The Dragon King’s Substitute Bride
Chapter 89

HERA

She is unconscious the entire time.

I keep wanting to turn around and look behind, expecting her to start struggling in her binds but nothing happens. "Did you kill her?"

"What?"

There is thread of amusement and confusion in his voice.

I twist around again, attempting to peer over his shoulder to the horse on which Hermani rides tied up behind Leo.

"Keep doing that Hera and you are going to end up throwing us both from this horse."

"She has been unconscious a god awful long time."

"I would think that is a good thing."

I bite my lip and turn around. "Yes...yes...you are right."

He laughs and pulls me closer. "You human, are much too soft"

I fold my hands across my chest suddenly offended because he is right. "I am not!"

"Yes you are. You like to hide it behind that big mouth of yours but you care too much too fast."

"I cannot...wait big mouth?"

"Very. Honest to hades I can only imagine how much trouble you have manage to talk your way into."

This time around I am the one who ends up laughing.

He nuzzles my neck and sighs into my hair.

It is the only sign that he is completely exhausted.

And the fact that he is letting me see it makes my heart full to bursting.

"Would you like me to threaten everyone in the castle when we get back so they leave you alone for the rest of the day?"

He groans. "Oh by the gods yes"

But even as he says it, we both know it is not going to happen.

There is too much at stake.

"I know who she is working with."

Midas pulls on the reins of the horse so fast that the animal almost becomes vertical and nearly trows us off.

"What did you say?"

Our sudden stop in the middle of the clearing before the landscape becomes the hard rock leading up to dragon's mount, causes all the other Ryders to stop as well, glancing at each other in confusion. Chewing nervously on my lip I correct my mistake.

"Apologies my Lord. I should have worded that better. I meant to say that she mentioned something about the person the dark elves are working with."

"Well what are you wait for? Speak up"

I narrow my eyes at him and he sighs.

"It would be of the uttermost of benefits if you would be so kind as to tell me what you know... please"

I decide to save my gloating for later.

"He' that is what she called him. And from the manner in which she spoke it would appear he is the one running the show."

"An he...who in all the realms could if be?"

"I do not know but Whoever it is, she..."

I glance back to look at the nearly lifeless body bound in ropes and magic binding cuffs.

"...They are afraid of him."

Leo's horse draws closer to us. "Is everything okay my King?"

No everything is not okay.

Three days, that is all the time we have to get an antidote or in three days Ryders and dragons all over the realm will begin to die and we have no idea who is behind it all. So no Leo, everything is most decidedly not okay.

But I do not say that or any of the other things on my mind.

Midas is silent for a long time but then he nods and grunts in response and the train picks up again.

I deliberately do not tell him all the other things she said.

That the one behind it all has now taken an interest in me, in whatever it is that I can do.

I do not tell him that whoever this 'He' is, he asked for Hermani to bring me to him.

And that now that she has failed to do so, He would probably be even more interested in capturing me.

I am not trying to be a hero.

But if I tell Midas I know he will only worry and get over protective.

And I want to stay by his side.

More than anything else.

Besides, he he has enough to concern himself about without me throwing myself into the mix.

The castle gates swing open and we ride in.

The grounds are as busy as usual.

It is evening time and the activities are beginning to wond down.

Because of how secret our movement had been, there are curious glances thrown at us from all corners of the castle grounds.

Especially at the elf who is tied up on the chief Ryder's horse like a festival goose.

Leo brings her down and she slumps in his arms, weightless.

I turn back to Midas. "Are you sure you did not accidentally kill her?"

A hand in the center of my back, steering me away.

"Relax Hera. She is still alive and still very dangerous. You would do well to stay away from her."

I nod and cast one last glance at her before we step into the castle.

He takes me inside and then stops. "Hera I have to..."

I look behind him and through the doorway to the Ryders and guards he has to give instructions to and then to the dark elves queen slumped in Leo's arms. I sigh. "I know."

He pulls me close to him and kisses my forehead. "Have I ever told you how grateful I am that you stole into my realm?"

"I did not steal into your realm, I was coerced into coming here."

"And while I am not proud of that fact. I am still glad I got you and not the princess of Averia."

I smile up at him. "As am I Midas. As am I. Shall I have the maids draw you a bath on the west tower?"

"I would like that very much your highness."

And then with those last words and a kiss on the tip of my nose, he steps back out into the courtyard. His work only just beginning.

I walk up to the door of my chambers only to be greeted by a pacing, extremely worried chamber maid "Henette what are you doing...?"

She throws her arms around me and to say I am surprised would be an understatement.

