Chapter 22
TWENTY-TWO
DRAVEN
Through the haze of searing pain, Draven’s dragon consciousness recognized the familiar landscape below—volcanic ridges giving way to crystalline cliffs, and there, nestled like a hidden jewel, their secluded cove.
The same place where he’d first claimed Lila’s body, and where their mate bond had ignited into something transcendent.
She’s taking me to our beginning.
Even through his agony, pride flooded his chest. His crimson queen hadn’t hesitated—she’d shifted into her magnificent dragon form and seized him from certain death without a thought for her own safety.
The sacred flames that had nearly consumed him whole couldn’t touch her noble dragon heritage. She was fire incarnate.
My brave, strong mate. My equal in every way.
Lila’s dragon dove toward the waterfall with precision that spoke of instinct older than memory.
The cool pink water of the lagoon rose to meet them as she plunged his burning form beneath the cascading falls.
Steam exploded around them in violent hissing clouds as the magical fire finally surrendered to the ancient healing waters.
Relief washed through every nerve ending as the intense heat that had been cooking him alive for the past five minutes finally abated. His obsidian scales, though burned and blistered, had held. He would live—because of her quick thinking and fearless action.
She saved my life without hesitation. My queen, my protector, my everything.
Lila cradled his massive dragon form against her smaller but equally powerful crimson body, her claws gentle despite their lethal capability. Dragon to dragon, they floated beneath the waterfall until every trace of sacred flame had been extinguished from his scales.
This is how it should be. Partners. Equals. Protecting each other.
The thunder of approaching wings announced new arrivals. Lyric’s golden dragon landed on the shore first, his mental voice radiating awe across the telepathic link all dragons shared.
By the stars… she’s a dragon. The Queen of Fire reborn.
Draven’s pride blazed hotter than any flame he’d ever produced. You see her now. You see what I’ve known from the beginning—she’s not just my fated mate. She’s my equal, my queen, the other half of my soul.
Veyra’s emerald dragon touched down with less grace, her fury practically visible in the way her scales rippled with tension. Her telepathic voice trembled with barely contained rage.
This isn’t over. You think this changes anything?
Draven’s dragon rumbled with menace even from his position in Lila’s protective embrace. It changes everything, Veyra.
Veyra’s dragon launched skyward without another word, her plans clearly unraveling faster than she could adapt. Soon, very soon, justice would be served for his parents’ murders.
Lyric’s mental voice carried formal authority now. I will notify the council immediately that our new queen is the Queen of Fire reborn. The coronation will proceed at dawn.
Make it so, Draven responded. And Lyric—triple the guard tonight. Trust me.
As Lyric’s dragon disappeared into the distance, Lila shifted back to her human form in the shallow water, her naked body immediately pressing close to assess his injuries. Draven followed suit, his transformation sending fresh waves of pain through his burned skin.
“Let me see,” she commanded, her hands hovering over the worst of the burns on his chest and shoulders. Her touch was clinical yet tender, those beautiful green eyes cataloging every injury with professional precision.
“They’re not that bad,” he insisted, though his voice came out strained.
“They’re bad enough,” she replied firmly. “We’re going back to the castle right now so the healer can treat these properly. And you’re going to rest until you’re fully healed.”
Even through his pain, Draven felt his lips curve into a smile. His queen was already taking charge, protecting her king in every way. “I’m not going to miss you being crowned tomorrow. Or celebrating our success at the Bondfire Ritual.”
“Then I’ll tell Lyric to bring the council and nobles outside the castle grounds.” She stood, water cascading from her body in ways that made his blood heat despite his injuries. “We can have the coronation in the gardens.”
“That’s never been done before,” he pointed out, though admiration colored his words.
“Well, I’m showing them a new way of doing things.” Fire sparked in her eyes—not dragon fire, but the flames of a born leader. “They’ll listen to their new queen.”
Damn right they will.
“You’re going to lead them in ways they never could’ve imagined. I can’t think of a better person to rule beside me.”
Without waiting for his further input, she shifted back into her beautiful crimson dragon.
Draven remained human as she carefully lifted him in her claws—an arrangement that should have wounded his alpha pride but instead filled him with deep satisfaction.
