Chapter 208 Chapter 0208

Chapter 208 Chapter 0208
Lucien's POV.

"All hail the last Fae queen!" The words echoed across the battlefield.

"All hail the queen!"

"No! You can't call her your queen." Eli's anguished voice filled the air but they ignored him 

"All hail the queen!" The words became louder, as their wings folded completely and their knees buckled, I stood completely still, for the first time since the war began, I didn't know what to say, I didn't even know what to do, so was Aerith, she didn't move, she just stood in the middle of the battlefield, staring at hundreds of Faeries kneeling before her. Her silver hair glowed brighter, scattering around her face, her face shining like the morning sun; she looked even more beautiful as she transformed into her complete Fae form. Even though her clothes were torn from the fight, and there were still traces of dirt across her skin, she still managed to emit the scent of a queen. She looked so different; she looked more powerful than I had ever seen. Fire still flickered around one hand, and ice surrounded the other. I stood paralyzed, as I watched the woman I had loved transform into a queen, not just a Fae girl locked in the dungeon of the dragons, she wasn't just a princess but a queen, and apparently, I wasn't the only one who didn't know how to react, she too didn't know what to do. She swallowed hard, raising her hand, and the crowd fell silent; she looked at me, lost, and then back to the crowd.

"I..." Her voice barely came out before they stopped. She didn't say a word; she looked around at the kneeling Faeries. Her voice found its way to my head, “I don't know what to say.' her voice filled my head, she wanted me to help but I too don't know what to say, I shut my eyes, reaching for the ring, King Silas had given me, and said a silent prayer.

'If really I was meant to be the king of the dragons, then let me find the right words a king would use.' And just like that, I parted my lips, while I reached for Aerith's hand, squeezed it gently, and turned toward the crowd. "Noble people of our kingdom," I called, my voice carrying across the battlefield, "I know you are excited to meet your queen, and I understand you wanted her to rule over you." My gaze moved across the faeries before returning briefly to Aerith. "You have given her a crown without giving her time to understand the weight that comes with it, so I ask you, as her mate, to give her time." I looked at Aerith; my expression softened as she smiled at me. I guess I was saying what she had in mind. "She has spent her eighteenth years on Earth being forced to carry burdens she never asked for, and she just found out that not only is she your queen, but the dragon's princess." Murmurs filled the air when I said that.

"Does it mean she is not going to accept us?" One of them mouthed. And then they bowed.

"Please forgive us," they hit their head against the ground, "we apologize," I saw repentance in their actions, and shamed in their words, "for allowing Eli to deceive us, we believed his lies, we believe you had betrayed us and chosen the dragons' over your people," Aerith didn't say a word, she just remain silent, the Faerie glanced toward Eli, that his body was frozen and his face burned with fire. "He used our suffering against us. He told us that you had abandoned us when the Dragon Prince claimed you." Aerith's tears fell. I shook my head; they had no idea how much Aerith had suffered. "We have suffered for the last two decades," one of the Faeries ' voices carried across the battlefield. "Our people were driven from their home; we were hunted; we lost our families; we lived in hiding because of the war between our kind and the dragons," they continued, "so please, come with us; don't abandon us."

"She is not abandoning you," my voice came up; the faerie lowered his head.

"Then she must come with us." Aerith frowned, her hold on me tight, I saw the fear in her eyes, 

"As much as I understand your grievance, I don't think my mate is in the right frame of mind to lead you all right now, but rest assured, she has heard your voices; she knows what you want, and she will give you her answer." I paused. "Just not today." The Faeries remain silent. "So please," I continued, my voice gentler. Now, I parted my lips to say something, but I noticed Aerith's expression; it was changing, and her eyes were unfocused. "Aerith, are you okay?" I whispered. She tried to nod, but I knew she wasn't herself, and she was about to collapse when I caught her and pulled her into my chest. Her body felt strangely light. "Aerith, are you okay?" I asked.

"I feel like I'm flying." She muttered, I knew something was wrong.

"Are you feeling dizzy?" I whispered.

"I think I am..." Her words didn't finish before her eyes closed.

"Fuck!" I cursed, very un-princely of me, but I couldn't help it my heart nearly stopped, I looked around desperately, "get the kingdom physician," I screamed, not even sure who I was giving the command, I turned to the crowd, "I beg you all, to returned to your homes, celebrate the peace you have fought so hard to regain, give your queen times, to think," I lifted Aerith from the floor into my hands, "when she is ready, she will come before you, herself and give her answer but now, I think she need medical attention." I didn't wait to hear their reply; I held Aerith tighter. "Stay with me." My voice became desperate; her lips curved into a weak smile.

"I'm okay." She muttered but her eyes were still shut.

"You are not."

