Page 72 of The Forbidden Dragon King (Shadow Kings #1)

Aurelius leaps off the apse to stand protectively in the aisle between whoever is attacking and Daire and me. He raises the sword, as shadows wind down its length. The councilors cower behind the statues.

Maximinus doesn’t even rise from the throne.

Why would he be worried? His weapon is already all around him in the walls of this basilica.

War bursts onto the apse.

She is dressed in her gleaming gold and ruby armor. Her ash blond hair is tangled and matted with crimson. Her face is still smudged with the dirt and blood of battle; it’s impossible to tell how much is her own. Her scarlet stained sword is grasped in her hand.

Lucius limps at her shoulder.

Lucius may be alive but his pretty face and tunic are scratched with claw marks.

His snowy shoulder is painted black and blue, where it shows through the tattered ruins of his clothes.

He appears to only still be standing by strength of will alone.

His eyes are red rimmed, as if he’s been crying for longer than I have.

My heart swells with relief.

Why do they look like they haven’t even changed since the attack? What’s been going on in the capital? Why do they look hollow, grief-stricken?

I let out a sob. “Luc, you’re alive.”

Lucius’ gaze instantly swings to me. “And let’s keep you that way as well.”

Only now that I see him standing in front of me, the shifter who saved my life and saw me through my heat — my first Omega friend — I realize that I wasn’t only playing him. He truly has worked his way into my heart .

It would have devastated me to lose him.

Aurelius’ knees buckle and he collapses onto the marble floor. “War…Luc…”

He breaks down, unable to say more.

Maximinus stiffens but doesn’t move, merely arching his brow in interest.

Decima, on the other hand, marches up to the most powerful warrior in the army and pokes War in the chest. “How did you get in here? I have a dozen guards posted outside.”

“Not anymore. Well, a dozen corpses.” War shoves past Decima, sending her stumbling back in outrage. Lucius follows her. “We’re here to protect my King and his mates.”

Decima glances over her shoulder at someone who more slowly steps out of the shadows and into the moonlight of the apse.

Wraith.

Wraith’s head is bowed, allowing her white blond hair to cover her fragile face and jade eyes.

To my surprise, she is wearing the immaculate jade robes of the Guild of Spies.

She alone has cleaned up and changed.

Why?

As always, she silently follows the others in the shadows.

War and Lucius stop in front of Aurelius like bodyguards. All of War’s attention is fixed on Aurelius, who is staring at the three dragons, as if they’ve just been resurrected in front of him .

Suddenly, my stomach sinks.

Three dragons.

Three.

Where is the fourth? Where is Vicious?

Aurelius peers around Wraith, as if expecting to discover Vicious there at her side like she always is.

Except, she’s missing.

The absence of her is as loud as a scream.

“Vic…?” He whispers.

War doesn’t reply.

“Relius, we tried,” Lucius starts. His eyes gleam with tears. “We didn’t abandon her. We carried her back to the palace, but the healers couldn’t… You know how stubborn she is — was — she battled and clung on for more than a day.”

Lucius’ voice wavers. War wraps her arm around him.

“No.” Aurelius slams his sword cracking against the floor. “No.”

Wraith finally lifts her head; I’m shocked by how swollen her eyes are. They look like the life has faded out of them, as it must have faded out of Vicious.

“Yes,” Wraith simply says. “She died fighting. She’d be pleased about that. Vic is with the Shadow Gods now. Will you m-m-make m-me a s-shrine…?”

Finally her voice breaks, and she collapses to the floor, crawling to wrap her arms around Aurelius. She cries as silently as she spies.

Her shoulders shake.

“I will carve her a grand shrine.” Aurelius rests his head on Wraith’s shoulder, as she tightly hugs him. “I’m sorry, Wraith. I’m so sorry.”

When he looks up at War, grief and despair blasts through the bond.

The golden collar sears with Aurelius’ pain.

Daire jolts at the same time as I do. We both must be feeling it.

Aurelius is being torn apart.

“I’m sorry,” Aurelius repeats. “Sorry, sorry, sorry.”

“You don’t need to apologize to any of us.” Wraith manages to get out, wiping her cheeks. “Vic died protecting you. She would be proud of that.”

Lucius rests his hand on Aurelius’ shoulder, squeezing.

What remains of the Golden Family stand united in the center of the basilica.

Yet it frightens me how in control Maximinus still looks, watching Aurelius’ grief with a contemptuously curled lip.

“Stop this disgraceful display.” Maximinus shakes his head. “All these emotions. Do you know how weak you look? I believe that you need to be taken back under my Guardianship for further lessons.”

