The Dragon King's Hated Bride
Chapter 62: Only Me

Chapter 62: Only Me

>>Ariston

I can die right at this moment!

Lord! I can’t take this humiliation!!!

Right then I felt the grip of tentacles loosen and I began to drop

???

In a normal situation, I would’ve reacted faster—used my instincts, twisted midair, and found a way to land on my feet. But this wasn’t a normal situation. The sticky residue still clung to my skin, and my body felt embarrassingly weak from the tentacles’ torment. When they finally slithered away, I barely had time to process the whine that echoed through the air, low and strange, almost like the plant was...displeased.

And then, before I could steady myself, I was in Drakkar’s arms.

What!?!

The moment I realized he was holding me bridal style, I got angry

"What took you so long!" I growled, reaching up and grabbing one of his curved horns for leverage as I tried to push myself out of his hold.

His golden eyes bore into mine, conflicted, but his expression was far too smug for my liking. "I wasn’t going to help," he said with a shrug, though his lips twitched as if suppressing a grin. "But I couldn’t just stand by while you were...moaning because of a plant."

I froze, my entire body locking up as his words sank in.

"Are you out of your mind!!?" I hissed, shoving him hard and jumping out of his arms. My feet hit the ground unsteadily, knees trembling under the effort of holding me up.

Drakkar, unbothered by my reaction, leaned casually against the nearest bench, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Why?" he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Because I want to be the one to make you moan. Only me."

My cheeks flared red-hot, the heat spreading across my face like wildfire. I quickly turned my head away, refusing to meet his gaze. "Shut up!" I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended. "This all happened because I was trying to avoid you. Every time you’re near me, I end up in some sort of trouble!"

I pushed him further away with a trembling hand, even as my legs threatened to give out beneath me. Every muscle in my body was screaming to collapse, to sink to the ground, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me fall. Not now. Not after everything.

It took every ounce of willpower I had to stay upright, my fists clenching at my sides as I forced myself to stand tall. My breaths were shallow, uneven, but I didn’t dare show any more weakness.

Slowly, I turned my head back toward the strange tree. The other tentacles had retreated, curling lazily around the trunk. My eyes narrowed as I noticed one tentacle rubbing gently against another, as if soothing it.

Hm?

After a closer look, I realized why.

The tentacle being "cared for" had a clean cut along its length, the end severed. I glanced down and spotted the sliced-off piece lying limply on the ground, oozing some kind of faintly glowing sap. The realization hit me like a punch to the gut.

That’s why the tree let me go.

I turned back to Drakkar, my eyes narrowing. He stood there, his dragon claws still out. He didn’t bother to look at me, but his smirk was unmistakable.

"You cut it," I said, my voice quieter now but still laced with disbelief.

He finally glanced up, his expression cool and confident. "Told it to back off," he said simply, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

My chest tightened, conflicted emotions swirling in me. Anger. Embarrassment. Gratitude I refused to admit. I swallowed hard, unable to hold his gaze for too long without feeling the heat rise in my face again.

Drakkar’s gaze didn’t waver though.

It pinned me in place, sharp and unwavering, with an intensity that made my skin prickle. There was something in his eyes that felt almost predatory—a dark, burning hunger that sent a shiver down my spine. Although I was trying not to look at him, I could still feel the intensity of his gaze.

I glanced back at him.

His golden irises glimmered faintly in the moonlight filtering through the dome, and the way he was looking at me...

It wasn’t just curiosity. No, it was something deeper, rawer—an almost tangible lust that made my stomach twist uncomfortably.

"What?" I snapped, trying to sound confident, but my voice came out quieter than I’d intended. His gaze stayed fixed on me, and it wasn’t until I shifted uncomfortably that I finally glanced down at myself.

!!!!

I froze from shock

Most of my clothes were...gone.

My shirt had been reduced to tatters, the fabric completely melted away from my chest and my belly, leaving my skin bare and exposed. Though the shirt was still there, covering my sides.

"Ah," Drakkar’s amused tone made my heart beat rise, "Pink nipples,"

!!!!

Worse, my body glistened under the faint light as though someone had smeared oil across my skin. My chest, my arms—everything looked slick and shiny, the remnants of whatever residue the tentacles had left behind clinging stubbornly to me.

But it didn’t stop there.

My pants...

Lord have mercy, my pants were melted away at the thighs, leaving far more of my legs exposed than I was comfortable with. The remaining fabric hung limply around my knees, clinging uselessly to me as if mocking my attempt to retain any dignity.

