Chapter 85
Dante’s POV
Valencia sat before me, her tear–filled eyes boring into mine with an intensity that made my chest ache. Her hands trembled as they clutched the edge of the towel wrapped tightly around her, but despite her vulnerability, there was anger burning in her gaze.
It twisted something deep inside me. I wanted to hold her, to comfort her, but I also wanted to break the world apart for every tear she’d shed.
Yet, even in her fury, all I could think about was how much I wanted her–how badly I wanted to claim her, mark her, and keep her by my side forever. The beginnings of my rut clawed at the edges of my control, making my senses sharper, my need more consuming.
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I forced myself to focus. I knew the warnings–Father had drilled them into me.
An Alpha’s rut was already really arduous but a dragon in rut was dangerous to everyone except their mate. Valencia might have been my wife and the mother of my child but I haven’t claimed her as my mate yet.
Even though I wanted to. But that wasn’t something I could force, nor did I want to. So, if I lost control now…
་
I swallowed hard, chanting a mantra in my head: Protect her, respect her, make her feel loved.
I had already lost control too many times–said too many things in the heat of the moment that I shouldn’t have. I’d told her I wouldn’t let her go, and maybe that was true.
No, it was true. I couldn’t let her go. But I had to show her that she was safe with me and could wholeheartedly trust me, even if I had failed to show her before.
I felt like slapping myself for yelling at her earlier, but all I managed to do was gently let go of her.
I sighed heavily, running a hand through my hair. “Let’s clear up this misunderstanding first,” I said, my voice low but steady. “Get up. I’ll bring you clothes to wear.”
Without waiting for her response, I walked towards the closet. My mind raced as I opened the door and reached for the small bottle of rut suppressors hidden at the back of the shelf. I popped the cap and downed the bitter pills without hesitation, feeling them burn as they slid down my throat.
The suppressors were strong, and I knew they would buy me at most two hours before the side effects hit–pounding headaches, hallucinations, maybe even physical pain. But I didn’t have time to worry about that. Not when she needed
answers.
I grabbed a simple cotton sundress for Valencia, the soft yellow fabric patterned with sunflowers light and loose enough for her comfort. I returned to the room and handed it to her without meeting her gaze.
She hesitated, clutching the towel tighter before finally standing and walking to the bathroom.
As soon as the door clicked shut behind her, I let out a long, shuddering breath. My chest felt tight, my head pounding as
mind. her earlier words echoed in
my
Her voice had cracked, trembling with anger and pain, and it had cut deeper than I expected. I clenched my jaw, my hands curling into fists at my sides.
12:15 Sun, Jan 19 © G
Chapter 85
Someone she had loved! She had said she’d suffered abuse arvumiliation by someone she hat loved Who Who’d dare to? Her father? But then someone else’s lace flashed my mind and my eyes widened. Was it Jason?
Did she… really love him?
I wanted to destroy every person who had ever made her feel this way–every person who had broken her trust, trade her feel powerless, made her afraid and hurt her.
But selfishly I also wanted to keep her away from everyone she felt any affection towards, so that the only person that got her love was me.
Fuck. Not right now, I needed to focus.
When Valencia stepped out of the bathroom, dressed in the sundress with her hair finger–combed, I felt a sharp pang in my chest. Her red–rimmed eyes glistened with unshed tears, and her shoulders sagged with exhaustion.
How could anyone hurt someone so
wonderful?
I forced myself to look away, knowing that if I stared too long, my self–control would snap. “Come on, I said, my voice gruff. “We’re going to settle this now.”
She followed me silently as I led her out of the room and into the elevator. I focused on taking slow, steady breaths, but sent shameful images through my mind–images I had no business thinking about every glance at her red–rimmed eyes right now.
The elevator doors opened, and we stepped into the thirteenth–floor library. The expansive room was filled with tall shelves of ancient books, warm lighting, and dark wood furniture. But what caught my attention wasn’t the familiar sight of Caius sitting at the hexagonal table at the far end of the hall.
It was the other figure in the room.
“Marcelene,” I muttered under my breath.
Caius glanced up as we entered, his expression shifting to mild surprise. But Marcy? The moment she saw Valencia, she jumped from her seat and practically launched herself across the room.
“Valencia!” she cried, wrapping her arms tightly around her friend.
Valencia’s face softened, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she returned the embrace, though she looked more startled than anything else.
Marcy pulled back after a moment, her sharp eyes narrowing as she glanced at Valencia’s red–rimmed eyes. “Did he make you cry?” she demanded, her glare snapping to me. She started toward me with fire in her eyes, but Valencia quickly grabbed
her arm.
“No, no,” Valencia said quickly, her voice soft but pleading. “I’m fine, Marcy. Please.”
Marcy hesitated, clearly unconvinced. But at Valencia’s pleading look, she sighed heavily and stepped back, though she sent me one last warning glare.
“Let’s take this to the table,” I said, ignoring her hostility. “We need to talk.”
The four of us moved to the table and took our seats.
I turned to Caius. “Explain it to her,” I said. “What you told me before about dragon eggs and their mother’s.”
12:15 Sun, Ján 19
Chapter 83
Caius hesitated, his gaze flickering between Valencia and me. “Are you sure
“Now, Caius,” I said sharply, my patience wearing thin.
With a reluctant sigh, Caius began to explain. Ilis voice was calm and measured, but every word felt like a blade cutting through the fragile peace between us.
Valencia’s face fell as she listened, her lips pressing into a thin line as her hands tightened around Castor’s egg. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and I felt my chest tighten painfully.
When Caius finally finished, he looked away, avoiding her gaze.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, frowning as I caught the tension in his posture.
Caius stayed silent, his jaw clenching.
Marcy scoffed, crossing her arms as she leaned back in her chair “Oh, nothing,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Just that Mister Genius here didn’t gather all his facts before presenting them to you before.
Valencia’s eyes snapped to Marcy, her voice trembling as she asked, “What do you mean? What else is there?”
Marcy sighed, her expression softening slightly. “The survival rate,” she said bluntly. “Of a dragon egg being birthed and reaching full term. It’s only about 70%-and that’s if both parents are present and have a good relationship. If only one parent is present, the survival rate drops to 25%, maybe even as low as 5%.”
Valencia’s breath hitched, her face paling as Marcy’s words sank in.
Marcy’s voice softened, though her tone remained firm. “So, as much as I hate to say it, for Castor’s sake… I’m glad Dante brought you back. Because if anything happens to that child…” She trailed off, shaking her head. “You won’t be able to bear
it.”
The room fell silent, the weight of her words pressing down on all of us.
Valencia stared at Castor’s egg, her trembling hands clutching it tightly. Tears slipped silently down her cheeks, but she didn’t make a sound.
And I? I could only sit there, my heart aching as the woman I loved broke before me.
