The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 3

"Lady Ari, please be respectful," an attendant said firmly. "She had passed the Trial of Fire."

She sneered at me. I returned her dismissive look. Ari flushed.

"Even if that's true, my brother deserves better," she snarled. "You have no right to wear the queen's colors, human!"

I narrowed my eyes. "Is that because you want to wear them?"

She snarled and drew a sword.

The attendants went still, but I darted forward, striking her in the wrist. She let the sword go, and I snatched it out of the air. Ari stumbled and tried to swipe at me, but I dodged and shoved her back into the wall, then pressed the blade to Ari's throat. Ari gasped and flashed her sharp teeth.

"Your Majesty--"

"Let me make something clear," I said. "You may have run around being a terror before I arrived, but I'm not one to be bullied."

She snarled. Her eyes flashed with light. "You human wretch. You'll regret this."

"Not as much as you will." I pressed the blade closer to her neck. "The next time you pull a sword on me, I'm going to take your fucking arm off."

She snarled. "My brother will never accept you."

I scoffed and stepped back, dropping the sword at her feet.

"I'm not asking him to. I didn't ask to be here. Send me back."

The attendants looked nervous. "That's not possible."

Ari snarled, snatching the sword up from the ground. "You..."

"Lady Ari, you've attacked Her Majesty," the attendant said. "Under the law..."

smirked and held up my hand. "Don't worry about arresting her. Just... report it to whoever the powers that be are. Whoever is going to get her in the most trouble." Her eyes bulged. She

"Aren't there officials? Elders?"

Elders will want to know about this," the attendant said slowly, glancing at

"No, thanks."

"That's not an option."

I have any

Their eyes glinted. "No."

I scoffed.

at me. "Just

stomped out. Two attendants followed

attendant looked at Maya. "I have to report to the Elders about you. Maya, please look

She smiled as a

"What is that?"

"It's just past dinner time, heading into the sleeping hours... As

my size? Who I have never

"It

"I could kill him."

"Please don't... joke like

asked. "He's essentially forced me through a wall of magical fire and slapped a title on me for

the dragon lineage has

and jerked my thumb back. "She seemed more than happy

a smile. "Lady Ari was

didn't ask for. Why aren't there attendants to

tradition. You will understand the longer you

"Highly doubtful."

bodies and shuddered. I watched Maya walk into the attached room. She brought back a bowl of

leave you. Please call me if you need me." She bowed out. "Until morning, Your

"Wait a second!"

some odd idea for a marriage night? I shuddered, feeling more sick by the second. I looked down at the bowl of hot water and et on the