When she finally lets go, a bark of laughter escapes my lips.

"Would you look at that. I thought you said this was the height of impropriety?"

"Well...that your highness was before I knew you would be riding all over the 5th realm with the King trying to get yourself killed."

"I am fine Henette."

As always she is nervously wringing her fingers but she is no longer avoiding my gaze.

I hug her again and she hugs me back.

"Would you like a bath drawn for you your grace?"

"Yes please and have one set up for his majesty as well."

She nods and disappears down the steps as I push the doors to my chambers open.

Soon enough she returns and the bath is drawn but I tell her that I am fine and that she can leave.

I need some time to think.

I undress quietly, distracted.

So many thoughts are racing through my mind at speeds that make it difficult to grasp.

But there is one thing that sticks out beyond my musings concerning who had tried to kill me and who is actually behind all that is going on. "Who...are...you?"

That is the question Hermani had asked me and it has been playing itself in my head on an endless loop.

A single path I keep walking back and forth on as I step behind the screen and into the bath

What am I?

Why can I see things, know things before they happen?

Why did my hair change it's color the night after I was born and what in all the realms did it mean?

I lather in silence, covering my arms and body in foam and so distracted that I do not even hear the door open again.

Until I cup my breasts in my hands to wash properly and he clearly his throat very loudly.

I jump slightly, splashing water out of the tub and unto the floor turning around to see a very turned on, very obviously aroused King leaning against the edge of the bath screen. Watching me.

"Dare I ask how long you have been standing there?"

"Long enough."

"Mides...

"Long enough."

His voice is rough and thick and even though I am almost fully immersed in the water I feel like he can see everything and I replace myself turning the same scarlet as nightshade. He steps closer, towards me.

I bite my lip, already beginning to feel that familiar heat of wanting him pooling in my belly.

"I did not think you would be finished so soon."

"I am not. I just could not stop thinking about you."

I blush all the way to the tip of my toes.

He pulls on the strings of his shirt, loosening it as I look up at him.

"I had the maids draw up a bath in the west tower for you."

"I know but you are in this one so this is the one I want but please, by all means do not let me stop you.."

"How can I continue..."

"I insist."

The gentle command in the way he says the words turns my stomach to mush.

But it is the way he silently watches me...

That is what has me throwing my head back and moving my hands across my body in ways that are most decidedly not intended to clean.

I close my eyes and imagine they are his hands.

And I can hear him starting to breathe heavier, faster.

My toes curl beneath the water as my hand slide down my stomach, heading to the aching place between my thighs.

But just before I can get there I feel his hand, firm and large around my wrist. Stopping me, holding me in place.

My eyes fly open to see him squatting beside me. Eyes dark and unreasonable.

"Let me."

And then one moment I am staring up at him lips parted in anticipation and the very next I am twisting and straining against the fingers inside of me. Sliding in and out faster than I can keep up.

"Midas..."

My movements, erratic and breathless is causing water to spill everywhere. But I can hardly begin to bring myself to care. "Midas!...Midas I'm..."

But his mouth is moving against mine, kissing the moans from my tongue.

His hands are unrelenting.

Pushing me unforgivingly over the edge of blinding bliss until I am falling, gasping for air.

He breaks the kiss to stare at me, to let me catch my breath, his eyes darkening even more when they rake over my body.

"Gods above Hera, it does not matter how many times I see you like this... everytime feels like the first time all over again"

And because I do not know what to say to that, I simply drag him into the bath tub with me so he can begin the process all over again.

Hours later, I lay in his arms tired and spent, a pleasant ache throbbing gently between my legs.

"So what is it that you were you thinking about?"

I glance up at him. "What?"

"Earlier, when I came in you were lost in thought. What was on your mind?"

And I tell him.

Because telling him makes me feel better.

He is silent for a long time but then he gets up suddenly.

"Change into something warmer and grab a cloak."

I do not hesitate. Because trusting him is becoming instinctual.

I dress as quickly as I can.

"Where are we going?"

"Outside the castle gates."

"But...it is almost dark outside."

"It is fine. He is almost always awake. Besides I already almost certain he already knows we're coming."

I frown, slipping on my shoes. "Who are you talking about. Who are we going to see?"

He arranges my hair and helps me tie my cloak in front of my neck.

"We are going to see Arydian."

"The Kingmaker?"

"No. The other version of him. The one that knows everything there is to know about magic spells especially those that can unlock lost memories."

"I don't understand."

He takes my hand and pushes open my window. "Somewhere in your past lies the answers we seek and Arydian is going to help us replace them"