#king!grayson

Grayson stared at her back, aghast. The woman was impossible! She made every word that passed her lips a contest of wills. His jaw set, he rose from the bed to stand before her. He looked formidable with the relentless, firm brown eyes, too hard in comparison to what she had seen in bed. He looked like he could kill her without even putting a hand on her…something she still expected him to do. She couldn’t harm him without the crown matrimonial or her punishment would be death and war for Dracovia…but what stopped him from killing her? She had no army with her nor would her death reach her father in years to come should Grayson will to hide it. She was alone and she was unprotected in this strange land and all she had was the mercy of this one willful man who watched her as a lion watched a gazelle.

''I do not expect you to bow to me, but when I call, I do expect you to show up.“

She lifted her chin and met his eyes. "Have you not learned that I am not a broodmare?" she countered.

Grayson stretched out his hand placed it at her hip, adding pressure to it as he pulled her near. The sheet fell away and he pulled her bare skin against his. And then he kissed her. It was not the hardened kiss from before, but one of gentleness.

At first, Y/N refused to react to him but her hands went to his arms. They were hard, the muscles prominent, and his skin was so very warm. She became aware of the hair on his chest against her breasts.

As his kiss deepened, he loosened his hand from her hair, his arms encircling her shoulders. He moved her so her head tucked into the curve of his shoulder. Y/N gave up thinking. She was a mess of sensations he provided, every feeling new, strange and undreamed of. She pressed herself closer, running her hands over his bare back, feeling the way the muscles moved, so different from the smoothness of her own back. He began to kiss her ear, nibbling on the lobe until he heard her stifle a giggle.

Grayson gave a low, throaty chuckle once her knees turned to jelly and she collapsed against the strength of his arm behind her back. He bent, put his other arm beneath her knees, his mouth never leaving her neck, and carried her to the bed. He kissed her body from her forehead to her toes and she couldn’t believe how easily he swayed her beliefs and pushed her into the same mindset she was trapped in when he had his hands over her the first time.

Before long she could bear no more kissing. She ached all over and she pulled his hair to better meet his mouth. She fastened on his lips hungrily, greedily, ready to feel him inside her, around her, to completely numb her senses with Grayson Dolan, her mortal enemy.  

Grayson’s senses were reeling, his body on fire. Never had he had the leisure to make love to a woman as he did tonight, and never had he imagined the pleasure of it. Y/N's passion was as fierce as his own, yet neither rushed their lovemaking. When he moved atop her, her arms held him tightly, pulling him nearer. There was no pain for her this time; she was ready. She moved with him, slowly at first, until they reached their highs.

Eventually, despite her initial distrust for the man, Y/N fell into a deep, exhausted sleep, her leg thrown over Grayson's, her hair twisted round and round his arm.

But Grayson did not fall asleep immediately. This was the first time for this soft woman he held, but in a way, he felt as if he had just lost his virginity, too. And that was certainly an absurd notion. He could not possibly remember every woman he had taken to his bed, but tonight was infinitely different. He had never experienced such passion. With other women, when he felt he’d come, they drew back. But not Y/N for she had given as much as he gave.

He picked up a lock of her hair from across his neck and held it up, letting the firelight play though the strands. He held it to his nose, then to his lips. She moved against him and he snuggled closer. Even in sleep, she wanted him nearby and it drew a smile to his lips. His eyes grew heavy. For the first time he could ever remember, he was completely content.

Until he remembered why he woke up in the first place...He woke up because of treasonous words that she uttered in the silent night, unaware he felt the lack of her warm body atop of his.

Running a hand through his hair nervously, Grayson sat up slowly. It's been almost an hour since his new bride finally settled back in the bed, her breathing evening out rather quickly after. His heart beats loudly, deafening so, his mind unable to slow down even for a moment. How could he fall asleep now when he knew this angel beside him was simply a devil in disguise?

'Dragon', Grayson corrected himself, shaking his head at the very notion. How could he ever trust her, love her, when he knows she had come with a plan of her own? Despite what Ethan had warned him about, Grayson ignored it all and opened his heart to her. It didn't do him much good, especially now when he knew she would never love him, not even like him. He went into this marriage blindly, hopeful and willing to change if it meant it would create a bridge between them and their kingdoms as well.

Foolish, that's how he felt. Like the biggest fool in this world, but he closed his eyes and laid back slowly. He didn't want to alarm her to his conscious state as she alarmed him when she left his embrace. Grayson wanted to promise the world to her, to offer her everything she could ever dream of and all he expected in return was her heart.

'That's not going to happen now, is it?' Grayson sighed as his mind turned on his heart, his hands rubbing his eyes tirelessly as he hoped he'd wake up and see it was nothing but a dream – a horrible nightmare.

Propping himself up on his elbow, he looked over at the peaceful looking woman who seemed to be oblivious to the heartache she caused him as she fought tears and plotted his downfall by the fire. He truly thought she might like him when she let him take her. Grayson gave her choice when it would happen for a good reason – because he wanted her to want him back just as badly as he wanted her.

Unlike his twin, Grayson knew she'd be a beauty – an exquisite beauty that no man would be able to look away from. He made sure to see her before he was ever made to be a king and while he was losing in the trials, Grayson swore he'd win to have that crown because having that crown meant having her and he knows that motivated him to defeat Ethan in the end. Perhaps Ethan would have fought harder had he tasked his Dracovian spies to send him an image of their dragon princess too? After all, Grayson wasn't blind to the lustful looks his brother sent Y/N's way from the moment he set his eyes on her and it didn't sit well with him at all.

Shaking his head, Grayson didn't know what to do now. After all the work he's put into becoming king and staying on the throne, he finds himself with everything he's ever wanted. So why does he feel like he's stuck in a nightmare?

Because she will never love him.

No amount of love and kindness he offers would ever be enough to extinguish the hateful flame within, but Grayson refused to give up. Looking at her moonlight illuminated face, hearing her soft breathing and feeling her smooth skin? Grayson swore he'd change her mind.

If he can't?

He'll do what every good king does....He will put his kingdom before his heart and give her the proper punishment for treason.

Hoping that can be avoided, Grayson decided to start his charms as soon as she opens her eyes, sending his chef a text to make a proper breakfast early on, sure to have his bride fed. Another thing he's decided to do is break the rule he knew she expected him to uphold – sleeping in separate chambers was the worst thing for them now. He had to be in her bed every night, regardless if she wanted to let him between her legs or not. He wouldn't force her, that much would be true, but he wouldn't sleep in his own room anymore. It's a risk, a dangerous one, but he knew she wouldn't kill him before she gets the crown matrimonial and without that? He would be safe in this bed as long as he's careful what he's signing.

Happy with his decisions, he finally closed his eyes and released a heavy sigh. If anything, he will at least try and fight for the love he had developed for the dragon princess that no image could do justice. Even with the knowledge of her stunning looks, Grayson was speechless when he finally set his eyes on her.

'There is no such creature in this world that's as captivating as she is.'

A single ray of sunshine came through the window, its heat tickling Y/N’s nose. Sleepily, she brushed at it then tried to turn away but something held her by the hair. She lazily opened her eyes and saw the strange bed canopy overhead. When she remembered where she was, she felt her face grow hot as blood rushed to her cheeks. Even her body seemed to blush.

She moved her head toward the other side of the bed and looked at her sleeping husband. His lashes are long, thick and dark, a shadow of a beard starting on his cheeks. Asleep, his cheekbones were not as sharp, his face much more welcoming and relaxed. He didn’t seem as the formidable foe she imagined him to be.

Grayson laid on his side, facing her. Pursing her lips, Y/N allowed her eyes to roam over him. His broad chest had a small area of dark, curling hair. His muscles are made large, shapely mounds. His arms are capped by a round, firm muscle. Biting her lower lip, her eyes drew down to his hard, flat stomach with a built-in six-pack, making her swallow thickly. It was only after a moment that her eyes went lower. What she saw did not seem so powerful as it felt the previous night, but as she watched, his manhood began to grow.

She gasped and her eyes flew back to his. He was awake, watching her intently with a smirk, his eyes growing darker by the moment. No longer was he the relaxed boyish-looking man she had awakened to, but a man of passion, the warrior. Y/N tried to move away but Grayson still held her trapped by her hair. What was worse, she didn’t even want to fight him. She remembered that she hated him clearly; but more than that, she remembered the pleasure he had given when he made love to her.

"My dragon," he whispered and the tone of his voice made chills run along her arms. It’s more than the tone he used or the look of his dark eyes that had her insides turning, but the words he had spoken…dragon? He called her a dragon. And whether it was his intention or not, her heart had melted an inch with his recognition of her true nature.

He kissed the corner of her mouth boldly, waiting for a sign of resistance. Her hands pushed weakly against his shoulders but even at his slight touch, her eyes closed in surrender. Seeing her so, Grayson smirked before he kissed her cheek, her ear lobe. Then, as she gasped for breath, his mouth came down on hers. His tongue sweetly touched the tip of hers and she drew back, startled. He smiled at her as if he understood how strange the sensation must be for her.

Last night she had thought she learned all there was to know about love between a man and a woman, but now she thought, perhaps she knew very, very little. There was much more to learn from this man and of this man and how to use that knowledge for her own gain, but right now? She just wanted to let herself go.

His eyes are nearly black as he pulls her to him again. He ran his tongue along her lips, touching the inner corners especially. She parted her teeth for him, desperate for a taste of him. He was better than the richest honey; hot and cold, soft and firm. She explored his mouth as he had explored hers, no longer shy or reserved with him. How could she be when his fingers have delved lower, pushing inside her?

She ran her hands over him as he lowered his head to her neck, running his tongue along the pulsating beat of her carotid, the only friend he had of her – her pulse couldn’t hide how nervous or excited he made her. Instinctively she leaned her head back, her breathing turning deeper, quicker.

When his lips and tongue touched her breasts, she nearly cried out. She thought perhaps she might die under such torture. She tried to pull his head back to her mouth but he gave a deep, guttural laugh that made her shiver, her insides turn and her heart? Her heart felt warm, big and incredibly full.

Maybe he did own her.

When she thought that she would lose her mind, he moved on top of her, his hand caressing the inside of her thighs until she was shaking with desire. When he pushed himself inside her, she cried out; there was no relief to her torment. She clutched at him, her legs pressing around his waist as she rose to meet each thrust. Finally, when she was sure her heart would explode, she felt the pulsing throbs that released her and soon after, Y/N felt his dick twitch and his own release followed. Grayson collapsed on top of her, holding her so close that she could hardly breathe. But at the moment she didn't really care if she ever did breathe again.

Grayson didn’t move, still buried deep inside her as if she is his saving grace. It’s insane to think he could fuck her into submission and feelings, but he had only one way of making her stay with him, committed to him and in the last twenty-four hours she had only ever seemed to care for him when he was inside her. He would have to use that for his own agenda to work. Some women have their hearts in their vaginas and while he sensed she wasn’t one of them, he hoped she’d associate him with pleasure instead of hate.

A knock on the door had startled them both, enough for them to both open their eyes and for Grayson to catch the strangest look in her eyes. It looked like clarity, total and complete sobriety from the ecstasy he tried to give her and the self-loathing in her previously warm eyes had turned them back to the ice she held when she first laid her eyes on him. With a single knock against the wood, Grayson had lost her again.

“I’ll get it.” He murmured, nearly wincing as he pulled out. She wrapped herself up in the sheets again, her eyes wide as she thought about how badly she’s already failing. Grayson tied his bathrobe hastily, moving to the door as fast as he could. Peeking through a small crack, he was ready to draw blood from whoever thought it would be a smart idea to interrupt the king so early after his wedding night.

“What?!” Grayson hissed at the elderly man who cast his eyes down at his feet almost immediately as he caught the wrath of his king.

“You’ve told me to bring breakfast bright and early, I’m so sorry to be interrupting you.” Bowing, the chef stepped back in fright and Grayson softened immediately. He did make the order and it must have taken a while to make the food that made his stomach growl with the delicious smell.

“It must have slipped my mind. Thank you, chef. I’ll get it inside.” Grayson smiled mercifully, opening the door to pull the wheel carried table filled with so much food that several people could overeat and still there would be too much left.

“What’s happening?” Y/N’s tone is dark and low, her lips set in a firm line. She tried to look as regal as possible but Grayson nearly laughed out loud at her current disheveled appearance. She looked like a woman would after she was well taken care of in the sheets and he believed he had done just that. Instead of insulting her by laughing, Grayson decided to do a little show of all the food he had made for her, pointing and smirking at everything on the table with a self-satisfied look in his chocolate brown eyes, much lighter now when he wasn’t lost in his desire for her.

Frowning as she shifted and felt Grayson’s semen leave her, Y/N cleared her throat. She felt disgusted with herself, like she needed her skin rubbed off with scalding hot water and peeled off if that didn’t work. She could feel him, smell him on every inch of her skin and the worst of it all? She loathed just how cold she felt when he wasn’t wrapped around her or how giddy her heart felt when she saw the shit-eating grin on his face as he proudly pointed out his favorite food – banana pancakes and avocado toast.

“We do have food in Dracovia.” She lifted an eyebrow, her left eye narrowed ever so slightly in amusement. He was too immature, too kind, too ready to fall in love with her that she actually felt a little remorse over her initial plan…not enough to cancel her vengeance, but enough for it to sting as she imagined a world without him or his big, strong arms.

