Lahat ng Kabanata ng Return of the Dragon Queen: Kabanata 161 - Kabanata 163

The rest of the event unfolded exactly as it should have… elegant, filled with laughter and warm words.When the final toast was raised beneath a canopy of lanterns swaying gently in the twilight breeze, Elena and Liam slipped away from the endless line of well-wishers to join their closest friends by the secluded fountain courtyard.The air smelled of blooming night jasmines; gentle music drifted from the main garden. Edward and Elizabeth were laughing over some childhood story; Cassandra and Alistair bickered playfully over wine at a distance while Alisha leaned close to Ria, whispering something that made her giggle behind her hand.Liam sat with Elena tucked easily against his side on the wide stone ledge of the fountain. She toyed with his fingers idly, smiling at something Cassandra said about her brother’s dancing.But then Elena rose lightly, brushing a kiss to Liam’s temple. “Excuse me for a moment, I need to use the powe

Liam stepped forward wordlessly. He knelt, lifting the bundle out with surprising care. Up close, the box looked even more alien, its edges seamless, its surface etched with that old royal crest so finely it almost seemed to breathe under the soft terrace light.As Liam held it, a faint pulse of familiarity brushed the back of his mind — a flicker, like a forgotten dream he couldn’t quite catch. He frowned, fingers drifting over the delicate engravings.Sharon’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts, oblivious to the storm flickering behind his eyes. She brushed off her hands and nudged him with her elbow.“See? Told you it’s impossible to open. Believe me, I tried hammers, acid, enchantments and even bribed a shady locksmith once. Useless.”But before she could finish her triumphant rant, Liam moved. Almost without thought, he crossed to the stone table at the terrace’s centre. He laid the box down gently, then h