Free Web NovelChapter 143: Chapter 143 Unwelcome Guests
Amber’s POV
"Ladies and gentlemen of the royal and noble estate of all dragon Kingdoms, welcome! We are delighted to be able to uphold generations of the tradition of this esteemed gathering, and we are looking forward to a time where we get to know each other again, as well as getting to know new people." Chase is standing, while Blaze, Melody, Elina and I are sitting. The platform makes it possible for him to speak so everyone, even in the farthest corner of the room can hear him clearly.
"As to the rumors surrounding my own family, I must clarify a few misunderstandings and admit to some truths." He looks at me and ushers me and Blaze to stand with him.
"I was crowned King over a week ago, as my father and his accomplices Gloria and Gia of the house Salvator." A gasp runs through the crowd, and some start to whisper together, disbelief on their faces.
"Excuse me, my King, if I may?" The young man from the first day appears in front of the platform, and the girls both growl lowly at him. He spares them no glace, though his eyes show he heard them.
"Speak cousin."
"Correct me, my King, if I am in the wrong, but didn’t your predestined father not announce the marriage of the young Miss Gia, and yourself only a little over a week ago? I don’t see how the young Lady went from fiancé to enemy in such a short amount of time - unless foul play was involved." He sends me a smug smirk at the implication of my wrongdoing. I resist the urge to roll my eyes at him. freewēbnoveℓ.com
"I have not used magic on his Majesty, if this is what you are trying, and failing, to imply. You have my permission to bring forward the Dragon Wise and have him perform a revealing spell." I lift an eyebrow at his sudden paleness, as his eyes move from side to side.
"No no, Princess."
"Maybe you were absent, cousin, but it is Queen Amber."
"She has not been mated, marked, or crowned, yet, my King. How can she be Queen?"
"Are you an imbecile or just plain stupid and ignorant? The Queen you see before you are the Queen of witches and werewolves, as well as the future Queen of the west dragon lands." Blaze interrupts, clearly annoyed by this slimy court snake.
"What is your name, young man?" I ask, my voice steady and calm.
"Helenius, but I go by Hel, Queen Amber. Why do you ask?" His question is genuine, and I have a feeling he is the way he is because he has never been treated right or kind - maybe other than by Callus for his own gain.
"May I ask you to be my escort to dinner, Hel? I would be very happy to hear more about your work at court and your connection to the royal family."
’Amber! I don’t trust him! What are you doing?’
’Have you ever tried to talk to him, or take an interest in him?’
’No?!’
’I didn’t think so, and that is maybe where you went wrong with him. Let’s try and show him some kindness and see what happens. If he is as bad as you think, I’ll kill him myself. Deal?’ Chase and Blaze both snorts, and mask it as a cough. I included both of them in my mind-link because we need to be on the same side. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
"You want me? That would be an honor indeed my Queen. Thank you, but what does the King and High Prince say?"
"It’s fine. We are family after all." I answer and laughter ensues from the crowd at the faces of my mates.
Chase clears his throat again.
"As I was saying - my father was imprisoned for his actions but has escaped. So as of right now, we have increased the security at the castle." Nods from almost everyone, but I do see some with their eyebrows knit together with this news.
"As for the rumors regarding my mate not being a dragon shifter. Well, that part is absolutely true - however, the rumors of her cheating on me with someone else are not. Amber is also mated to my twin brother Blaze, who is a formidable water dragon and a valued asset to our Kingdom and family. She has never cheated, and I will not have those kinds of rumors take root. Amber is and always has been my mate, and was the one who was in the wrong by bringing someone else into the mix. Even though I never have done anything to betray the mate bond, I did betray the trust between mates. A failure I am working to rectify." I take his hand and squeeze it. He’s already, by this announcement so publicly, done a lot to make it up to me.
"And the third thing before dinner is served. I want to introduce and welcome Melody and Elina to our family as well. They are mine, Amber’s, and Blaze’s daughters. They are shadow dragons, and they are not to be mistaken for someone you can treat in a rude manner. Our daughters are to be treated as the Princesses they are! Am I clear?" He booms the last part, and everyone straightens up while shouting "YES MY KING." Clearly satisfied with himself, Chase takes Melody’s hand in his and walks towards the dining room, as Blaze does the same with Elina. I smile at the sight, while taking the arms of Hel and walking with him.
"So, Hel, when are you going to tell your cousin you are hiding Callus, Gloria, and Gia in plain sight?" I ask in a low voice that would have drowned in the crowd, had he not been right beside me. The sweat on his forehead is signed enough, but he swallows and shakes his head.
"I have no idea..."
"Don’t even try. I’m the Queen of witches and werewolves, and by default of magic and all things weird. Don’t you think I can sense them?"
"But.."
"Please, just don’t play the fool with me, Hel. I’m not your enemy, however, you might view me as such. I am not going to rat you out, but I am going to ask you to either tell Chase yourself or get them out of the castle. I don’t want it to come to a fight, but I will protect my family at all costs."
"I’m sorry, my Queen. I have never... Chase and I..."
"You are estranged, and this is both of your faults, and you will both have to make it up to each other. Neither of us is against you, and whatever Callus promised. He will say and do anything to keep you helping him. You need to choose." Hel nods, his head hanging low. He knows I’m right.
Just as we are about to sit at the table, all the light goes out, and I feel something metallic and cold against my throat, but it is not before I hear the screams of my children that I get afraid.
"Come with me nice and quiet little Queen, and your brats won’t be hurt." I stand, trying to min link the guys, but am unable to do so.
"Don’t even think about it, Amber. This knife is enchanted, so as long as it touches your skin you can do nothing with your magic." The voice is familiar in some ways, but the name won’t come to me.
I follow my kidnapper out of the hall through a secret door in the wall, and all I can hear as the door closes behind me is Chase and Blaze searching for me, Melody, and Elina. In the quiet and cold corridor, the sound of my girl’s cries fills my ears, and then Ignis soars to the surface with a force I didn’t know she had. Her mother’s instincts are taking over. In a burst of light and fire, we slam our captures to the walls, and I run to the girls. But the effects of the metal make me unable to teleport. I grab my girls, and intend to run but am overpowered by a new force. This is stronger than before, and I feel a metal ring click around my neck.
Then everything goes dark, and I clutch my girls in my arms in a last effort to not be separated from them. I promised they would be safe. And I failed them.
