The Dragon King's Hated Bride
Chapter 34: The Encounter By The Tower

Chapter 34: The Encounter By The Tower

>>Aelin

My hands trembled as I closed the book and slid it under the bed, hiding it beneath the folds of the blanket that spilled onto the floor.

The anxiety in my chest rose as I realized that there was no way the people outside meant any good, because if they had, they would have knocked by now. I rose slowly, my bare feet touching the cold floor as I crept toward the window.

The voices grew louder, joined by the unmistakable sound of a hand testing the door handle.

My heart raced. Someone was trying to get in.

I pushed the window open, the cool night air rushing in and biting at my skin. The drop below was steep and it scared me. I looked back, my eyes catching the faint glimpse of the cosmic book.

!!

I looked at my hands, then slid outwards.

No better time than now I guess. My magic was my only hope at the moment.

The door handle rattled violently, making me flinch. I whispered an incantation under my breath, summoning the faint glow of holy light to wrap around me like a protective cloak. The power surged reluctantly, like a flame flickering against the wind and I had no idea if it was enough or not

But as they slammed against the door, without giving myself time to hesitate, I jumped.

The air whipped past me as I fell, the golden-white glow cushioning my descent. I landed on the soft earth, my knees buckling slightly but holding firm.

I let out a gasp as I landed but didn’t stop to catch my breath because I clearly heard the sound of the door breaking and it broke pretty badly. My feet carried me forward, away from the palace, away from the danger.

"Where is she?!" I heard the murmurs

"Find her!"

My heart pounded as I ran. I didn’t know where I was going, only that I needed to get away. The voices behind me faded into the night as I pushed forward, my magic flickering faintly to light my path. The forest loomed ahead and I went in without thinking.

Is this what Ariston meant? Was he imprisoned so he couldn’t protect me?

Does the Queen know this? Did she plan this? Or was it someone else? She wouldn’t risk war like that... I know that. Then, Ruoxy?

I tightened my jaw

Of course, who else but her? She has all the supporters she can get in the palace. The demons are dying to please her since she is marrying Draegon.

As I kept running, in the distance I saw the abandoned tower.

?!

I slowed down and glanced back but saw no one, I began to breathe hard as I looked ahead again.

The tower stood tall and foreboding, its silhouette cutting against the darkened sky. It had been a constant in the background of my days when I was in the isolated wing. I slowed down further when I reached the clearing it stood in, stopping only when I reached the door.

!!

My eyes drifted to the upper windows—dusty and faintly illuminated. I looked back at the door again and curiosity got the better of me, urging me forward. My fingers grazed the rough iron door, tracing the intricate patterns on the lock. I reached for it, intent on pulling it open, but the moment my hand touched the cold metal, a sharp zap of electricity shot through me.

!!

I gasped and stumbled back, clutching my hand to my chest as the sting coursed through my fingertips.

"What the..." My voice was barely above a whisper. My palm throbbed as if I’d just touched a live wire. Magic. It had to be. But why? And who would go to such lengths to keep this place sealed?

I stared at the door in confusion. Why is this place locked up though? It’s as if no one is supposed to go in or out, not without permission at least.

I looked up at the windows.

But that shouldn’t be the case. I know I didn’t see wrong when I saw someone move through the windows. It can’t be that I saw wrong just because I was seeing from a far...

I glanced up again, squinting at the dusty, tainted windows. The moonlight barely broke through the grime as I began to circle around the tower, keeping my eyes on the window, hoping to see something.

Catch some movement.

Or was it just my imagination since I was too alone in the abandoned wing?

I pursed my lips and was about to stop and look away when I saw it. Something—no, someone—moved within.

I froze. My heart quickened as I stared at the window, but the figure was gone as quickly as it had appeared. I ran to look at another window but saw nothing at the next window. I even came back to the previous one, but again

Nothing.

Disappointed and confused, I stepped back, nearly tripping over my own feet but managed to stay on my feet.

I turned my face to look in the direction where I came from.

No one had come after me and I wasn’t sure if that was a good sign or not.

I shook my head, moving cautiously around the tower’s base. My eyes darted to each window, looking for another glimpse, another movement. But nothing. The windows remained dark and lifeless, mocking my growing unease.

I was hoping to go in and find some sort of protection... And meet whoever was in here...

"I couldn’t have imagined that," I muttered to myself, wrapping my arms around my middle. My breaths came shallow and fast, and I tried to steady myself.

I stopped, my eyes still on the tower as I thought about it. But that’s when I heard it.

The sound of footsteps behind me.

My body went rigid, ice shooting through my veins. The slow, deliberate crunch of boots on gravel sent a shiver down my spine. I turned sharply, my heart hammering so hard I thought it might leap out of my chest.

"Who’s there?" My voice wavered as I stumbled back a step, gripping my aching hand tightly.

!!!

The person I saw was not the one I was expecting to see

???

He stood a few steps away, his towering frame shadowed by the moonlight. His black hair fell messily over his face, his purple eyes staring down at me with an unreadable, almost hollow expression. My breath caught in my throat. He wasn’t supposed to be here.

"Draegon..." I whispered, clutching my chest as though it could slow the frantic beating of my heart.

He didn’t say a word, didn’t move closer—just kept staring at me.

I looked around him but there was no one else approaching. He was alone.

What is he doing here at this hour?

I brought my hand down and fiddled with my thumbs. He kept staring at me and I didn’t know how to respond. I glanced down, feeling the cool weight of his pendant around my neck. My fingers instinctively moved to it, gripping it for a moment.

Why was he here? What did he want? I didn’t move from my place and neither did he. But he was definitely being more odd than I was because he was completely still. His lips twitched a little, as if he was going to say something, but in the end, he didn’t even open his mouth to speak

My thoughts raced, colliding with Ariston’s warnings.

His words echoed in my mind like a haunting refrain. And I couldn’t stop myself. I couldn’t ignore the small, fragile hope inside me, the part of me that refused to believe Draegon could be beyond saving. I thought about Ariston, his belief in me, and the doubt that weighed heavily on my shoulders.

Although there were so many questions, so many reasons to stay away... for someone like me, who had never been allowed to make decisions that mattered, the fear of failing at this felt unbearable.

But despite it all, I wanted to try.

I wanted to believe in him.

Taking a shaky step forward, I reached out. My hand quivered as I placed it gently on his cheek. His skin was cool beneath my palm, and I felt the faintest pulse of life beneath the surface. "I want to believe in you, Draegon," I murmured, my voice breaking. "And I sincerely wish I am not wrong."

His purple eyes flickered, and for the briefest moment, I thought I saw something in them but as I focused, I found them dull and lifeless.

"I’m going to do something," I whispered as I kept my gaze on him, "It’s not anything bad-"

That’s when he raised his hand in the air

I immediately caught that action as my heart skipped a beat in fear. My body froze for a moment as with wide eyes I saw his hand go up in the air

He’s going to hit me!!

Fear gripped me. My breath hitched as I froze, my hand dropping from his cheek. "Draegon—"

The word barely left my lips before I stumbled back, instinctively shielding myself with trembling arms.