’This was precisely why she could never let the attendant be.’ Adrienne thought to herself in disdain.

Everyone, it seemed, saw nothing wrong with an outsider assuming a position of influence in Dragon Keep through what Adrienne believed to be distasteful methods.

But Adrienne would see to it herself...or perhaps she would not have to.

Adrienne had just discovered a more efficient method, one where she would not have to lift a finger and she knew exactly what she would have to do from here on out.

Adrienne gave no response to her sister’s words, her expression showed no changes whatsoever, Adrienne had gained such great mastery of her facade that it held even in the presence of her closest family.

Adrienne did not find Keila’s words intimidating, in time, she would be the one person that not even the King’s guard would dare intimidate.

"I see there is nothing I can be of help with then, I shall head back now." Adrienne finally replied after a moment of quiet.

Keila sighed quietly, she knew just how stubborn Adrienne could be and speaking more would only trigger Adrienne.

"I will say nothing more, you be careful with your actions. And please, stay out of trouble. There is only so much I can cover up for you." Keila warned.

Adrienne nodded in understanding, she would be sure to stay out of trouble. It was what she was best at, pulling the strings from the shadows.

Adrienne took her leave without another word, a small smile was rested on her lips the moment she was back in the hallway.

Adrienne hurried back even more swiftly than she had come, to execute her plans, there was someone she had to meet in a haste...this person would not be a willing party.

But of course, that did not matter...

__________

The sun rays that slipped in through the window blinds roused Menarx from his deep sleep and a quiet groan escaped his lips.

The tonic Everon had administered was much too potent and had kept Menarx asleep for exactly two days as Everon had predicted.

And now that the effects wore of slowly, Menarx felt groggy and disoriented, two feelings he did not ever have to deal with since he was always the objective and meticulous one in the group.

It was strange to Menarx to awaken while still feeling so exhausted and the heaviness of his limbs was even more strange and unwelcome.

Another groan escaped Menarx as he turned his head away from the sun rays, experiencing a brief moment of light headedness which soon faded.

It was hard to string together a reasonable thought, but when Menarx could finally think clearly after another short moment, his first thought was deeply resentful.

’Everon’s tonic feels worse than death...’ Menarx thought to himself in displeasure.

Menarx would surely have preferred death to feeling this useless, but Menarx squashed the thought the moment it arose...he could not dare die when he had someone to return to.

The thought of Neveah brought a smile to Menarx’s lips and he finally let his eyes flutter open, ignoring the painful sting from the sun rays.

Menarx glanced around his quarters for a moment, as much as his aching shoulder allowed but the person he sought was nowhere to be found. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"Veah..." Menarx called in a hoarse tone, shaking his head slightly to restore his awareness as he sat up on the bed.

Menarx breathed a quiet sigh when he did not find Neveah but his gaze settled on her outer robe which was slung over a chair that was by his bedside.

Menarx recalled those were the night robes Neveah had on the night he bid her farewell and flew out to the academy of smiths to have a cuff made for Xenon.

Not that his mission had gone so well since he ended up returning heavily injured and with terrible tidings to boot.

The outer robe was still stained red with what Menarx knew was his blood and Menarx wondered just how worried he had gotten Neveah, returning in such a state a few hours after making his intents known.

"I have to find her...make sure she is okay." Menarx murmured as he made to get off his bed but was stopped when his door swung open and a frowning Everon stepped in.

"Where do you think you are headed in such a condition?" Everon asked in a low tone.

"To Veah...where else?" Menarx asked right back, placing his legs down on the floor while rolling his injured shoulder about to gauge it’s state.

"To Veah...where else?" Everon mimicked with an amused chuckle, earning himself a withering glare from Menarx.

"You only just woke up, Narx. Take a breath...and a moment while you’re at it." Everon added, stepping in fully and shutting the door behind him.

"How long have I been out?" Menarx asked the question he found most important to him...for how many days had he left Veah alone to face the terrors of the keep after swearing to her his lifetime protection?

"Two days." Everon replied.

"I have had enough moments then." Menarx said decisively.

"That is not for you to decide. I am the healer and I say you are not allowed to leave that bed until I say it is okay." Everon insisted, fixing Menarx with a warning gaze as Menarx inched closer to the edge of his bed.

"I am perfectly fine, your tonic may taste and feel horrible but it is effective. I hardly feel any pain." Menarx assured, moving his shoulder around for good measure.

"You liar...the wound may not be as deep as it initially was but it still bleeds. Do you not wonder why you are healing so slowly?" Everon asked with a roll of his eyes.

Menarx passed a questioning glance to Everon while reaching for his boots, Menarx would admit, he had not expected to awaken to the pain of his wounds.

Everon’s tonic was certainly not a fix-it-all, but it would accelerate Menarx’s natural rapid healing and Menarx should have been completely healed already.

Even without the tonic, Menarx should have healed just fine knowing how rapid his healing ability had always been, Menarx was after all a noble blooded dragon lord.

Menarx knew that the fact that he was not completely healed even after this long meant there was something more to his attack than he was aware of.

"Dwarves have begun mining adamantium ore, the properties of the ore was discovered in the spear head that pierced you...hence why it penetrated your scales so easily. Do you realize what that means?" Everon asked in a serious tone.

"The dwarves are seeking a dance with fire?" Menarx replied with a question, a dark look in his eyes.

"It means you could have died Narx...had that spear pierced a vital organ, you would be the one having a dance, but not with fire, with the shadow dragon!" Everon deadpanned.

Menarx smirked slightly, tilting his head to the side.

"And you would not be able to live without me?" Menarx asked in amusement.

"You are not taking this as seriously as you should...it was a narrow escape Narx, you were only lucky." Everon insisted.

Menarx sighed quietly as he leaned down and began lacing up his boots.

"It is not my first dance with death, cousin...it will not be my last. I am King’s guard, it has been a narrow escape a dozen times already." Menarx replied unfazed.

"And your brothers?" Everon asked with a raised brow.

"They must have been truly worried." Menarx murmured with a sigh.

"Our Liege has declared war on the hidden city and has gone after the troll golem himself...worried is an understatement." Everon replied.

Menarx chuckled quietly, he had not expected anything less from his brothers. A scratch on any of them and it was war, that was just the way it went.

"I am deeply touched." Menarx said.

"You do not seem to mind that you could have truly died, do you? And what about Veah, your soon to be bonded?" Everon tried again.

That gave Menarx pause, he surely could not die so easily now that he had Veah.

"Where is she?" Menarx asked.

"Our Liege had her report to the academy, she would not leave but she could not defy a direct order. She was ordered to undergo the first trial afterward." Everon relayed with a sigh of resignation.

"A trial?! Already?! With whose permission?!" Menarx hissed, jumping to his feet.

"Jian’s...obviously." Everon replied.

"That vindictive..." Menarx begun to curse but cut himself off.

"Whatever it is, Neveah is safer at the academy. Her trial will be over soon and you will only get to see her after, you should report to the war room first." Everon advised.

Menarx grunted beneath his breath, this was not how he envisioned their first few days together would go and Menarx knew for certain there were many who had most likely given Neveah a hard time...the dragon king included.

"The minute the trial is over, I want to know...the second!" Menarx made clear.