His queen was protecting him, claiming him, showing the world that their bond transcended traditional power dynamics.
As they soared toward the castle through the blazing afternoon sunlight, Draven’s thoughts turned to tomorrow. Lila would finally receive the recognition she deserved, and Veyra would face justice for her crimes.
Tomorrow, everything changes. Tomorrow, my queen takes her rightful place, and our enemies will fall.
The cooling balm and the healer’s attention awaited, but more importantly, so did the dawn that would see his Lila crowned as the Queen of Fire.
Several hours later, the healer’s cooling balm had worked its magic on Draven’s burns, leaving him wrapped in pristine white bandages that made him look more vulnerable than he’d ever appeared in his life.
The irony wasn’t lost on him—here he was, the most powerful dragon shifter in the Southern Dragon Dominion, being tended to like an invalid while his mate refused to leave his side.
Not that I’m complaining. If it were up to me, she would be by my side every second.
Lila sat on his massive bed, her fingers tracing gentle patterns along his uninjured forearm. The mate bond thrummed between them, her presence soothing the residual ache from the explosion better than any healer’s remedy ever could.
“Nyra discovered something fascinating about my lineage,” she said, her voice carrying that particular note of excitement he’d grown to adore. “My great-great-great grandfather was a royal guard here two centuries ago. I have noble blood and actual ties to your kingdom.”
Draven’s chest swelled with pride, though he kept his expression neutral. “Nyra told me last night. I was planning to celebrate that revelation properly after our success today, but then—”
“The explosion.” Her jaw tightened, those green eyes flashing with fury that made his dragon rumble with approval.
“That wasn’t just the sacred fire being too intense because of our strong mate bond, was it?” she pressed.
“No,” he replied sharply. “That was sabotage. Veyra must have planted some kind of device to detonate if our ritual succeeded—which it did, spectacularly.” His lips curved into a predatory smile. “She wanted to eliminate us both when her original plan failed.”
Lila shot to her feet, pacing with the restless energy of a caged predator. “This woman is actively trying to kill us, Draven. We should arrest her tonight. Why are we still waiting?”
Because I want to watch her world burn publicly, just like she tried to burn mine.
“Patience, my queen.” He caught her wrist as she passed, tugging her back to the bed with gentle insistence. “Tomorrow, we will expose her in front of the entire council and noble houses. She’ll be ruined forever before we throw her in the dungeons and lose the key.”
The fire in her eyes banked slightly, replaced by something softer. “I don’t mean to change the subject. But can I invite Liam and Harper to the coronation tomorrow? I know it’s short notice, but—”
“Why don’t you also invite your mother?” The suggestion rolled off his tongue before he could stop it, though he didn’t regret the words.
My queen deserves her family there to witness her triumph.
Lila’s face shuttered, that familiar self-doubt creeping in. “I don’t know if she’d want to come. We’re not exactly close, and she’s always been... distant since Dad died.”
“Of course your mother would want to see her daughter crowned queen. What mother wouldn’t?”
Draven reached for his communicator without hesitation and dialed Gerri’s number.
“Draven, darling!” Gerri’s voice crackled through the device, as energetic as ever. “I was wondering when you’d call. How did the Bondfire Ritual go? Though I suspect I already know, considering you’re both still breathing.”
“Gerri, I need you to bring Lila’s family and best friend to Nova Aurora tonight. All of them—her brother Liam, her friend Harper, and her mother. Tomorrow is Lila’s coronation, and she needs them here.”
A pause that lasted exactly two heartbeats. “Oh, this is going to be fun. I’ll work my special charm, dear. They’ll be there before midnight.”
The line went dead, and Draven set the communicator aside, turning to find Lila staring at him with an expression he couldn’t quite read.
“You didn’t have to do that,” she whispered.
“It would be my honor to host your family for as long as you want them here.” He cupped her face with his large palm. “They should see you become who you were always supposed to be—a worthy queen who deserves all the appreciation and respect in the universe.”
Her eyes brightened with unshed tears. “I should go prepare their guest suites. They’ll probably be as overwhelmed as I was when I first arrived, and I want everything to be perfect.”
Everything already is perfect.
“They’re going to love seeing you step into your power, Lila. Trust me on this.”
