The Dragon King's Hated Bride
Chapter 71: The Unnaturality

Chapter 71: The Unnaturality

>>Aelin

As the monster attacked, Ruoxy clawed at Draegon too which he barely managed to move away from, The goat-headed monster’s fangs tore into Draegon’s arm, its grip impossibly strong as it thrashed and writhed in his flesh. The pain was sharp and immediate, but Draegon barely let out a grunt as he grabbed hold of the creature with his other hand. His claws dug into its thick hide, ripping it out of his arm with sheer force. Blood splattered across the dirt as he hurled it away from him.

The monster hit the ground hard, tumbling through the grass in a chaotic spiral. Its eight legs flailed as it struggled to regain control of its movements, but its momentum carried it too far, too fast.

Ruoxy tried to move towards me, scaring me and my body jolted. I was getting ready to run when Draegon grabbed her by her hair from behind and threw her right where he threw the other monster.

!!!

I paused right before I could run and looked at Ruoxy who landed right where the goat-headed monster had

It was then we both noticed it.

A jagged rock, half-buried in the earth, caught the creature’s throat mid-slide. The impact was sudden, and the razor-sharp edge cut through the thick flesh like a blade through silk. A sickening tear split open the side of its neck, and dark, inky blood splattered onto the grass.

And there—glowing faintly beneath the torn flesh—was something else.

A core.

It pulsed like a living black heart, a swirling mass of black energy encased in a thin, translucent membrane. Each beat was slow and deliberate, as though the creature’s very essence was trapped within it.

Draegon’s sharp eyes locked onto it instantly.

Without hesitation, he lunged.

His powerful legs carried him forward in an instant, closing the distance between him and the struggling beast. The monster screeched, its broken throat gurgling as it attempted to rise, but Draegon was faster. He reached down, his claws wrapping around its thick, furred neck, forcing it back onto the ground with a sickening crack.

The monster convulsed beneath his grip, its limbs flailing wildly, but Draegon ignored its desperate struggles. His fingers dug deep into the exposed wound, pushing past the wet, sticky flesh until he felt it—the core.

A twisted, foreign energy pulsed against his palm.

The creature let out an ear-piercing screech, sensing what he was about to do. Its eight legs kicked frantically, trying to tear at him with whatever strength it had left.

But Draegon didn’t hesitate as he began to charge his firebreath. With a guttural snarl, he ripped the core from its throat.

The creature’s body spasmed violently, every limb seizing as if it were being torn apart from the inside. With the final attack he burned the beating core. The attack was fast since the core was small and he didn’t need a lot of fire for it.

But that moment of distraction was all Ruoxy needed.

She darted forward, her claws glowing with a dark, ominous energy. She struck at his side, raking deep wounds into his torso. Blood splattered against the ground. Draegon gritted his teeth and retaliated, his tail whipping around and slamming into her, sending her flying into a nearby tree. The impact shattered the bark, sending debris flying.

Ruoxy coughed but laughed, a manic glint in her eyes. "Getting slower, are we?" she taunted, wiping blood from her mouth.

Draegon didn’t answer. He exhaled sharply, his breath coming out in short bursts, but despite his injuries, his stance remained unyielding. His body was covered in cuts, his shoulder torn, and yet—he was still standing, still fighting.

Ruoxy rushed him again, her nails gleaming with the same dark power. She struck his shoulder, aiming to pierce straight through, but this time, Draegon moved faster.

As I stood there, my breath uneven, my fingers still trembling from the healing magic I had cast on Draegon, I kept thinking about how useless I was. I couldn’t do anything to help him and this is probably why I was a target too. She was probably going to take me a hostage because I’m so weak. That’s when something stirred in the back of my mind.

Ruoxy had once told me something. That I had potential.

The words had seemed empty at the time, spoken with a smirk I couldn’t quite decipher, but now... now they rang with a deeper meaning, one I didn’t like.

What could she have meant by that?

My frown deepened. If she planned on using me as a hostage, what exactly had she intended for me?

A cold chill slithered down my spine.

