Chapter 0012

Lucian shot a furious glance in Visenya's direction, his eyes blazing with displeasure. "She disrespected me."

Visenya was completely appalled, her shock evident in her voice. "I disrespected you?!" She exclaimed, her words laced with incredulity.

"What happened, Visenya?" Sarai's troubled expression cast a worried gaze upon her daughter. "Why is your dress torn and dirty? Did he hurt you?"

"No, I tripped and fell." Visenya replied.

"Don't lie to me, Visenya," Sarai said, as she began sniffing Visenya from head to toe, specifically focusing on her private area.

Visenya instinctively pulled away from Sarai's intrusive inspection. "He didn't violate me, if that's what you're suggesting! We simply got into an argument because he was being a complete prick!"

Lucian scowled at Visenya's remark, and she met his gaze with equal defiance.

"The kids were just being kids. Your daughter is fine, and this is something that they'll have to work out on their own," Emperor Caden concluded.

"Are you seriously going to let him off as if this is just some innocent childish prank?!" King Ezra fumed. "My daughter is traumatized, and she could have been seriously hurt!"

"If my son said that your daughter disrespected him, then I'm going to have to side with him. We are the supreme rulers here, and as the future Lycan Queen, it would benefit your daughter to learn some respect for her future Emperor." Emperor Caden explained, his tone firm.

“He’s no Emperor of mine! I’ll be long dead by the time it’s his turn to rule, thank Goddess!” Visenya snapped.

“Perfect example of your daughter’s insolence right there, I can see why Lucian left her now.” The Emperor remarked.

“How dare you!” Ezra shouted, his face turning red with fury. “It’s no wonder your son walks around like he’s some kind of deity. He gets it from you!”

“You better be very careful how you speak to me, Ezra," warned Caden.

“I’m not afraid of you! All of you dragons are the same, abusing the power that the Gods have gifted you, expecting the rest of us to be subservient!" Ezra exclaimed angrily.

“Ezra, let’s just go," pleaded Sarai.

“The Gods gifted us with supremacy for a reason! The rest of you were killing each other and living like complete barbarians before we came along! We brought order into your lives, you should be grateful!" Emperor Caden boasted arrogantly.

"Us, barbarians?! Is that why your humans live in cages?! Is that why your own mate killed herself because she'd rather die than spend another day bound to you?!" King Ezra blurted.

The room fell into an eerie silence, tension thick in the air. The Emperor's gaze fixed upon the Lycan King, his eyes filled with a cold intensity as if he was plotting a thousand ways to end his life.

"I hereby declare that all Dragon and Lycan relations are terminated from this day forward. You're on your own from now on, Ezra! Don't you come crying to me when you have a vampire problem because it will be your burden to bear! By dawn, you and your guards better be off my land, or I'll personally reduce you all to ashes!"

“Don’t worry, we already planned on never coming back here again,” declared Ezra, guiding his family towards the exit.

Outside, the guards awaited as they boarded the carriage one by one. Before climbing in, Visenya glanced back at the castle and locked eyes with Lucian, both exchanging condemning glares, each blaming the other for the severance of their kingdoms.

Lucian remained unfazed, confident that the Lycan King would realize his mistake and come groveling soon enough. As for Visenya, he would just have to pay her a visit after the next full moon. He was certain that when she discovers who they are to one another, she will conform like a love-sick puppy. And if she gets unruly again, then it’s a dragon-guarded tower for her.

———

—Two Months Earlier—

Visenya jolted awake as a splash of ice-cold water drenched her. Lucian loomed over her, his eyes vacant and dark. After collaring her, he confined her to a desolate cell. Exhaustion weighed heavily on her from the long, arduous journey and the torrent of tears she had shed, causing her to quickly drift into a deep sleep on the frigid, unforgiving ground.

"Get up," he commanded.

Visenya rose to her feet, her body drenched and shivering, as Lucian proceeded to bind her wrists. He led her out of the cell, pulling her along by the short chain attached to her collar. As long as she matched Lucian's pace, she could avoid the painful jolts of the sharp spikes that accompanied each tug.

Stepping outside, Visenya realized that darkness had descended. The castle's dim lighting and black-painted walls created an eternal night-like atmosphere within its confines.

Lucian abruptly halted, his gaze piercing as he turned to face her. "Listen to me, and listen good. Every action you take from this point forward will have dire consequences for those you love and care about. I will not tolerate even an ounce of disobedience from you. You be a good little slave, and your people might just make it out alive."

Visenya's brows knitted together in confusion. "I don't understand. You gave me your word that they wouldn't be harmed!"

Lucian tightened his grip on the chain, forcefully pulling her closer to him. "That depends entirely on you."

Without any further hindrance, Lucian took his dragon form and wrapped Visenya up in his tail. With a sudden burst of speed, he soared into the sky, causing Visenya to let out a piercing scream of terror as she was jolted by the force of their takeoff.