Chapter 2

Lucian froze, disbelief written across his face.

“What did you say?”

The next second, he grabbed my shoulders. His eyes widened, and his voice rose without him noticing.

“Who? Who did you marry?”

I was about to say Kael’s name, but Lucian suddenly let go and laughed.

“You are lying to upset me, aren’t you?”

“Elara, you were six months pregnant back then. Every time I left you for Liora, you cried into my clothes. Everyone knew you would give birth to my child. Everyone knew you could not live without me.”

“What decent man would marry you?”

“I know you resent my choice back then. But now that you have returned to Drakefire, returned to my side, you should be smart enough to let go of your pride. Stop clinging to that little matter from the past.”

A little matter?

Everything I had suffered was only a small old grievance to him.

He even believed that since I had survived, I should forget everything and return to him, useful and obedient as before.

He did not know that the little matter he spoke of had changed my entire fate.

It remade me.

It led me to the peak of power, standing beside Kael Drakon.

“Good. Your silence says enough.”

Lucian thought he had seen through me. He looked pleased.

“Elara, there is no need to make up such pitiful lies for my attention. I understand. Every day away from me must have been lonely and desperate.”

He stepped closer, excitement in his eyes.

“Please me. Obey me. After the banquet, I may allow you to live in my household. You will not have to wander anymore.”

As he spoke, he reached for my hair.

Before he could touch me, a sharp female voice came from behind him.

“Elara! You are alive?”

Liora Vale walked forward, her heavy skirt sweeping the floor as she stepped between Lucian and me.

She wore an extravagant gown and an expensive diamond necklace, chin lifted proudly.

She looked less like Lucian’s sister-in-law and more like the hostess of the feast.

“They told me you had returned. I did not believe it.”

“Lucian, now that poor Elara is back, you must treat her kindly. All these years, she must have suffered alone outside the city.”

“Unlike me and my child. You cared for us with all your heart.”

I followed Liora’s gaze and looked at the boy surrounded by guards.

He was six years old.

By the timing, Liora had already been pregnant when Drakefire fell.

Lucian’s elder brother had been dead for two years by then.

Lucian had always claimed he was only caring for his brother’s widow.

Whenever Liora called, he would abandon me without hesitation, even when I was six months pregnant.

Afterward, he would blame me for being petty when I cried.

So Liora had been carrying his child even then.

No wonder he chose her and abandoned me.

“Rowan is a gifted child,” Lucian said proudly, placing a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “He inherited my brother’s strength and courage.”

“When Elara hatches the fire dragon, I will name Rowan heir to Drakefire Keep.”

“This will be my final duty to my dead brother.”

I had never heard anyone say something so shameless so loudly.

Everyone present knew a six-year-old boy could not be the child of a man who had died eight years ago.

But to please Lucian, they still clapped and praised Rowan.

“He is the most talented child I have ever seen.”

“A natural heir.”

“When he learns to tame dragons, perhaps he will help Lord Lucian surpass Kael Drakon.”

Then someone looked at me.

“I remember Lady Elara was pregnant before she was captured.”

Liora’s face darkened.

Lucian’s eyes, however, lit up.

“Yes. The child should be seven now.” He looked at me with sudden expectation. “Did you bring the child back? A boy or a girl?”

“Mother!”

A clear young voice rang through the crowd.

My son, Auren Drakon, ran toward me.

He was the child Kael and I had after I survived that night, the honored heir of the Supreme Dragonlord.

“I was hungry, so I rode Emberwing to the banquet first.”

“Father is still inspecting the territory.