Page 76 of The Forbidden Dragon King
Umbra Dining Room, Shadow Court
Freya
I balancea heavy tray of food, staggering into the Umbra Dining Room.
I grit my teeth, as my knees feel like buckling.
Yet the sun is shining through the arched windows with marble columns that look out over a pretty courtyard. A glimmering dragon shaped fountain gushes water from its mouth like flames in the middle of the courtyard. I can sense Daire’s happiness through the bond, as well as the tender sweep of his elegant fingers over our snowflake mark. And this morning I’ve learnedmore from Lucius about both the Shadow Court and Aurelius than I have in a month.
The Shadow Dragon King loves me…
My heart clenches.
Is Lucius right? Or is it only a manipulation?
My gaze snaps up, as if drawn on a thread to Aurelius.
The King is reclining on one of three golden couches that flank the grand marble room. Dark shadows bruise underneath his amber eyes. Despite his leather tunic, breeches, and crimson cloak looking as impressive as ever, I can tell by the tight way that he is holding his shoulders that it is an effort for him not to look as exhausted as I am.
He's just been through a rut alone. He didn’t have a rut mate.
At least I had Lucius to help me through my heat.
My cheeks flush, and I’m excruciatingly aware of Aurelius’ heavy gaze as I clatter across the floor.
The walls are covered with frescoes in earthy tones of feasting royalty surrounded by dancing, naked Omegas, while circling dragons fly above them in vibrant colors.
I glance through my eyelashes at War.
She is reclining on the couch on the back wall with Lucius draped across her large body. She is casually playing with his nipples through his silky tunic.
Lucius is barely reacting, as if he’s his Alpha’s toy.
His gaze is lowered, but his smile is sly as he raises it to me, then winks.
My flush deepens.
I tighten my hold on the tray of flatbreads, cheese, wheat pancakes, dates, and cheese with a pot of honey.
Two women, Betas, lie on the third couch with their legs tangled around each other.
They are the final members of the Golden Family, who are as of yet a mystery to me. I have a feeling, however, that they are a mystery to most of the Shadow Court, which is how they like it.
Vicious is in her late twenties. She watches me like she always does with an assessing smirk, as if she knows an entire world of secrets that I don’t. It makes me uncomfortable, since she wears the black robes of the Guild of Assassins.
She wears a golden sash to mark her personal loyalty to Aurelius.
She has short, dirty blond hair and ice blue eyes.
Wraith is younger than Vicious. She lies quietly in Vicious’ arms, allowing her white blond hair, which has been plaited with a gold ribbon, to be stroked by Vicious.
Wraith could be overlooked in this room of glowing, powerful,terrifyingdragons.
But that would be a mistake.
Wraith is part of this inner court exactly because she does go unnoticed, until she chooses to speak. She is fragile with a sharp, pointed face and calculating jade eyes.
She is also dressed in the matching jade robes of the Guild of Spies.