My cheeks burned hotter than ever, my face flushing a deep crimson as the reality of the situation sank in. "What the hell..." I muttered under my breath, my hands instinctively moving to cover myself, though it did little to hide my humiliation.

Drakkar’s lips quirked into a slow, deliberate smirk. He didn’t say anything, but the way his eyes dragged down my body, taking in every inch of my disheveled, exposed state, said more than words ever could.

"Stop staring," I snapped, my voice sharp, but the shakiness in it betrayed my embarrassment.

He tilted his head slightly, his horns catching the light, and his smirk deepened. "Why?" he asked, his tone low and velvety, sending another shiver down my spine. "You’re... quite the sight."

My hands clenched into fists at my sides, my fingers itching to punch that smug expression right off his face. But I couldn’t—no, I wouldn’t—let him get to me. Not like this. I took a shaky step back, forcing myself to keep my chin high despite how exposed I felt.

"This is your fault," I hissed, though I wasn’t even sure how I meant it. My embarrassment, my anger—it all tangled together into a messy knot in my chest as his gaze continued to bore into me, making me feel smaller and smaller with each passing second.

Drakkar chuckled, a deep, rich sound that made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. "If this is my fault," he said, his voice smooth and infuriatingly smug, "I can’t say I mind. In fact..." His eyes flicked down my exposed chest and legs, lingering shamelessly, "I think I rather enjoy it."

My face burned so hot it felt like it could melt off entirely. "You’re insufferable!" I snapped, my voice pitching higher than I intended.

His smirk only widened. "Oh, come on, Ariston," he drawled, leaning back slightly against the bench as if settling in to admire the view. "There’s no need to be so shy. You look—"

"Don’t finish that sentence!" I cut him off, my heart pounding as I fought to keep my composure.

Drakkar didn’t even flinch at my outburst. If anything, he seemed amused. "Why not? You’ve certainly given me plenty to appreciate tonight."

My stomach churned with embarrassment, his boldness utterly unbearable. I could feel his gaze raking over me again, and it took every ounce of my willpower not to combust on the spot. I had to get out of here—now.

Without another word, I turned sharply on my heel and bolted for the entrance to the tunnel. My bare feet slapped against the stone path. I didn’t even realize when the tentacles had taken my boots off.

The cool night air did nothing to soothe the burning heat in my cheeks.

I grit my teeth as I made my way out. The sound of his laughter followed me, making me feel even more humiliated. But just as I reached the tunnel’s entrance, I skidded to a halt.

Voices.

!?!?

There were people coming this way.

Panic surged through me, my pulse quickening as I heard the faint chatter and the crunch of footsteps on the gravel path. I froze, torn between darting back into the dome—where he was—or risking being seen in my current state by whoever was approaching.

"Great," I muttered under my breath, my humiliation reaching a whole new level. Could this night possibly get any worse?

This can’t be happening.

Not like this.

I stood there, frozen, as the muffled voices grew louder, mingling with the crunch of approaching footsteps. My heart raced so fast it felt like it would tear through my chest. My breath hitched, coming in shallow gasps as I tried to think—anything, any way out.

But there wasn’t one.

The path behind me led straight back into the dome where he was sitting, probably still smirking like he owned the world. And the tunnel in front of me... NO!

I couldn’t let them see me.

Not like this.

My clothes—what little was left of them—were barely hanging on. My shirt had completely disintegrated, leaving my chest bare and glistening as if someone had poured oil all over me. My pants weren’t much better, melted away at the thighs, leaving me exposed in a way that made my skin crawl with shame. By some miracle—or curse—my underwear had survived, but that was small comfort. It didn’t matter. The damage was already done.

If anyone saw me like this, it would be over.

Not just the humiliation of being caught in such a state—but my secret. The one thing I’d spent my entire life hiding, guarding with every ounce of strength I had. If someone noticed...if they even suspected, everything I’d worked for—my dignity, my status, my achievements—would be ruined.

Panic clawed at my throat, cold and unrelenting.

What am I supposed to do?

I couldn’t move forward; I couldn’t go back. I was trapped, and the walls felt like they were closing in around me.

The voices were closer now, just around the bend. My knees threatened to buckle, the adrenaline coursing through me making it impossible to stand still. My breathing quickened, my hands shaking at my sides.

I can’t let them see me. No one can know.

No one.

Author’s Note

The tentacle will grow back again, don’t worry

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