Leeora took a short pause before inhaling deeply. “It means you are the King’s person now.”
“The King’s person?” Ember mumbled as she didn’t get a good feeling about it.
“As I said, you are under the King’s protection. No one dares to hurt the King’s person. You are truly a fortunate one,” Leeora explained, pulling out an awkward smile as she merely told her half of the truth.
Leeora didn’t know how she would explain to Ember the true meaning of being a mate. She was not sure that this girl was even aware about the things between a man and a woman. If she had to explain to her now, wouldn’t she be scared?
The elf decided that for someone as ignorant as Ember, it would be better to give her time to adjust, but she should not let the King wait for too long as well. The Dragon would start to feel a stronger pull towards his mate with each passing day, and before he loses sanity due to his urges, Ember should have been able to understand the truth, or else, she would be left traumatized for her life.
She needed to prepare Ember for what awaited her.
—–
Draven didn’t mean to eavesdrop on their talk, but he stayed outside the door and didn’t enter the chamber upon realizing that a serious conversation was taking place on the other side of the door.
Did he not enter because of curiosity or was he being considerate? Perhaps it was a little of both.
For these past few days, Draven could no longer understand himself and decided to simply let things go with the flow. Still, he didn’t wish to scare the human this time–he was still somewhat upset about her fainting the moment she saw him.
When their conversation seemed to have finished, Draven pointedly looked at Erlos.
Understanding his master’s intent, Erlos opened the door of the chamber for the King, not forgetting to inform the two ladies inside first.
“Sire is here,” Erlos Informed and left to stand outside as Draven walked to enter the chamber.
The past two days have been the idlest and most boring days of Erlos’ life and he prayed that it would end soon. He would rather get scolded and punished by his master than have such boring work to do. This descendent of the High Elves had turned into a royal guard.
Leeora looked at Ember. “His Majesty the King has come to visit you, Ember.”
The colours of Ember’s face almost disappeared the moment she heard those words but then Leeora whispered to her kindly, “Don’t be scared of him, child. As you’ve become his person, he will be protecting you from now on. I know he left a terrifying first impression on you, but you will realize he isn’t a bad person the longer you get to know him. Give him a chance, alright?”
Before Ember could say a word, she saw Draven entering the chamber and gulped, swallowing the words she was going to say.
Draven looked at her, and as he walked toward the bed, fear was obvious on her face. It didn’t bother him before but now it greatly affected him, seeing his mate afraid of him. He didn’t want her to be scared of him but then…humans had always been like this with him.
He silenced his errant thoughts, not wanting to dwell with them in front of her.
With each step closer, Ember felt her heart beating faster and faster. Leeora had repeatedly assured her she shouldn’t be frightened, but though the intentions were good, still…every experience she had with this red-eyed man wasn’t a good one. She clutched the blanket closer to her body as if it was somehow able to ward off her uneasiness as she sat leaning back at the headboard.
‘He isn’t a bad person…he’s letting me stay with the Elder…’
She tried to calm herself by chanting those words in her head. In the first place, he was the one to save her. If not for him, she wouldn’t be in this beautiful kingdom, and she wouldn’t have met Leeora, Lusca, and Morpheus. She would have remained stuck in the mossy cave in that dead mountain–no, she would have probably died in that forest fire.
Even if their king was scary and had treated her badly, he had still saved her and given her new life.
‘I should be grateful…’
Leeora, who had already stood up to greet the King, bowed to him while Ember lowered her gaze, finding it unable to stare into those red eyes that held no emotions.
“How is she?” Draven asked, stopping a few steps away from the bed. His question was for Leeora but his gaze remained fixed at his mate who didn’t dare look at him.
Leeora once again pulled out that awkward smile and answered, “Nothing seems to be wrong with her body, just that she’s a little weak. With proper nourishment, she will be perfectly fine.”
“If nothing is wrong with her, take her back with you to Ronan,” Draven said as if he could not wait to send her away from him.
Right, he needed to send her away. From the conversation between these two ladies, he understood this human was naive and was oblivious to important facts in life. He didn’t wish to deal with her anymore. It was better if she stayed away from him for her own good.
This time, Leeora dare not question his order. “I will prepare for her to leave.”
Draven was about to leave when he recalled something. “Make sure to bring her back to your city with your stag. I would certainly not want her to fly in her weak condition.”
“Ah? Yes, of course. Understood, Sire,” Leeora promptly replied and watched the King leave his chamber.
Ember was the King’s mate even if the bond wasn’t complete. No, it was more dangerous exactly because of the last phase and Leeora could not allow Ember to get close to any other male, or else, she didn’t know what the King would do.
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This Bonus chapter is dedicated to reader BlackYuki_Cross, for gifting Dragon to the novel. Thank you so much. 33