Chapter 44

VALKYRIE

“Damian, let go,” I tell him.

Damian’s face scrunches up in a frown. He’s been silent since we left.

“Damian?” I say again, my voice heavy with fatigue. “Please.”

“What was that about?” Damian asks, his hand tightening around mine.

“What do you mean?” I reply.

“You know what I mean. You were acting like a different person,” Damian says, his eyes narrowing. “Valkyrie…”

A loud knock interrupts us. We both turn to see Dimitri entering my room. His golden eyes lock onto mine.

“Damian, leave,” Dimitri commands, his gaze never leaving mine.

I roll my eyes and tighten my grip on Damian’s hand.

“He’s staying,” I snap back.

“Valkyrie, please,” Dimitri pleads.

I raise an eyebrow at him, taking in his tense posture.

“It’s okay,” Damian whispers. “I’ll give you two some space.” He pulls his hand from mine, stands, and leaves the room. I stay seated on the bed, watching the door close behind him.

When I turn back to Dimitri, I see a grin spreading across his face.

“You’re looking sexy right now,” Dimitri murmurs, crawling onto the bed. I watch him, unimpressed, and stay put.

“Valkyrie, I know you’re mad at me,” Dimitri says as he finally kneels beside me. I cross my arms and look out the balcony, ignoring him.

Dimitri knows I’m angry. He’s trying to get me to look at him, but I don’t want him here.

“Valkyrie…,” Dimitri whispers, reaching for my hand. I pull away from him with a groan.

“Just stay away!” I snap. “Just stay away…”

Dimitri shakes his head and reaches for me again. I slap his hand away.

“I said stay away!” I hiss, my hands balling into fists.

“I can’t!” Dimitri mumbles, grabbing my thigh and pulling me until I’m beneath him. He sighs, his face showing his exhaustion. “Please, just listen.”

“You don’t deserve my time,” I retort, struggling beneath him. “Let me go! I don’t want to talk to you.”

“But we need to… I need to,” Dimitri insists, his head bowed. He leans down and rests his head on my chest. I stiffen as I feel his body against mine, warmth spreading down my legs.

His hands start to roam, moving up and down my waist, reaching my legs. “Dimitri!” I warn him.

“I didn’t mean to,” Dimitri mumbles, squeezing my waist. “But he did that.”

“What happened between Cian and me is none of your business,” I spit out. “You always jump to conclusions without knowing the whole story.”

“But he touched you!” Dimitri hisses. “He kissed you.”

I kick him off me and scramble off the bed.

“REALLY?” I snap, my annoyance clear. “Do you even know what happened?”

Dimitri shakes his head, looking defeated. I groan and pinch the bridge of my nose. Why is he so dense?

“Do you even know why I stabbed him?” I ask, my eyes drifting to the pool of blood that hasn’t been cleaned up yet.

Dimitri follows my gaze to the blood, his face a mask of confusion.

“Why did you do it?” Dimitri asks. “Tell me, I won’t judge you.”

“Judge me?” I scoff, laughing bitterly. “I think you’ve already done that, haven’t you?”

Dimitri flinches and gets off the bed.

“I don’t care anymore,” I say, my laughter hollow. “I can’t forgive you.”

Dimitri looks at me in shock.

“No, you can’t do this, you…,” Dimitri stammers, but I cut him off.

“I don’t fucking care what you think! I don’t care if you’re mad or sad.

“Ever since I got here, you’ve been judging me. Do you even care about how I feel?” I ask, tears welling up in my eyes. “Do you ever think before you speak?”

My anger is making my head pound. I turn away from him, taking deep breaths and clenching my fists. I need to calm down.

“I stabbed Cian because he showed his true colors. I trusted him because he’s my cousin. But when I found out what he really wanted…” I trail off, feeling drained.

“Cian touched me because he said you couldn’t touch him. I just… I just did it. He won’t be able to hurt me anymore.”

I let out a huff, a tear slipping down my cheek. Then another, and another, until my face is wet with tears. Dimitri doesn’t say a word.

“I still thought about you. And I didn’t care if I killed him. Even though I know I didn’t, I had to show him I’m not an easy target. I have my own dreams, Dimitri.

“But sometimes, I think it’s pointless to even dream,” I mumble, walking away to lean against the door frame. “Cian didn’t kiss me, you know. It was my fault. And Irene just misunderstood.”

I’m tired of all this. So tired. I slide down the wall and sigh. I hear Dimitri approaching. I shoot him a glare over my shoulder. Dimitri freezes.

“I don’t have to prove myself to you or anyone else. You just need to give me a chance. But all you want is to keep me locked up.

“I’m just so tired of being caged. Of being looked down on. Of having my freedom stolen. My life,” I murmur.