“Nothing like Astros food! I will stand by this claim till my death!” Grayson exclaimed and by the force of some unknown entity, Y/N actually giggled at his claim before putting a robe on herself, joining him for breakfast. If love and sweetness is what he wants, that’s what she’ll give him…In the bedroom at least. But her dragon spirit will never be tamed, not by anything he says or does for she had been foolish enough to trust Astros to keep their promises before and they rewarded that trust with her friend’s death and possibly her mother’s too.

Before she came to Astros, Y/N was convinced she wouldn’t lie with Grayson nor bear him children. She knew now that being his lover would be essential for her mission, but children were non-negotiable…she refused to give this man children, especially when she knew she’d have to stain her hands with his blood.

As they ate in relative silence, Y/N could only dream of a bath, one that came right after she had finished her food. Grateful, she allowed lady Mareen with her to scrub her clean from the feeling of Grayson on her skin, but Grayson had other things to attend to. He simply showered and dressed as a royal should for he had official business to handle, being shirtless wasn’t an option and neither was not wearing his crown.

''So? How is the dragon princess in bed, huh? Is she a lady in the streets and freak in the sheets? Oh, wait! Did you even delve into her dragon cave?!“ Ethan laughed obnoxiously loud as Grayson rolled his eyes, but he had no patience to gossip, especially not about Y/N.

''Watch your mouth, bro. She's your sister in law and my wife and whether you like it or not, she's a step above you as my consort and you have to show her respect she's deserving of.“ Grayson brushed Ethan off, putting him in his place effectively. For a while, Grayson had wondered if he should tell Ethan about what he heard, but knowing his brother, Grayson knew he'd have her in the dungeons before he finished his confession and he'd lose her before he even had a chance to have her.

''Woah, what happened with bros before hoes?“ Ethan frowned, not seeing how his words irked his brother's temper. In a matter of seconds, Ethan found himself pinned against a wall, Grayson's anger twisted face the only thing in his view.

''Watch. It.“ Grayson spoke through gritted teeth, fighting his temper with every ounce of sanity he's left with after a night he's had, still unable to allow anyone say a bad word about her. Grayson would be her husband and protector until she proved it impossible.

''Got it.“ Ethan stared right back at him, unrelenting and stubborn as well. Grayson knew Ethan was jealous of more than just his wife, but his throne as well. In everyone's eyes, Ethan was the clear favorite, the adored, more sensible twin. Grayson proved them wrong for now, but he still had a long way to go and having a brother who he wasn't sure he could trust anymore and a wife who had vowed to kill him was going to age him faster than anything else could.

''Good.“ Releasing his twin, Grayson stepped back and huffed. He was finally back in control and he could breathe easy.

''Now, we have a meeting with the contractors for the bridge. I want it to open in the next six months.“ Grayson explained, rubbing his chin as his light stubble always caused an itch and he hardly had any time to shave after spending his entire morning with the woman who had already sunk her claws into him.

''What's the hurry?“ Ethan said, his voice crackling after the intense moment he had shared with Grayson. And yes, Ethan was unhappy about his current position as a simple prince and advisor, but he wouldn't hurt his brother. He couldn't hide his envy about the woman who keeps his bed warm, but until there was an heir, Ethan wouldn't go near her in such a manner. After? No one will stop him from charming her as it was clear she wasn't quite keen on Grayson's company as much as he believes she is.

''We could never approach Dracovia with airplanes because they'd crash due to the strange magnetic field around the kingdom and the water route had proven a bad idea because they have a more advanced navy than us. So...land option made for a peace treaty would be proven useful. That way, we have a direct route that's fast and in case we ever need to, we can send an army their way within five hours.“ Grayson spoke in hushed tones, sharing his strategies with Ethan.

''Are you thinking about invading?“ Ethan whispered, looking around paranoically for possible spies who might hear. Talk of war soon becomes acts of war and Ethan had enough decency and wits to know that would be unbeneficial for the kingdom.

''No...but if need arises...“ Grayson sighs, defeated as he remembers his bride's promises made in the dark. ''If the need ever arises, I want a clear route. I don't want to be blindsided.“ Grayson added, determined he's doing the right thing. ''It will also be a good way for Y/N to visit her kingdom too. She isn't just some girl, she's a princess and she is also a daughter who misses her father.“ Grayson remembered how sad and lonely she seemed whenever she thought he wasn't looking and he wanted to give her hope of a quick visit home. She must miss her family and he wanted her to see them whenever it became too hard to be away.

''Hope you know what you're doing.“ Ethan patted his brother on the shoulder, leading him toward the meeting room.

Once they're out of sight, Y/N finally comes out from behind the wall, unsure what to think. She knew why their planes would crash and the reason why must remain a secret. Dracovian navy was far more developed than any other, but this land route? It would be a danger for her kingdom. A peril she'd never let come to be. The road will do her good, but if she finds Grayson wants to start a war? She'll blow the whole bridge and the army to kingdom come...her husband too. But she couldn't help the small ache her heart felt when he spoke of her missing her father...she did miss him and his wisdom, as ruthless as he is...she wondered if he's be disappointed at how willingly she gave herself to this king and how much she craved him. In a way, she wanted to believe in him, that Grayson was a good guy and that she would find Andrea's blood wasn't on his hands, but it was a slight possibility. But if he's not at fault? She'd love him with all her heart. She knew she would...had she let herself, she'd love him even now, after a single night spent under him.

As night came, she found herself in his arms, again and again, her mind numbed by the way he touched her. She didn't fight it, but embraced it. She met every thrust with equal desire and passion, moaned without hiding how good he makes her feel.

Grayson watched in awe as she came undone under him, fascinated by her. She wears her strength and darkness equally well. But what really brings him to his knees is the knowledge she's most definitely not a simple woman – she's always been half goddess, half hell and he couldn't get enough of her.

Just like the previous night, he remained in her bed, his arms wrapped around her tightly. She wondered if it was an Astros tradition for a man and woman to stay in the same bed or if it was just this man who craved love and affection more than any man she had ever met. Dracovian rulers had always had separate chambers connected with a small, hidden passage for the King to come to visit his wife for three nights in a month about ten days after her monthly bleeding. Sex was made to create heirs and it wasn't as tender or slow or caring as Grayson had shown her. She knew only of sex that was made to use a body for the reproductive reasons, but she knew now that there was a way to say I love you, I need you without ever uttering the words.

The nightly stays and joined breakfasts have become a tradition for the newlyweds, one that Y/N secretly loved. She barely saw the king during the day as he went about his duties and she was tasked with getting to know the castle, the people inside and every chance she got Y/N listened in to Grayson's conversations to Ethan. She never got a whiff of something useful, but she had quickly learned he'll only ever tell his twin if he plans a sinister move. Lady Mareen had been another set of eyes and ears in the castle for her, gathering information as well.

A month had passed, two months, the third one on the horizon. Grayson was no longer a guest in her bed, but a resident. She had gotten used to his loving kisses and tender whispers, but that's where the issue had become clear.

''You seem quite unwell, highness.“ Lady Mareen noticed as Y/N pressed a palm against her mouth to stop the churning of her stomach that seemed to want nothing more than to empty the breakfast Grayson had filled her up with – both from his own body and the one after.

''How long had it been since you last bled?“ Mareen whispered lowly, looking around to make sure no one notices the princess and her state. Y/N's pale, shaky and her skin is covered in glistening sweat as she leans against the walls.

''It can't be. I'm...I'm on the pill.“ Y/N states, remembering she wouldn't bleed while on the pill anyway. But she couldn't help and wonder if gods are so cruel that she would now be carrying a child.

''I'll get you a test. Go to your room and speak to no one.“ Mareen whispered, rushing off down the hall and Y/N shook her head, her chin quivering. Walking slowly, holding onto the wall, Y/N tried to be inconspicuous as she neared her room. Her stomach was turning, nausea unrelentingly strangling her as she swallowed thickly, disgusted as she began salivating. She didn't want a child now, nor with Grayson.

It would be a lie if she said she didn't start feeling something for the man who she started to trust, to actually feel comfortable with, but she hardly knew him. She hardly knew his heart and his mind and she decided to change that. She had to, baby or no baby, she had to know who he truly is beneath the handsome charmer he presents himself as.

She waited for what seemed hours, vomiting twice before the lady arrived. The box said a minute would decide her fate, but she had seen the white turn to pink almost immediately after she peed on the stick and she knew that no matter what she had tried to stop, she failed miserably.

''Well?“ Lady Mareen was impatient, just as scared as her princess was. She knew how important this mission was to the young girl, but even more, she knew what it meant to have a child in a loveless marriage. It was a soul-exhausting trap for any woman and she didn't know that her princess had long caved to the gentle caress of this strange king.

Tears in her eyes, Y/N outstretched her shaky hand with terror and spoke with fear.

''I'm definitely pregnant.“

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~           ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~      

''This wasn't planned, you're aware of it as much as I am. I was on the pill for ten days before he first touched me and yet this happened. Nonetheless, a dragon is growing in my belly and I shall do no such thing as murder one of our own. We're a rarity nowadays and this child will inherit two thrones that I plan to unite as one eventually. This child will be your sovereign! Remember that!“ Y/N dismissed the shaken woman, aware she had been sharp with her. Once the door closed, Y/N fell to her knees and opened her bag. Trembling hands found the instructions she had skimmed before starting her therapy, trying to find the cause of their failure.

''Need to take at the same time for at least 21 days...what?!“ She nearly shrieked, finding the mistake is hers alone. How could she have been so stupid?! Not only did she not use it long enough when they first had sex, but she wasn't taking them at the same time either. She'd take them whenever she had some time away from Grayson which was usually at dinner, but other times she'd use them whenever he fell asleep after the act.

Shaking her head, Y/N picked herself up and walked over to the grand-view window with a special couch set in front, the one Grayson had placed when he noticed she loved to curl up against the window and just watch the ocean. It was yet another reason why she no longer minded the growing fetus inside her. Grayson seemed to be caring and sweet, someone who was a far cry from the hateful man she's dreamed him up to be. She couldn't be certain still and her efforts to find his secrets haven't stopped, but she took it all with a grain of salt, even her father's letters about a possible attack on Dracovia and the constant questioning on when she'd do the deed.

Her father...Would he tell her he's proud or disgusted with her for fraternizing with the enemy? Would he hate her and her baby? She wasn't too keen on the baby being a half-blood either, but her line would continue and the royal blood of ancient dragon ancestors would be preserved although diluted. She'd love this child regardless, Y/N decided as her small hand fell onto her stomach. Although her stomach was never flat, she wasn't showing either.

She wondered if Grayson would be happy about the notion or if he'd hate being a father. After all, the two rarely talked about much and all their conversations would come down to asking one another of their well being and he'd always ask if she needed something. She needed to get to know him, the real him and she would. She promised herself she'd use the time she has and finally choose the side she's on after she sees his heart for what it is.

Meanwhile, Grayson had wanted to see his wife. Very eager he set himself on a path toward their shared bedroom, praying he'd find her waiting for him. Ethan had a different idea.

''Bro, wait!“ Running after Grayson, Ethan didn't falter as he had important news to deliver. Stopping before the impatient king, the prince raised an eyebrow almost immediately when he saw exactly what his brother's problem is.

''Sporting a hard-on? Very royal!“ Ethan snickered, watching his brother's eyes darken. ''Going to see that pretty dragon of yours, huh? Bet she's always willing!“

Rolling his eyes, Grayson clicked his tongue in hopes of reserving his anger and channeling it into a much-needed session with his darling. He had never been as needy as he is now, feeling as if he is supposed to be by her side right now – as if she needed him too.

''I thought I warned you about your foul tongue, E. Watch your mouth before I have to punch it.“ Grayson threatened, receiving nothing but an amused chuckle.

''What's the worst thing that could happen, huh? It's just us talking about it and you know I'm dying to know if the carpet matches the drapes.“ Ethan whispered the last bit, pushing Grayson further toward the edge.

''I don't want her to hear and think that I'm a crude savage who will expose her privacy to the world.“

''Or she'll close the tap and put you on a sex ban? Damn, you're whipped.“ Ethan exclaimed, rubbing his scruff covered chin in thought.

''Let's just say it's much warmer when she's in my bed and if I haven't broken the streak in three months, I don't plan on breaking it tonight.“ Grayson winked, unaware of what Ethan had already realized. Ethan was forgetting to tell his brother the reason why he stopped him in the first place, but he definitely didn't forget to tell him what must be true.

''Three months and your dragon bride didn't bleed once? Or do you go for it regardless, huh?“ Ethan raised an eyebrow suggestively, hoping his brother would catch on and once he noticed those eyes widen in realization, Ethan nodded slowly with a self-satisfied smirk. There's a reason he won the wits and knowledge trials and Grayson didn't.

''You really think she might be?“ Grayson spoke out of breath, his heart skipping three beats at a time. It was hard to tell the last time he saw any hope, true hope for Astros and Dracovia to be as one, but now? If she was pregnant? That was everything for both kingdoms and them personally.

''Carrying baby dragon eggs? Sure is!“ Ethan grinned, all too happy with the knowledge that an heir would soon come and he'd be free to court her himself. He wanted nothing more than a taste and Grayson would share as every good brother would...or so he hoped.

''Fuck, I gotta go check on her! We have to see a doctor too!“ Grayson couldn't contain his excitement, his hands tangling in his hair as he pulled at it uncontrollably. His eyes filled with tears and his lips spread into a wide grin and while his legs were shaking, his mind was racing.

''Oh, wait!“ Ethan grabbed him in the nick of time, pulling him back and away as a confused expression settled on Grayson's previously gleeful face.

