Chapter 2

Ever since receiving the Order's warning, I hadn't used the communication crystal to send Kieran a single message.

All those overly sweet messages urging him to come back to the castle stopped as well.

The mental link between us became strangely quiet.

A week later, Kieran unexpectedly initiated a communication.

"I sent the palace's chief healer to the castle to examine you."

"What? I'm not sick."

"Bastian said you've been spacing out lately and haven't been letting the elven merchants send new clothes to the castle. Is it magical backlash?"

"I'm really fine."

"Hm."

Normally, I would have taken that opening and shamelessly flirted with him through the communication crystal.

This time, however, I simply cut off my magical transmission and said nothing.

Instead, the crystal on his end continued flickering.

After a long while, Kieran finally forced out a sentence.

"I'll be back tomorrow."

I immediately put on my most considerate tone and replied:

"That soon? You really don't have to rush. Everything is fine at the castle. Stay at the front and guard the border. The Empire needs you. Don't keep worrying about me."

The moment the message went through, the crystal went completely dark.

He had probably been touched by my sudden thoughtfulness.

I could only hope that once the truth came out, this dragon would remember how sensible I'd been and restrain himself from turning me into ash.

But I never expected the castle's heavy gates to be thrown open half an hour later.

Kieran was back.

He hadn't even removed his black-and-gold armor. Wrapped in the cold scent of smoke and battle, he strode toward me and placed his broad palm against my forehead.

"Normal temperature. Normal breathing. Your scent hasn't changed. No signs of a curse."

"I told you. I'm really not sick."

His brows lowered slightly, his dark-gold eyes full of scrutiny.

"Then why did you stop buying things? You used to clear out half the magical jewelry and custom silks sent from the North every month."

"Uh... I thought I'd save you some gold."

"Not necessary." Kieran looked down at me sternly. "Whatever you spend, I have in my hoard. I didn't marry you so you could save money."

For a dragon with such a powerful territorial instinct, a mate refusing to spend his treasure was practically an insult to his ability to provide.

But I couldn't exactly tell him that I was already preparing to pack my bags and disappear.

As I stood there in silence, Kieran suddenly bent down, scooped me up, and turned toward the bed.

"You used to keep asking me to sleep with you while wearing this armor..." His voice was slightly hoarse. "Just today. Only once."

"No, no, no!"

I scrambled away from him in panic.

What kind of idiot would willingly get involved with a dragon who wasn't even her true mate?

"You just finished patrolling the border. You're exhausted. How could I demand anything from you the moment you walk through the door? That would be heartless! Rest first. I'll cook dinner myself today!"

With that, I fled into the kitchen.

The instant I shut the door, I caught sight of Kieran standing frozen outside, his arms still slightly open, wearing an expression of complete disbelief.

A few minutes later, he followed me into the kitchen.

"There's been an issue at the Abyssal Rift. I have to return to headquarters."

"Okay. Work comes first. Go."

"I'll come back when I'm finished." His gaze remained fixed on me. "You rarely cook. I have to eat this meal."

Hearing the finality in his voice, an idea struck me.

"Then I'll bring it to headquarters when it's ready. That way you won't waste magical energy traveling back and forth through the teleportation array."

"Fine."

Kieran agreed immediately, completely surprising me.

Because I was only human, he'd always hated me going to Dragon Guard headquarters. He considered me a nuisance.

I'd only said it to brush him off. I never expected him to agree.

The moment he left, I dumped the kitchen mess on the halfling chef.

Once the ready-made dinner was packed into a magical food container, I climbed into a carriage and leisurely made my way to the fortress.

The Dragon Guard headquarters was built entirely from obsidian, and it radiated the same terrifying pressure as Kieran himself.

Standing outside on the drawbridge, I crushed my communication crystal.

"Same place. Have Lieutenant Silas come out and get me."

"Come inside." Kieran's deep voice came through. "The guards will let you pass."

"Isn't that inappropriate? This is the Empire's highest-security fortress. Humans aren't allowed inside."

"I'd like to see who dares stop my wife."

"But I always wait on the drawbridge..."

There was a pause on the other end before his voice softened slightly.

"Come in."

But I really didn't want to go inside.

I was already planning to break the bond and leave. Why would I voluntarily parade myself around his headquarters?

Unfortunately, Kieran's decisions had never been open to negotiation.

So I forced myself forward.

All along the way, I felt hostile stares.

As a powerless, fragile human walking among pure-blooded dragons and high-ranking mages, I looked like a joke.

A half-dragon guard laughed loudly.

"Not even a drop of magic? Did the outer-city guards forget to lock the cage?"

Someone quietly reminded him that I was the Commander's so-called "100% fated mate."

The guard looked me up and down before scoffing.

"Her?"

I pretended not to hear.

In the eyes of these dragons, this cross-species marriage was nothing more than a stain on Kieran's life.

I walked straight to the Commander's office.

Before my hand even touched the door, a woman's voice came through the heavy stone wall.

Her tone was unmistakably sweet and clingy.

"Kieran... didn't you promise that this afternoon, both your time and your attention belonged to me? Why are you distracted again?"