Chapter 71 The Sovereign
Chapter 71 The Sovereign
Chapter 71:The Sovereign
The heavy mahogany doors were violently blown off their hinges.
A coordinated squad of men broke in…
They were expecting to find the treasure, but instead, they found themselves staring into the cavernous, smoking gullet of a midnight-scaled behemoth.
"What in the heavens is that?" the lead rebel shouted and everyone else could hear his voice cracking. "The captain said the lower pits were locked down!"
"The captain is currently experiencing a spiritual awakening, you absolute morons!" Neria yelled from behind the dragon's massive front leg, her hand protectively covered Pip's tiny head as the hatchling let out a tiny, competitive squeak.
"Alistair, if you do not tell your giant friend to start doing his job right now, we are all going to become pincushions!"
Alistair shook his head violently, the last traces of the glassy blackness faded from his irises.
He gripped his temples, looking up at the beast that was still bowing its massive snout toward Neria’s chest.
"I do not know how to give a tactical command to a mythological creature, Neria! He is just repeating the word mother over and over in my skull!"
"Then translate my instructions to him!" Neria snapped as she glanced at Sebastian, who was standing perfectly still beside her, his glowing scepter seemed to be raised and ready.
"Tell him to breathe! Not on us, preferably toward the treasonous gentlemen with the ranged weapons!"
"Alistair, command the beast to burn them," Sebastian ordered in a terrifyingly calm voice despite the literal dragon taking up the entire terrace.
He stepped closer to Neria and wrapped his hand around her waist to pull her away from the flying glass. "If your rebel accomplices think they can take this palace tonight, let them do it as ashes."
"They are not my accomplices, Your Highness!" Alistair argued, though his hand automatically rose toward the dragon's snout. "They were supposed to secure the gates, not stage a massacre!"
Inside Alistair's mind, some old voice rumbled again, waiting for the true blood to spark.
Alistair took a deep breath, his golden armor reflected the green light of Sebastian's magic.
"Defend the hall! Roar!"
The elder black dragon did not need to be told twice.
It reared back, its massive wings started beating once and creating a gust of wind so powerful that it sent the loose velvet drapes flying across the ballroom.
A column of brilliant, white-hot violet flame erupted from its jaws, painting the entire room in a blinding, terrifying light.
The fire didn't even touch the floor; it surged just above the rebel squad's heads, melting the stone archways and exploding against the far wall in a display of pure, unadulterated power.
The rebels dropped their weapons, falling flat on their faces as the sheer heat scorched the armor right off their shoulders.
"Holy light protect us!" Lyra shrieked from beneath the royal dais, her dress looked completely ruined by soot and ash as she curled into a ball. "Sebastian, save me! The monster is going to eat us!"
"The monster is currently the only thing keeping us from an early retirement, Lyra, so shut up!" Neria called out, adjusting her bodice as Pip tried to climb back up to her shoulder.
She looked up at Sebastian, whose grip on her waist had not loosened a fraction of an inch. "Well, Prince. It seems our alliance just got a massive upgrade. Do you still think I am a liar?"
Sebastian looked down at her, his eyes had that dark, familiar and intense hunger, though a trace of genuine likeness danced in his expression.
"You are an absolute menace to my sanity, Lady Neria. But a partner with an elder dragon and a primordial hatchling is a partner I intend to keep very close."
"Keep your hands on your own scepter for now, Sebastian," Neria purred, though she didn't push his arm away from her waist. "We still have a ballroom full of treason to clean up."
Alistair walked forward and looked at the cowering rebels, then back at the massive black dragon, which was now contentedly resting its chin on the marble terrace, watching Neria with pure devotion.
"The palace is secure," Alistair lowered the tone of his voice, even though it was trembling as the psychic connection finally faded into nothingness. "But the King... the King is going to want answers about this lineage, Sebastian."
"The King is currently hiding in his bunker, Alistair," Sebastian replied, making sure to return to its cold, aristocratic tone as he finally let go of Neria's waist to smooth down his dark velvet doublet.
"Tonight, the throne belongs to whoever holds the leash. And it seems the leash belongs to the lady in the midnight dress."
“Me? Why me?” Neria pouted, clearly not wanting this responsibility.
“Because you’re the only one who can control me…”