Page 39 of The Forbidden Dragon King (Shadow Kings #1)

War nods, satisfied, finally leaning to give me just a tiny amount of space, although she is still blocking out the sun. “So, tell me where we’re going to be reckless together.”

I stare at her in shock. “You’re not going to stop me…?”

“That depends.”

“The North Tower,” I risk admitting. “Lucius told me that every trace of Emperor Hadrian has been hidden away there.”

War hisses out an annoyed breath. “Did the blabbermouthed fucker happen to also tell you that the North Tower is forbidden to anyone but the royal family?”

I nod.

War pulls back from me. “I’m going to spank that brat until he can’t sit down for a month”

“Don’t,” I say, quickly. “He’s my friend.”

Strangely, it doesn’t feel like a lie.

War’s expression gentles a fraction. “Well, Luc needs an Omega friend in this place. First, tell me why you’d risk breaking the rules to go exploring.”

I hesitate, before explaining. “I want — need — to understand Aurelius.”

“What if you don’t like what you find out?”

“Then I don’t.”

“And what if,” War’s voice drops, dangerously, “I tell you to get fucked for trying to pry into my King’s private business? Why don’t you just talk to him directly, I don’t know, like a fucking normal person?”

“He’s not here.” I slip out from between her and the rose bush, spurred by my own mounting anger. “And he’s sort of the King of hiding behind masks, or hadn’t you noticed?”

War blinks at me. “You’re backtalking me.”

“You think?”

When she lunges for me, I squeak, darting beneath her arms and diving toward the archway.

Panting, I glance over my shoulder at her. “Why are you so loyal to Aurelius?”

War stalks toward me. “Why wouldn’t I be? There are enough knotless backstabbers in this court. Are you one of them?”

I frantically shake my head, as War presses me against the archway.

She grabs my arm, holding me in place. I don’t struggle. What’s the point?

War could snap my neck within a second.

I meet her gaze. “I don’t want to learn about him in order to betray him but because I love… ”

I snap my mouth shut.

By the Shadow Gods, did I say that out loud?

War scrutinizes me. “He always did love taking in strays.”

“Hey,” I protest.

Although, fair.

War lightens her hold on my arm. “I was just some orphan Alpha in the army under Tarquin. It didn’t matter that I passed top in the academy or that I was the best fighter.

I wasn’t some pampered elite with a silver spoon rammed so far up me that it shone out of my ass.

Then as soon as Relius became King, barely more than a kid, he assessed every soldier on merit.

Immediately, he promoted me to Imperial Legate. I thought that I was fucking dreaming.”

“And that’s why you’re loyal.”

She shoots me a withering look that makes me cringe.

“It’s one of a million reasons why I respect him as a King, solider, and dragon.

But then, on my first day in the new position, I had to stand by, still as a statue, and let Maximinus lay his filthy hands on the King.

I had to stand there and not even…” She breaks off, turning her head.

My eyes widen in horror. “Relius showed trust in an orphan like me, placing the future of his army in my hands. Then he let me in on the secrets behind his kingship. The true brutality that he lived by. But that goes both ways. Now, he can trust that I will do anything to protect him.”

I hear the underlying threat in her words.

After hearing what she owes Aurelius, and the reasons that she has to be protective of him, I don’t doubt that she’ll destroy anyone who threatens him.

I need to warn Daire.

This game has become much deadlier.

War’s shoulders relax. She twists to lean on the stone wall next to me.

“After that, Relius led me on his first campaign as King and my first as commander. You’d expect it to have been something glorious to make the annals against the fae or Bloods.

Instead, he mobilized the entire army and went to war in order to save the prettiest Omega damsel in Draca, who was locked in a tower.

It was like he was in some kid’s fucking story. The Council were livid.”

I laugh. “Lucius, right?”

War’s gaze becomes dreamy. “As soon as I saw that sweet bundle of sass and threw him over my shoulder, rescuing him, I knew that he was my mate. You want to know why I admire and respect the hell out of Relius? What other King would lead a campaign like that over a single abused Omega? Then would listen, when that Omega begged for his worthless family’s lives?

Would make the Omega his adviser? I’m not as smart as Luc, as ruthless as Vic, or as devious as Wraith.

But I’m a soldier. A good one. I’ve been up to my tits in blood, guts, and bones for three years, and young as he was when we started, Aurelius has been right alongside me. ”

“So, he’s brave. Why does that make him…?”

“Any fool can be brave. Look, wolf, I’ve fought on campaigns with both Relius and his brother.

