Page 53 of The Forbidden Dragon King (Shadow Kings #1)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Dorms, Shadow Military Academy

F reya

I grimace, as my muscles ache. I didn’t know that someone could be put through the number of laps and push-ups as I and the rest of the cadets suffered through and still live.

Fuck the raven starving Ignatius for making it look easy.

I stagger down the bleak stone corridor that leads to the dorm room. Waves of exhaustion hit me. Moonlight streams through the barred windows.

If Daire hadn’t been beaten bloody by the vicious sparring session with every other cadet apart from me before the day even began, then I know that he would have made it look equally as easy as Ignatius did.

As it was, he gritted his teeth and grimly focused as much energy on hiding how much it was hurting him from me, as he did on keeping up with the dragons.

Thump, whack, thud, thump…

I shake my head, trying to get out the terrible echo.

Fight after fight.

Why was Daire throwing the fights? I saw how he easily took down the three guards. I bet that in a true battle, he could take down legions.

I barely managed to puff and pant my way over the assault course, gripping my side through painful stitches.

Feeling Daire’s pride in me through the bond is what kept me going.

I may have finished last on each exercise but I did complete them.

I’m proud of myself too.

Now, I trace over my bulging pocket, feeling out the shape of my latest theft.

Aurelius didn’t think that I’d stop being a thief, just because I became a cadet, right?

I sneaked away to the bathroom, slipping off my socks. Then I filled them with the hard block of lye soap, which I found in a cupboard, made out of animal fat and ash. I scrunched up my nose at its vile stench of roasted meat.

Still, it was hard and perfect for making an impromptu weapon.

I won’t be powerless in this academy.

Daire may want to play at being the prey, whereas I know that he’s hunting an entire empire. But I was the one who had to watch the person she loved being knocked to the ground over and over and fucking over.

If anyone thinks that they can continue the beatings after lessons have ended, then they’ll find that I have not only fangs but also a sock, which can teach them otherwise.

My eyes narrow at the sound of chatter, along with mocking laughter from the dorms up ahead.

Golden light spills through the open doorway.

I speed up, my heart in my throat.

I can’t make out the words yet, but it’s Ignatius in there who is holding court.

So, he’s back from his whipping.

I thought that Ignatius would at least need time to recover this evening, giving Daire and me time to plan our strategy.

Who is Ignatius really? Is he a threat to Aurelius?

When I reach the doorway, my hands ball in rage.

Ignatius is standing stiffly beside Daire’s bed, as if moving will hurt him.

It probably will.

I blink in confusion, when I notice Daire lounging on the stone floor. Five is curled in his arms. He’s stroking Five, deliberately ignoring the way that two other cadets at Ignatius’ orders have already thrown the mattress off Daire’s bed and are busy ripping up his blankets to make them unusable.

The other cadets are simply sprawled on their own beds. Some are watching with lazy, amused expressions, while others are laughing.

A few look sober, nudging each other, as they see me enter.

Ignatius doesn’t notice me.

He’s too focused on trying to get a reaction out of Daire, gesturing to a younger cadet to tear open Daire’s straw filled pillow and tip the contents over Daire’s head like it’s brittle snow.

Daire shields Five with his wing, before picking the straw out of his curls. When he pulls his wing back, Five hisses at Ignatius. Then she stands in front of Daire, protectively.

“What the fuck do you knotless sons of worm-eyed cowards think you’re doing?” I growl, pulling the sock out of my pocket.

I swing the sock in a circle. It gains momentum.

The cadets blink at me like I’m crazy.

“Don’t worry, little Omega,” Ignatius says, patronizingly, “your bed isn’t touched.

It’s just over there next to mine. A silver dragon such as me will ensure that you are safe.

You can stay with the rest of us nobles.

But this filthy fae and his flea-ridden cat can’t.

No whore masquerading as a warrior is sleeping near me.

He may once have been a king but now he’s nothing but a joke. ”

Daire’s eyes glitter. “At least my ma didn’t wish that she’d swallowed me.”

Ignatius pales, as the other cadets laugh. He tries to kick Daire, but Daire rolls out of the way, lightning fast.

Daire rises, looking suddenly as dangerous as he ever has. The cadets fall silent, as if suddenly seeing him for the first time.

Daire pumps his dominant pheromones through the room. The cadets’ eyes widen, as if they’re falling under his allure.

Five winds around Daire’s ankles with her head and tail raised.

Ignatius glances around himself. He’s trembling with rage.

