far end of the east wing where the library sat like a forgotten relic. The air was damp and heavy, filled with the faint scent of old books and smoldering wood. 

Even if I screamed for help, no one would hear me. And even if they did, no one could save me. I couldn't help but assume that this would be the day I die. 

The dragon—no, Drakar—stood before me, his massive body coiled with tension. His scales gleamed in the dim light, every inch of him radiating unrestrained power.

"Drakar?" My voice cracked, barely audible, but I forced myself to take a step forward.

"I know you're in there. Please, listen to me. I'm not here to harm you, okay?"

The only response was the low rumble of his growl, a sound that seemed to pulsate through the walls.

His tail lashed out, knocking over a nearby table. Books tumbled to the floor with a loud thud, the noise making me flinch. 

But I didn’t move away. I couldn’t.

I tried to focus on his eyes, searching for the man I knew within the beast. They glinted in the dim light, a swirling mix of amber and shadows. 

They were unrecognizable, yet hauntingly familiar, as if the human part of him was buried deep beneath layers of rage.

The dragon looked exactly like the tattoo etched on his back. 

Though, now that I was staring at the real thing, it wasn’t sexy or mesmerizing.

It was terrifying.

I swallowed hard, my mouth dry as sandpaper.

I was beyond petrified, my body frozen with fear. My heart hammered in my chest, each beat a desperate plea for survival.

The part of me that wanted to reason with him, to reach out and calm the storm within, was battling fiercely with the instinct to flee. My mind was a battlefield of logic and fear, but my feet refused to move.

When I thought I was going to die in this library, did I jinx myself?

Its gaze followed me as I began to edge around the room, trying to locate the door. I kept my movements slow, deliberate, as if any sudden action might provoke an attack.

"Just a little farther," I whispered to myself, my voice trembling.

It cocked its head to the side as I walked stealthily across the room. 

But before I could reach the door, the dragon reared back, his chest glowing faintly as a plume of fire erupted from his mouth.

The flames streaked toward me with terrifying precision. I barely managed to throw myself to the side, but not quickly enough.

The heat was unbearable, and a sharp, searing pain shot through my hand as the flames licked my fingers.

I screamed, clutching my hand to my chest as I stumbled backward. The pain was blinding, every nerve in my body screaming in agony.

“SHIT!!!" My voice broke, and I let out a bitter laugh through the tears that welled in my eyes. 

Here I was, about to be roasted alive by my husband-turned-dragon, and all I could think about was how much I hated this palace.

Even my ancestors that were watching me knew that I was fucked.

My burned fingers throbbed, the skin blistering and red. I couldn’t stop the tears from falling, both from the pain and the sheer absurdity of the situation. 

Here I was, about to be roasted alive by my husband-turned-dragon, and all I could think about was how much I hated this palace.

The dragon snarled, his massive form shifting closer. His nostrils flared as if he could smell my fear, and his claws dug into the floor, leaving deep grooves in the wood.

"Drakar, stop!" I shouted, desperation clawing at my voice. "This isn’t you!" 

He was hurting me. I have no one but my active conscience to blame. 

For a moment, the dragon hesitated. His eyes flickered, the amber glow dimming slightly, as if my words had reached some part of him.

My heart leapt with hope, but it was fleeting. The beast let out a deafening roar, shaking the shelves and sending books crashing to the floor.

The force of it made me stumble, and I hit the ground hard, my burned hand screaming in protest.

I couldn’t keep this up. My body was failing me, the pain sapping my strength, but I couldn’t give up.

I forced myself to my feet, my legs trembling beneath me.

"Drakar," I said again, softer this time. "I know you’re still in there. Fight it. Please."

His tail lashed out again, this time narrowly missing me. I pressed myself against the wall, my breath coming in ragged gasps.

The door was so close now, just a few more steps. But something inside me wouldn’t let me leave. Not yet.

If I ran, I knew he would spiral further. The beast would consume him completely. And if that happened, the Drakar I knew might never come back.

Tears streamed down my face as I stared at the dragon before me, his chest heaving, his eyes blazing.

The thought of dying didn't leave me. I  never thought I would be a victim of a mysterious death that would leave the public wondering, how I died. 

For a moment, everything stilled. I didn't know if my words would reach him, didn't know if the man I knew could hear me through all of this. I had to try.

"I’m not giving up on you," I whispered. It was scary to watch him like that, and I was beyond scared for my life. He didn't seem like my words were getting through to him.

Oh God!