All Chapters of The Dragon's Precious Gem: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

Caelia barely registered her own movements as she rushed through the motions of washing and dressing. Her fingers tangled in damp silver curls, yanking a brush through with little care, her scrubbing uneven, her thoughts elsewhere. By the time she emerged from the dressing chamber, her heart was hammering for reasons that had nothing to do with her hurried preparations.The dress was beautiful—too beautiful. A flowing wrap of silvery silk, barely held up by delicate straps, draped over her body like a whisper of moonlight. It clung in places it had no business clinging, shifted in ways that made her hyperaware of how little it concealed. The lack of undergarments was a fresh humiliation, but there was no point in asking for them.Across the room, lounging with infuriating ease, was Rhyzar.He was settled into a lavish nest of cushions to the side of the altar, his broad, golden-skinned torso laid bare, his head resting against one muscled arm as if he had not a care in the world. She

Caelia woke to the gentle caress of a breeze and the soft rustle of gold silk drapes. For a moment, she couldn’t recall where she was—the grandness of the room felt unreal, more akin to a palace hall than a bedroom. The ceiling soared high above, and the polished floor extended several times further than even Dunsmore’s spacious room.A wide set of glass doors stood to one side, the soft flutter of drapes revealing a large balcony. It struck her that they were still underground, yet the chamber radiated natural light pouring down from high above. Water shimmered above the glass overhead, forming a rippling, translucent roof, and beyond the balcony, was a spectacular waterfall. It spilled down from somewhere far above, cascading through a hidden crevice in the rock and tumbling out of sight below. Everywhere she looked, lush greenery sprouted in wild tangles, turning what should have been an echoing cavern into a vibrant, living garden. Far ahead, sunlight streamed in through a large g

Caelia's heart almost stopped.“Kneel,” a stern voice commanded from behind Selene.Caelia’s breath hitched as her alarmed gaze darted toward the source of the voice. The shorter of her two guards stood rigid, sword drawn, the gleaming edge against Selene’s pale throat. The woman’s golden curls trembled with her as she barely suppressed a sob.“W-what are you doing?” Caelia whispered, stumbling half a step backward, her mind scrambling to make sense of the scene before her.The taller guard stepped forward, his stance unwavering, his tone cool and authoritative. “My lady,” he intoned, “this woman has committed a heinous crime.”“Kneel,” the other repeated, his grip tightening on his weapon.Selene whimpered, her delicate frame shuddering as she slowly lowered herself to the marble floor.Caelia’s pulse pounded in her ears. “What…” she breathed, barely able to form the words.“She attempted to deceive you by feeding you false information. She intends to weaken your position by sowing m

The dresses were breathtaking, the jewelry opulent beyond reason, and the people—they adored their Draken. From the moment they stepped onto the glass river-streets, the city’s devotion to Rhyzar had been undeniable. He had summoned his wings without hesitation, shading her from the relentless desert sun, though she suspected the people would have fawned over him regardless.Caelia had never dared set foot in such luxurious shops, not even when fetching the Mariswyn family’s orders from the village.She was determined to have a say in at least one aspect of this outing, insisting on ordering several fitted shirts and a dozen pairs of the loose, flowing pants she had seen many women wearing. It seemed far more practical than dresses.But there was a catch.Rhyzar, still amusing himself by keeping her in constant contact, refused to let her out of his sight. Which meant he was sprawled comfortably on a velvet settee inside the store’s dressing room, watching her like a predator indulgin

Caelia cracked open one eye, mortified. Her heart hammered so hard she thought it might leap from her chest. Rhyzar was staring at her, entirely still. His golden eyes wide, brows raised. She wasn’t even sure he was breathing.Then, his lips curled into the most wicked grin she had ever seen.“You wish to bargain with this?” he rumbled, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the tiled edge of the bath. His voice was drenched in amusement, but the tension in his muscles betrayed something far darker. “Tempting, my love. Very tempting.” He loosed a slow breath. “But you should not force—”Caelia swallowed hard, and before she could let doubt take hold, she slid her hand up his thigh, higher and higher, until her fingertips brushed the hard length of him.Rhyzar made a sound—one she had never heard before. It was guttural, raw, as if she had punched the breath from him.No going back.Her trembling fingers wrapped around the swollen heat of him, the sheer size of it more intimidating n