A quiet moment stretches between us. Neither Dimitri nor I say anything. Then, a sob breaks free from my throat, and I start crying out loud. I feel Dimitri’s arms wrap around me as he lifts me up.

He holds me close to his chest, carrying me back to the bed. I push against him, creating some distance between us. I grab the fur blanket and wrap it around myself.

I sniffle, feeling Dimitri’s gaze on me. He doesn’t say anything, and I just want him to leave. I feel him move as he wraps his arms around me from behind.

“I’m sorry,” Dimitri whispers, pressing a kiss to my shoulder. “I really am.”

I squirm, trying to create some distance between us again. But he tightens his hold, pulling me closer.

“What can I do to make you forgive me?” Dimitri asks, resting his head on my shoulder. “Tell me. I’ll do anything.”

“I don’t want anything from you,” I mumble. “All I ever wanted was your trust.” I take his hands and pry them off me. I turn around to face him.

“When you learn to trust me, I’ll forgive you. And I’ll do as I please. I’m your queen, not your slave.” I stand up and walk away, leaving him alone in bed.

***

Two days have passed since my little spat with Dimitri. Prince Cian has been taken away by Irene. King Casen handled it, after I explained what happened.

He decided to distance himself from us for now. He’ll visit again once things have calmed down. As for Michael, he said he wouldn’t go back, but I advised him to.

I even told him I’d go with him, which wasn’t a lie. I need to get out. Being trapped in this palace is driving me insane.

Dimitri hasn’t spoken a word to me. He doesn’t look angry, just lost. He’s been distant since our talk.

Damian comes to check on me. He updates me on Dimitri’s state, even though I don’t ask him to. Sighing, I grab my cloak and head to the cave entrance.

“You ready?” Damian asks as he starts to undress. I nod, turning around to give him privacy to transform. I hear the sound of bones cracking and a low growl, then I turn back to face him.

As he lowers himself, I climb on and steady myself.

~“You okay?”~ Damian asks through our mind-link.

“Yes, let’s go,” I mumble as we take off from the cave.

Today, I decided to visit the neighboring kingdom. Mia told me that Dimitri has an agreement with them. They provide protection in exchange for food and other necessities.

They supply the horde. It seems that most of the humans living in the palace are from this kingdom.

Looking down, I spot the entrance. Two massive wooden doors stand wide open at the edge of the kingdom. A huge stone wall surrounds the kingdom.

~“We should land here so we can go in,”~ Damian suggests in my mind. I nod and continue to survey the area. This place is huge. Vast lands filled with trees stretch for miles.

Damian lands with a thud, and I dismount. We’re just a few steps away from the gates. I watch in awe as merchants pass through security.

“Are you sure we won’t have any trouble?” I ask as Damian emerges from behind a tree.

“No, we won’t. You’ll see, let’s go,” Damian reassures me, taking my hand.

We walk together, waiting for the merchants in front of us to move. Feeling my hand start to sweat, Damian gives it a reassuring squeeze. I smile at him as we approach two guards.

“Welcome, what brings you here?” one guard asks, looking us up and down. Damian and I are both cloaked in black.

“Just visiting,” Damian replies, pulling back his cloak and smiling.

“Ah, Prince Damian!” one of the guards exclaims, grinning. “Welcome, please go ahead.”

We thank them and walk in. I glance at Damian as he smiles down at me.

“They know you?” I ask, puzzled.

“They know us,” Damian corrects me. “The guards and the royal family know Dimitri and me.”

I nod silently, shifting my gaze forward. Rows of different stalls line the entrance, with merchants selling their wares.

I glance around, noticing some children running about. I’ve never been to a city before. Everything I see is new to me.

“Where should we go first?” Damian asks, leading me through the crowd.

“I don’t know,” I mumble, looking around. “What do you suggest?”

“Food stalls!” Damian exclaims. “Follow me!”

***

An hour after our arrival, Damian has introduced me to a variety of food stalls. We’ve been sampling food non-stop.

“That was good,” Damian comments, gnawing on a chicken bone. I chuckle and offer him some water.

“Is there a bookstore?” I ask.

“Yes,” Damian nods, pointing towards the city center. “Let’s go this way.”

He knocks on a pair of red double doors, grinning at me. “You can find anything here,” Damian promises, winking at me.

We hear a lock click open. The doors swing open and a tall man with a white beard peers out at us.

“Damian?” the tall man asks, surprised.

“Bernard!” Damian greets him, and they share a hug. “Can we come in?”

“Of course!” Bernard replies, smiling. He opens the doors wide and invites us in. I follow Damian inside.

“Wow…,” I whisper, looking around in awe. What is this place?

“Amazing, right?” Damian asks, leaning in close to me. He nudges me forward, and we walk until we reach a seating area.

