Chapter 38

Aureus

Now that my mate was discharged, and home, my head was a little clearer. She was home on a day’s bed rest with Snow, who was fine… just grumpy. I currently searched every floor from the top down by myself. At all the exits was a Council Dragon.… We were smart about this, making sure the resident list was right, but we also checked the empty apartments too…

Most bowed and gave respects, others tried to give gifts. It wasn’t needed. Down below in the basement, Mr. Mathews and his fellow priests, caretakers and family members tried finding who it was through magical means.

We found room 1402 to be completely clean and empty. There was a layer of dust and frost on all the furniture…. I could see the shoeprints left in the room. The frost was full on snow where the shoeprints started, and I put two and two together.

This had to be where he used the artifact. But I also wasn’t stupid. An assassin good enough to hide In my apartment… this was left on purpose.

So was the ID, a Theo Hamp, race: Dragon, Age: 85…. Much to Young to hold a grudge from the past…. Unless he blames my past actions for getting a family member killed… That was possible.

/Search Theo Hamp’s office. He’s in accounting, so that should be on floor 34 or 35/ I grumbled.

/I’ll Go./ Offered Kenny, a brass colored dragon. He was my eighth in the company.

/I’ll go with him./ Said Saika, Saiyoken’s brother. I didn’t expect him to take initiative, but I responded with the Ok.

Since we didn’t know who this Theo was working with, it would be a good idea to have eyes and ears on both royal and financial parties.

I rightly had trouble trusting any of them, even Saiyoken right now… He was as noble and business like as they came, but he was still somewhat new. Wyn was injured, and would be Even Weaker than she already was because of My piss poor detection.

She may as well be an immortal human…. I was ashamed… I really was.

While that lead was being explored, I went back upstairs…

“Get in bed.” I said with crossed arms. I glared at my shirtless, beat up Second. “Sainevvi why didn’t you click me?”

“I told him not to.” Said Grace…. Her form was good, not just from a mate standpoint. She really was ready to go, but I wouldn’t put her out there again….

Her magical counter was out there. It would be like me breathing fire at a water mage, or an earthly minotaur being countered by air magic…

“You’re supposed to be In Bed.” I said firmly.

“You can shove that mattress up your ass.” She hissed. “I’m not going to stay here and let that assassin have his merry way.”

“… and What do you plan to do?” I asked.

“There’s no scent, or magic left over here to follow…. But I hear all of your links. Plus… we need to go talk to Terra.” She said firmly.

How did I forget about her….

“I’m alright with you handling that, while I go investigate Theo…” I mumbled. How did I not know he was here… Living in My den…. Working at My firm….

“No, this isn’t some shitty horror story. We do this together.” She said going to the closet and putting on a hoodie. She already had on leggings, and with her eyes so red, I knew I couldn’t fight her about this.

“Fine, but only because you’ll have Me as your backup.” I said relenting….

“Let’s go.” She said with determination….

When we rode the elevator, I asked her something. “You aren’t trying to get revenge aren’t you?” I asked.

“I Am. He cheated, but more importantly, he Fucking Maimed Wyn.” She hissed.

“… I think it best we deal with Terra First.” I said shaking my head. I already had paperwork from the Secret Police this morning. She belonged to the dragons now… By law, as the High Lord, I decide what to do with her.

As King, I already thought about pardoning her.

We got into my car, and I drove to her home. I gave her a good enough salary to keep her family home in the outlying farmland, though thankfully she lived alone…

The drive out the city was nice, and we shared a comfortable silence….

I was King now… I already had a rebellion on my hands. I wasn’t stupid; This is what happens when there’s no support for you before you even rule. If Saiyoken, a dragon a third my size, would have ruled as king, no one would bat an eyelash. He was Born supported by father….

After all, I didn’t do anything for my people. I didn’t even save my own…. I was not the best choice for King, however, the only way the Copper King could rest, was if one of his suns put him in the dirt.

Saiyoken, though popular, won’t be as strong as Silver… nor me… nor maybe even the youngest contender of the still living half-brothers, Sainevvi…

But even then, no one would be Against active members of the Council… But I Also had financial enemies too. One man holding so much money and so much power attracts this kind of thing….

“Aureus, whatever you decide, know that if you rule Terra’s death, I won’t forgive you.” She warned in the silence.

“I won’t do that.” I said getting out the car, and opening the door for her.

Her commute was 45 minutes…. Fuck me.

Othek was at the door, waiting at it with his arms behind his back.

He bowed. “She is secure sir.”

“Anything happen?” I said knocking on her door. I could hear her heartbeat thump like a rabbit’s.

“She felt more comfortable with me outside sir. I stayed out here. No threats other than a coyote was spotted. It was neutralized.” He motioned a still slightly smoking molten rock…. Complete overkill…

“… Good Job… Terra Open the door.” I asked nicely.

