The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate novel Chapter 24

Chapter 24: Skeletor Grew a Pair

Bellatrix screamed like the universe had personally betrayed her.

"What—PUT ME DOWN—HOW DARE YOU!"

Velkaris lifted her effortlessly, holding her away from his body like something irritating he had found stuck to his scales.

The entire terrace froze.

Serena’s heart slammed into her ribs.

She didn’t want Bellatrix killed. Well maybe of natural causes... but certainly not due to her dragon.

"Oh gods," she whispered. "Velkaris, no."

Velkaris’s gaze flicked to Serena, then to Bellatrix.

His claw released Bellatrix just long enough for her to think she could run.

Before she could take two frantic steps, his teeth snagged her cloak and tossed her onto his back in one fluid motion.

Velkaris soared into the sky, dragging Bellatrix along whether she wanted to go or not.

Serena surged forward, a blur of determination as she raced toward them. With a powerful leap, she grasped his claw.

Velkaris huffed in annoyance but reluctantly lifted his leg. She climbed onto his back swiftly, positioning herself to face Bellatrix.

"I am so sorry," Serena said breathlessly, leaning forward so Bellatrix could hear her over the wind. "This wasn’t intentional."

"YES IT WAS!" Bellatrix shrieked, fury and terror warring on her face. "GET ME DOWN THIS INSTANT."

Serena steadied herself, one hand finding the grooves between Velkaris’s scales.

"We need to talk."

"Dragons will be on the horizon to retrieve me," Bellatrix snapped, crossing her arms. "And who do you think they’ll side with? Not the liar who brainwashed the crown prince."

Serena’s expression didn’t change. "I take it you’ve never ridden a dragon before."

"Don’t patronize me, you little twat," Bellatrix yelled.

"What is it about me that actually bothers you?" Serena asked. "My background? Or the fact that I’m your son’s fated mate?"

Bellatrix’s expression flickered to surprise for a micro-second then her eyes narrowed at Serena in disbelief.

"Dex is my fated mate, if you hadn’t figured that out yet. Now you know. But let me be clear, my mother and father were chosen mates. I never expected to find my fated mate and love is a choice you make every day. Not something I would take for granted."

"Shut up with your little peasant wisdom monologue, you sanctimonious court mattress," Bellatrix snapped back.

"Struck a nerve there, did I?" Serena smiled with a hint of challenge in her eyes. "Noted."

Bellatrix’s lips curled in a contemptuous grin, her gaze sharp as a dagger. "I see your true colors."

"Yes, well, we’re flying midair on a dragon with nowhere to go," Serena deadpanned. "I have the sense to try and be polite. You, on the other hand, seem to have let power rot what little self-awareness you had."

Bellatrix scoffed, like she’d been punched. "Coming from a participation trophy prostitute?"

"Good one," Serena said, unblinking. "From this moment forward, Elara’s name is off-limits from your vile tongue. Test me on that and you’ll regret it."

Bellatrix lifted her chin. "Is that a threat?"

Without warning, Velkaris corkscrewed downward.

Bellatrix’s shriek immediately followed.

"WHAT THE FUCK—SON OF—I AM NOT DYING BECAUSE OF SOME RAT AND HER DEMONIC LIZARD!"

The ground rushed close and Velkaris pulled up at the last possible second, only to soar upward again at a sharp angle.

"I GET IT," Bellatrix yelled, breathless and furious. "You want your little ginger, red-headed Chucky doll friend from hell left alone!"

"Good," Serena said pleasantly. "You have the ability to comprehend basic sentence structure. For a moment, I was genuinely concerned you were illiterate."

Bellatrix bristled. "WHY YOU—"

Serena raised her hand in the air and cut her off. "I’m not finished. You will stop trying to harm me. And you will stop using other people to do your dirty work when you think you’re being clever."

"I have done no such things," Bellatrix said, chin lifted.

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