The Dragon King’s Substitute Bride
Chapter 69

HERA

This is quite easily the most insane, foolhardy thing I have ever done in my very short, yet extremely eventful life.

The dragon king sits on his horse, eyes narrowed, gold rimmed with red.

He is looking at me like he is not quite sure I am entirely alright in the head and to be honest, I cannot exactly say I blame him.

I am not quite sure of it myself.

Standing there, with my arms spread out in front of the largest horse I have ever seen and my hair blowing in every direction like some witch from a child's nightmare.

One part of me, the part my mother tried and failed to teach to sit up straight and not run around the garden like some street urchin, that Hera wants to smack me upside the head and ask me if I have finally lost my marbles.

But the other Hera, the one that spent the most amazing night of her life in the arms of the man she hates, that Hera, knows I am doing the right thing.

Even if it is admittedly, quite a bit bonkers.

I feel like the entire castle is watching me, heads and faces poking out the windows and at the doors; Ryders and servants and courtesans all wondering if perhaps the human has finally snapped.

I do not care.

No one moves.

Even the wind seems to have calmed down, still...waiting.

Midas jaw works as he clenches his teeth and releases it.

I can almost see the wheels turning in his head; can see him fighting the urge to have me locked up again.

Gods above let him see reason.

But if he does not, I meant every word I had said and I very much intended to carry it out.

Never mind that I have never ridden a horse before, especially not the gigantic breed found in the dragon realm, but if he leaves me behind, I would do everything to follow him and stop him from riding straight into what I am almost certain is a trap. If the dragon king is going to die, I am the only one who is bloody hell allowed to kill him.

Midas sighs and dismounts.

Hope blossoms in my chest but just as quickly, he stumps it out.

"I can't not go Hera, surely you understand that?"

I do not but I nod anyway, the hope flickering away. "Then take me with you."

"Can you even ride?"

I see no reason to lie. "I am a fast learner."

Leaning forward to touch my forehead with his, he groans and cups my cheek in his large palm.

"Goddamit Hera..."

His whisper is rough and deep, filled with the tiredness of losing the internal battle I can see going on in his head and behind his eyes.

I place my hand on his chest, fingertips below his heartbeat. "I cannot let you ride out knowing I could have stopped you..."

My voice cracks and I blink away the tears that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere

"...I will not have your death on my conscience too."

My family's is plenty enough.

He sighs and opens his eyes, letting me go and taking a single step backwards.

"Fine. But when we get there, you do exactly as I say...no theatrics and if I say get behind me, I f*****g mean it."

I nod but I can tell he is not satisfied so I curtsy and bow my head

"Yes my Lord."

He scoffs. "Now I'm even more convinced you are going to the exact opposite."

I smile sweetly "Do you not trust me your grace?"

"Not even the slightest bit."

He moves back towards his horse and I follow him.

"You ride with me. Won't want you attempting to ride by yourself on these rocks. Given your penchants for 'accidents' you're more likely to break your neck before we even get to the foot of dragon's mount." I resist the urge to roll my eyes at his patronizing tone. "I'll be fine dragon king."

"Says the human who managed to throw herself out of a window merely moments ago."

"I fell."

"Of course you did."

His hands settle on my waist and in one smooth movement he positions me on the horse, guiding my feet into the stirrup and holding me as I attempt to mount the braying animal.

I eventually manage to sit myself.

This is not so bad.

Who knew horses were so lumpy?

Then the horse moves slightly and I almost scream.

But then a moment later he climbs up behind me, laughing and gathers the reins in one hand while using the other to wedge me against the solid hardness of his body.

I can feel exactly where every part of me, touches every part of him.

And it is a lot of places.

I blush, glad that I am not turned around to face him so he does not see my cheeks turn red.

How I can somehow manage to feel such desire for this man even in a situation like this one amazes me.

He leans in, his lips brushing the nape of my neck. "Try not to fall this time human."