Aurelius pales.

“Get fucked, Horror of Bael.” War meets Aurelius’ eye significantly, before turning back to Decima. “Neither the King nor his mates should be judged today or punished. They made the plan that led to the rescue of the city. I was only following out my King’s orders.”

“And an Alpha’s heat with their dragon riders is protected under law,” Lucius points out, firmly.

“I made certain of that two years ago. Even in war, if a heat hits then an Alpha’s primary duty is to his Omega dragon rider.

They are not deserting, if they leave the field of battle to see their Omega safely through their heat.

The King would not have been able to fight when he was in rut, neither would Kit.

Would you prefer that they had stayed and all died that night? ”

His voice is tight with emotion and rage.

Several of the council members are shifting and looking uncomfortable now, casting each other glances.

“On what authority do you dare to enter the Council’s basilica and attempt to teach us the law?” Decima demands but she sounds shaky now. “This sacred ground is only for noble silver dragons, not ruby and jade. I will have you publicly whipped and?—”

“Eat shit, daughter of a bitch,” War growls without looking around.

“You’re all traitors. If you are intending to chain or kill us too, Maximinus, then know that the entire army and the academy cadets led by Ignatius are surrounding the basilica.

They have orders to burn this building and slaughter everyone inside, if all of us — including the King’s dragon riders — don’t safely exit. ”

At long last, Maximinus looks shaken.

He launches himself out of the throne. “What have you done, boy?”

Aurelius’ lips curl into a cold smirk, as he disentangles himself from Wraith and gathers up the sword in his bound hands. He pushes himself to his full height.

It’s as if he’s been reborn.

Now, he’s the one with the power in this room .

He casually swings the sword between his hands.

“You may have won the Council, Uncle, but you forget that the one who wins the army , rules the kingdom. I have spent three years sleeping, eating, and paying in blood alongside my soldiers. I have saved their lives and those of their friends and mates on the battlefield. They are as loyal, as these nobles are disloyal serpents on my fucking breast. So, this is called a stalemate. We could kill each other here or we could compromise.”

Daire is grinning as widely as I am. “How about a deal? I love those.”

I grin.

Joy surges through me, wild and unrestrained. There is a way out. Aurelius is as good at scheming as Daire is, and he’s just outfoxed his Uncle.

Maximinus’ hands are balled into fists, as if he’d be striking Aurelius if he was standing close enough. “You would threaten your own family over fucking pets?”

“Over my pack,” Aurelius declares, and his voice rings through the basilica, “my Queen and King.”

The council members gasp in shock.

Despite everything, part of me doubted that Aurelius would truly declare Daire and me as rulers beside him.

But for once, I don’t mind being proved wrong.

Happiness floods through me, and I realize that I’m experiencing Daire’s reaction on top of mine for being claimed as both pack and King publicly.

“You hear that?” I call. “ Queen .”

Decima gives a nasty laugh. “The wolf shifter bitch is just some orphan trash. She’s a rejected Omega. The soulmate of a conquered King turned bandit. She is not worthy to be your mate. Why would you want to touch someone who has already been sullied? A fae lover?”

“Maybe I am a fae lover too.” Aurelius saunters toward Daire.

My grin freezes, when he raises the sword, resting the blunt tip underneath Daire’s chin.

Daire’s breathing becomes ragged, and he stills. “Normally, I’m all for a little sword crossing. But right now, could we skip the blood play…?”

Aurelius pulls back, blanking his expression. Then he holds the sword with two hands, steadying it on his shoulder.

Did I misread this? Aurelius hasn’t actually been pressured into executing us, right?

My eyes widen with panic. “Shit, stop. What are you…?”

Aurelius swings the sword, as I scream.

The blade severs the chains that are holding Daire’s arms above his head.

Daire howls with agony, as his arms that have been held up in the same position for too long are finally allowed to drop. Then Aurelius swings twice more, cutting the chains at Daire’s chest and waist.

Aurelius doesn’t catch Daire, allowing him to crumple in a groaning pile on the floor.

Dares crushed wings flap weakly.

“I thought that you were a fae lover,” Daire grumbles.

“More like hater turned ally. You’re free aren’t you? Don’t be ungrateful, Kitten.” Aurelius turns toward me .

“How did he cut through your chains?” Decima demands, turning to Maximinus.

“The executioner sword is the weapon that is used to carry out judgment in here.” Maximinus runs his hand over his bald head in frustration. “To kill or to free.”

Huh, shows how often the sword is used to free, since she doesn’t know that. When was mercy last shown in Draca Kingdom? Within the Shadow Court?