Chapter 70: Chapter 70

ALAND

We both gasped and laughed together. Jonea reached out and stroked my face.

“Can you put me down? I must be heavy,” she said shyly.

“No, you’re so light now. You should pay more attention to your food,” I pretended to be angry as I put her down.

“Aland… Aland… I feel like I’m never satisfied. I’m too happy. I’m afraid this happiness will bring me back to suffering.”

“Psst…” I stopped her.

Jonea’s eyes filled with tears. She tried to touch me again, but suddenly, her face turned pale. Her eyes were wide open. Did something happen?

Jonea stepped back in fear until she fell to the ground.

I looked back. A giant, pale white dragon with large horns on its head was approaching me. Its entire body was covered in moss. Could it be that it was the one who scared Jonea?

The dragon pampered me by rubbing its horns on my back. I stroked it gently.

“It’s okay, Jonea. This dragon is tame!” I reached out to Jonea. She took my hand and stood up. “Try touching him!” I asked.

“Who is this girl you brought?” the dragon asked.

“His voice is like an old man who is very weak,” Jonea said.

“His name is Azura. Well, he is ancient.” We stroked Azura’s head together.

“Is she the girl who came with the lycan king?” Azura asked suspiciously.

“She will be my queen,” I said with a wide smile. “Jonea Rawling, daughter of King Rawling, ruler of all the races in the world.”

“Wow,” Azura said. “What an unusual guest.” She moved a little closer to Jonea.

His wings were folded behind his back.

“You smell like a Lycan,” Azura said. “But, you are still very green. Like a budding leaf. And I also smell plants, flowers, and rocks from various places that are very pleasant on your body!” “Azura, you scared her!” I scolded.

Jonea’s clothes were still soaked, making her shiver. I approached and hugged her.

“Don’t be afraid. This dragon won’t hurt you. He’s too old to do that.”

Jonea’s eyes sparkled in amazement. “His whole body is like a moss forest.”

“He’s the oldest white dragon. He’s like the parent of the dragons here. Jonea, I’m sorry for my rude invitation. I forgot to welcome you to the land of the dragons!”

“Aland, do you know my birth parents? There’s so much I want to ask and hear from you. I want to know everything while we’re apart!” I kept whining and getting impatient.

I extended my finger right to Jonea’s lips to calm her down. I didn’t feel like answering any of her questions.

“I just want to spend my time with you, enjoying your beauty, which is finally here in front of me. I can touch you.”

Zephyra approached and grumbled. “The jeverics are getting really noisy. They say the lycan king has finally found his bride. The news from the jeverics immediately spread like the wind to this country. I just didn’t think that you were connected to each other. Huh!”

“This is going to be complicated,” Azura muttered.

I just tried to ignore them. “I believe that sooner or later, Jonea will definitely come to me.”

I held Jonea’s hand and kissed the back of her hand carefully.

“How long are you going to hide in the shadow of my mate, Daran Caver?” I hissed. I knew something was fishy from earlier.

Jonea seemed to wake up and immediately looked down. From the ground that Jonea was standing on, a pitch-black creature that slowly transformed into a masked man appeared. He stood right behind Jonea, trying to hug and keep her away from me.

But I moved faster. I pulled Jonea into my arms first. Daran Carver only grabbed empty air. I will not give up the lover I have always waited for to a stranger like him.

“What do you mean, dragon rider?” Daran hissed, holding back his annoyance. “This girl came with me. As you have heard from the jeverics, she is my bride.”

I grinned without letting go of Jonea’s hug. “Why don’t you ask Jonea directly? Who will be her king? A Lycan disguised as a wizard like you or me?” I said coldly and sharply.

Jonea looked confused, but she stayed in my arms. Although I felt a difference in her reaction. Jonea didn’t entirely like me hugging her. Was there another side of her heart that was trying to rebel?

“Jonea,” I whispered. “Tell the wizard you want to break away from him and return to me.”

“Aland…”

“I also heard some unusual news,” Daran replied. “Lately, the dragons’ movements have become more active. That’s why I was asked to come to check it out. It seems that the dragons have a new leader. Is that you?”

“It’s been hundreds of years and you still like to play around with someone,” I said. “Why are you hiding your true intentions from Jonea? Are you afraid that she will reject you and leave you?”

Slowly, Jonea pushed my hand away and stood between me and Daran.

“Stop it, both of you. I don’t want to hear anything else. I… Please, someone tell me the truth. What exactly is going on here?”

Both Daran and I were silent. We knew that we were risking something significant. I didn’t want to hurt or endanger Jonea. I don’t think Daran wished to lose his treasure, either.

“Huh! Are you going to let this girl freeze to death?” said Azura.

I put aside my ego and checked Jonea.

“I’m fine,” she said with a shivering body.

I went forward to hug and carry her without thinking twice. Daran tried approaching and taking Jonea from me, but the dragons blocked him.

“You haven’t visited in a long time,” said Azura. “You should come with me and take a walk. Let the girl rest.”

Daran tried to refuse, but Zephyra immediately lifted Daran onto her back, carrying him flying.

I carried Jonea to my nest in the tree. I kept hugging her tightly so she wouldn’t shiver. When we arrived at the nest, I laid her on the bed. Jonea was fast asleep. She was moaning and delirious in her sleep.

“You have a fever!” I said after checking her temperature. “Your clothes are wet. I’ll change you into dry clothes.”

I carefully took off Jonea’s clothes. That’s when my hand stopped at the dragon tear pendant I had given her.

“You still have it.” I touched the pendant. “We don’t have much time, Jonea. You have to release the wolf seal inside you soon. If not... I don’t want to lose you!”

Jonea whimpered again and held my hand.

“I can’t dress you if you’re like this.”

She curled up because of the cold while continuing to hug my hand. I chose to lie beside her and hug her tightly under the blanket.

“Daran... Warm,” Jonea murmured. “It’s so warm!”

My body froze hearing her mention Daran’s name. My heart ached so much. What had he done to you? How could he fill your heart?

But I didn’t let go of my hug. I tried to ignore the discomfort and continued to hug her from behind.

“Jonea, I’m here. Don’t be afraid. I will definitely find a way to save you so that you can go through your changes. I will restore the blue sapphire to its original state so that it can be a comfortable place for you to live. Even if I have to become a murderer!”

“Wait a little longer. Be patient, Jonea. You will be my queen. We will lead the entire country from west to east and lead all races on this earth!”

***

DARAN

The dragons blocked my way. I could only watch as Jonea was taken away by the silver-haired man.

“I didn’t expect the dragon rider to appear.”

Azura said to me, “The dead shouldn’t envy the living. It’s like the curse of the red moon. All creatures are fighting over her, including you.”

I was angry at his words. “Where did you find that silver-haired young man? He’s a werewolf. How can he be a dragon rider and your protector? Hundreds of years ago, I offered you protection and guard. But you rejected me. Until your race split into two, the red dragon and the blue dragon.”

“We never wanted division. We still decided to live quietly in this hiding place. However, the arrival of the young man reminded us that we were bound by a promise and oath to the Goddess Tiamat. He is the heir of Tiamat who has been lost for a long time.”

“I don’t want to cause trouble with you. I just want my bride back.”

“Leave the girl here for a while. Let her make her own decision. I’m sure she’ll make the wisest decision for both of you.”

I couldn’t go any further with these dragons blocking my way. I could fight them, but I was bound by an unwritten pact to protect any race that wasn’t hostile to lycans.

“Very well, I’ll be back! Make sure you take care of my bride. I could turn the world upside down if you betray me.”