''We gotta go settle a rebellion. Some of our people decided to go ahead and attack Dracovia without their king's seal of approval and they've got some pretty heavy armory with them.“ Ethan whispered, unaware they weren't alone anymore. Drawn by the loud voices, lady Mareen had hidden behind a pillar with eyes wide and lips shut. She had to be quiet, to bring this information to her princess and hope she can make sense of what she heard.

''What the fuck do they think they're doing?! We're not attacking Dracovia! Especially now!“ Grayson shook his head as he began to walk away with Ethan, grabbing the first servant he found.

''Tell my wife I'll be away on official business for a while. I'll try and call as soon as I can.“ Grayson ordered, moving along as he swore under his breath, his fingers already dialing his commander in chief to quell this rebellion before there's a war to fight because of their stupidity. After all, how could he ever tell his pregnant wife that his people tried to start a war? How would he worry her now when she's most vulnerable? It is hard enough to know she is alone and he can't even see her and tell her of his happiness, to know he would be going to sleep alone in an empty bed.

There had never been a time where he didn't hate the crown on his head as much as he did now. He had watched Y/N walk around the gardens with her crown often, the grace she held it with and the natural strength that would ooze from her as she spoke to everyone who dared to engage in a conversation with her. Heavy is the head that wears the crown. It certainly weighed on Grayson, even on the best of days. But for Y/N? She wore the crown like a feather on her head, gracefully and with dignity. Grayson envied her.

As Grayson set off for war, Y/N was startled by her lady.

''There's a rebellion and they are trying to attack Dracovia. Your husband left to stop them.“ Mareen spoke in one breath, nearly fainting as she leaned back against a wall, entire body shaking. A servant came straight after, not giving time for the princess to speak as shock overtook her as well.

''I'm sorry to disturb you, your highness.“ The servant curtsied, waiting for permission to speak.

''It's fine. Do you have some news for me?“ Y/N tried to hold it together as her face felt like fire and her blood felt like ice. How can she remain calm when her kingdom is in peril and her husband is too? He's off to fight in a war against his own men to protect her kingdom and whether or not she'd like to admit it, Y/N feared for his safety. Keeping him alive now was both a matter of state and heart. If he shall die, so shall she. She doesn't have the crown matrimonial to keep her safe and her child would likely be killed before it's even born by the contenders for the throne. Ethan might spare her, but the baby? The baby would be why Ethan could never take the throne peacefully and she didn't know him well enough to trust they would be safe.

''The King requested me to tell you he's leaving on some urgent business and he'll contact you when he can.“

Nodding, Y/N waved the servant off as she felt herself growing weaker. She sat back on the couch the very moment she and Lady Mareen were left alone, her heart constricting tightly in her chest as the thought of what might happen pained her greatly.

''What am I supposed to do? What if he never returns?“ Y/N's voice trembled. She was shaken, down to her core. Had someone told her she'd care so much a year ago...three months ago, she'd have laughed in their face, but now? She was absolutely devastated and all she could wish for is a moment alone with him – not to touch for pleasure, but to speak from the heart.

Could she ever do that? She didn't even know if she loved him, but she did care. Her aching heart was hard to ignore, so there had to be some feelings involved.

''I hate to ask, but have your grown fond of the king?“ Mareen questioned, never aware of the lines she's crossing and Y/N was too tired to let her know.

''I'm fond of my child and my life. Whatever happens to him could bring about my imminent death...yours too, if you forgot. What happens to me will happen to you, as well.“ Y/N reminded her through cloudy eyes, trying to cover up the real reason why it hurts her so much.

The first night away was horrible. She missed his muscular arm that she dreamt was wrapped around her as much as she missed the smell of him. Her room was filled with flowers, but their scent wasn’t what she sought, but the safety and warmth of his ocean breeze spring-like perfume.

Y/N wondered what is wrong with her. What sort of woman was she that she pined for the caresses of a man she despised?

She missed him when he was gone, but it was only now that she realized how much he meant to her.

Love, lust and passion. Grayson was all three and more. It was impossible to reconcile in her mind, but the truth couldn’t be denied. She had allowed herself to fall and he was no longer there to catch her.

Barely asleep, she spent the night tossing and turning and wishing he would call. She rarely used phones back home, but ever since she came here, Grayson had insisted she has one beside her at all times. It was never used, but she craved to use it now. She’d call him if her pride wasn’t stopping her, if her mind didn’t remind her she might put him in danger by doing so as well. She didn’t want to risk either – not his safety and not her pride.

The next day dragged on and while she convinced herself it would be a good time to go through his things back in the office, she spent most her time drowsy and lightheaded as she read through the documents. Soon realizing the valuable documents weren’t just lying around his office, Y/N retreated to their room and watched the ocean from her king’s couch. It wasn’t long before night took over and she fell into a pattern of restless dreams of Grayson’s demise or worse, of him turning on her and their child.

By the fourth day of missing him, Y/N was tired of the insomnia that haunted her at night and fatigue that took over by day. She was tired of the hole inside her chest and the coldness of the empty bed. Finally, she was ready to try and use what dragons did in the olden times. Magic in her blood might be a far cry from what it was at the dawn of time, but if her mother could perform simple rituals, she decided she could too.

She sent Lady Mareen for ingredients before ushering her out for the ritual. She ordered no one to bother her, the ritual couldn’t be interrupted.

Natural rose quartz Chunk set North, amethyst cluster set West and a clear quartz set East, a circle of orange candles around and burning sage in the center. It was a base for every spell intended to get in touch with the dragon ancestors for guidance. Every royal born in the Dracovian castle had a ritual held in their honor to see what kind of a ruler they’d grow to be. Most had gotten the natural green or brown dragon as a patron, but she had gotten a silver – the same as the first Dracovian Queen – a sign of change, power and a potential for either greatness or complete ruin.

Pushing every thought out of her mind, Y/N drew in a deep breath. She waited for a sign, for some way of connecting to the dragons but no one spoke to her. Refusing to give up, she put all her willpower to test.

‘’I am a dragon as are you, I demand to see what the future holds for me.” She spoke authoritatively, gripping her knees tightly with her fingers before images started to flash before her eyes – a tower, crown on her head, a newborn son, kissing the hard wood of Grayson’s coffin as her tears soaked the material before the procession continued.

Gasping, Y/N kicked the burning sage into the fireplace as she pulled back in her anguish. She could hardly breathe as the images replayed in her head over and over again, terrorizing her as she slowly lost consciousness.

‘’Ask and you shall receive’’, being the last she hears before darkness takes over.

Grayson felt, more than saw, her presence as he entered the room. He turned slowly, his breath held. Her hair looked darker in the candlelight, its rich color gleaming against the green velvet of fresh sheets of the bed she leaned against. He could hardly speak. The nearness of her, the quiet room, the candlelight were even more than his dreams. She stared at him then slowly untied the belt of her robe and it glided languidly over her smooth skin, falling to her feet.

His gaze roamed over her as if he is unable to fully comprehend her beauty. Only when he looked back at her eyes did he see she was troubled. Was that expression fear? As if he would reject her? The possibility struck him as so humorous he nearly laughed out loud.

"Grayson," she whispered.

She had barely finished the syllable when she was in his arms, being carried to their bed, his lips already fastened to hers.

“You didn’t call.” She whispered against his lips, all too prepared for the way his hands roamed her body now.

Y/N was afraid of herself as well as of him. He could sense it as he kissed her. He'd waited a long time for her to come to him and now it seems she was more than ready to meet him without his own needs starting their lover’s dance. He was gone for a week, terrified that once he returned to her he’d find their bed was no longer welcoming for him. He expected all the work he’d put into their relationship to be washed away. He expected anything but to find her with her arms wide open.  But even now, as he held her, he felt no great sense of triumph.

"That’s not why you’re sad. What is it, my darling dragon? What’s on your mind?"

His concern for her made her want to cry. How could she tell him of her pain? How could she tell him of the vision where he’d meet his end? She wasn’t the one to kill him, that much she knew. Had she been the one, she wouldn’t have cried over his closed casket. Someone had intervened with their love, a love she was having a hard time denying and she wanted to draw blood until the traitor was found.

When he carried her to the bed and the candlelight danced over her body, her breasts rising with each breath, he forgot all thoughts of anything but the nearness of her. His clothes were hastily thrown aside and he gently eased himself down beside her. He wanted to savor his skin touching hers, inch by slow inch.

When the torture was more than he could handle, he grabbed her to him fiercely. "Y/N, I have missed you."

She lifted her face to his to be kissed instead of a response. They had been apart too long to proceed slowly. Their need for each other was urgent. Y/N grabbed a handful of flesh and muscle on Grayson's back. He gasped and laughed throatily at her haste. When her hands clawed at him again, he grasped both hands in one of his and held them over her head. She struggled to free herself, but he was too strong. When he entered her, she gasped, then thrust her hips up to meet his.

He released her hands and she pulled him closer and closer to her. They made love quickly, almost harshly, before they found the sweet release they longed for. Grayson collapsed on top of her, their bodies still joined as one.

They must have dozed off, but sometime during the night Y/N was wakened by Grayson's slow rhythmic movement. Half-sleep, only half-aroused, she began to answer him with lazy sensual movements of her own. Minute by minute, her mind became deeply lost to the feelings of her body. She didn't know what she wanted, but she was not content with her position. She was not aware of Grayson's distress as she pushed him to the side, her hips never leaving his. Once he was on his back, she could finally rule him.

Grayson lost no time in wonder. His hands slid up her stomach to her breasts, her head arched back and her throat, so smooth set him aflame. He clutched at her hips, both of them lost to their rising passion as Grayson thrusted up to meet her hips, his thumb on her sensitive bud making sure she gets her release at the same time as he does. Once their dance was done, Y/N all but collapsed on Grayson’s chest and he held her close to him, her hair wrapping itself around their sweat-soaked bodies, encasing them in a silk cocoon. Neither one mentioned what ran through their minds: of the possible baby growing inside her.

‘’Mind if I ask you something?” Grayson spoke timidly, afraid she’ll find his curiosity unwanted. He promised himself to learn more about her and he had every intention of keeping that promise.

‘’Only if you tell me why you’ve come back with a cut on your cheek and several bruises on your body.” She countered easily, always ready to spar with him. He could never understand how easily she shifts between a passionate, loving fire in bed and a cold iceberg that would ignore him during the day. He’d always let her have the day to herself before, hoping she’d come to him on her own accord. But she never did. From breakfast to dinner, Grayson would only see her walking around, being kind to all – a true delight to talk to. She would set his soul alight whenever she’d glance his way, regardless if he was fully clothed in his official royal outfits or if he was just sunbathing in his briefs. Grayson craved her love, her attention and her approval most of all.

‘’Some of my people wanted to start a war and I didn’t let them. By marrying you, I’ve promised Dracovia peace and I plan to keep it.” Grayson’s solemn response had brought a flame to her cheeks. She couldn’t deny that his words had softened her, but she had to let him know what had gnawed on her.

“By marrying me, you married a country. You married a woman who’d be a queen and a queen is her country. If you ever do something to harm Dracovia and its people, it would be as if you’re harming me. I could never forgive that.” She traced circles on his chest as she shyly looked away, never quite as open and vulnerable with him as now.

“I’ll protect Dracovia with my life then. But if something happens to Astros or me, make sure you’re gone on the first ship. Don’t trust anyone.” Grayson’s words scared her. Had there been reason for him to foreshadow what she had seen happen in the near future? She shook her head as her eyebrows creased.

“I’ll protect you. If the day comes where Astros fights and your life and crown is on the line, I will protect you.” She promised, her eyes never leaving his. He wondered what happened to the girl whom he heard swear an oath to kill him on their wedding night. Whatever it may be, he was happy with the woman in his arms.

“You wanted to ask me a question?” She reminded him sweetly, smiling up at him as he chuckled in surprise.

“I wanted to ask about Dracovia. I don’t know much about the traditions and the origin and I don’t want to be a fool if you ever take me home to meet your father.” Grayson smirked as she raised both her eyebrows at the curiosity and preposition.

“Well…Dracovia is believed to be as old as time and at least twice as large than it is today – it’s rumored Astros was once a part of Dracovia. At a time where magic was real and dragons roamed the earth, humanity was growing and they were fearful of the majestic beasts. Soon, humans began to hunt dragons, kill them. Dragon keepers realized their beasts would soon be extinct, creating a powerful spell no one had ever tried before – to turn a dragon into a human.” Grayson gasped, surprised at this turn in her story and she slapped his chest playfully.

“You think this is silly, don’t you?” Biting her lower lip, Grayson shook his head.

“I find it fascinating. Tell me more.”

Reluctant, she continued. “Some dragons turned to humans easily, others weren’t as lucky. Once human, the dragons mated and started their own bloodline. At first, there were hundreds of them - some mixing with the Dragon keepers, others choosing to mate only amongst themselves. They built an empire using the gold they acquired over time because all dragons loved shiny things.” Y/N giggled, shifting so she can lay on her side and still have her leg wrapped around Grayson’s waist.

“With gold and the few remaining dragons on their side, the human dragons continued their line but have soon realized they are cursed – they would keep a part of their dragon temper, they could hardly reproduce as the magic in their blood lessened with each generation. Realizing that mating with regular humans only speeds up the dilution of their magical blood, dragons forbade for anyone to marry a non-dragon descendant by placing a death mark on their human lovers or sending them off to…well, today’s Astros. Eventually, every human that mated with a dragon descent would die. So we stopped doing that centuries ago and have only married Dracovian people who would get a dragon patron at birth.” She explained, running a line down the middle of his torso, noticing his confusion and slight fear.

