Page 33 of The Cursed Queen

"I'm so sorry," he whispered shakily.

Andriel lightly padded his back. "Come on. Let's go check on Sera."

He nodded, looking defeated, and followed beside Andriel as they headed for the medical cavern.

Ryu

A lot had transpired within the last few weeks, causing my head was still spinning. I guess I should've thanked the dragon gods that I was freed from captivity before I became a mindless dragon servant, too, and I was. I simply didn't expect my rescuer to have been the princess of the very kingdom who'd captured me and was also my fated mate. Trying not to think about that was nearly impossible, thanks to the revelation that she was a hybrid, and possibly the King's lost heir.

So much to wrap my mind around.

While everyone else was losing their minds, I tried mitigating my own emotions while trying to conciliate my lover's fury. Honestly, I wasn't sure how to feel, but I knew my feelings weren't important right then. Now I was in my cave, finally putting some clothes on and left to my own devices. I finished tying the sash around my waist to close the black and gold robe I wore before looking into my reflection in the mirror and sighed.

Why was nothing in my life easy?

I mentally cringed at my inner pity party, but why could I not have something in my life go right? If it wasn't one thing, it was another. A constant quagmire of misfortunes that followed me wherever I went. I could never get peace.

"Ryu?" I looked toward the mouth of the cave and spotted Drayce, fully clothed in a sleeveless maroon tunic, black pants,and boots. The muscles along his arms bulged as one rested against the cave wall. My mouth watered from looking him up and down.

My relationship with Drayce was the only ray of light I had to shine through the many dark clouds that hovered over my head, even if it didn't start off that way. We were enemies first, then rivals, then we became friends, then so much more when we bedded together. Now he was my love. My fire. How would that change now that the princess was meant to be ours?

"Hey," I said, ushering him inside.

Drayce approached me, pulling me into his embrace and sealing his lips over mine as if needing to be reminded that I belonged to him. I opened up for him, letting his tongue invade my mouth as my arms wrapped themselves around his neck. I let out a moan in pleasure, feeling him pulling me closer until our bodies were meshed together with no space between us. His cock was hardening and grinding against my hip.

After what felt like hours of drowning myself in his kisses, Drayce pulled back and rested his forehead against mine. We remained like that for several minutes, our eyes shut, needing the other's presence to center ourselves. My fears from when I was locked in that cage returned to me. I thought I'd never see him again. I thought I'd never get the chance to have this with him again. That I'd never get to tell him how much I loved him. The separation and fear for his safety ate away at me, but I tried my best to remain calm. Struggling and fighting the inevitable would've only made things worse.

As much as it frightened me, I was prepared to accept my fate.

"I thought I'd lose you," Drayce finally whispered.

I lightly kissed his lips again. "Me too."

"If anything were to happen to you, I—"

"Shh." I gripped his face and looked up into his eyes. "None of that now. You're safe, as am I. I'm here, my love."

Drayce took on a crestfallen expression. "But for how much longer?"

I knew what he was referring to, and unfortunately, I didn't have an answer for him.

"We are in quite the predicament," I said.

Drayce agreed. "She's fated to us, and to Andriel and Ladon. Plus, there's the druid knight. Was he with the princess before all this?"

"I don't think so, otherwise I'm sure he would've said as much."

"So then, the issue lies within the four of us."

"Three," I corrected. "Remember, Ladon said he doesn't wish to claim her."

"Ladon's a fool," Drayce growled. "You can't just turn your back on someone who is deemed to be fated to you."

"He's suffering, my love, and he's in shock at learning the truth about the princess. He needs time and a chance to heal his emotional scars."

"Why are you taking his side?" Drayce quirked a brow at me.

I rolled my eyes. "Because he's suffered far more than you and I have. We were never forced into submission by the druids. Not yet. But Ladon was under the influence of druid magic and was made a pawn by a dragon rider. I can't imagine what he had to endure, can you?"