I do my best to hide the shiver than travels down my spine and simply scowl in response

We set off at a brisk, yet careful pace.

Heading out the castle and down the rocky, winding path that leads around dragon's mount.

My first ride on a horse is not exactly what I had imagined it would be.

I enjoyed the outdoors and trying new, sometimes stupid things.

As a result I had expected to love riding, or at the very least be able to tolerate it but I do not.

I hate it.

I hate it so much that I tell myself here and now, that I will never do this again.

At first I was merely uncomfortable with the jostling and the rhythmic bumpy sway of the horse's canter, even as I felt every jarring step down the rocky hill.

I had assumed it would get better once we were on level ground.

But it did not.

The rhythmic sway became a steady gallop and I found myself pushing my body closer against Midas, leaning into him to keep from hyperventilating.

To think people thought horses could be ridden for sport and relaxation.

What mad man would willingly get on one of these beasts?

The wind is rushing past my face, bringing tears to my eyes and whipping my hair around in the most annoying of ways.

I want to tell him to slow down but not only would he gloat and hold that over my head for the rest of my life, it would be incredibly selfish of me.

Besides, something tells me that he would have gone even faster were it not for me.

So I swallow my fright and bury myself in the comfort of his body.

For all my talk of riding out after him, I replace myself thanking all the gods I know and a few I don't, that he did not leave me behind.

As if sensing my thoughts he lowers his head.

"How in all the realms did you intend to ride after me if you are this frightene?"

"I am perfectly fine."

Nice to see this hellish ride has not dulled my ability to be stubborn as always

I can almost feel him smirk behind me.

"In that case..."

A flick of the reins and the horse picks up speed.

Oh sweet mother of...

We are moving so fast that the changing landscape on either side of us is nothing more than a blur of green and brown, dirt and dust flying up from beneath the horse's pounding hooves. Yes definitely a mad man.

"Skies above dragon king are you trying to get us killed?"

"I am immortal remember."

I scoff. "How good and fine for you, but you are going to be immortal with broken bones if you do not slow down."

One hand lets go of the reins and snakes around my middle, pulling me closer against him.

"Relax human, I won't let you fall..." And then his voice drops, wonderful and warm and deep "...ever"

I ignore the fluttering in my belly and focus my eyes on the land ahead.

I see the Elder forest in the distance, approaching fast.

The tall, dark, mud colored trunks with their towering canopy of deep green almost black leaves, standing watch like ancient, gnarled sentinels.

I involuntarily shudder and without a word, his arm around me tightens, the muscles flexing in a way that both warms and sends chills down my spine.

"It is the shortest route I..."

I interrupt him. "Do what you must Midas. I trust you."

If he hears me I will never know.

Our journey through the thick forest is largely uneventful, save for the scurrying of squirrels and the large woodland creatures that scamper out of the way of the stampeding horses, whose mad dash sends flocks of noisy black birds fluttering as one into the sky. A dark, squeaking, frantic mass.

An omen I do not like.

We break out of the forest soon enough and ride into a vast plain of rolling emerald hills as far as the eye can see.

I look to my left and for the first time notice Leo riding beside us; the King's brave second in command.

A quick glance behind us reveals the company of Ryders that have followed their King into whatever trouble lies ahead of us.

Dressed in their armor, swords strapped to their backs, ready for war if it should come to it.

And suddenly I feel foolish, unsure.

What had I been thinking?

What did I even really see?

All these Ryders; strong, powerful weredragon soldiers and here I am.

Did I really think that I, of all people, some measly human slave girl would be the one to protect him?

I am only going to get in his way, slow him down.

And then, just like that, my heart is racing for an entirely different reason.

What if...what if that is what the dream meant?

I had followed him thinking I could stop him from playing into the hands of whatever calamity lay ahead.

But what if my presence is not what saves him?

What if I am not the cure but the sickness itself?

What if I am the trap?