“…no.” She said panicking.

“Would you like me to-” I cut Othek off.

“No. Terra, be reasonable. I’m a fucking Dragon, your house won’t stop me…. Could you open the door?” I asked. “I’m still the same person.”

“I QUIT!” She yelled.

I chuckled.

“Denied. It’s why I came in person. You know about us. I can’t exactly let that go undiscussed.” I said about to break the door, but she opened it.

“What’s there to talk about sir…?” She said defensively. “That Everyone I work with is a dragon? That I’m probably some Pet to you or something?”

“No one’s a pet, and not All your coworkers are supernatural. I’m the most ‘golden’ one though.” I joked…. Both my mate and Othek facepalmed.

“…. Come in sir.” She said shaking her head.

I sat in her quaint cottage… I saw the picture of her mortal parents. They looked old… but the house looked as old as they. It was well kept though… like I could totally see myself dropping it all and living somewhere like this… Grace could shift out here… probably hunt deer.

I cleared my throat, sitting on the couch with Grace. She let her horns come out, though she didn’t do the flame. I don’t think she could control that part of her to be fair.

“Holy Shit.” Said Terra.

“My wife’s a werewolf.” I said seeing her realize that there were More than dragons out there. “By the look on your face, you Know.” I said letting it sink in.

“I mean I always kind of knew….” She mumbled. “Like, when I look back… Like you always arrived from your helicopter… but I always thought it was weird that you lived in the city, and waisted so much money…. or that your council all had crazy hair colors, despite being in such a high-end firm… and that your clients were all so Huge, perfect…with wild hair colors too…. no one’s old…. I never thought about that until yesterday… or the roars… I always thought that was the wind on the building.”

I handed her the police report, paperwork, and my royal seal on it.

“What’s This?” She asked in confusion. “Why does it say I’m ‘surrendered’ by the authority of the Church…?”

I scratched my chin….

“You’re Not excommunicated…. They just run the human side…. Since you don’t know, I’ll have to fill you in. Supernaturals and humans were at war until the 1600’s. During that time, a treaty was made. So long as mortals are ignorant to our existence, they’re more or less protected… So long as supernaturals don’t attack humans, we’re protected from hunting…. The firm and my home is considered Dragon Territory… Since you know now, and it’s been too long to cover it up, you belong to the supernatural world now. It’s my fault. I was so worried for my wife, I broke character, but I intend to let you live your life with some conditions.”

It was then that she looked a little combative. Thankfully though she didn’t say anything.

“So long as you don’t say anything about our existence, we won’t have to do anything about you knowing… and I hold direct protection over you.” I said, ripping a neck scale off my neck, like I’d done for the Wolf Council member, Oliver. With a little heat, and some magic on my part, I made a small gold necklace with my scale as a pendant. “Take this.”

“… I can’t accept that.” She said holding it… seeing that it was gold.

“I’m made of gold. Every scale. But the most important thing, is that with that, should you become in danger, I will know and come to you.” I said firmly. “Unless you want me to station another dragon to live with you.”

“Mr. Midas, what if I refuse all this?” She motioned the room. “I’m not stupid… I know what I saw and heard… and so much makes sense now… but what if I wanted to quit and move far away?” She asked.

“I’d be forced to kill you. Your people are not to know we exist. But I ask you, since everything will stay the same, what’s the problem?” I asked. “If you want a raise, I’ll give it. 25% for your trouble. If you need a home, you may live at my Den free of charge. I’d actually prefer that, so the assassin that attacked my wife won’t come here.” I grumbled.

“Is That why so many… dragons were flying around, especially that strange glowy one.” She said looking down.

“Glowy?” I asked. “What color was he?”

“Like… it’s hard to remember since it was so fast, but like grayish blue? Like the color of the suit you wore Monday.” She said as if she were thinking. “And he had bird wings…. And unlike you guys, he was about the size of a car…”

/Othek, text Saiyoken and let him know that the assassin is gray-blue. He’s an Omega who gained his form through the Earrings./ I grumbled. Terra wouldn’t be able to hear it though. “Dragons, even hybrids Don’t get feathers… he’s mutated through the use of magic. Terra you Really should move.” I said thinking.

“My family has had this house for 6 generations. I Can’t just move.” She said firmly.

“Then the scale will due… Othek, would you be against living here?

“It is an honor to serve your majesty.” He bowed.

“I’ll buy a home for you. Terra you can come to the office if you like, but I’d rather you take two weeks off to wrap your head around all this.” I said firmly.

“Of course sir.” Said Othek.

“Wait No!” She complained.

“If you won’t move, I won’t let you get killed.” I said firmly.