Page 63 of The Cursed Queen

"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked, walking fast to catch up to him, then followed along at his side.

"What's there to talk about? Everybody hates me, that much is obvious. As they should." He said that last line in such a soft tone that I almost didn't catch it.

I grabbed his arm to stop him from walking further. "Hey, you know you're not to blame."

"You think that makes me feel better?" Virgil asked, refusing to look me in the eye. "Ever since the day we met you as you, I'd been wracking my brain over everything I'd been taught to believe about dragons. Trying to relive every event where I interacted with dragons, and wondered if there were things I missed about you guys. Signs that I overlooked. Something that would've shown me you were shifters this whole time. But nothing. I was fooled into thinking there was nothing wrong with what the kingdom was doing to dragons. I wholeheartedly believed the dragon riders were the actual heroes of our nation, and that Queen Verania may have been a tyrant, but her heart was in the right place. But there's no heart in that witch's entire body, and the dragon riders are the actual monsters of Iferia. Not the dragons."

"And that's what sets you apart from the other druids. You know the truth and regret your part in it. You want to do what's right. Those dragon riders that attacked Sera and Ryu? Sera said she tried reasoning with them, to make them understand that brainwashing us shifters to do their bidding is wrong, but he didn't want to listen to her. Even when the truth was right there. That's the difference between you and the other knights, Virgil. That's what it means to be a true warrior. To have honor, and you have honor, Virgil. Don't let the Baxus of the world tell you otherwise."

Virgil said nothing else, but the slight curve of his lip told me he took what I said to heart. As he should. He had a lot ofheart for someone so young, but he could go far. Whether he'd be accepted by the den completely, at least he'd know he had allies here. I looked behind me toward the den's entryway, thinking Virgil may need some alone time. My mood diminished further when I spotted Ladon leaning against the mouth of the corridor, arms crossed over his chest and watching us intently.

"I need to take care of something," I told Virgil. "Are you going to be okay?"

"Of course. I'll likely stay out here for a little longer, then head back to rest," he replied.

Accepting his response, I turned to leave Virgil behind and approach Ladon. I didn't care if he was fated to Sera. I didn't care that he had a problem with her or Virgil, but siding with Baxus, who was intent on starting trouble, didn't sit right with me.

"You have something you want to say, Ladon?" I asked in a threatening tone as soon as I was close enough to speak to him privately.

Ladon's eyes narrowed. "No, but you seem to want to say something."

"Oh, I have plenty I want to say. For starters, why are you tailing behind Baxus like a pet?"

Ladon smirked. "I cannot see why that's any of your business."

"It's my business because you and I are fated to the same woman. The very woman that your ringleader wants to harass."

"Let's get one thing straight here, Andriel." Ladon stood to his full height, then jabbed a finger into my chest. "Fate may have paired me with her, but she's not mine. I already stated that I wanted nothing to do with her. Second, I'm aware of how much Baxus despises the druid knight and princess. Can't say I blame him, but this isn't my fight. What he does has nothing to do with me."

"Then why follow him?" I asked.

"Because he's right about one thing; they don't belong here. I can appreciate their desire to fight for us, but we don't need them. And if there's anybody who can get Lord Igneel to listen to reason, it's Baxus. Especially if he has a large enough following to warrant the dragon lord to hear him out."

Sera

"Lord Igneel, this can't be allowed to continue," Andriel expressed urgently.

My mates and I gathered in Lord Igneel's cavern to tell him what happened with Baxus, hoping something could be done. I wished it didn't have to lead to this, but my men felt there was no other way. Not while the urgency of the Zeffari Kingdom lingered over our heads.

"I understand your concerns, everyone, and I agree something must be done. I will see that Baxus is dealt with right away," Lord Igneel decreed.

"He won't stop that easily," Ryu pointed out. "He and his group have been terrorizing me for years, but also learned to be discreet about it, seeing as how I'm not a pushover."

"Then what do you think should be done? Kick him out of the den?" Andriel asked.

That line of thinking stumped me. "Can a shifter be kicked out of the den?"

Lord Igneel leaned back in his seat with a perplexed expression, as if deep in thought over the options available about what to do about Baxus. "It is possible, but only under the direst circumstances. Usually, I don't approve of banishment over disputes between den mates."

"But this isn't a simple dispute, my lord," Drayce countered. "Baxus has always caused trouble for the den and has worsened since Sera and Virgil arrived."

"He'd have to know his behavior wouldn't be tolerated, especially since Lord Igneel made it law that Sera and Virgil are not to be harmed while in our den. Baxus is a lot of things, but foolish is not one of them," Ryu said, his brow scrunched in confusion.

"He is planning something," a voice boomed from the other end of the door.

We all turned to see who the newest visitor was that approached us, and I gasped when I realized it was Ladon. Immediately after he was recognized, Andriel moved himself in front to shield me, while he and Drayce seemed ready for a fight. Ryu remained stoic and unbothered by Ladon's presence.

I had to admit I was disappointed to see him after noticing that he was among Baxus' peers. To know he distrusted me so much that he would align himself with someone who seemed determined to terrorize me caused a stabbing pain in my heart. I guess it truly wasn't meant to be with him. If only the fates realized that, then whatever thread tying Ladon to me could be severed. I wouldn't have this longing to know him. To be with him. He wasn't safe. He didn't want me, but he answered my call when I needed my mates' help.