“Patron?”

“Every Dracovian baby has a ritual performed in the honor of their birth. Once the ritual is performed, if the baby has a dragon patron – sort of a spirit guide, a test of magical blood still within, something that can predict how great the baby’s life will be, only then are they allowed to marry a dragon descent. It’s a rarity nowadays, but for a royal it’s still very important.” Y/N heard her husband hum lowly, his interest peaked.

“What is your patron?” Grayson smiled as she gave him a quick glance, clearly deciding if she should share that part of her soul with him. For some, their patron was sacred – a window into their soul.

“A silver dragon. Only the first Dracovian Queen had ever gotten a silver dragon as a patron. It brings about change and great potential for either good or evil.” Grayson nodded as he pursed his lips. It described her perfectly.

“Thank you for telling me.” He placed a tender kiss to her forehead, his heart full. He watched as she rolled away from him and stood up.

“Where are you going?” Grayson couldn’t stop himself from asking, too panicked to pretend to be at ease as she stood before a window – entirely naked as the moonlight bathes her skin.

Absentmindedly, her hand found its place on her lower abdomen and Grayson knew – he knew she was pregnant and for some reason he didn’t quite understand, she didn’t share the news with him just yet.

Walking up to her, he observed her curves and a few stray bruises on her hips. It was a clear sign of their insatiable desire for one another, every single bruise meant he was dying to hold her closer, tighter. Standing aside, he noticed the hauntingly sad, yet still beautiful look in her longing eyes. She stared at the ocean as if she could see Dracovia on the horizon.

“Are you okay? Do you need anything?” Grayson’s worry carried in his voice, evidently not trying to hide his care for her at all. He wouldn’t bother hiding it in front of anyone for this silver dragon won his heart and she was a constant in his mind.

“I’m scared.” She admitted in a faint whisper, her hand firmly set against her belly as if to protect the unborn from the danger that’s lurking - danger Grayson didn’t know existed.

“Of me?” His voice trembled as he dared to ask, terrified she might confirm it.

“No.” She smiled sadly, turning her head to meet his heavy gaze. “I feel a storm on the horizon. When the storms are raging on, no dragon can fly for long. We are creatures of fire and ice, but wind and water can destroy us easily. They destroy warriors as well.” Stepping closer to him, she placed a hand on each of his shoulders.

“Grayson, do you have anything to share with me?” She asked kindly, hoping he’d tell her the truth of what he hinted in the bed. She wanted to help him, but if he couldn’t be honest with her, neither could she. She was ready to trust him with her life, all she needed was a little trust in return.

“No.” His response is quick and short, disappointing in ways he’ll never know. Had he spoke to her honestly, she’d have proclaimed her love for him and told him of the unborn baby in her belly. Had he been honest, she’d have told him of unimaginably advanced technology Dracovia had to offer to protect Astros without being asked. She would have given him the world, possibly changed his future, but he lied to her face and her gaze hardened.

“Do you have anything to share with me?” Grayson retorted, hoping she’d tell him something – anything. She at least owed him the news of their baby.

“No.” She repeated his answer in an even voice, one that held so many secrets and yet not a single answer. Trying to pass by him, she found herself pulled back into his arms, his face close to hers.

“I have one thing to admit. I cannot hide this any longer.” Grayson let out a shaky breath as her merciless glare pierced through him.  There was surely a better time to tell her, but he had to do something to melt the iceberg she’d become in a matter of seconds. And so he spoke.

“I love you.”

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~           ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~    

''You really need to talk to your wife, Grayson.“ Cameron and Ethan walked in with a resolve to make the issue at hand disappear. While it pained him greatly, Ethan agreed to help although he found the situation to be quite promising for his future endeavors.

''I did that and we got nowhere, so I'm not about to go and bow to the princess of a country I frankly owe nothing to. She's the one who's made this into a war instead of a loving marriage and I'm not going to demean myself anymore.“ Grayson spoke without even looking up, his eyes focused on the pile of documents he'd been reading, amending and signing to improve his kingdom. If he couldn't solve his personal issues, he'd make damn sure he solves everyone else's.

''That was true until we heard Lady Mareen express her worries about the princess and her state. Grayson she's barely eating or sleeping. She's not alright and she's refusing to speak to anyone as well.“ Cameron crossed her arms over her chest, watching her brother carefully as he sighs heavily and bows his head. 

How can he help her when he's probably the last person she wants to see? To be perfectly honest, Grayson's barely slept as well. He finds it a difficult feat without the sound of her soft breathing.

''And I'm supposed to do what? She hates me, remember?“ Grayson raised an eyebrow, looking for a reason to avoid seeing her. If it's so hard to stay away when he barely sees her, how would he possibly stay away after he's reminded of her beauty? Even worse, how would he stay away when she's unwell? She's always on his mind regardless, but knowing she's ill would tear him apart and he didn't want to feel that...his heartbreak was painful as it is.

''She knows you best out of everyone here at court. If Mareen couldn't get through to her, you can. After all, it started when you decided to fuck up your life.“ Cameron sassed, well equipped to deal with any excuse he provides her with.

''I'll see her later today. I have work to do so go away.“ Shooing them away, Grayson waited until he was alone in the study to finally let out the shaky breath he was holding. He loves Y/N, truly loves her, but he has no strength left to fight for her or with her. Seeing her would send him back to ground zero, but he couldn't ignore the problem.

He waited for the darkness to set in before he pulled himself together and walked back to the door he had stood before every night since he tried ending things with her. Grayson felt oddly nervous, his hands trembling as if it was their first time all over again. Shaking his head, he let a nervous chuckle escape him.

Why should he feel nervous about speaking to his wife? She was his by right and to speak to her is his right as well.

When he opened the door to their bedroom, he found the most unlikely sight – Y/N laid up to her neck in a tub of steamy water. Her hair is piled atop her head in a soft mass of curls. Her eyes are closed, her head resting on the rim of the tub. The water must have been very hot because her face was lightly dampened with sweat. All his muscles froze at the sight of her. She had frowned at him before, raged at him more times than he can count and even then she was magnificent, but now she was innocence personified. Suddenly he knew that this was what he wanted from her, this was all he needed – her presence if not her love. What should it matter if she despised him? She was his and his alone. His heart was pounding as he closed the door behind him.

"Mareen?" Y/N said languidly. Receiving no answer, her eyes flew open. She saw the pensive look on Grayson's face and knew his thoughts. In spite of herself, her heart began beating quickly.

"Is there something I can help you with?" she managed to whisper. It crossed his mind she was actually speaking to him despite the claims she was hardly speaking to anyone. It only made his heart wilder, less restrained in its need to feel her hand over it.

He ignored her words as he advanced, his dark eyes grown darker. He bent over her, took her defiant chin in his hand. She tried to pull away but he held her fast. He kissed her, roughly at first but then his grip and kiss became gentle, deep – a proper lover’s kiss.

Y/N felt herself drifting. The pleasure of the hot water, his hand on her cheek, his kiss, it weakened her. He pulled away from her and looked deep into her eyes, the gold warm and glowing fire behind them setting his own light ablaze. All thoughts of hatred were gone from them. There was only the nearness of their bodies. Their hunger for each other overcame any hostility or even thoughts of who loved whom.

Grayson knelt by the tub, his hand moving to the back of Y/N's neck. He kissed her again, ran his mouth along the curve of her neck. She was moist and warm and the rising steam was like his growing passion. He was ready, but he wanted to prolong his pleasure, drag it out to the height of near-pain. Her ears were sweet and smelled of the rose-scented soap she used that he missed so terribly.

Suddenly he wanted to see her - all of her. Grayson put his hands under Y/N's arms and lifted her in one swift move. She gasped at the unexpected movement, at the coolness of the air after the heat the water provided. A soft, warm towel hung within arm's reach, which Grayson wrapped her in – slowly, allowing his eyes to fall to her belly long enough to see she’s not showing yet, but might soon – long enough for him to press a quick kiss to it.

Y/N couldn’t speak. Somewhere, buried in her mind, was the knowledge that words would break the spell. He touched her tenderly - no harsh demands, no bruising. He sat on a bench before the fire and stood her between his legs as if she were a child.

Had someone spoken of such a scene months ago, Y/N would have denied that it could happen, that Grayson was an insensitive brute, a savage with no manners and no ability to love or care for anyone but himself. She felt no embarrassment by her nudity while he remained fully clothed, only wonder at the magic of the moment. Grayson dried her carefully. He was a bit clumsy, too rough at times, too gentle at others.

"Turn," he commanded and she obeyed without a word as he dried her back. He tossed the towel to the floor and Y/N held her breath. But he didn’t speak. Scaring her into a small gasp, he ran his fingers down the deep indentation of her spine. She could feel the chills his touch brought. His one finger said more than a hundred caresses.

"You are beautiful," he whispered throatily as he placed his palms on the curve of her hips. "So very beautiful."

She did not breathe, even when she felt his lips on the side of her neck. His hands moved so torturously slow to her stomach, across her ribs and up to her breasts, which waited for him, begged for him. She released the breath she held in anticipation and leaned back against him, her head resting against his shoulder, his mouth still on her neck. He ran his hands over her, touching her skin, exploring her body.

“Is that all I am to you? Just a beautiful body?” She whispered, afraid her words might end the gentle intimacy he bestowed upon her in a time of dire need.

She had barely slept without him – the bed felt alien without his warm embrace and the sound of his heartbeat as she slept on his chest. She could hardly eat with morning sickness deciding to spread to the entire day and no one could quite bring the food he used to surprise her with every morning and night – the food they brought smelled bad and tasted bland. She never felt so alone, not since her mother died and then Andrea too. She missed him more than anything and she didn’t know how to step on her pride and try to tell him so.

“You’re my weakness…the one thing I lack power against. Whether it’s loving you when you’re near and driving me absolutely mad or feeding your memory after you were gone. It’s just not in me to do nothing and let you slip away.” Pressing a kiss to her shoulder, Grayson leaned on it just enough to feel that in some way she wouldn’t let him fall. “Even if you hate me, my fierce, incredibly stubborn wife, I will love you until the last beat of my heart is drowned out and air can’t fill my lungs anymore.”

But she didn’t hate him, not at all. She loves every bit of him and not just the polished, pressed parts that the world sees and makes assumptions about, but the ragged, tattered parts of him that he hides because he thinks no one would understand. She loves all the pieces that make up who he is. And she’s not even sure she knows what real love is, but she believes it must be something like that.

When Y/N was nearly insane with desire and driven to tears by his confessions, he carried her to the bed. In a matter of seconds, his clothes were on the floor and he was beside her. She pulled him to her, sought his mouth. He laughed at her grasping hands, teasing her, but there was no ridicule in his chocolate eyes. There was only the wish for prolonging their pleasure. A sparkle came to her eyes, and she knew she would have the last laugh. Her hands moved downward. When she found what she sought, there was no more laughter in his eyes. They were black with passion as he pushed her down beside him.

It wasn’t long before their pleasure reached its high and they were both released from their sweet torment. Y/N felt drained, her bones weak as Grayson moved partially away, though his leg was still across hers, his arm across her breasts. She sighed deeply just before falling asleep for the first time in ten days.

When Y/N woke just before the morning, her arm slid across the sheet only to meet emptiness. Her eyes opened wide. Grayson was gone and the looming dawn had little to no effect on her desire to get out of the bed. Her first thought was to hurry to his study and continue their love-making this stormy night, but the warm bed and the memory from just a few hours ago kept her where she was. Y/N turned to her side, ran her hand over the indented place beside her, and buried her face in his pillow. It still smelled of Grayson – the same scent she came to know so quickly that it frightened her.

She smiled dreamily. That night had been heaven. She remembered Grayson's eyes, his mouth, his wandering hands - he filled her every vision.

A soft knock on the door sent her heart beating, then calmed abruptly when Mareen opened it.

“You must wake!” Mareen rushed inside, clearly distressed by some unknown complications Y/N couldn’t even comprehend in her state.

“What’s happened?” Y/N whisper shouted, allowing her lady to dress her as quickly as possible. “Where’s Grayson?” She pressed, needing to know if the news are of him and the foretold death she had seen. Shivering, she had to bite her lower lip to stop a strangled cry from escaping her with the thought. She had planned on telling him how much she loves him when they woke tangled in the sheets come morning light. She wanted to forgive him for all the sins those before him committed, the ones she’s been holding him accountable for. She would have laid down her armor and let him in, but if he died without knowing her heart lies with him? That would break her.

“The King arms himself.” Mareen replied and Y/N felt bile rise in her throat. It’s only a matter of seconds before she spills the empty contents of her stomach, the news knotting her insides.

“Why? Why would he arm himself?!” Y/N didn’t bother hiding the panic nor clear emotion she held for the young king. There wasn’t anyone or anything she would hide her feelings before. She loves Grayson Dolan and no one can stop her from feeling that.

“Because Dracovia is lost. The bridge was finished last night and Dracovia was attacked a little before that. It’s said Astros outposts had fought with the Dracovians, but the King is about to join them with the rest of the army. My Queen, I believe your father had been killed in the attack as well.”

Unable to hold it in any longer as nausea clawed at her throat, chunks of partially digested chicken from the soup she ate spewed out of her coughing, choking mouth. Her stomach kept on contracting violently and forcing everything up and out. Her face was white and dripping bile, sweat, and tears. She lurched forward and sunk to her knees. The pungent stench invaded her nostrils and she heaved even though there was nothing left to go.

