The Dragon King's Hated Bride

>>Aelin

Dread began to consume me as soon as it was made official that Draegon was to leave as the commander of the troops. There was no voting done or thoughts given when it came to it. Draegon was chosen because he is the son of a concubine and it wouldn't matter if he didn't come back.

The little warmth in my heart was filled with fear once again. I didn't want to be alone in this place. Dravos was a demon kingdom and I was to stay at a demon palace because even though he had no standing, Draegon was still a demon prince.

And to be the sole human surrounded by big terrifying demons was eating me up. My family didn't send a single attendant with me, I was all on my own.

I ran towards the bedroom, our bedroom.

No one had cared for me, or offered me words like Draegon had. No one had ever made a promise to me to take care of me, and that they'd keep me safe like he had. And that was the reason why his words began to seep into my mind and I chose to believe him, despite him being a demon.

But now he's leaving? My heart ached as I opened the door to our bedroom.

Did the promise he made not matter to him?

The moment I closed the door behind me, I pressed my back against it, my breath coming in shaky gasps. My heart raced, and my hands trembled as I clenched the folds of my dress. I wasn't sure if it was the looming fear of what lay ahead or the suffocating dread of staying behind in this palace filled with demons that left me on edge.

Draegon stood across the room, his towering figure illuminated by the dim light of the setting sun spilling through the window. He was fastening the straps of his armor, the sharp metallic clicks echoing in the stillness.

I pursed my lower lip

The thought of being all alone here sent another wave of panic through me, but I forced myself to swallow it down, to keep my breathing steady. 

I was always supposed to be 'composed', silent…obedient... 

That's what I'd been taught in Havenmoore. I'd never been allowed to state my desires there, to voice what I wanted. And now, standing here, I felt just as voiceless while I watched Draegon get ready.

My chest felt constricted but I couldn't let this chance slip away.

"Draegon?" I whispered, my voice barely audible as my body trembled slightly.

He paused mid-motion, turning his head toward me. His purple eyes softened ever so slightly, their intensity focused solely on me. "What is it?" he asked, his tone calm as he gave me his full attention.

I hesitated, twisting my fingers together nervously. The weight of his gaze made it harder to speak, but the words tumbled out anyway. "Can I… ask you something?"

He straightened, stepping closer, "Yes?" he said.

I drew in a shaky breath, my nails digging into my palms as I summoned the courage to speak. "Don't leave me here." The plea escaped before I could stop it, my voice trembling. "Please… Can you not go?"

…

For a heartbeat, silence stretched between us. I couldn't bring myself to look at him, my gaze fixed on the floor.

"I can't," he said finally

The weight of his refusal hit me like a blow, and my chest tightened. My fear spilled over before I could hold it back. "Why?" My voice was even bleaker than before

He sighed, his tone softening. "If I don't go, the consequences for the three of us will be dire."

Three?

I blinked, confusion momentarily eclipsing my fear. What did he mean by three? I opened my mouth to ask, but before the words could form, he turned away, fastening the last strap of his armor with a sense of finality.

The chance to question him slipped through my fingers, leaving me with only the heavy, unspoken words hanging in the air. Three of us? Who was the third? And if he doesn't go, things will be bad for us?

My mind raced, but Draegon didn't seem inclined to explain. As he gathered his things, the reality of the situation sank deeper into my chest. He was leaving, and I was staying. 

Alone. 

I pressed a trembling hand to my chest, trying to keep the panic from overwhelming me. For centuries, demons had been humanity's enemies. And now, I was surrounded by them. The thought was terrifying because what lay ahead was unknown.

I didn't have a choice—not in Havenmoore, and not here. My voice didn't matter. But as I stood there, watching Draegon prepare to walk out of the room, I couldn't shake the sinking feeling that I was about to lose the only fragile lifeline I had.

Draegon's sharp gaze softened as he looked at me, the fear I couldn't hide reflected in the enchanting purple depths of his eyes. He stopped what he was doing, letting his hands fall to his sides.

"I'll come back soon," he said, his voice low but steady, "I promise." I looked at him quietly

I wanted to believe him. I wanted to take comfort in the certainty of his tone, but I couldn't ignore the cold knot of dread tightening in my chest. Just yesterday, he had made me another promise, and it was already broken. 

