The Devil's Son and His Fated Bride
Chapter 168: Suspicious behavior.

Chapter 168: Suspicious behavior.

After dinner, Lord Alekin’s chancellor pointed at the King’s arm. The man, Rebedina’s uncle, was a hunched nobleman, chubby enough to look round, sharp-eyed, and slow-moving. Among the sea of polished courtiers, he was the only one respected despite his unsightly features. Why? Because he was more serpent than man. He knew everything, every crime, every buried secret of the nobles. The only soul he’d never dared to pry into was the King himself. Not that he didn’t want to, but he dared not. Imagine seeing a dragon for the first time as its meal.

"Your Grace, have you been hurt?"

The question was unnecessary; the injury was visible. But concern wasn’t what lurked beneath those words or shining eyes. And being blessed with Sunkiath’s power, he could smell a great waft of pleasure in the air.

He bleeds, and they feast.

The King chuckled inwardly. Aside from Kai, everyone in the hall was younger than him. The humans who’d once been his age had long since become meals for the worms in dark damp graves. And even without the bond to his dragon, he could scent it, their quiet thrill, their hushed anticipation. The first thought they would grow in their minds undoubtedly could be: The next King!

Was the King finally going to die?

House Kalia would love nothing more. They had long dreamed of seeing one of their own seated on the throne.

Dankin! The boy had a good skill in fencing but a terrible brain for ruling.

"Chancellor Oka," the King said, his voice laced with sugary mockery, "I’ve just returned from battling vampires, the same creatures your nephew thinks can be roasted with a torch!"

He cast a pointed look at Filoy Darsein, the so-called knight who had dared to challenge Kai. The King could let out a belly laugh at that stupidity.

"Oh, Your Majesty! Please forgive these foolish youngsters. They speak before their thoughts are fully born," Chancellor Oka replied with a bow, his tone oily.

The King leaned back in his chair, letting his gaze linger on each face in the hall. The day he named Reneira as his daughter and rightful heir to the Ruby Throne would be the day every noble house turned their knives against her.

His eyes settled on Rebedina, catching her staring fixedly at his wounded arm.

"I am mortal, after all. It’s my bond with the dragon that kept me young."

The King let the truth hang in the air, narrowing his eyes to study each reaction.

Why had he revealed it?

There was a traitor within House Kalia of Sokalia. Of that, the King had no doubt. It couldn’t be the Queen or King of that realm, their grief ran too deep after one of their sons had been murdered by his own uncle. They had enough to mourn, enough to fear.

Only one house stood to gain from this war. Only one had the motive: kill the King, and force Sunkiath to bond with Dankin.

Fools.

The King chuckled under his breath.

The bond didn’t yield to ambition, it flowed through blood. Pure blood. That meant only Reneira could ever claim Sunkiath or the person the King would choose with a blood oath. As for the others who might try... Well, the outcome was as clear as day.

The dragon would burn them alive. Or, if their scent pleased him, he might simply eat them after roasting them, while they scream.

Once more, the King’s gaze settled on the chancellor. Rumor had it that Oka knew exactly how many fish swam in the Crystal Sea between Zillgaira and Sokalia. That alone had been enough to feed the rabid dog that was Minister Karon Kalia, Rebidina’s father, and this man’s brother. It was Karon who had sent this man, his brother, to Zillgaira, not as an advisor, but as a spy, a watcher of every move Lord Alekin made, every letter he wrote to the King and the one reason he never wrote back a reply to Reneira but kept every single letter from the girl.

Ren’s eyes drifted to the King’s arm. He was lying.

She remembered the day he returned from the Ice Land. Not a scratch on him. Even when she’d confronted them, he had looked entirely unharmed.

So where had that wound come from?

Where had he truly been?

"Chancellor Oka," the King said suddenly, his voice slightly getting sharp, "I’ve heard that three of your ships, en route from Zillgaira, strayed into the Monster Sea and wrecked. Do you still have enough supplies for the soldiers?"

The man wore a mask of sorrow, shaking his head. "Your Majesty, those were extremely valuable ships. The loss has dealt us a heavy blow. I was hoping Lord Alekin had already discussed the matter with you. We need your help to bridge this financial rift."

The King gave a curt nod. "I’ll speak with Lord Alekin." He paused, then turned to Rebedina. "When will your father arrive?"

"Your Grace, he is accompanying King Saroz and his queen. They will be here in two days."

Of course, they would come to witness who would receive the token of succession. Not one of the six kings would miss such an opportunity. All of them would be present, their armies in tow, prepared to march north to the Ice Land. The war had to begin before winter gave the vampires unchecked reign under a sunless sky.

After dinner, Kai and Ren followed the King to Sunkiath’s tunnels.

Only the three of them.

Sunkiath growled at the King, the torchlight casting a warm glow over his shimmering golden scales. He was growing larger, stronger. Still young, yet his mating seasons would begin in a few short years. The King didn’t know what to do with that.

Ren released a dark thread of her magic, an ancient force capable of taming dragons and griffins alike. This particular shade carried a healing pulse. Like a lullaby.

"Get some rest, Sunkiath!" Ren wished.

Sunkiath, visibly worn, responded almost instantly. His fiery eyes softened. He was exhausted.

The King’s eyes widened, astonished by the strength of her power. It had flourished far beyond what he had expected, far beyond what any mortal should possess.

"You can..." he began, but the words stalled as Sunkiath lowered his massive head and gently nuzzled Ren’s palm.

"It’s a long story," she murmured. "But if it weren’t for my husband, that bracelet could’ve killed me." She snapped at him.

The King frowned. "No. It couldn’t kill you. Half of you carries Fae blood. The bracelet could only weaken you."

Kai’s jaw clenched. His fists curled. He was seconds away from punching something, anything. Weaken her or kill her, it had hurt her. Badly. And no excuse could ever make that right.

"What happened to your arm?" Ren asked, her voice calm, but her eyes cautious.

"You shouldn’t be bleeding," Kai noted sharply, still angry.

The King unwrapped the cloth around his arm and tossed it aside. The deep lash mark was already beginning to mend.

Ren’s mouth parted in shock.

"You lied to them. A mortal, eh?"

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