The Dragon King's Hated Bride
Chapter 24: Experiment

Chapter 24: Experiment

>>Aelin

My heart thundered in my chest as I stood in the doorway of Draegon and Ruoxy’s chamber. The bracelet in my hand felt heavier than it should have, the wooden beads pressing into my palm.

I frantically looked around to make sure no one was there to see me and then took a tentative step inside, the faint scent of lavender and something sharper—something distinctly Draegon—filling the air. The room was dimly lit, the flickering glow of candles casting long shadows over the dark silk drapes and ornate furniture. It felt wrong to be here, but I pushed that thought aside.

The dressing table gleamed under the soft light. I approached it cautiously, my footsteps muffled by the plush carpet. My fingers trembled as I placed the bracelet down, the soft clink of wood against wood echoing in my ears.

For a moment, I just stared at it, praying that this works.

The only idea I had to prove that Draegon, the one who had given me a promise, was the same person we all were seeing in the palace was this. I stared at the bracelet. I had no idea if this would work.

This wasn’t a great idea to begin with. Draegon had been wearing this bracelet all along after all.

But there was one thing I wanted to confirm. This was solely personal. I simply wanted to know if he would wear this again.

He has been glaring at me for the past few days and I hope it’s not actually hate from his side. Everything that has been happening after his return has been so confusing, I hope that it comes to an end soon

I turned to leave but as soon as I was about to place my hand on the door handle, the sound of footsteps approaching the door stopped me cold.

!!!

My breath hitched and my eyes went wide

Oh no!

Someone’s coming here!!!

I froze, my eyes darting around the room for a place to hide.

And the first thing I saw was the wardrobe. Without thinking, I darted toward it, my hands fumbling with the intricately carved door. The hinges let out a faint groan as I slipped inside, closing it just as the door to the chamber swung open.

Ruoxy entered the room

I pressed myself against the back of the wardrobe, my heart pounding so loudly I was certain she’d hear it. The space was cramped, the faint smell of lavender and leather filling my nose as I strained to listen.

Through the thin gap between the wardrobe doors, I saw her enter. Her golden hair shimmered in the candlelight, and she moved towards the bed. I held my breath as her sharp eyes scanned the room.

For a moment, I thought she might walk past the dressing table entirely. But then she stopped when something caught her eye on the surface.

Her gaze zeroed in on the bracelet.

I bit down hard on my lip in anxiety. My stomach churned as she turned it over in her hands, her expression unreadable.

What is she thinking?

She set the bracelet back down, but the faint smirk that tugged at her lips sent a shiver down my spine. It wasn’t a look of confusion or disinterest—it was the kind of look that made me feel like she knew something I didn’t.

I stayed frozen in place as she moved to the bed and sat down, her posture relaxed but her gaze still sharp. She wasn’t leaving. My legs were beginning to cramp from the awkward position, but I didn’t dare shift even an inch.

Minutes ticked by, each one feeling like an eternity. My mind raced with a hundred panicked thoughts, but one stood out above the rest,

I shouldn’t have come here.

I rested my head against the wardrobe’s wooden wall, closing my eyes and exhaling as quietly as I could. My body felt heavy with exhaustion, the tension from hiding here for so long sinking deep into my muscles.

How much longer?

Ruoxy still hadn’t left. She had been moving around the room for what felt like hours, muttering to herself in a language I didn’t understand. I couldn’t even hear her properly so I didn’t bother trying to spy on that.

My legs were cramped, my back pressed against the shelves, but I didn’t dare shift too much.

And then, the sound came—a sharp, wet peeling noise.

????

My eyes snapped open, and my breath caught in my throat. The sound was so out of place, so strange, that I froze. What in the world was she doing? I frowned.

I leaned forward slightly, peering through the narrow crack in the wardrobe door. The angle was terrible, and I couldn’t see much—just Ruoxy’s silhouette standing in front of the dressing table, her reflection faintly visible in the mirror.

She had her arm bared, her sleeve pushed up. I squinted, trying to make sense of what I was seeing, but the dim light didn’t help.

But I did manage to see something

!!??

My heart started pounding when I noticed a long piece of her skin, hanging down her arm that she had stretched out in front of the mirror.

What the-!?

I slapped a hand over my mouth to keep from gasping aloud as she calmly grabbed the loose piece of flesh. My stomach churned as I watched her press it back onto her arm, smoothing it out as though she were fixing a torn piece of fabric.

She cursed under her breath as she pressed the hanging skin firmly back into place. I blinked, unable to process what I was seeing.

What... what in the name of everything holy is that?

I pressed my back against the wardrobe wall, trying to make sense of it. Was I imagining this? Was the lack of air and my panic playing tricks on me? I’m not hallucinating, am I?

I peeked through the crack again, still half-convinced I was hallucinating. But there she was, pulling down her sleeve as if nothing had happened. She adjusted her dress, glanced at her reflection one last time, and then turned away from the mirror.

The sound of her footsteps moved closer to the door. My heart raced, and I held my breath, praying she wouldn’t hear me. She paused for a moment, muttering something under her breath, and then I heard the door open.

Finally, she walked out, the door clicking shut behind her.

I stayed frozen in place, my mind reeling. My breath came in short, shallow bursts as I tried to calm myself, but my thoughts were a chaotic swirl of confusion.

What did I just see?

Does she have some kind of disease? She came from the war... did she contract something there?

I didn’t know what to make out of it but a little relief washed over me as her footsteps echoed against the floor, growing softer and softer until they faded entirely.

I stayed where I was for a moment longer, just to be sure. When I finally opened the wardrobe door and stepped out, my legs nearly buckled beneath me. My entire body was trembling as I made my way to the door, slipping out as quietly as I could.

The walk back to my chamber was a blur. My thoughts were a tangled mess, replaying every second of what had just happened.

***

The garden was quiet, a soft breeze rustling the leaves and carrying the faint scent of blooming flowers. I wandered absentmindedly along the stone path, my mind spinning with a storm of unanswered questions. The weight of everything—Ruoxy, the bracelet, Draegon—sat heavy on my chest. I kicked at a loose pebble on the path, watching it skitter away before falling still.

I didn’t notice him at first. My thoughts were too loud, drowning out everything else. But when I glanced up, I froze.

Draegon.

He was standing at the other end of the garden path, his dark figure framed by the golden light of the setting sun.

We both stopped, neither of us moving, neither of us speaking. The distance between us suddenly felt unbearably vast, yet too close at the same time.

I swallowed hard, my hands clenching the fabric of my dress. Should I say something? He’s not glaring at me today...

Draegon’s expression was unreadable, his eyes piercing and sharp. For a moment, I thought I saw something flicker there—anger? Sadness? Regret?—but it was gone too quickly to grasp.

I opened my mouth to speak, though I wasn’t sure what words would come out. But then something else caught my attention, something low and quick moving through the bushes to my right.

The hair on the back of my neck stood on end as a low growl echoed through the garden. I turned my head sharply, my heart leaping into my throat. Emerging from the shadows was a creature with scaled, leathery skin and glowing yellow eyes.

A baby basilisk.

Its sinuous body slithered over the ground, claws clicking against the stone path as it fixed its gaze on me. My breath hitched as I took a step back, dread curling in my stomach. It might have been a baby, but it was still dangerous.

"Don’t move," Draegon’s voice cut through the tense air like a blade.

I froze. The basilisk hissed, coiling its body like a spring, ready to strike.