He seemed to sense my hesitation, the doubt flickering in my expression. Without a word, he reached for the deep purple pendant hanging around his neck, the silver chain glinting faintly in the dim light. He unclasped it and stepped closer, holding it out to me.

"It's my mother's," he said, his voice softer now. "It opens up."

I stared at the pendant in his hand, hesitant to take it. But slowly, I reached out and accepted it, the cool metal resting heavily in my palm. When I pressed the tiny clasp, the pendant clicked open, revealing something unexpected—a single scale nestled inside, shimmering faintly with a rich iridescence.

"It's my birth scale," He said, "There is no better promise than this."

I looked up at him, startled. He stood there, his towering frame looking down at me. I didn't understand the full weight of what he was giving me, but I could tell it was important. It must be a demon thing.

I stared at the pendant 

These are the kinds of things people take to war, right? Something precious to keep them grounded, to remind them of what they were fighting for. But he gave it to me…

"Thank you," I murmured, my fingers curling protectively around the pendant. 

As Draegon turned to leave, something stirred inside me. He had given me something important, shouldn't I give him something in return?

"Wait," I said, my voice trembling but firm enough to make him pause just before he walked past the door.

He turned back, a question in his eyes.

I ran to the bedside drawer. There was one thing I brought with me and I put it in the drawer as soon as I came to this room. I opened it and took something out. It wasn't much—a thin cord interwoven with tiny wooden beads I'd crafted myself during sleepless nights in Havenmoore. 

It was something I created from scratch, for someone I hoped would cherish it. I took a moment as I stared at it, pursing my lips anxiously.

Then turned around and walked to him, "This…" I hesitated, suddenly unsure if it was enough. "It's not much, but I made it myself." I said softly, knowing full well that bracelet held no importance. It was just something I made.

I stepped closer, holding it out to him. For a moment, he simply looked at it, and then at me, his expression unreadable. Finally, he reached out and took it, his fingers surprisingly gentle as they brushed against mine.

I felt a reaction in my skin, but it was subtle.

I gulped as he slipped the bracelet onto his wrist, a faint, almost nonexistent smile tugged at the corner of his mouth—a rare, fleeting thing that made my heart twist in ways I didn't understand.

He wore it…

Seeing that made me somehow relax. He really wore it. I smiled softly, feeling a little happy that I had made that.

And then he turned, walking out of the room and leaving me clutching the pendant tightly against my chest.

***

Fleeting moments of peace don't last.

The maid who delivered the message from the Demon Queen had left moments ago, her pointed sneer lingering in the air even after her footsteps faded down the hall. I sat stiffly in my chair in the bedroom next to the window, my hands gripping the edge of the table in front of me, trying to keep them from trembling.

'Go back home.'

The words echoed in my head. The Queen sent the message that as long as Draegon wasn't here, I had no reason to be here either and I could leave.

Home.

That word had lost all meaning to me long ago. Havenmoore Palace wasn't a home— not for me

If I returned, I knew exactly what awaited me. It had been made very clear to me that if I ever tried to return home, I would be treated worse than a slave. The peace treaty was fragile, and they would seize any excuse to make an example of me. They'd already whispered about how my marriage was nothing but a desperate, shameful alliance and I was handed over to the demons because that was the only sole thing I could ever be useful for.

I didn't amount for anything else.

No, 

I couldn't go back. I wouldn't survive it.

But staying here wasn't any easier. The Queen's message wasn't a suggestion; it was a thinly veiled order. And by ignoring it, I had signed my own sentence.

The maids and guards were the first to change. Their cold stares grew colder, and the whispers grew louder. I overheard a passing maid mutter, "A measly human clinging to the scraps of her place," as I walked down the hall, her words punctuated by a derisive laugh.

The contempt spread like wildfire. Meals were brought later and colder. My room was cleaned hastily, if at all. Tasks I requested were ignored, my presence barely acknowledged except by the lingering, judging gazes.

But,

It was all too familiar to me. This place was far too similar to the palace I grew up in.

It wasn't long before I was moved to a smaller, isolated part of the castle. No explanations were given, but the message was clear. 

They wanted me hidden, out of sight and out of mind, like a blemish they couldn't quite remove but didn't want anyone to notice.