When he lets out a shout, making to charge at Daire, I aim my improvised sock weapon at his head, catching him on the temple.

Ignatius groans, stumbling. He collapses to the floor, landing on his back.

He arches and grunts. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.”

The other cadets look alarmed but they don’t rush to support Ignatius.

“Whippings hurt, don’t they?” Daire says, flatly. “You should be resting and lying on your front on your own bed, rather than wasting energy on me. Caligo hates you. This won’t be the last time.”

Ignatius curls over onto his side, closing his eyes. His forehead is raising into a satisfying bruise, where I struck it.

His eyelashes are wet. “Shut up.”

“Try ice wrapped in your shirt, if you can get some. If not, a cold wet towel.”

“I said, shut up ,” Ignatius howls, turning his head as far away as he can.

Daire holds out his arm to me, as if he’s still wearing his crown and is about to walk me into his throne room. “Shall we?”

“We shall.” I tuck the sock back into my pocket, before taking his arm. “I’m a pet as well. Wherever my Alpha sleeps, so do I.”

Daire and I saunter to the door with Five strutting beside us.

“You think that you’re something special,” Ignatius’ weak voice says behind us.

My shoulders stiffen. “Caligo hates you too, or wasn’t it your filthy fae ass being beaten into the ground this morning?

The only reason that I would have allowed your non-shifter Omega into this dorm is because Aurelius is so obsessed with her.

Anyone can see that he wants to bite her pretty neck, despite the fact that she’s both a fae-lover and a servant.

Not only that, but she’s been rejected once.

I don’t know how she has bewitched our King to give her one of his precious heirlooms, but that golden trinket around her wrist slipped, during the assault course.

I saw that someone has already broken their bond with her.

The scar is as ugly as she is, but if Aurelius likes sloppy seconds?—”

Daire twirls back to Ignatius, teeth bared.

Shame and distress surge through me. I drop my hand instinctively to cover the golden bracelet and what is hidden underneath it.

I blush.

I feel violated. Exposed. Seen but only in the worst way.

Daire leaps with a stunning speed across the room, as his shadows leak from his wings, transforming the room to darkness.

He’s beautiful.

A vengeful, primal god.

The other students are terrified to silence.

Daire towers over Ignatius, snatching him by the front of his uniform.

Ignatius is breathing fast, dragging in panicked pants.

Then Daire slams him down onto his wounded back.

Ignatius screams.

Daire slams him down, again and again. He grinds his back onto the floor, until Ignatius is pleading and begging.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m…” Ignatius babbles.

“To her,” Daire says, coldly. “Say it to my Omega.”

“I’m s-s-sorry,” Ignatius manages to get out between his gasping sobs.

Ignatius is a mess.

His cheeks are blotchy and slick with tears. His long, golden hair is tangled over his face. His icy blue eyes are red-rimmed.

He looks nothing like the immaculate soldier from parade this morning.

“Louder,” Daire insists. “Convince me that you’re genuine.”

“I’m s-s-sorry,” Ignatius repeats, louder and more desperate. “I won’t be d-disrespectful again. I apologize.”

“That’s more like it. Do you accept his apology, love?”

I hesitate just long enough to enjoy the panicked pleading in Ignatius’ eyes, before I relent and nod. “As long as he doesn’t bully us or anyone else again. ”

“I won’t,” Ignatius whispers.

Daire drops Ignatius to the floor, patting him on the head. “Now, ice or wet towel, remember?”

Then he turns and saunters back to me, as the shadows recede back into his wings. He holds his arm out to me again, and I take it.

Bard didn’t even notice when I was bullied. The wolf prince allowed his gang of friends to torment me. He buried his nose in a book and walked on by, when my head was pushed into buckets of water.

Yet now I’m with a royal Alpha who will stand up against anyone who bullies me.

My soul is singing with joy.

I could kiss Daire’s obsidian feathers and never stop.

Daire clicks his tongue at Five. “Time to make your da look good, Five. Catch some mice and present them as gifts to Caligo, right in his boots would do nicely. Go on then.”

I chuckle.

Five pulls as close to a smirk as a cat is capable of at Ignatius, before slinking out of the door, as if she understands every word that Daire just said.

I’m still not sure how close the fae’s connection to animals and nature runs.

I let Daire lead me back into the corridor. I’m buzzing, still high on the thrill.

“You taught him a lesson with a sock…” Daire leans to murmur against my ear, laughter in his voice.

“And soap,” I add, patting my pocket.

“Brilliant. ”

“Where are we going? Are we actually following through on our protest to sleep outside?”