“Get me a glass of water and a mint.” Y/N demanded as she wiped her mouth and chin with wet wipes. She had to clean herself up and present herself as the proper royal she is meant to be. She is no longer just a princess, a pawn in someone’s game. From this night and forth, she’d be the player, the one making power moves across the board – she’ll be the queen as her mother was before her, and not just any queen – the dragon queen.

Once dressed and seemingly collected, the queen moved swiftly across the marble floors with such grace and elegance that those who witnessed it were left without a breath of their own.

She marched straight into Grayson’s study, aware there’s a war meeting going on without even checking first. It’s what she’d do if she was in control of her army on this night.

“Princess Y/N, I hate that we meet under these circumstances.” One of the knights she recognized quickly as the man who had been her sworn sword since birth – the one she left behind as she set off to marry Grayson, the man she now loved.

“Sir Mance, you and I both know this was inevitable. Now let’s discuss how we’re planning to take back my throne.” She didn’t waste time, shifting her attention to Grayson who stared at her with mouth open and a clear surprise in his eyes.

“I’m taking an army, but it’s hard to truly do much when we’re only able to access Dracovia over the bridge that hasn’t passed an inspection yet.” Grayson explained, showing the map.

Y/N chuckled, shaking her head before turning around to Sir Mance. “Send out an order to put down the magnetic fields when the army is in reach. I’m sure that will help Astros in finding a way in.” She cocked an eyebrow when Grayson caught her eye, now aware why Dracovia was always an unreachable destination with any form of planes or submarines – they used a magnetic field powerful enough to destroy anything that comes close without permission. He was impressed.

“Have one of the submarines wait for me onshore in half an hour, we’re leaving soon.” Y/N gave out a second order, but this time it wasn’t met with enthusiasm.

“You’re not coming.” Grayson chuckled at the notion, shaking his head as if she was joking. Not only is she with child, but she is a woman with no battle experience and the Queen in case Dracovia’s king was truly dead. Grayson had no intention of risking her life for her pride to be honored.

“I’m likely their Queen now. No one will stop me from taking my rightful place at the throne of Dracovia as the dragon Queen with the old magic still running in my veins.” Y/N spoke through gritted teeth, her rage evident in her shaky hands as she slammed them on the table before him. In a room filled with several seasoned warriors, they’ve all felt fear of her rage – some because they believed she might turn into the dragon from all the stories they heard and some because their queen could kill them for the betrayal they would soon commit.

“You will not be joining us. That’s final.” Grayson ordered, unyielding in his decision and for good reason – or so he told himself.

“Try to stop me.” She smirked, turning her back on him. But she found the obstacles to be great once her path was blocked by two guards and her sworn sword made no attempt to remove them.

“Seize her.” Grayson nearly choked as he spoke the words. The guards didn’t wait, taking the queen by her arms and lifting her as they moved fast and away. Grayson and Ethan followed them closely, listening to her threats, the desperation in her voice growing as they near the tower where all the prisoners are held.

“Let me go, you savages!” She screamed as they placed her inside one of the rooms -  a room so clearly made up for her that she wondered just how long had this been planned. Had Grayson planned on having her incarcerated for months? Was he the invader?

“What do you think you’re doing?” She whisper shouted as he entered the room as well, his gaze wandering instead of meeting hers bravely as he used to do.

“My country is in peril and you want me to sit here and what? Knit? Sing songs of the brave soldiers that would be lost in the fight while their queen is nowhere to be found? How should they trust me as their ruler when I am not on the front lines with my troops?!” She screamed, tears falling freely from her wide eyes as she lost control entirely.

“You married a future Queen Grayson, not some commoner! I am my country and right now my country is burning! If you do this…I will never forgive you. I will never love you! Everything you get from me will be taken by force!” She threatened, stepping before him with those doe eyes he loved so much but could hardly look at right now. Not when he had so much to hide from her. Not when he was doing things for her benefit, but in a way she’d never agree to. It just happens the window of opportunity is on this stormy night, the same night she had let him back into her bed…the same night he will likely lose her love for good.

“So be it.” Grayson remarked, trying to walk away as she grabbed onto his elbow and tried to turn him back to meet her guarded eyes.

“You told me you love. You were honest with me, I believe that. So why are you being such a coward now? Tell me the truth about who attacked Dracovia and why you’re really locking me up in the tower. I might not be crowned yet, but I am the Queen of Dracovia. You can’t keep me here.” She didn’t use the royal tone where every word sounded like a command, but the soft one she’d use when they were all alone in their bed, holding each other for dear life. She used the voice of a loving wife, the one he longed to hear for so long.

“Do you want those words to be empty? For my trust in you to go unanswered? Is this what you really want?” She tried again.

“Astros is the invader, that’s the truth.” Ethan quipped, annoyed with his brother and the silence he clings to. But as she got her answer, Y/N’s hand opened and she let her husband go. The betrayal had slashed her, but she had no strength to parry with vengeance. She thought indifference would be better as she wiped her tears away.

“You’re dead to me, Grayson Bailey Dolan. Both of you are dead to me.”

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~           ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~  

''I do have many spies placed in high places. From what they've told me, the king was an animal toward his wife. In fact, she was the actual Queen, the one who was born to dragon blood and had the throne passed onto her from her mother as well. The king was an extremely charming man who made sure to win that poor woman's heart. She was such a beauty, so fierce and strong, absolutely terrifying to all who would try something against Dracovia and her family. She was a true Queen, but once she let him into her heart, he had broken her apart – piece by piece. It didn't start as openly until she signed his crown matrimonial and she only did it because he made her believe she was losing her mind when Y/N was only four years old. They say he had made her believe she was haunted and that the people questioned her sanity and would ask for her head if they suspect the kingdom may be in peril. He told her he'd protect their family if she signed the crown matrimonial and she did.“ Cameron grabbed Grayson's glass, downing the scotch first. The story was heavy to narrate and hard to hear, something anyone could understand.

''He had cheated on her with multiple women after as he had her declared unfit to rule. He had abused her both physically and sexually aside from mentally. They say the royal guards stationed before their bedroom door would weep as they listened to the monstrous things he had done to her. One wanted to help her but was stopped...you see, they were under orders to protect the queen, but not from the king. The princess would sit in a corner of her bedroom, her hands over her ears as she sang to herself to drown it all out. She was seven years old when her mother mysteriously disappeared at sea. They say their ship was destroyed, but no one knows by who. Some claim we're to blame, others mention Gandria decided to try their hand at war with Dracovia and some say it was the king of Dracovia who wanted a way to get rid of her in order to raise Y/N to his liking.“

Staring blankly at Cameron, Grayson could hardly breathe let alone say anything. Not playing the hero, he opened his drawer and found his inhaler, taking two puffs to help his airway clear.

''That's why she hates me, isn't it?“ His breathing strained, Grayson offered his sister a sincere tear as it slipped past his defenses and slid down his cheek. The tear got lost in his scruff, but his eyes are still glossy, a witness to how painful it was to hear of the unfortunate life his wife's mother had lived and how much it must have affected the love of his life.

''All I'm saying is that you need a lot more patience. She's been under his influence her whole life and while she's come a long way from the ice princess you've described, she's still got miles to go.“

Before he has a chance to respond, a guard runs into the study. Breathing heavily, the young man bows in respect before asking forgiveness for interrupting as well as permission to speak. Once granted, he informs Grayson of a worrisome choice his wife had made.

''The princess left this morning. She was with her lady, but they managed to evade security.“

The sadness leaves Grayson, but it's replaced with a fit of sinister anger he felt setting fires to his entire body – from the blood inside his veins to his mind. How could she leave without even saying something to him? How could she go unaccompanied in a country that tried to invade hers just last week? She may be his wife and he may love her, but his people still see her as the Dracovian royal blood from the stories they've heard for years on end.

They say she was born from ice, that she can transform into a dragon at will. They say she takes what she wants with fire and blood as any dragon would, but most of all – they say she can't be killed...that she can't even bleed easily and when she does that her blood isn't red, but blue.

Grayson knew the stories weren't true, of course...Anyone can be killed.

''You're telling me she's out there alone?“

While Grayson was losing his mind and sending out his men into town to find the wandering princess, Y/N had already returned to the castle, willingly.

Instead of heading back to her room, she finds her way to the cliff garden she once had breakfast at with her husband, the king. Standing atop the cliff, there's no denying she's got a lot on her mind. For the first time since she learned of her pregnancy, Y/N was faced with the reality of carrying a child in her womb. Seeing the tiny blob of cells growing inside her with each passing day had shaken her into a lucid, awake state. She was forced to think more of the new life she would bring to this world and she didn't want to be at war with the father. She had to find a way to mend their relationship and she had to be sincere. Her plans are all futile now for her blood is forever mixed with that of a Dolan. She'll be a Dolan now too...she'll be the dragon who will take the Dolan name and do whatever she has to for her child to grow up in a happy, safe home.

''Why would such a beauty ever be sad? It's a tragic sight to behold.“ The voice is alike Grayson's, but her senses alarm her to the difference in tone, color, emotion. The hairs on the back of her neck stand up, giving her a warning the man who is most certainly not her husband is extremely close to her – close enough for her to smell his heavy vanilla perfume and to feel the heat of his body.

''I'd say it's tragically human.“ She responds, very aware of every move he makes as he steps beside her and gives her some much-needed distance between them.

''There's nothing human about you.“ Ethan chuckles, honest to a fault. In his eyes, Y/N was most definitely a magical being – maybe not a dragon, but an angel at least. In angels he could believe.

''I'll have to disagree, but it's nice to know some still see me as the woman I was before I came here.“ Y/N sighed, casting a fleeting glance toward her brother in law, long enough to see he's relentless stare is set on her alone.

''Has my brother harmed you in some way?“ Ethan questioned, his eyebrows furrowed as if on command. His voice doesn't have the airy tone that's ever-present in their usual conversations which are far and in between. It's genuine worry, she concurs.

''If I ask something of you, could you give me an honest answer?“ Y/N turns to him entirely, no longer letting her eyes wander the ocean or the nearly finished road that leads to home that stretches as far as the eye can see. Ethan has her undivided attention and she can tell he's aware of it as he puffs out his chest and lifts his chin ever so slightly as a peacock would. She'd smile at the way he's so clearly showing her his interest, but she needed information and she had to use his affection for her benefit.

''Most certainly.“ Ethan's usual smirk is nowhere to be found as the serious persona takes over. She's aware his way of speaking is adapted to hers and she appreciates that just as much as his clear intention of helping her.

''Does Grayson keep paramours?“

''I'll be honest even if it hurts me longterm and say no. My brother hasn't even looked at another since we learned we'd have to compete in the kingly trials, months before there was need for them. My brother believes in love and marriage and for him, marriage is a lifelong commitment of loyalty.“ Ethan sighed at the slight curve of her pursed lips, aware he had made her feel better just enough for the air around them to change.

''He's a romantic then. I'm not sure I believe in love, prince Ethan.“ She sighed, her eyes falling to her feet – something he had never seen her do. That woman always had too much pride to walk with her head down.

''I wasn't sure either...I've believed love was for fools, a mere trap made by ancient witches to keep the loneliness away when their looks fade. It's obvious I was the fool for I hadn't been able to think straight nor slow down my heart since you came onto our shores. Your beauty has bewitched my very soul and I'm saddened as every day passes for I have to suffer...not only have I lost the throne, but the most beautiful woman that has ever walked the earth.“ Stepping closer to her, Ethan had nearly forced her off the cliff. Managing to capture her in his embrace, he moved to press his lips against her, at least once. With the taste of her lips upon his, he'd die a happy man for Grayson would surely kill him.

But, as the princess found her footing, so did her palm against the prince's cheek. The slap was quick and well-aimed and it didn't hurt his face as much as it hurt his heart. He understood then that she was already in love with his brother and as she rushed off toward the castle, Ethan wished he could turn back time and do the trials again. If he got the chance, he wouldn't let the throne go as easily as he did. He was never jealous of anything his brother had in their lives, but he was jealous now.

Out of breath, the princess didn't stop for anyone. She ran as fast as she could and she couldn't help but notice just how easier it is to move in jeans she decided on that morning instead of the dresses she usually wears. Sure, the jeans aren't nearly as beautiful or glamourous or as comfy either, but they're very handy in running away from conversations you don't want to have or situations you don't wanna be in.

Huffing, she stumbles into her bedroom, vision blotchy from the running.

''Someone's out of shape.“ A female voice startles her and Y/N nearly screams...She would if she had any strength to spend her breath on anything other than breathing at that moment.

''I'm Cameron, Grayson and Ethan's sister. I believe it's long overdue that we meet.“ Cameron smiles as Y/N walks closer to the sofa she sat on, stifling laughter for the poor girl looked winded and her cheeks had darkened to a crimson shade.

''I finally understand why my brothers act like besotted fools around you. I mean...you do have some cute jeans (genes)“, Cameron adds slyly, enjoying the confused look on Y/N's face way too much.

''Uh, thanks. My lady got these for me and I wasn't quite sure.“ Y/N ran a hand through her hair, deciding sitting with Cameron might not be a bad idea.

''Oh, I didn't mean your jeans! I meant your genes because those chromosomes combined beautifully.“ Cameron explained and it only made the blush on Y/N's cheeks grow. Out of all the things she expected would happen once she met someone other than Ethan in this family, to be flirted with so shamelessly was not one of them. But then again, she felt very flattered.