“And who might this be?” Bernard asks, smiling at me.

“This is Valkyrie,” Damian introduces me. “She’s Dimitri’s mate.”

“Pleasure to meet you,” I say, offering a polite bow.

“So, you’re the one?” Bernard asks, his hand gripping mine with an excited shake. “Dimitri’s told me quite a bit about you.” I tilt my head, studying him.

“Come on, let’s get a good look at you!” Bernard insists, his voice filled with anticipation. I can’t help but smile at his eagerness as I shrug off my cloak, letting my fiery red hair tumble down to my waist.

“Oh,” Bernard breathes out, taken aback. “You’re…stunning.”

I feel a blush creeping up my cheeks as I thank him.

“May I?” Bernard asks suddenly. I blink at him, unsure of what he’s asking. I give a hesitant nod and Bernard reaches out, gently lifting my chin. As I look up at him, I see his eyes narrow in thought.

“Is she a tamer?” he asks Damian.

Damian grins, crossing his arms over his chest. “You always have a knack for guessing,” he says, sounding proud.

“How could I not?” Bernard replies, turning his gaze back to me. “Fascinating.”

I squint at him, taking in his features. I hadn’t noticed before, but his eyes are captivating. They’re a vibrant green, flecked with swirls of orange that seem to dance as he looks down at me.

His chiseled jawline, sleek hair, and the contrast of his white beard against his wrinkled skin make this towering man seem almost otherworldly.

“You’re not human, are you?” The words slip out before I can stop them. I quickly cover my mouth, apologizing for my bluntness.

Bernard chuckles. “No, I’m not. I’m a fairy,” he admits, a smile playing on his lips.

A fairy?

I glance over at Damian, who nods in confirmation. As the realization sinks in, I can’t help but grin.

“Really?” I ask, looking Bernard up and down. He’s taller than Damian and slender, but he doesn’t have the pointed ears I’d expect from a fairy.

“An illusion,” Bernard explains. He taps his temple and suddenly, his ears appear. I gasp, my eyes wide with curiosity. “I keep my true identity hidden. Only Michael, Dimitri, and Damian know the truth.”

“Wow,” I murmur, my gaze still fixed on his ears.

“But enough about me. Let’s talk about you,” Bernard suggests, guiding us towards some cushioned seats.

“Me?” I ask, surprised.

“Yes, you, the chosen one,” Bernard says, waving his hand. A large book flies towards us.

“What do you know?” Damian asks, wrapping an arm around me.

I look between the two of them, feeling lost. What’s going on?

“What do I know? Simple. She’s not just a tamer, she’s a queen. And she understands the language of dragons. Isn’t that right, Valkyrie?” Bernard asks, causing me to look at him in confusion.

“Dragon what?” I ask, shaking my head. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, but you do,” Bernard smirks, flipping open the large book to reveal a rune. “This is your mark. The mark of a true dragon tamer. The one who can control any dragon.

“A queen with the voice of a lost dragon. You, Valkyrie, are a descendant of the first dragon queen. And you’re mated to the only Onyx Dragon.”

“Onyx Dragon?” I ask, my head starting to throb. “Who’s an Onyx Dragon?”

“King Dimitri, my dear,” Bernard says, lifting a finger.

“Did you know King Dimitri possesses the only existing onyx stone? A unique gem that not only strengthens him, but gives him the power to rule over anyone?”

I shake my head, listening intently to his words.

“Oh!” Bernard exclaims, laughing as he strokes his white beard. “You two were destined from the start. A slave and a dragon. And…,” he trails off.

“You might uncover something unexpected. So brace yourself, my dear, brace yourself.”

As we take our leave, we bid Bernard farewell. His words have left me feeling bewildered. Damian seems just as confused, his brow furrowed as we make our way to the gates.

Bernard’s cryptic words have left us both puzzled. I wanted to ask him more, but his confident delivery kept me silent.

“Leaving already?” the same guard we saw earlier in the day asks.

“Yes,” Damian replies with a smile. “See you around.”

Once we reach an open area, Damian releases my hand and begins to undress. My mind drifts back to Bernard’s words.

~“Valkyrie!”~ Damian’s voice breaks through my thoughts, sounding almost frantic. I whip my head around, gasping. ~“Are you okay? I’ve been calling you.”~

“Yes,” I manage to say, my hand resting on my chest.

~“Let’s go,”~ Damian says, nodding his head. I get up, gripping his scales to let him know I’m ready, and we take off.

SPY

From a distance, a shadowy figure watches from behind the trees. His brown cloak conceals his face as he observes Valkyrie and Damian depart.

He whistles, and a bird lands on his left arm. He pulls something from his clothing, tying it around the bird’s leg before releasing it.

Once he’s sure he’s alone, he turns and disappears into the trees.