Chapter 6: The Monster Beside the Prince

Leif stopped walking. King Aldros was still speaking beside him.

"...the western wing was rebuilt after the last earthquake. The council usually gathers every Thurs—"

The rest of the sentence disappeared. Because across the eastern garden... a woman stood beneath the morning sun. 

Her dark hair swayed by the wind. Black eyes focused on another man, and she was so much alive.

Leif forgot how to breathe. 'Impossible.'

He had watched the Dragonbane rounds tear through both wings. He had watched the dragon fall into the sea. He had searched until dawn. There had been nothing left.

Yet... she was standing there. Standing inside the royal palace. His palace. As though nothing had happened.

...

'No. Not his palace. Leander's.'

His gaze shifted. The Crown Prince reached her first. He pulled her into his arms. Leif's chest tightened.

Not because they embraced. Because she didn't resist. She relaxed into his arms. She looked... safe.

Leander cupped her face. His thumb brushed her cheek. "You're pale."

Leif stared at them. 'That hand...' His jaw tightened.

She let him touch her. As though she belonged there. As though she had never transformed into the monster that burned beneath the Red Moon.

As though she had never looked at Leif with tears in her eyes and whispered— "I wish you'd never found me."

A pulse slammed through his chest. 'Move.'

The thought arrived before he understood it. 'Move your hand.'

His fingers twitched. 'No.'

'She's a dragon. She murdered hundreds. She deceived the kingdom. She nearly destroyed me.'

...

Then why... why does his hand belong nowhere near her?

'Move. Move your hand. NOW.'

His breathing grew shallow. The warmth from the tower. The emptiness after the sea. The pain every time she bled. None of it made sense.

Only one thing made sense. She was dangerous. She had deceived everyone. Leander. The King. The kingdom. She had to be stopped.

His feet started moving.

"...Leif?",King Aldros looked toward him.

Leif didn't answer. He kept walking. Then faster. Without he even realized it, he had already running.

"Leif!" The King's voice echoed behind him.

Royal Guards immediately reacted. "Commander!"

"What is happening?" Hands reached for rifles. Knights instinctively spread apart.

Across the garden, Leander looked up.

He frowned. "What—"

Everything exploded at once. "STOP HIM!"

Three strides. Two. One. Leif seized Ravynne's wrist.

She gasped. The force spun her around. Her back struck the trunk of an ancient oak. The impact knocked the breath from her lungs.

Before anyone could react— Steel flashed. His forearm pinned her against the tree. His sword rested beneath her jaw. 

Leif stood close enough to hear her unsteady breathing. She looked up at him with confusion mixed with pain. 

His grip tightened. "...Why?"

His voice came out rough. "Why are you alive?"

Ravynne opened her mouth. Nothing came out.

His eyes searched hers. Looking for scales. The gold eyes, the gleaming dragon mark on her arm, he looking for anything... except the woman from the tower.

"You fell." His breathing grew harsher.

"I watched you fall. You should be dead."

Something twisted beneath his ribs. His fingers tightened around the hilt. He forced the feeling down.

"You deceived them."

His gaze flickered toward Leander. "You deceived everyone."

Still... his sword wouldn't move. A razor-thin line of blood appeared around her neck. One push. That was all...and fourteen years of hunting would finally end. His hand refused to move again.

"LET HER GO!" Leander's voice thundered through the garden.

He reached Leif in two strides. His hand clamped around Leif's sword arm. "Release her."

Leif never looked away from Ravynne. "You knew."

Leander frowned. "What?"

"You knew what she was?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You protect her."

Leander stepped farther between them. Instinctively shielding her with his own body. Leif watched the movement.

Something twisted sharply inside his chest. 'Why? Why would you stand in front of her? Why would you protect—'

His jaw clenched. 'A dragon.'

Leander shoved his arm. "Back off."

Leif barely moved. Instead... his sword pressed a fraction deeper. Another bead of blood appeared.

"GUARDS!" Leander roared.

The guards erupted. Within seconds, more than twenty rifles surrounded him. Red targeting beams covered his chest.

Leif never looked at them. He only looked at Ravynne. "Show them who you are."

She only stared at him. Her eyes filled with bitter pain.

The expression struck harder than any weapon in his chest. His feet shifted sideward. But he didn't move away.

"Leif." King Aldros finally arrived.

His voice carried absolute authority. "Release her."

No response.

The King continued calmly. "Lower your weapons."

The guards hesitated. "Your Majesty—"

"If my son intended to kill her..."

His eyes never left Leif. "...none of you would be fast enough to stop him."

Silence. One after another... rifles lowered.

Leander stared at his father. "...Father."

Disbelief crossed his face. "How can you—"

The King didn't answer. His attention remained fixed on Leif. For a long moment...nobody moved.

Then—

"...Please." The word was barely audible.

She finally spoke. Just one word. But it was enough. Leif felt it. The bond crashed through him like lightning.

She never looked at the sword. Her eyes searched only for Leander. Their gazes met.

Leif followed her eyes. Leander. He felt something inside his chest twist. She wasn't looking at him anymore. She'd already chosen who she wanted to protect.

Leif waited. 'Just once... Look at me.'

She never did. His grip loosened. His sword lowered an inch.

Immediately, Leander reached behind himself. Without looking. His hand found Ravynne's. She held it instantly.

Leif's eyes fell to their joined hands. Their fingers fit together without looking. As though they'd done it a thousand times. Leif looked away first.

Leander stood protectively in front of her. His expression was ice.

"What is the meaning of this? You return after fifteen years..." 

His jaw tightening. "...and the first thing you do is attack my advisor?"

Leif didn't answer. His eyes remained on Ravynne. Hidden behind Leander. Protected and safe. Shielded from him as if he was the dangerous one here.

His hand found his chest again. The ache was back.

Finally he looked at Leander. "You trust her?"

Leander didn't hesitate. "With my life."

Leif laughed once. A dry broken sound. "You don't know her."

"We've worked together for seven years."

Leander's voice never wavered. "I know her better than anyone."

Seven years. Leif looked past him. Ravynne met his eyes.

She gave the smallest shake of her head. 'Please. Don't.'

Then... she looked back at Leander. Leif didn't need her to say another word.

Something cracked inside him. He could still leave. He could pretend he had never seen her. He could let the lie continue.

His gaze drifted back toward Leander. Still holding her hand. Still shielding her. He looked at her as though she were the safest person in the kingdom.

Leif closed his eyes. When he opened them again... his eyes darkened.

His voice echoed across the silent garden. "...She's the dragon."

Her eyes flew to Leander. Not to see if he believed her. To see... if he would let go. He didn't.

No one breathed. The words hung in the air like a death sentence. A servant dropped a silver tray. Metal crashed against marble. Nobody moved. The whisper spread anyway.

"...Dragon?"

"No..."

"It can't be..."

"Lady Ravynne?"

Every face turned. Moments ago... they had bowed. Now they stepped back.

Ravynne's shoulders trembled. Seven years. Seven years of trust... destroyed by four words.

She looked toward Leander. "My Prince..."

Her lips parted. Nothing came.

Because no explanation in the world... could erase the word dragon.