"I am," she tried to laughed but the sound was barely there, then something caught my attention, it was the white flags in the air, one after the other they rose above the battlefield and the kingdom flag stood up again, a soft smiled spread across my face, knowing that the fight had stopped, and the remaining enemy forces had surrendered, the war was over, I stared at the white flags, hoping this was the beginning of a new era, the beginning of peace, and slowly I withdrew my gaze from the sky, I looked down at Aerith, her eyes were still closed, "is the war over?" Her voice came out soft; I brushed the hair away from her face.

"Yes." I pressed a soft kiss on her forehead. "We did it." My words barely ended when a roar erupted behind us, then another, dragons lifted their heads toward the sky and howled, it wasn't terror, it was a sound of peace, a sound of victory, I looked toward the kingdom, women were crying, children were running into the arms of their fathers, warriors were embracing one another, some were kneeling beside the bodies of those they had lost, others simply stood there, staring at the white flags as if they couldn't believe they had survived, I smiled, for the first time in what felt like forever, the kingdom was breathing again. "Get the wounded warriors to the infirmary," I barked a command before I turned and ran off with Aerith into the palace. The physician arrived quickly, and I refused to let her go until he assured me Aerith was stable.

"Put her down, Your Majesty!" My eyes went to him as he addressed me with that title. He smirked, "I can't examine the queen with her in your hand." I swallowed, but I didn't say a word; all I did was reluctantly place Aerith on the bed. She reached for my hand.

"Don't leave me." I squeezed her fingers.

"I won't," I whispered before intertwining my fingers with hers and pressing soft kisses on her knuckles. The physician was examining her; I waited. Every second felt like an eternity, then he looked at me.

"Your Majesty!" He called again.

"Stop calling me that; I am not even your prince," this time I corrected. He smirked, then his eyes fell on my shoulders, which must have been covered in blood. I parted my lips to say something when he cut in again.

"I need to examine her privately," he said. I hesitated; Aerith gave a tired smile even when her eyes were still closed.

"Go," she said softly, I nodded.

"I will be right outside." I kissed her forehead, then I walked out. I had barely taken a few steps when I heard footsteps. I turned, then I saw the man I wanted to see. "Drayce!" I called as we both run into each other hands, his arms wrapped around me, just that simple gesture, was enough to let my walls down, "I didn't mean to kill her," that was the first word I said, he didn't pulled away, "she did a lot of terrible things, she cheated on the king, I wasn't even the king son, she told me, she killed Aerith's mother," I continue, "but I still wanted to let her go, because she is my mother, but she wasn't remorseful..." My voice broke. "And I hated her for that." This time, he pulled slowly from me, watching my face. I was already crying; the tears I had held for too long came again. I can't believe I killed my mother. "And I killed her." My shoulder began to shake with sobs. For the first time in my life, I was completely broken, his hand went to my shoulder.

"You didn't do wrong." I looked at him, I don't think he understands what I had done. "You did what you had to do."

"But why do I feel like this?" My eyes filled with tears. "Why do I regret it?" He stared at me, then he placed his hand over my chest.

"Because you are human." I gave a broken laugh.

"What?" I said in disbelief.

"You heard me." He smiled faintly. "You feel remorse because you still have a heart," I stared at him, "and that will make you a good king?" My eyes bulged, when he used the title king, he smiled then tap my shoulder, "don't get surprise, the royal golden scales had already appeared on your arms," I lowered my gaze and stared at my arms, it was the royal golden scales that a dragon king carries it was their symbols, my eyes bulged, "you are the next king," his expression softened, his smile widened, "I always knew you will rule over us." His voice filled with excitement.

"And you are not mad?" I asked, he smiled.

"As long as you don't deprive me of my girl." I laughed heartily, this brother of mine is crazy

"And the others, do you think they will accept me to rule over them?" I asked.

"Say the word and we will declare war against them, Your Majesty!" He bowed, and I stepped back when I saw his dragon's wings; they had changed as well.

"No!" He raised his head and looked at me.

"What is it?" He asked.

"You are the next..." Before my voice could come out, I heard the physician's footsteps; I turned immediately. "How is she?" The physician smiled. I rushed toward him. "Is Aerith okay?"

"The queen is perfectly fine." I released a breath I hadn't realized I was holding, but I was still scared. "Then why did she collapse?" The physician's smile widened.

"Because her body is going through a significant change." I frown.

"I guess her magic took the best part of her." But the physician chuckled, and then my eyes went to Drayce, who was watching us with amusement. "What's funny, you asshole?"

"You are, because this naughty new king seems to be too slow to comprehend." My brows furrowed, then I turned directly to the physician because I wasn't ready for his jokes.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty," I blinked.

"Congratulations?" He nodded

"You will soon be a father."       



Author note: You think Drayce's story ends here? Think again. Are you excited to find out what comes next for Drayce? Then get ready for my next book, The Dragon Prince's Little Witch. Because Drayce's story is far from over. Who is ready for it?