Chapter 34 Intimate Moment Before the Storm
Elara’s POV
“Come here,” Drakon said softly, setting his papers aside. “Sit with me for a moment.”
I walked to his desk, my heart still pounding from nearly being caught. The leather tube holding the maps stood against the wall, innocent in appearance, damning in truth.
Drakon pulled me onto his lap, his arms warm and steady around me.
“I’ve been a terrible husband,” he murmured against my hair.
“No, you haven’t”
“Yes, I have.” He leaned back to look at me. “Ever since the assassination attempt, I’ve been so focused on protecting the kingdom that I forgot to actually be with you. To talk to you. To make you feel loved.”
Guilt twisted painfully in my chest. “You’ve been doing what you need to do.”
“But I’ve been neglecting what matters most.” His golden eyes held mine. “You matter most, Elara. Not war plans. Not defense strategies. You.”
Stop, I wanted to scream. Stop being so perfect. Stop making this impossible.
“I don’t deserve...”
“Don’t.” He pressed a finger to my lips. “Don’t say you’re not worth my time. You are. You’re worth everything.”
Tears burned my eyes. “Drakon, I need to tell you something.”
“Later.” He kissed my forehead. “Right now, I just want to hold you. No invasions. No assassins. No politics. Just us.”
He kissed me ; gentle at first, then deeper.
The mating bond flared between us, golden light wrapping around our bodies. His emotions flooded into me: love, desire, fierce protectiveness and beneath it all, a deep, steady happiness.
He was happy. Because of me.
The realization hollowed me out.
When we pulled apart, both breathing hard, Drakon rested his forehead against mine.
“I’m falling in love with you,” he whispered. “More than I thought possible. Every day, I love you more. Does that scare you?”
“Yes,” I admitted. “Because I don’t know if I can be who you think I am.”
“You already are.” He cupped my face. “You’re kind. You’re brave. You care about people. You make me want to be a better king.”
Each compliment struck like a blow. None of it was true. I wasn’t kind, I was a liar. I wasn’t brave, I was terrified. I didn’t make him better, I was going to destroy him.
“What if you’re wrong about me?” I asked softly. “What if I’m not the person you think I am?”
“Impossible.” He smiled faintly. “The mating bond doesn’t lie. Our souls recognized each other. That’s deeper than anything else.”
Faye’s warning echoed in my mind: True mate bonds can’t form on lies. When the truth comes out, the bond will shatter. It could kill you both.
“The bond is getting so strong,” I said. “Doesn’t that worry you?”
“Why would it?” Drakon kissed my hand. “It means we’re meant to be together. It means nothing can tear us apart.”
Except the truth. The truth would tear us apart violently.
“I wish we could run away,” I whispered. “Just disappear somewhere no one knows us.”
“And leave all this behind?” He gestured around his study. “The kingdom? The responsibility?”
“Yes. All of it.”
Drakon was quiet for a moment. “Sometimes I wish that too. Before I became king, before my parents died, I dreamed of a simple life. Maybe running a bookshop somewhere quiet.”
“A bookshop?” I smiled despite myself. “Really?”
“Really.” He smiled back. “We’d read all day. Talk to interesting customers. Live peacefully.” His expression sobered. “But we can’t run from who we are. I’m a king. You’re a queen. We have duties.”
Duties, like defending his people. While I helped plan their downfall.
A soft knock broke the moment.
“Your Majesty?” a guard called. “There’s an urgent message.”
Drakon sighed and helped me stand before opening the door. The guard handed him a sealed letter. He read it quickly, his face draining of color.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“More soldiers spotted at the northern border. At least thirty.” He crumpled the letter. “They’re not hiding anymore. They’re preparing for a full attack.”
My stomach dropped. Sir Marcus’s soldiers, the ones I’d seen in the forest.
“When?” I asked.
“Soon. Days, maybe a week.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I need to call another council meeting immediately.”
“Now? It’s the middle of the night.”
“War doesn’t wait for morning.” He kissed me quickly. “Go to your chambers. Get some rest.”
“Drakon."
“Please.” His eyes searched mine. “I need to know you’re safe. Lock the door. Don’t open it for anyone except me or Faye. Promise.”
“I promise.”
He kissed me again; harder, desperate, then rushed out, already calling for guards and council members.
I stood alone in his study.
The leather tube with the maps caught my eye.
No. I couldn’t. Not after that.
But Lily’s face filled my mind. Her trembling handwriting. The memory of blood.
My hand moved before I could stop it. I pulled out the maps and memorized everything, guard positions, patrol routes, weaknesses, then rolled them back and replaced the tube exactly as it had been.
I didn’t steal them. I only remembered.
The realization made me nauseous.
I hurried through empty corridors back to my chambers.
As I turned the final corner, someone grabbed my arm and dragged me into a dark alcove.
I opened my mouth to scream.
“Don’t,” Faye whispered. “It’s just me.”
“You scared me,” I breathed.
“We need to talk,” she said urgently. “Now.”
“I know what you’re doing,” Faye continued, her voice shaking. “I know you’re helping the enemy.”
“Faye, please...”
“I know about Lily. I know you’re being blackmailed.” Tears filled her eyes. “But Drakon is about to lead his people into a war while someone inside is feeding information to the enemy. People will die. Hundreds. Maybe thousands.”
“I don’t have a choice,” I whispered.
“Yes, you do.” She grabbed my shoulders. “Tell Drakon. Let him help you. Let him save your sister.”
“He’ll hate me.”
“Maybe,” she said fiercely. “But he’ll be alive.” Her expression hardened. “Forty-eight hours, Elara. Confess, or I tell him myself. Even if it ends our friendship. Even if it kills you both when the bond shatters.”
She walked away, leaving me shaking in the darkness.
Forty-eight hours.
Two days to choose between impossible choices.
I returned to my chambers in a daze and locked the door, just as Drakon had asked.
Then I saw it.
A note lay on the floor, slipped under the door.
My hands shook as I picked it up.
You failed tonight. You didn’t bring the maps. Lily screamed for three minutes while we reminded her of the cost of your failures. Next time she screams for three hours. Bring the maps by tomorrow night, or your sister learns what real pain feels like. —M
The storm was no longer coming.
It had already begun.