She leaned down to kiss him, soft and sweet and filled with promise. “Thank you. For everything.”
As she headed toward the door, Draven allowed himself a moment of pure satisfaction. Tomorrow, his queen would be crowned before her family and his people.
Tomorrow, everyone will see what I’ve known all along—that Lila Reyes was born to be my queen.
The morning light coming in through the dining room’s crystalline windows caught the gold threads in Draven’s ceremonial suit jacket as he made his way toward the assembled group. Despite the lingering soreness from yesterday’s burns, his stride carried the natural authority of a dragon king.
Look at them all together. My mate’s family, here to witness her ascension.
The sight before him struck something deep within him.
Lila stood immediately as he entered, her emerald dress flowing like liquid silk as she moved to his side.
Her mother, Lisa, bore the same green eyes and gentle features, though years of grief had etched lines around them.
Liam possessed Lila’s warmth but with an easy confidence that spoke of someone who’d never doubted his place in the world.
Harper’s sharp gaze assessed him with protective scrutiny that reminded him of Jarek’s loyalty.
And Gerri—petite and feisty Gerri—beamed at him with eyes that flickered between blue and gold like twin stars.
“Everyone,” Lila said, her voice carrying calm authority, “this is Draven. My mate and king.”
“Your Majesty,” Lisa began, but Draven raised a hand.
“Just Draven, please. You’re family now.”
Gerri’s delighted laugh filled the room. “Look at you, healing so quickly! Lucky for you that brave mate of yours dove into that inferno without a second thought. Not many queens would risk their lives like that on the very day of their proving.”
She’s right. Not many would have done what Lila did.
“I’m the luckiest man in the universe to have her as my mate and queen,” Draven replied, his golden eyes finding Lila’s. The mate bond sang between them, warm and steady as a heartbeat.
Lila guided him to the head of the massive obsidian table, her touch gentle but possessive as she helped him settle into his chair. The care in her movements sent satisfaction coursing through his veins—his queen, tending to her king.
“We all got a chance to catch up last night while you were resting,” Lila said, settling beside him. “I filled them in on everything. The mate bond, the coronation today...” Her lips curved into a smile that made his dragon hum with contentment. “And my newfound dragon heritage.”
Liam leaned forward, his eyes bright with excitement. “I still can’t believe my sister is a dragon shifter and about to become an alien queen. This is like something out of a movie.”
“Well, being best friends with royalty now is certainly going to help my social game,” Harper added dryly, though affection colored her tone.
They accept her just fine. They see what I see.
Lisa’s voice was softer, weighted with years of regret.
“I owe you all an explanation.” Her hands twisted in her lap as she looked at her children.
“I knew your father had dormant dragon DNA. I knew you and Liam carried it too, but after Jerry died...” She swallowed hard.
“It seemed easier to stay distant than explain something I didn’t fully understand myself. ”
The pain in her words resonated through Draven’s own grief over his mother’s death.
Secrets born from loss. I understand that burden.
“Fate has a funny way of revealing the truth,” Gerri interjected, her tone light but knowing. “Some things can’t stay hidden forever, no matter how hard we try to protect ourselves from them.”
Lila reached across the space between their chairs to grasp her mother’s hand. “It’s okay, Mom. I just want us to start fresh and build a better relationship.”
Lisa’s eyes filled with tears. “I would love that more than anything in the world.”
The raw emotion in the exchange stirred Draven’s protective instincts. His queen deserved this—deserved the family support she’d been denied for too long.
“Lisa,” he said, “you can stay here as long as you want to support Lila and work on healing your relationship. The castle has more than enough room, and it would be my honor to have you here.”
She needs this. They both do.
The gratitude that flooded through the mate bond nearly overwhelmed him. Lila’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she looked at him, and he felt her love like sunshine warming his soul.
“Thank you,” she whispered, the words carrying so much more than simple appreciation.
Draven glanced at the ornate timepiece mounted on the wall—forty-seven minutes until the coronation ceremony began.
Forty-seven minutes until the entire kingdom acknowledges what I’ve known from the moment I touched her hand.
“We should eat quickly and get ready,” he announced, his alpha authority bleeding into his tone. “I want today to be the best day of Lila’s life.”