Tarquin didn’t know down to the last grain how much wheat was left in the granary.

The names of the wounded soldiers after a battle.

What weapons needed replacing or mending.

Tarquin didn’t give two fucks if his soldiers starved or marched until they collapsed and died from exhaustion because after all, that fucker was riding.

Do you think that Tarquin would have bunked down with his soldiers?

And this is why those who have served with Relius would fucking kill and die for him, not out of fear but rather, respect. ”

I nod, slowly.

It’s illuminating to hear about this side of Aurelius from someone who isn’t only his friend but a commanding officer in his army. He sounds nothing like his brother. Daire has made that clear as well.

My stomach clenches.

Will Aurelius ever believe the truth about his brother who he loves so fiercely?

I turn to face War. “Have you told Aurelius about these differences?”

War snorts. “I prefer my wings attached.” Then she pushes herself off the wall, strolling to the archway. “There are lots of battles in life. Relius is the person who I want at my shoulder in all of them.”

I follow her to the archway. “I want that too.”

“You may not, after you see what’s in the North Tower.”

“I’m not scared.”

“Then you’re a foolish fucker. But I like that about you. Follow me.” War marches ahead of me through the archway .

I keep my gaze fixed on her broad back and her tumble of ash blond curls.

My heart speeds up with equal anticipation and fear.

What will I find in this tower?

What secrets?

Why is everything about Hadrian shut away?

Yet this is the original Golden Dragon. I’ve spent my life obsessing over his legend and the new King who was rumored to be his reincarnation.

What if I truly find out the truth?

The archway leads through to a musty, narrow corridor without windows or decorations.

I shudder.

It reminds me of the corridors that lead to the dungeons.

I instinctively raise the snowflake mark and kiss over it, needing to feel connected to Daire.

It’s my signal that I have managed to infiltrate the North Tower, as we planned together, ever since Lucius told me about it.

Instantly, I sense Daire’s surge of emotion.

Excitement.

I smile, as his phantom lips kiss over my wrist, sensually.

I bite my lip, pressing my wrist to my chest, enjoying the sensation of Daire’s rewarding kisses.

I focus on War’s muscled shoulders to stop my knees from buckling under the onslaught of my Alpha’s licks and passionate kisses.

I want to laugh at my scoundrel of a fae, but instead, I pinch the snowflake lightly in warning, otherwise Daire is going to make me come in the middle of this corridor.

And that would look more than a little suspicious.

Daire pinches me back teasingly, then gives me a final, loving stroke over the mark.

Warmed and settled, I’m now ready for whatever I find in this tower.

“Keep up. Your legs must be as short as Luc’s and that’s saying something.” War pushes aside a tatty tapestry to reveal a hidden stairway.

It’s dark.

My skin crawls, as I peer up the narrow steps into the darkness.

“The North Tower is up here,” she declares. “Last chance to back out. If by the worst fucking luck in the world, Maximinus is up here, we’re both dead. Then Relius will resurrect me in order to execute me again for getting you killed.”

I tilt up my chin. “I’ve never seen a resurrection. Worth it.”

“You won’t see it,” War mutters, stomping up the stairs and dropping the tapestry deliberately on my head. “Your eyes would already have been poked out, before our head was chopped off.”

I splutter, coughing as dust explodes in clouds from the tapestry. I shove through it, clattering up the spiral steps after War.

The only light filters through slits of windows.

I follow War in tense silence.

The muscles in my thighs protest, as we climb higher and higher. This part of the palace is ancient, older than any that I’ve been in so far.

At last, War stops in front of a gold gilt door abruptly enough that I nearly overbalance and tumble down the staircase.

She swings around and grabs me by the arm, as I lose my footing on the crumbling steps.

“Fuck.” I gasp in fear.

“Careful, wolf, you wouldn’t want to fall and break your neck.” War’s hold tightens on my arm but that still feels like a threat.

“No falling,” I reply, breathless. “Definitely no breaking of necks.”

War hauls me up onto the narrow step next to her like I weigh no more than a wolf pup, slamming me against the door.

I stare up at her with wide eyes.

“Unless you use what I’m about to show you to hurt my King.” War lowers her face closer to mine. I press my back against the wall, trapped. Now, I feel like true prey. “Then I guarantee that there will be.”

“I won’t.” I’m surprised how sincere I sound.

In fact, how sincere I am.

I may be a spy but I’m also now Aurelius’ mate.

His secret Queen.

I still want to topple Draca Kingdom but I don’t want to ruin Aurelius as well.

Is that possible?