''Thank you.“ Y/N smiled, tilting her head to the left so slightly, pushing her hair back so effortlessly that Cameron could finally enjoy her elegance as well.

''You know...I kind of expected you to be a total bitch to me.“ Cameron chuckled, earning herself a raised eyebrow from the princess.

''Why is that? After all, you are my equal. Had Astros been as 'modern' as it claims, you'd be the Queen now and I might be married to you.“ Cameron knew the girl wasn't joking with her explanation and while the thought was certainly tempting, Cameron knew she needed to stir the princess in the right direction concerning her brother and their issues.

''You do realize you got the best Dolan. No one will love you like Grayson does, that's a promise. He's the good-hearted one. The one you can trust with your life...the kind of a man you can show bloody hands to and he'd bury the body to protect you. Y/N, he's out of his mind right now, looking for you in every corner of the city and all because he's scared they would kill you. And that would kill him.“ Cameron's words bring forth some guilt in Y/N's heart, mostly because she really didn't want to worry him.

At first, she had to take a walk to clear her head, but then she realized she needed to see a doctor about the baby and she couldn't just come out and tell everyone of her condition. So, with Lady Mareen's help, she found commoner clothes and went undetected. Not only did she know her child is healthy and alive, but she got some helpful pointers about diet, vitamins and everything she might need until the next month.

But before she can confide in Cameron, the trembling rage of her husband storms into the room and Y/N's wall is back up and all the progress she made with Cameron is gone.

''Leave.“ He growls at Cameron who whispers in his ear. ''Patience, brother. Remember that.“

He did try to be patient, but after months of being very nice and helpful and open to letting Y/N call the shots, Grayson was tired of being made a fool before everyone. Y/N had repaid his love with nothing but indifference and he wasn't patient any longer, especially when she was playing with her safety and as such, with his sanity.

''Why the fuck would you leave without a guard? Or telling me? HUH? WHAT WAS SO IMPORTANT THAT YOU'D DISOBEY EVERY FUCKING RULE WE HAVE?!“ Grayson was screaming loud enough for the girl to tremble as if she was sent back to a distant memory she couldn't quite understand, hearing someone else screaming just as loudly, just as unforgivably.

''I...I wasn't hurt. No one even spared me a second glance. I was smart about it.“ She tried to keep her voice leveled and her wits about her, but she couldn't stop her eyes from watering and her fingers from shaking as she hooked them together to hide the telltale sign he had frightened her.

''YOU WEREN'T HURT TODAY! Y/N, for fuck's sake, you're not invincible, alright?! Your dragon blood can't save you from a bullet to the head!“

As Grayson stood towering above her, Y/N let out a shaky breath. The dread and anxiety deadened her mind and body. In her frozen state, she let out a shaky breath, closing her weary eyes. He was right and she knew it, but something about his approach had paralyzed her. She never felt as needed as she did with him, but in this particular moment she was barely holding on the idea and to all she wanted to discuss with him. She was terrified of him and of what he might do to her.

Instead of opening her eyes, she felt to her knees and curled up. Her arms hugged her stomach as if to shield the baby from his attack. She sobbed quietly as she waited for the pain to come, the pain she remembered being afflicted by others but never him.

‘’Y/N, love, what is it?” Grayson had fallen to the ground just as quickly, his arms surrounding her but not in order to harm her but to give her comfort, to give her the safety she forgot he promised her.

‘’Hit me anywhere but my belly. I’ll take everything, just don’t touch my belly.” She sobbed, unable to look at him and that’s when it finally hit him. She was scared he’d hit her…or worse, that he’d harm their baby. And even worse, Grayson realized she was used to being beaten by men and she thought he might do it to her as well.

‘’Y/N, baby, look at me.” Grayson cooed, his eyes overflowing with tears as his voice broke. It was an overwhelming feeling of absolute heartbreak for this woman he had come to love and cherish, but still struggled to understand fully and it’s because he was missing puzzle pieces he didn’t even know existed until today. And while everything she says is relevant, he realized he’d have to think about why it’s so significant to her…he’d have to watch her actions, her words and he’d have to find out about her past to truly know her complex soul. She is the strongest woman he’s ever met, yet she crumbled before his eyes and he was crumbling with her.

Once she looked at him, her teary eyes reluctantly settled on his as his own tears formed new paths down his cheeks.

‘’Y/N, I will never, ever hit you. I was just angry you put yourself at such a risk and because…Because if something happened to you, I’d never forgive myself. I’d lose my mind.” Grayson’s soft confession had scared her just as much as the possibility of him hitting her, but she just nodded, mute to her own feelings.

‘’I know you can’t say it back just yet, but I do love you. Wholeheartedly. And I know you think I’m none the wiser, but I know of the little dragon we’ll have too and I love him or her just as much. I will protect you no matter what happens, alright?” Grayson forced a smile for her own benefit but as he smiled, she had gotten a glimpse of a terrible future she would have to endure.

“Please, love. Please stay with me!” Y/N sobbed over Grayson as he struggled to draw in a breath, just one more breath of life that he’d use to tell her how much he loves her. Just long enough for her sorrow to be lessened.

“I need you. Grayson, our son needs you! If you die, we’ll be doomed. Please, stay. You promised to protect me…to protect us. We…We have so many plans, remember? So many plans! I need you here!”

Grayson smiles as widely as he can, enough to hide just how much pain he’s in or how much it hurts to know he’s broken all his promises. But he believes he’s protected them even now, even as he fades fast. “I…I-love...”

Opening her eyes wide as she draws in a sharp breath, Y/N swallows thickly.

“No one can protect me. You can’t even protect yourself.” Sniffling, Y/N wipes her tears away as her eyes fall back on the man she desperately wants to save but all she gets are glimpses and dreams of different ways she loses him. No matter what way it is, they all end with his death and her crying over his coffin.

“I’d give my life to protect you. If my life is the price I need to pay to save you two, I’d pay it gladly.” Grayson assures her and that’s exactly the reason why she’s so tormented. He’d die for her, yet he’d refuse to sign the crown matrimonial.

“What about crown matrimonial, huh? If you die, our child and I will likely be executed. We’d die, Grayson and the only thing that can protect us isn’t you, but your signature on a piece of paper.” Y/N chuckled dryly once he seemed to be silent for hours while it was likely only a few minutes.

“I don’t plan on dying anytime soon, Y/N. And if I do, Ethan would protect you.” Grayson frowns deeply, biting his lower lip in thought.

“You mean the same man who tried to force a kiss on me today? Because I don’t think he’d enjoy being a babysitter for the throne he’d never get to keep! If he got the feel of it, he’d never let it go and you know it just as well as I do.” Y/N states. Licking her lips, she knows she’s caught him off guard with not only the revelation of his brother’s advancements but of his quest for power as well. Grayson knew Ethan always wanted to be the king and he would have let him have the crown before he saw what comes with it. He didn’t want to believe the worst of his brother, but Y/N’s worst did cast a shadow of doubt and it wouldn’t go away anytime soon.

“I’ll deal with my brother, but know I won’t be signing that paper. Not when your goal was always to kill me and take the throne yourself.” Grayson stands abruptly, throwing her plan to her face to cover up his own guilt and insecurities.

“How long have you known?” She barely speaks, her throat closing up as if there’s not enough air for her to breathe.

“Since the first night. I’ve shared your bed ever since, addicted to you and the hope you may care for me as much I care for you. But I see I was wrong. You don’t love me and you never will. If you did, you wouldn’t use our child to manipulate me into signing the crown matrimonial and you wouldn’t try to push a wedge between my brother and I. You’ve broken my belief in love, so congratulations. You’ve won there, but I’m no longer willing to play the puppet in your show.”

Swallowing thickly, Grayson turns to leave. He’s ready to leave, to go and leave her behind, so hollow and yet filled with sorrow to the brim. She’s truly beaten him in all heart matters that Grayson can hardly believe it.

“Where are you going?” She manages to say despite tears welling up in her eyes. She wasn’t using their child as a pawn in this game of love and thrones, because she knew his future would be short and violent and it was hard enough to know she’d lose him but to lose her own child? That would kill her. It was of no use to tell herself she didn’t love him any longer, but she couldn’t tell him…not now. Had she told him last night, they would be wrapped around each other now, lost in their well-rehearsed dance of sensual touch and pleasure, but she didn’t. Anything she says now wouldn’t have meaning to him for he’d assume she’s lying.

She wanted to scream for him to stay as he gripped the doorknob, to beg and demean herself if it meant he’d remain in their bed and hold her close. She’d do anything, but it would be of no use.

“My room.” He responded coldly, his back turned on her, unaware just how badly she’s breaking.

“But…this is your room. Our room. Grayson…” She wanted to say the words, to let him know she loves him just as much if not more than he could ever love her. After all, she was willing to forget all her plans and forgive all his sins, just for him to look at her as softly and lovingly as he used to.

Did he even love her anymore, she wondered. Can someone stop loving you overnight? Can you truly stop loving someone as her mother and father had stopped loving each other? Would that be her story as well? Is it because she didn’t share the news of the baby before? Or because she didn’t tell him how she feels too? Or is it because he finally saw through her and decided he was wrong in loving her in the first place?

She wished she realized where her heart lies sooner. For every moment they spent apart, Y/N had found her mind wandering to Grayson and what he might be doing. She realized she was thinking only of him and she wondered how long he was on her mind. Then it occurred to her, he was there from day one.

“I suggest you get a good night of sleep, princess. You’re supposed to rest more.” Grayson left the room straight after, her sobbing sounding before he even closed the door behind him. Hearing her cry nearly pulled him back in but Grayson knew it would be of no use. If she didn’t love him by now, he had clearly failed and he needed to be a king now, not the man who had fallen for a woman who had no intention of letting him love her.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~           ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~  

He barely came within arm’s reach when Y/N noticed someone else at the gates, her mind and body finally giving out and letting the shock overwhelm her. Eyes rolling back in her skull, body going limp in Ethan’s arms, Y/N fell into darkness she was lost in.

“Y/N!” Ethan screamed in horror, holding her tightly as Grayson practically growled.

“What now, huh? Faking it so she can figure out some excuse to save you both from me?!” Grayson turned around, rubbing his chin in frustration as Ethan realized what’s happening. Not only was Grayson alive, but he had concocted some ridiculous theory about how he nearly lost his life.

“Brooks?!” Ethan didn’t need to look to know the knight was near, already rushing to carry the young queen back to her bed. The moment Brooks walked into the castle, Ethan unleashed his own anger toward the king, grabbing him by the shoulder to force Grayson to look him in the eye.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing? Huh?! You don’t deserve that woman, brother. She is too good for you!” Ethan spat, pushing Grayson back to hopefully stop himself from punching him. He was ecstatic his brother was alive, but he was done being quiet.

“Me? I mean, it makes sense. I wish I saw it all earlier. Should have known you two would join forces to have me killed! Was there ever a Gandria, Ethan? Because you just happened to disappear to Dracovia and then have me come because she was apparently giving birth to my son?! A month early?!” Grayson paused to shake his head, convinced it was all just a wicked plan of his dragon wife – seduce his power-hungry brother and fake a delivery? She still looked very pregnant to him. And not only that, but they had him declared dead within ten days and would have buried him without a body? She probably already knew he left her the kingdom from before…for Grayson, it was all a ploy. She never loved him – he never said it and he decided to believe what he was given…and in his mind, he was given nothing.

“You really want the throne so badly, E.? My wicked dragon wife? Because if you’re willing to kill me for it, you can have it all. Take it, but you’ll never see me again!” Grayson spat, barely holding himself back from calling his guards and taking his brother prisoner.

“Follow me,” Ethan growled out, pushing Grayson toward the castle. There was no use in talking to him, but he’ll try before he can also show his brother he’s an idiot.

“You think we did this? That the woman you saw today was celebrating your death? Like she didn’t kill hundreds of people in her grief and burned a fucking island?” Ethan ranted, his throat tight and his voice low as he vibrated in the anger that consumed him. Grayson held onto his every word, shaken by the revelations of what she had done in his name.

“The same woman who wept for you, whose heart broke?! Who mobilized all her men to find you? Who had sharks killed to make sure you weren’t a meal?!” Ethan chuckled lowly, gritting his teeth as he stopped in front of the door that separated them from Y/N – the door to the room Grayson and Y/N shared in their marriage.

“You think the delivery story was a lie?” Ethan chuckled dryly once more, staring intently at a stone-faced Grayson, no emotion passing his features. Until they heard a tiny, yet loud wail like cry that stopped as quickly as it began and Grayson’s eyes widened.

“It wasn’t a lie.” Ethan snapped as he gripped Grayson’s shirt and pulled him closer in the most violent manner. 

“That woman nearly died giving birth to your son that night. She called your name in delirium the entire time and when morning came and she opened her eyes, she got the news of your death and she refused to accept it. She didn’t do it because it’s her duty as a wife, she did it because she loves you and you need to shut up about the theories that aren’t true and focus on giving her a loving home she never had.” Letting go, Ethan straightened Grayson’s shirt and forced a smile for he could tell Grayson was coming back to his senses. It was evident Grayson went through the ringer considering the long cut on his right cheek that reached from his eye to his jaw, but Ethan knew a friendly approach wouldn’t be of use in this case.

“I’m willing to forget this ever happened and she doesn’t have to know you suspected her, but you have to stop expecting the worst of her…and of me.”

Nodding, Grayson opened his mouth to apologize, but Ethan interjected. “It’s fine. Just go in and meet your kid because he’s pretty fucking adorable. And make sure to be gentle with her…she went through hell her whole life while you only had days of it.”