Could she have meant to do to me what she did to those poor palace workers who went missing?

The memories resurfaced like bile in my throat. The ones who had vanished... They were found in the basement and they were used to open the Abyss gate.

Was that her plan for me too?

I swallowed hard, my throat dry.

Ruoxy’s dark glowing, frenzied eyes met mine for the briefest moment before she lunged at Draegon again. I forced my legs to move, stepping back instinctively, but my gaze never left them.

They clashed with unrelenting force.

Draegon’s flames flickered in the dimming light, his body moving with deadly precision as he struck at her. His attacks were heavy, brutal, meant to rip through her defenses—but Ruoxy wasn’t slowing down.

Something was wrong.

I had healed Draegon, but I hadn’t been able to heal him completely. My magic had worked, but not to its full extent, and I could tell he was struggling. His movements weren’t as fluid as they should have been, and his breathing was heavier.

I clenched my fists, frustration burning through me. If only I could’ve healed him more...

Ruoxy was beginning to understand his attack pattern.

She was adapting.

The realization made my stomach twist in dread.

With every exchange, she avoided more of his strikes. She countered faster. She moved with a growing confidence that hadn’t been there before.

And the worst part?

She wasn’t feeling the pain anymore. Why? I had no idea why but it was odd.

Draegon had slashed her, burned her, even thrown her against the trees with force that should have shattered bones. Yet she kept coming back, eyes alight with something sinister, something unnatural.

How was she still standing?

I bit my lip, my nails digging into my palms.

Draegon needed to end this soon. If Ruoxy truly felt no pain anymore, she was only going to grow more relentless.

I had to do something.

But what?

I was just a human, standing on the sidelines while two monsters tore each other apart.

And yet, despite all of that, I couldn’t look away.

I had to stay. I had to see this through.

I had to believe in Draegon.

He sidestepped her attack, then in one fluid motion, he grabbed her by the wrist and twisted. A sickening pop rang out as her arm was wrenched at an unnatural angle, but she didn’t scream.

She grinned.

And then, using her other hand, she plunged her claws into his side.

Draegon growled in pain, his grip tightening around her broken arm. His purple eyes flared dangerously, but Ruoxy leaned in close, her voice a whisper. "I will have your wife"

His only response was a deep, guttural growl.

And then—he moved.

In a blur of motion, Draegon wrenched her closer, his free hand glowing with molten energy. Before she could react, his claws plunged deep into her chest.

Ruoxy’s eyes widened in shock.

Black blood spilled over his hand, the thick liquid dripping onto the dirt below. For a moment, everything was eerily silent.

Then Draegon tightened his grip, his fingers wrapping around something inside her.

Her heart.

Ruoxy gasped, her body seizing as she clawed at his arm, trying to pry him off. But Draegon didn’t falter. His wings flared wide, his body tensing as his hold around her heart grew stronger.

"As if," he said, his voice low, steady. "I won’t let you hurt her anymore."

Ruoxy tried to speak, but blood bubbled past her lips.

Her struggles grew weaker.

And then, with one final, merciless pull—Draegon ripped her heart from her chest.

A choked gasp escaped her as her body went slack, her eyes flickering with disbelief. She stumbled back, her hands clutching at the gaping wound in her chest, but it was too late.

Draegon let his fire out, burning the core in his hand to a crisp.

Ruoxy staggered once, twice—then crumpled to her knees. Her breath was ragged, uneven.

She looked up at him, her lips parting as if to say something—but no words came. Her body trembled, then collapsed forward.

Still.

Draegon turned to me, Ruoxy’s heart still in his hand, he walked towards me when he stopped and looked at the heart in his hand.

I frowned as well

Didn’t he do this in the dungeon too? He didn’t burn it then but he did crush it there. And he had ripped the heart from the same place then too...

Both our frowns deepened.

As if our fears were brought to life, Ruoxy’s supposed dead body stood up again in one clean sweep.

!?!?

Though Draegon had his back to her, his eyes went wide as he realized it but I had a clear view of that black blood filled creature that stood up and gave me a creepy smile.