6

VAELORA woke up the next morning, her reality still the same.

She turned to the other side of the bed which appeared very smooth and straight, just like the previous day. But this time around, she was very sure that Draekon had lain there the previous night.

She had always heard gossips about him being extremely organized.

He always expected that things remained as he had left them, very particular about how neatly a place was cleaned, and could sight the tiniest speck of dust anywhere.

Just then, the door to their chambers opened and an unfamiliar maid walked in. Seeing that Vaelora was already awake, she released a low gasp.

"Please forgive me for barging in without announcing my presence, Luna." She bowed. "I thought you were still asleep, and didn't want to disturb your rest."

"It's okay," Vaelora replied, brushing the maid's worry aside. "Are you new? Never seen you around before."

"Yes, Luna. I am a part of the recent omega tribute from the Shadow Fang Province."

"Oh," Vaelora whispered, remembering that the Shadow Fang Province had indeed sent the king some omegas as part of their annual tribute.

"So what do you need from me this morning?"

"The Veylor has left for Shadow Fang, roughly an hour ago. He has asked me to attend to all your needs from now on."

Draekon had left.

Vaelora knew it was the perfect time to put her plan in motion. To find an escape route out of this marriage. To find the loophole.

"I don't need a personal maid, I'm fine."

Vaelora suspected that this new maid was definitely trusted by Draekon, for him to have assigned her such task. One that required having eyes on her at all times.

With her proposed plan in mind, she couldn't have anyone watching her every move and reporting back to Draekon.

She knew Draekon. He was cruel and vindictive. As long as he had decided to not sever their mate bond, he'd do everything within his power to ensure she could never escape him.

He'd squash any hopes of her leaving this union, just to see her suffer.

"But the Veylor..."

The maid was still speaking, when Vaelora cut her short.

"What is your name?"

"Annise."

"Good." Vaelora nodded satisfactorily. "Annise, I wouldn't be needing your services. Leave."

"Lu...."

"That is an order as your Luna." Vaelora firmly added, making Annise go shut instantly.

The next minute, she walked out of the chambers in defeat.

***

After a quick bath, Vaelora gotted dressed and sat in the middle of the large bed. Packing her voluminous hair up in a lose ponytail, she exhaled hot air. It was time for her to begin.

"Vonne?" She called the attention of one of the sentinels guarding their chambers.

Vonne had worked closely with her father when he was alive, and she knew she could trust him.

"Luna," came his quick response.

"Please come in."

Immediately, the doors swung open and Vonne stepped in.

"Luna." He gave a courteous bow. "Do you need anything my Queen?"

"Drop the formalities, Vonne. It's still me," she said, making him release a low sigh.

"I need your help with something," she continued, her expression becoming more serious. "I need you to be as discreet as possible."

"What could that be?" he asked, very willing and ready to do whatever she requested.

"I need you to get me the scrolls on historical laws regarding royal marriages. The ones kept in the royal council's library."

"But they are quite a lot, Luna."

"I know." Vaelora nodded in understanding. "I plan to go through them within the next three days. I have time."

Draekon had said he didn't know how long he was going to be in Shadow Fang. But she had already made a quick calculation of the least number of days he could spend away.

A trip from Iron-Vale to Shadow Fang was one that'd go from morning until evening. Of course, Draekon would use the rest of the day to rest from his trip before getting to whatever had taken him there.

She expected he was going to spend at least, a day, tending to the issue on ground. Then he was going to set out for Iron-Vale the following day, and arrive at dusk.

That was a total of three days, and she prayed it'd be enough for her to do her thing.

"Okay." Vonne nodded. "Who do I say sent me for the scrolls if queried by the sentinels stationed there, or any council chief?"

As Luna, Vaelora had every right to use the council library. But she was trying to do so without drawing any attention to herself, so...

"Tell them High Lord Zayn sent you."

*******************

ONE WEEK LATER.

The horses neighed loudly as the royal carriage came to a stop inside the House of Veylor.

A couple of maids rushed out, welcoming Draekon and Om'zaar, who had accompanied him to Shadow Fang, and taking out their luggages from the rear compartment.

"Brother!" Zayn called, the moment Draekon stepped down the carriage.

"You have finally returned. Just right in time for dinner."

"That, I have." Draekon nodded, a feint frown slightly marring his ruggedly handsome features. "How long has he been that way?" He queried.

Zayn already knew whom he spoke of.

Andronikos' loud cries and growls was something they had all gotten used to enduring, especially when Draekon went away on his long inter-province trips like this one.

"Since you left." Zayn replied.

"I expected Vaelora's presence would keep him calm this time." Draekon explained, taking long strides into the foyer.

Zayn frowned this time.

"Why would Vaelora's presence do that?"

"Seriously, Zayn?" Draekon suppressed the urge to glare at his brother.

"Through me, she has become bonded to him as well. She is now his soulbound, which means her presence should calm him."

"Oh..."

"I would go see Dronikos shortly, after which I'd join the rest of you for dinner."

"Yeah, sure." Zayn muttered as Draekon took the right turn towards his dragon's lair.

It wasn't up to a minute later, and the House of Veylor went calm. Completely calm. For the first time in seven days.

Zayn was never really going to understand Draekon and Andronikos' bond. But he sure had an idea. Every werewolf communicated with their inner wolf, and could always shift into their wolf forms.

That was the difference.

While Werewolves could never really physically be face to face with their wolves, DragonBorns could be with their dragons.

Soon enough, Draekon came down for dinner, joining the rest of his family and other nobles present in the House of Veylor.

He noticed Vaelora was absent from the table, but tried to act uninterested.

After a while of failing at it, he asked one of the maids to call Vaelora down to join them for dinner. But the maid returned with Vaelora's refusal towards Draekon's order.

Masking his displeasure over Vaelora's public disrespect, he patiently waited for dinner to be over, before heading to their chambers.

He angrily pushed open the doors and strode in, his eyes falling on Vaelora's sitting figure. She tried to look unperturbed, but he knew something was amiss.

"Don't you ever... defy my orders again." He warned in a dangerously low tone.

"Why? You have forced me to marry you. Do you want to force me to eat as well?" she spat, defiantly glaring at him.

The musk smell of old papers hit his nose in that moment.

"Hmm..." He stepped closer to her.

Just then, his eyes fell on the scruffled parchment that had almost been completely hidden behind the curtains. But he caught it.

He knew what that was, but he wasn't sure why exactly Vaelora was hiding it.

The parchment bore the royal seal—the kind used for law scrolls.

Draekon’s eyes narrowed.

"What the hell are you looking for, Vaelora?"