Opening the door, Grayson held his breath. He wondered how the hell did he let himself think she would kill him when she never did when she had much better opportunities. In the moments between realizing he’d crash into the ocean and drowning in the water, Grayson only thought of her – the beautiful, fiery eyes that changed emotion as often as wind changed direction, the incredible ability to argue on any topic with such passion that he would goat her to go on just to enjoy the way her entire body engaged as she spoke, or the way she’d grip her thighs tighter and her hands would press deeper into his back and hips to pull him closer to her when they would make love. She was all he could think of and in the moment when he could no longer hold his breath, he had prayed she forgives him for giving up on her, on them.

How did he go from such love to thinking the worst of her?

“She’s asleep. She came to for a few seconds, but she was out like a light right after she whispered your name.” Brooks spoke, his mistrust toward Grayson and loyalty to Y/N evident immediately. The blue eyes that usually had a melancholy tone to them now bore a fire that matched Y/N’s and Grayson nearly slipped up and asked the man of his dragon patron only to remember how Y/N told him their patrons are usually a secret, a very intimate detail to be shared.

Yet she shared hers with him.

“Alright. You can go. She’s my wife and I plan on protecting her myself if need be.” Grayson knew it was unnecessary but he still felt the need to remind this overprotective knight that Y/N was indeed his and that wasn’t changing anytime soon. Perhaps it’s silly jealousy, maybe the feeling of inadequacy or the possessiveness inside, but Grayson wanted it known.

“I’ll remain close by,” Brooks responded before dragging himself out of the room. He wanted to stay and care for his friend, for his love, for his queen, but Grayson was right – he was her husband and Brooks knew she loved him. He wouldn’t stand in their way.

Sighing, Grayson looked to the ashen beauty on the bed, back to where she belongs – in their bed, by his side. But no matter how every atom in his body wanted him to lay beside her and tuck his face in the crook of her neck, the small sound made from a crib to his left had taken all his attention. Guided by his heart, Grayson walked toward his son, looking down on the sleeping child with such glee that his eyes watered immediately. He couldn’t stop shaking as he watched the little one smack his lips before sticking out his tongue ever so slightly, all with his eyes still closed.

“I named him Bailey.” Y/N’s weak voice startled him, turning back to face her without hiding the tears that flowed. Not wanting to upset the baby and make him cry, Grayson decided to talk to Y/N first and sort everything out. He missed her so much for so long that seeing her felt unreal. But he welcomed the feeling nonetheless.

“You always did love that name.” He managed a smile before he laid beside her.

“I can’t believe I missed my firstborn being brought into this world.”

“It’s okay. You weren’t exactly on vacation.” She turned on her side, her shaky hand momentarily suspended in air, just above his chest in uncertainty. It isn’t until he places a hand over hers that she lets it fall to his chest, feeling his heart beating.

“You’re really alive.” She croaked, looking at their hands placed over his chest and her eyelids flutter to keep tears away.

“And we’re really parents, huh?” Grayson smiled before bringing her hand to his lips, leaving a tender kiss on her palm.

“Yeah.” She whispered. “You better not miss our second child being born. That I won’t forgive so lightly.” She teased.

“Oh? Second?” Grayson couldn’t help but chuckle, content she’s thinking of a future with him.

Daring to look up at him, she licked her lips. “How did you manage to survive this? They said it was hopeless.”

Grayson watched her with the softest smile he could muster, noticing how in each and every line of her face there was emotion and it was there for him. She had lost the dull, empty look in her eyes and she wasn’t cold with him anymore. She was warm, very caring, very close.

“I had promised you I would always come home to you and bother you for years to come and I didn’t plan on becoming a liar so early in our marriage.” Grayson teased as he reminded her of the promise given only hours before he had imprisoned her to conquer Dracovia in her name. But he had much more to tell her and he knew she wouldn’t be as forgiving or as calm when he does.

“And earned yourself a scar there.” Tracing the cut on his right cheek, Y/N chuckled softly as he bowed his head shyly, pecking her forearm swiftly. “I think it’s sexy.” She stated, pushing herself closer to him.

“But I had help.” Grayson drew in a deep breath, looking for some strength to tell her what he had to. Unfortunately, other people had different plans as the door opened and the helping hand decided to be introduced to his wife.

“My darling dragon.”

Y/N sat up so quickly that her head hurt and her vision blurred, but she finally realized that the person she saw at the gates wasn’t a hallucination as she believed. This person was very real and Y/N connected the dots rather quickly.

“Mom?” Grayson thought she’d run into her mother’s arms and cry happy tears as she did for his return but she didn’t. Her eyes narrowed and her voice turned venomous. “How…how could you?!” She shouted, scaring Bailey into a scream-like cry. Grayson wanted to rush to his son, to hold him and offer him some solace, but Y/N needed him immeasurably more.

Before the woman has a chance to speak, Y/N had already passed her judgment. Struggling to stand, she grips the bed tightly and pulls herself up.

“I thank you for saving my husband, but I want you gone. And don’t even think of going to Dracovia.” Y/N’s eyes have never been as cold as they were when they looked at the woman she called her mother.

“Please. I…I had to do it! He would have killed me anyway. I was lucky our men were loyal to me.” The woman insisted but Y/N wouldn’t hear it.

“You left me with that monster! You left me with a man who had manipulated me every step of my life! He had killed me day in and day out! He is why I associate love with pain! I never knew what love is until Grayson! And you allowed that! You were the queen! You say the army was loyal to you?! Then why didn’t you kill him or imprison him if murder was too much to stomach?!” Y/N heaved, struggling to stand, to breathe, to even keep her eyes open. There was so much pain, so many unsaid things left inside her that wanted out that she was crumbling. Grayson held onto her, his mind exploding as his baby was screaming along with his wife – his two greatest loves both needing him and he was but a single man.

“Dracovia is mine. You’re not welcome there or anywhere near me. You once said I should never give up my crown for anyone and I won’t. Not for you.” Y/N managed to say before nodding to Brooks who was standing just behind the former queen. He was quick in removing her from the room and Y/N finally felt like she could breathe again.

“Let me help you.” Grayson mussed as he tried moving her to the bed, his own strength affected by the events of the past ten days.

“Don’t. Bailey needs help more.” She spoke firmly and calmly, but Grayson recognized the brass tone. She was upset and angry and frustrated, her emotions in shambles as her memories haunted her again.

Grayson knew it would be a losing battle to fight her on this, watching her grab onto the bed frame before letting her go and turning to get the baby. He had only ever held a baby once, but he remembered how his mother taught him – support the head and all would be good. He also made a mental note to go see his mother after for she too had suffered in his absence. She had been there for him like no one was ever there for Y/N and he had a lot of gratitude to express.

Bailey settled down rather quickly in his father’s arms, simply needing a sense of safety and a calm atmosphere. It’s as if he could feel his mother was battling her own demons but as she stilled and her tears stopped, so did his and Grayson knew it wasn’t over, but he could draw a full breath without thinking about his inhaler.

Putting the infant back in the crib, Grayson tucked him in and smiled to himself, thinking ‘We really made a beautiful baby’ before turning to his distraught wife.

“Don’t defend her…She left her child with an abusive man and she never looked back. Maybe I’d understand if I didn’t have my own little potato, but I do and I could never leave my child in such a toxic environment.” Y/N glanced at Grayson quizzically, certain he has something to say as he always does, but she just found him to be confused. “What?”

“Potato?” Grayson chuckled as he remembered how she told him she never even saw a baby in her life, only in pictures and they always reminded her of potatoes. He couldn’t wait to see her maternal instincts and love, because even though she never had a model parent or any siblings, she already acted like a good mother.

Laughing through it all, she pushed his shoulder playfully and leaned into him with an airy “Shut up” aimed at him. He thought about pointing out how she’s starting to talk more like an Astrovian, but decided against it as he put an arm around her and ran his hand up and down her shoulder.

“Look, love. You don’t have to forgive her or even speak to her if you don’t want to, but she did save my life. The submarine she was in with one of the navy armies was close by and if she didn’t order them to check what happened, I’d have drowned. In fact, I was dead. They got me back and they treated my injuries from the fall and the pulmonary edema I got from swallowing all that salty water. It’s why I couldn’t come sooner. I was trying to survive to come back to you.” Grayson felt her eyes on him as he spoke, looking down on her to catch that beautiful gaze of hers that could rob any man of his sanity.

“And I am grateful. It’s the only reason why I didn’t have her executed.” Y/N reasoned and Grayson stiffened visibly. She felt him tense up and the way he looked at her changed as well.

“Would you really do that?” He asked in disbelief, genuinely worried about what happened to his soft-hearted dragon bride. When they met she talked about unimaginable things in moments she thought to be alone, but she talked of horrors publically now.

“You have no idea what I’d do to protect my family. And I don’t trust a mother who abandons her child to save herself. Maybe one day I’ll be able to be civil with her, but I can’t even look at her now. Grayson please don’t make me.” Her eyes weren’t hard as one would expect. Her words, her thoughts hurt her and despite the unmistakably dark part of her soul, Grayson embraced her again and pressed a kiss to her forehead before letting her go. He had to ask his savior to leave, but he’d make sure the woman was secure for life concerning money. It’s the least he could do.

“Wait, please.” Y/N caught him by the wrist, curling her fingers around it. She couldn’t watch him walk away from her, not when she knew what she said shook him deeply. He wasn’t like her and he definitely would never understand that part of her – the darkness her father created couldn’t be cleared no matter how long she spent away from the man. But if she ever lost Grayson to the fiery blood that controls her, she’d be lost too.

“You must allow me to tell you how wholeheartedly I admire and love you. And if you wish for me to leave, I will do so, but I cannot lie to either of us anymore. Because I do love you. You’re why I know what love is.”

Within moments, Y/N found her lips molded to Grayson’s, stealing her breath away. He drew her fully against him and in her wonder, Y/N parted her lips on instinct. Her senses overflowed with Grayson – his hands, the touch of his lips, his tongue, his hardened length brushing her lower abdomen and his masculine scent.

Groaning, Grayson had to break the kiss. Parting, breathless, he whispered an ‘I love you’ against her lips as Y/N tried to get a grip on reality for her mind was drunk on Grayson and for a moment she thought about urging him to continue only to remember she wasn’t in any state to make love to him for a month longer.

“Really can’t wait. This month will drive me insane.” She complained, palming him through his pants, but Grayson couldn’t handle her touch when they couldn’t finish what she started. Grabbing her wrist, he growls with eyes closed and forehead resting on hers.

“We’re going to break the bed when they give us the green light, but I don’t want to hurt you. Love, I’ll wait, but for all that you hold sacred, never put your hand on my dick again if we can’t go the distance because I’ve been practically celibate and I’m not sure I’ll be able to control myself and I never want to lose control with you.”

Y/N swallowed thickly, wondering what the hell her experience would be with Grayson if he lost control because she never realized he was holding back with her. She wanted to know exactly what that entailed but she was sensible enough to wait a while longer. Even if it was insanely hard to keep her hands off him.

“Go.” She tapped his cheek and he opened his eyes eagerly, wanting to see her flushed cheeks again. Her cheeks darkening was possibly his favorite thing about her – it’s the first thing he noticed about her whenever he’d come close. It’s how he knew she was attracted to him despite her claims.

“I’ll come back. I promise.” He pressed a feathery kiss to her lips before running off, adjuting his pants in the process and she couldn’t help but chuckle, whispering to herself, “I believe you.”

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~           ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~  

With each contraction came a pain that dominated her entire being. In those moments, for those seconds that stretched into infinity, there was nothing else. Despite it all, she didn’t make much noise, not a single scream passed her lips as she tried to focus on breathing, on staying alive. The awareness she had was only of Ethan’s hand in hers, and when they did talk, touch to gain her attention, she found it so hard.

She couldn’t open her eyes for long, her ears were ringing and she was certain her soul was parting with her body. When she did manage to blink her eyes open, she’d always look to her left – to where Ethan sat beside her. She looked at Ethan and at times, Y/N swore she saw Grayson.

She didn’t even know she was asking for him all along. They told her about it later. They said she called his name out over and over again, like a prayer, like he was her saving grace. She was calling for him, completely unaware he was fighting for his life…and losing.

Whenever they talked about wars and battles, Grayson seemed like a proficient warrior, a man who had great skill and strategy – he seemed invincible.

“Grayson, stop. I’m being serious. If there’s ever a war, I don’t want you on the front lines.” Y/N furrowed her eyebrows and her forehead wrinkled with worry Grayson couldn’t be sure was true. He could never be sure with her, but he wanted to believe she grew to care for him.

“If it were you, Dracovia…Would you stay behind and let your men die on the battlefield?” Grayson rose an eyebrow, aware of her answer before he even asked. She was just as much of a warrior as he is, perhaps even braver than he can ever be. She was the epitome of a brave woman with a touch of wicked. With such beauty to accompany a sharp tongue and even a sharper mind, Grayson knew he was in for a long life of arguing, but every argument would end up right where he is now – in bed with her head on his chest and her pursed lips swollen from his feverish kisses.

“You’re right.” She uttered, nearly ill with having to admit she’s wrong about something. But yes, she was aware she had no right to hold him back from ruling his kingdom the way he wanted. If there was ever a war, she’d want to be with her armies and no one would stop her.

Smiling, Grayson leaned in and pecked her nose lightly, getting a giggle in return.

