Page 59 of The Cursed Queen

My mate sighed in relief. "Thank the gods, you're all right. One moment your mind drifted, and the next, you collapsed."

At first, I didn't understand what he was talking about, but a moment passed before everything came flooding back to me. My dragon, the chains.

I bolted upright, regretting it instantly when the world started spinning. I winced and gripped the sides of my head.

"Easy," Andriel said softly, reaching to grab my upper arms to hold me steady.

"I did it," I got out while wincing in pain. "I destroyed two more chains."

"That's great! If you keep it up, you'll be able to shift back to normal."

More importantly, I'll properly be connected to my dragon. I only need more time.

––––––––

––––––––

"I heard the good news from Andriel. Congratulations on your progress, Daenerys," Lord Igneel announced when he entered my cave.

I was reading through the books on dragon shifter history that Freya graciously gifted me. After training with Andriel, rest was imperative to recover mentally before trying to do anything else. So, while resting, I took it upon myself to do more research on shifter kind. I looked up from my book when I heard my father's voice.

My father... it still felt strange to see him as such. Not because he didn't sire me, but more so that I spent my entire life without one. I'd never get to know King Alphonse or Lady Calida, but I now had the chance to know the other man in my mother's life.

"Andriel told you?" I asked, setting my book down, and turning to sit on the edge of the bed.

Lord Igneel nodded, then stepped further into the cave. He sat down beside me, wrapping his arm around me and pulling me closer to him. I instinctively rested my head on his shoulder, welcoming the warm, loving embrace. Was this what it was like to have a loving parent? One who cared for you and didnot belittle you? Verania was the only parent I knew, 'nuff said. Virgil never knew his father since he had died in a war. He never said much about his mother, but she seemed pleasant. Sheworked in the castle gardens for as long as I could remember, which was how Virgil and I knew each other. Then he was old enough to train and join the castle guards and worked his way to becoming a dragon rider.

What would my life have been like had I been raised with Lord Igneel?

Lord Igneel pressed a kiss to the top of my head. "I did, but not just Andriel. So far, all of your mates have had nothing but positive things to say about you and your dedication to grow stronger."

I could stifle the smile forming on my lips from hearing that all my mates thought I was doing well. Even Drayce, despite how many times he knocked me to the ground. Then the smile quickly diminished as I realized something.

"Not all of them," I muttered softly.

"You mean Ladon?"

I nodded. "I can't even ask why he seems to hate me. It's obvious why, but I wish I could prove to him I'm not like the other druids. That I never wished to imprison others, not those who are innocent. My wish is to help the shifters, not cause trouble for you all."

"I know, but you must understand where he's coming from. Ladon was held prisoner and used for gods know how long before you, Andriel, and Virgil set him free. Though his mind is free from the druid knight's control, the memories of what he went through still haunt him."

I knew it wouldn't be a simple solution for Ladon. Thinking about how much he suffered at the hands of his rider, and still suffering because of the memories, made me wish I could comfort him. The frigid chill that went through me when I passed him by yesterday unsettled me. He may not want me, but that didn't change the fact that we were fated to one another. There had to be a reason for it.

So far, I understood my connection to the rest of my mates. Ryu and I were hybrids. Drayce's relationship with Ryu was like that of King Alphonse and Lady Calida. Andriel was the one who opened my eyes to the truth of the world around me, and who I was deep inside. What about Ladon? What was our connection other than pain?

"I wish there was something I could say to him, but I don't think even a simple apology would make up for all that he's had to endure," I said, feeling defeated. Maybe fate made a mistake. Perhaps we shouldn't have been paired together.

"Give him some time, my child. If it's fate's will, it will happen on its own. Let him make the first move," Lord Igneel said.

That seemed to be the only thing I could do. Be patient and let nature take its course.

"Can I ask you something?" I asked.

"Certainly."

"Did you know about Drayce and Ryu being together romantically?"

Lord Igneel stiffened beside me. "I did."