Cassandra was waiting for the banquet to come to an end, caressing Krai’s head. The dragon had decided to take a nap while curled around Kairen’s throne, its hot breath warming up Cassandra’s legs.
The Emperor was still discussing the New Year’s celebrations, but Cassandra didn’t listen to him much. Instead, her eyes were staring right at the woman who had put a snake in her bedroom. She had noticed how that concubine was avoiding looking their way. Actually, that woman’s eyes only went from her Prince Vrehan, to the floor, or her fidgety hands. She knew.
The more she thought about it, the more disgusted Cassandra was. That woman had put a snake in her bedroom, and hadn’t cared what would happen from that. She obviously didn’t know much about the snake’s species or its venom, yet she had put Cassandra and her child at risk.
Kairen too was glaring at that woman, making her absolutely terrified. Cassandra could see her lips trembling and her eyes on the verge of tears from where she sat. It became worse when Krai started growling too. Despite its resting posture and Cassandra’s caresses, the Black Dragon didn’t look calm at all, its ruby eyes were glowing.
It had started slowly, but as the glares at the concubine grew longer and longer, the dragon’s growl increased along, to the point where no one could pretend to ignore it anymore.
“Son, what is wrong with you today?” frowned the Emperor. “Your dragon is deafening us!”
“Maybe he is unhappy with snakes attempting to hurt his progeny,” coldly replied Kairen.
“His…”
A cold silence spread in the room, as most people paled. The Emperor stood up and threw his cup on the floor.
“Who dares! Who dares to meddle with the Imperial Children! In my Palace!”
The young concubine was still looking down, on the verge of tears, shivering like crazy. Even her Prince didn’t spare her a glance, looking completely unaffected. Either he didn’t know or was really good at acting ignorant, Cassandra couldn’t say.
As absolutely everyone in the Hall remained silent despite the Emperor’s anger, Shareen smirked.
“Leave it be, Father. Or do you think my brother won’t punish those people accordingly? Who would make an attempt on the War God’s child’s life and make it out alive?”
“Kairen!” yelled the Emperor. “If you want to settle this alone, make it quick! I won’t allow those snakes in the Imperial Palace!”
“Don’t worry, Father,” hissed Kairen. “I’ll take care of the vermin as quickly and painfully as I can.”
The concubine was crying silently, her eyes desperately stuck on the ground, but no one around her spared her a glance. She kept trying to get Vrehan’s attention, but the Prince resolutely ignored her.
As it seemed she couldn’t stand it anymore, she suddenly stood up, trying to leave. Despite her attempt at slipping out discreetly, it was impossible not to notice someone leaving the room when no one else but the performers were moving.
Shareen reacted first, her whip lashing the air and the floor in acute sounds. It made everyone stop moving, and the concubine freeze. Everyone turned their eyes toward her, as she seemed unsure what to do, standing there with shaking limbs.
Gently, Cassandra felt Kairen switch positions with her. She was now sitting by herself on his throne, while the War God stood up, and went down the stairs, walking to the woman. Everyone around held their breath. Despite the four dragons present, the most terrifying being in the room was human, and walked as silently, and as inevitably as death, towards that woman. She gasped, taking one step back, her eyes expressing pure terror.
“I…I didn’t…I just… The snake… was… not…”
She couldn’t even breathe enough to talk. Even Cassandra’s heartbeat was going crazy just from watching the scene, her hands on the throne’s arms. In front of her, Krai was growling even more fiercely, arching its back and showing off its fangs, the black tail violently swinging in the air. The dragon wasn’t moving away from her, however, as if there was some invisible leash between it and the throne or Cassandra.
The Third Prince, however, was walking to the woman at a stable, scary pace. The woman was the very face of terror itself. She couldn’t even cry or beg properly, yet, when he suddenly arrived a couple of steps from her, she gasped again, ugly crying.
“Was it you?”
His question was only three words, but it felt like a death sentence. The entire audience thought the woman would lie. She could deny it, pretend she had nothing to do with it. But with her trembling lips, she only glanced once in Vrehan’s direction. He wasn’t even looking at her. The utter pain that appeared on her face was heart-wrenching.
After a long, painful silence, she slowly nodded.
“I…”
Whatever she was about to say, the Prince wouldn’t hear it. He grabbed her and, without an ounce of compassion, dragged her across the hall. The woman’s cries and pleas were unbearable.
“Please! Please! No! I didn’t mean to kill her! I didn’t! I was just…! Don’t kill me, please! Please! I beg you! Your Highness! Save me! Please! I didn’t know! I was just jealous! Please! Help me!”
Cassandra did her best not to react, but it was hard. The woman was begging both Kairen and Vrehan to spare her, but neither listened. No matter how much she screamed, no one intervened as she was dragged to the Black Dragon, who was waiting for its prey with a terrible growl. As soon as she was within reach, and without an order from The War God, Krai jumped on the woman, killing her in a matter of seconds. The violent scene excited the other dragons, who all seemed to want to be part of it, growling and opening their maws.
As Kairen reunited with her, Cassandra tried to calm down. No matter how that woman had targeted her, she would never feel content over someone’s death. Especially since it felt like that woman had been abandoned by all. The cold in her heart was warmed up as soon as Kairen pulled her in his arms, again.