“Don’t worry my dragon bride, I am quick, I am brave and I am lucky. I’m as lucky in battle as I am in love. I will win and come back to bother you for many years to come.” She couldn’t help but melt at his words, aware he’s wormed his way to her heart but she wasn’t willing to let him know yet. They had this night, this first night after she thought he’d have left her, cast her aside for asking the crown matrimonial.

But he didn’t.

And he wasn’t as invincible as they thought. She always worried he might be too cocky for his own good and it had proven to be true. The helicopter was found two days in, halfway to Dracovia – to her. His body has yet to be recovered although a few sharks they’ve hunted had human flesh in their stomachs…DNK came back as human but it was far too damaged to be properly analyzed.

And there really isn’t some cosmic, instinctual feeling inside you that warns you of such tragedy. She didn’t feel the moment he was in danger nor the moment he passed. In fact, she didn’t feel anything at all. He was just gone and she couldn’t change it, but she could avenge him.

“No full remains. Only the contents of three different sharks we’ve caught…I don’t want to believe it either, but from the black box, we know he was left in the helicopter alone and considering the damn thing was tampered with from what he said…we heard him crash.” Ethan sighed, watching Y/N visibly tense under his unrelenting gaze. He didn’t leave her side since it happened, only when it was time to feed the baby as per request. It was either him or Brooks beside her, especially when she had found out the full truth.

“I’m sorry, but can the prince please accompany me?” Lady Mareen came the next morning after the childbirth was done with and both mother and child were safe. The queen lost a lot of blood and needed a few transfusions, but she was stable and so was her son – the future king of Dracovia and Astros.

“Why?” Y/N questioned before Ethan had a chance to move or speak, her impatience clear in her sharp tone and narrowed eyes, very well prepared to extort some answers if necessary and Mareen knew it. She grew up with the queen…she was there when she was born, of course she knew that her temper is bad and her intolerance for secrets was worse.

“Because prince Ethan instructed me to call king Grayson to come here last night and since he didn’t make it here, I’ve called Astros and they told us the king left immediately the past night. However, the king never arrived and we sent a search party for him that’s just returned with terrible news.” Mareen spoke to her queen, hoping the young woman can take this shock, this incredible pain her husband’s death was bound to cause. Mareen wasn’t blind, she knew the young queen loved her husband despite her claims that she bore no love for him.

“Was it an accident?” Y/N gulped, waiting for an answer she expected.

“We’ve already examined the black box and from what we heard it wasn’t an accident. He mentioned Gandria as well as…his eternal regret about not being by your side…and about his love for you. Those were his last words.”

Y/N remembered when Ethan told her the full truth of Gandria and the real reason why Grayson thought she’d be safer in Dracovia and how he knew she’d fight him on it if he told her the truth. And he was right…she never would have left him had he told her any of it.

“She did what?!” Ethan whisper shouted, his eyes nearly bulging out his head. What he heard was enough to scare anyone, even Brooks.

“She sent her army to the island and they searched for Grayson high and low. She thought he might be alive and held captive, but when they didn’t find any sign of him and when they didn’t get anything by torture, she had them slaughtered in the vilest way possible…she had them burned alive before burning the entire island as well.” Brooks whispered as well, not wanting Y/N to hear them as they met up right before her room – the room she and Grayson shared in Astros.

The queen insisted to be moved to Astros, no one understood why. No one knew she felt closer to him in his kingdom where they shared so many good memories, so much love. No one knew she wanted to come to him after giving birth and tell him just how much she loves him and how she’d do whatever is necessary to mend their relationship. She was ready to step on her pride and honor and give him all the power in the relationship.

She didn’t have a chance to do so and as her grief consumed her, her temper had taken over and she was no longer just a little wicked as Grayson called her – she had become lost in the darkness.

“I never thought she was capable of that.” Ethan lowered his voice, rubbing his chin in thought as he stared at the ground in worry. The woman he knew before this tragedy was soft-hearted despite her previously hatched plans. She was good, sweet, kind, but now? He didn’t recognize her and he didn’t know what to do to stop her if she goes mad and tries to do the same to Astros. Sure, the men and women she had killed were evil, but if she would to kill them, why did she do it in the slowest, worst possible way?

Brooks nodded, licking his bottom lip before catching it between his pearly whites. He didn’t know what to do to help his love, the woman he had served and will serve till his death. He wasn’t entirely surprised she had done this deed, but he couldn’t help but wonder what would become of her when the grief lets her feel the horror of her deeds.

“They shot her husband out the sky and she burned an island for it. It’s the dragon’s way to grieve - with fire and blood.”

Now she sat in their old room alone, lonelier than ever. She sat on the couch he had gifted her, feeling his lingering scent as if he had just left the room after breakfast. Their child slept safely tucked away in his crib, barely sleeping as if he too finally felt the grief of his father’s death.

‘He’ll never know his father’, she realized as tears welled up in her eyes. She always imagined Grayson as the kind of a man who wanted a big family with lots of little versions of them running around and in time, she caught herself wanting the same – perhaps not on the same scale, but she wanted to have more of his kids as time passed and their relationship was more solid and less filled with evil plans and secrets on both sides.

She always knew Grayson wouldn’t live to see his son become a king, a curse all kings share. They can never know what kind of a king their son would be, but she never thought her child would be crowned king in his tenth day on this earth.

“Y/N.” Brooks walked into the room, a little braver, a little more capable of looking at her directly than Ethan. If anyone could understand her wrath and behavior, it was him. He too was a dragon after all.

“You know I performed the ritual for my son already?” She spoke absentmindedly, running her knuckles gently across her son’s cheek, seemingly lost in thought but she just needed to talk to someone and the people she wanted to talk to were all dead, gone with the wind.

“He got a black dragon as his patron…he’s a dragon even though Grayson wasn’t. And we both know a black dragon means incredible beauty and a courageous heart.” Her soft lips curled at the corners, putting on a meek smile on her face, the best she could do. She knew only one person with a black dragon as a patron and he was stood in the room with her.

“He’s a black dragon, yet he’s nameless.” She finally looks up at Brooks.

“Perhaps some traditional Dracovian names? Maybe something to honor his father?” Brooks tilts his head to the left slowly, a lone curl falling in his eye as she shakes her head.

The day after they proclaimed him dead and decided to bury the unidentifiable pieces of flesh found in shark guts, they said, "He was a good king", as if they were glad to be remembering him, that they took some comfort in it. Each of them had stood by, aware of the conspiracy, knowing it would happen and no one did anything about it. In her mind, it’s as bad as watching him be killed, then acting as if it were a noble sacrifice for their sake, that by loving his memory the mourning became a wholesome and wonderful thing. They were cowards; none of them willing to see the difference between honorable self-sacrifice and murder. Guilty men will do that; lock the truth in a cage and warp love into something strange and awful. Loving him meant Y/N would have traded places in a heartbeat, fought until they either both lived or died. And so, for her, the mourning, the grief, wasn't good at all, it was only the start of the longest, darkest night there ever was.

“I wanted him to name him. I…I wanted him to have the honor, but now…” Trailing off, she turned away swiftly to hide the tears she couldn’t keep down no matter how hard she tried. She couldn’t keep them down ever since she saw the clothes she was given for the funeral – the same clothes she saw herself wear in the vision – dark as her heart, but Grayson was never darkness. He was light and he was sunshine and she wanted to wear green, his favorite color, however, she couldn’t ignore Astros and their tradition of wearing black.

But there was no body and she wanted to believe more than anyone that her husband found a way to some shore they might have missed. She wanted to believe her Grayson was just as invincible as he said he is, that he was finding his way home now.

Despite her wishes, Y/N was also a realist. She was aware chances for that ever happening were slim at best, if not entirely non-existent. Today, she’ll bury the leftover pieces of the man she loved so much she didn’t know how to breathe without, but she’ll have to learn. She’ll have to learn to live with the regret of never telling him how much she loved him, for always doing everything the hard way instead of just trusting him. She has much to regret, much to be bitter and angry about, but all those emotions have to be put on hold today. Today she is his widowed queen, even if she was never officially a ruling queen, she was his queen nonetheless.

“Bailey.” She whispered, more to herself than anyone else. She had felt it to be right, fitting for her son to carry his father’s middle name, the same one he had hated but she loved. The only thing she told him she loved.

“Grayson Bailey Dolan.” Y/N whispered as she pressed a tender kiss to Grayson’s jaw, smiling right after for her turned his face with the most perplexed look on his face that she couldn’t help herself.

“My mom wanted me to be a girl. She had three name ideas and those were: Ethan, Grant, Grayson and well…I ended up with a unisex middle name. Never really liked it.” He explained and she hummed in response.

“I quite like it. It fits you well. I prefer it to Grayson.” Y/N smirked when his eyes grew in surprise.

“You really like it?” He exclaimed, sure she’s just messing with him, but it wasn’t on her agenda for the evening.

“Like it? I love it.”

“I believe it to be a beautiful name.” A female voice interrupted her, not really scaring her, rather simply surprising her.

“Queen mother.” Y/N quickly curtsied out of respect for she had never met Grayson’s mother before and despite her being a queen herself, she wanted to show the woman proper respect.

“Never bow to anyone without a crown dear.” Lisa helped her straighten up, her body still hurting from the delivery. She was barely in any shape to be out of bed, let alone attend her husband’s funeral. But Y/N is a stubborn woman, that much everyone knew. She would be there to say goodbye to him.

“You had a crown once too.” Y/N tried to smile, failing miserably as the corners of her lips curved downwards into a deep frown she couldn’t shake. Brooks took it as a sign to let the women speak, but he didn’t leave the room. He was still too worried about her.

“Ah, yes. I was once in love with my husband, lived in a big castle similar to this one and I thought I would die when he was gone. It’s not just your husband that you lose, but their respect, your importance. The people take it all from you and you’re soon replaced by a beautiful young woman they would worship until she meets the same fate.” Lisa smiled softly as she recognized the tears in Y/N’s eyes, encouraging her.

“If you want to cry, you should. No one would see you as anything less if you show you’ve loved my son. He surely loved you.” Lisa turned to her grandson, her gentle eyes soften at the sleeping baby as if she was seeing Grayson again.

“He’s always with you – in your heart, in him. It’s impossible to erase such love. I can see your anger, but if you let it consume you, it would tarnish his memory. Be the woman he fell in love with.”

‘But he fell in love with me as I am, temper and wicked plans and horrible notions of what love is.’ Y/N thought. Grayson knew who she was from their first wedding night and he loved her regardless, flaws and all. But she didn’t want to say it out loud. Instead, she turned to Brooks and gestured for him to come closer.

He offered his forearm for her to hold onto as they walked out of the room, leaving the baby with lady Mareen. Lisa followed, after all she was to be the first in the carriage with Ethan as the ruling family. Ethan would surely be regent until her son turned eighteen.

Walking out the castle, she stopped in her tracks as she saw the procession was ready, just waiting for her. She couldn’t see what the coffin was made of, but she knew it didn’t matter as the Astrovian flag covered it entirely. It was put in the back of a carriage instead of a car, giving him a kingly funeral of the olden times.

She stepped closer, letting go of Brooks with her heart caught in her throat closer she got. It’s an empty coffin with just a few pieces of flesh, but it didn’t lessen the pain she carried. Everyone's heads were down. Maybe it was them showing respect of maybe they were too afraid to look at the grieving widow.

Y/N hated funerals. She had more of them in her short lifetime than most do and the customs were fairly familiar to her. Placing a hand on Grayson’s coffin, she had to admit that there was no point in holding onto hope. If he was alive, he’d have made it back by now. He was surely lost as they think and clinging to him will only cause her pain.

But she still kept her hand on the coffin, leaning down as her lips pressed a kiss to the flag that covered the finest wood. He was a king, they wouldn’t bury what remains of him in cheap wood.

Lifting her head, she opened her eyes and let her tears flow freely. They soaked the material, her heart constricting painfully in her chest.

“Come on. The queen always rides the carriage with the family.” Ethan tried to steer her away, but she wouldn’t be handled. Instead, she looked him straight in the eye and mustered a half-smile.

“I’m no longer the queen of Astros.” She watched the procession start, wanting to walk after, but Ethan stopped her.

“Yes, you are.” His word baffled her, but she didn’t have the strength to fight his grip on her forearm. She looked up in his intense brown eyes and waited for him to say whatever he had practiced to tell her in hope of getting her to either feel better or give into his possible marriage proposal.

But he had something else on his mind.

“I was with our lawyers today and we found his will. Grayson left you crown matrimonial about three months into your marriage. He did it before he went to quell the rebellion.” Ethan spoke clearly yet the words felt too hard for her to understand.

“He did?” She whispered, her heart aching painfully.

“Yes. He did. He loved you Y/N and I don’t think there’s a bigger testament to just how much than that piece of paper.” Ethan wanted to hold her, but he feared she’d push him away again. He didn’t want her to think he’s using his twin’s death as a way to her heart. He wasn’t. He wouldn’t.

Y/N wanted to speak, to say something but words escaped her as she realized how much he truly cared and how he had protected her even after his death, even when he couldn’t really trust her motives were pure.

But before she can piece her mind back up, a chorus of screams and shocked gasps ripple through the people in the procession from just outside the castle and before they know it, Y/N and Ethan find themselves shaking, swallowing a scream as well as they felt the shock and disbelief be replaced with emotions they couldn’t quite understand for the scene before them should be impossible – a mere dream, but it wasn’t.

In the middle of the day, on a black stallion, their fallen king rode into the castle.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~           ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~  

A/N -  any thoughts or theories? Any favorite lines in this one or any previous parts? Get ready for the finale because the next part is probably the last one.