The Dragon King and His Fallen Star novel Chapter 70

Chapter 70: The Dragon’s Claim

EIRLYS‘ POV

We were back on the road again.

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After hours of traveling through dense, endless woods, we finally emerged into a small village

nestled at their edge. The sharp scent of woodsmoke mingled with the warm, comforting aroma of fresh bread, curling through the morning air as our carriage slowed to a stop in front of a tavern.

Kierygan leaned out to instruct the coachmen to feed and water the horses–and to take a meal

and rest themselves.

Inside, the tavern was already alive with noise despite the early hour. The air was thick with the mingled scents of ale, roasted meats, and sweat. Klerygan and Evander pulled their hoods low

over their faces as we wove through the crowded tables, avoiding curious eyes.

Ulyanna led me toward a table tucked away in the far corner, and we settled down together.

Kierygan went to the counter to order food. I watched him for a moment, my eyes tracing his broad shoulders and the way people instinctively stepped aside to let him pass. He carried himself

with quiet power, and even now, concealed under a hood, he drew wary glances.

Suddenly, a blur of cinnamon fur darted out from under our table.

“Nibbles-!” I gasped. “Not again.”

He bounded across the tavern floor, ears flicking, and disappeared beneath a table crowded with loud, drunken men, nose twitching eagerly at a fallen piece of bread. Panic squeezed tight in my chest as I scrambled after him, weaving between chairs and muddy boots.

“Come back here, Nibbles,” I whispered urgently, not wanting to draw attention. But it was too late.

One of the burly men leaned down, his thick fingers curling around Nibbles‘ tiny body. He lifted him by the scruff with a careless tug, a wide, filthy grin spreading across his face.

“Look what I found,” he slurred to his friends, shaking Nibbles slightly. “Lunch.”

Anger surged through me, burning hot and reckless “Put him down!” I snapped. “He’s not food- he’s my friend.”

They stared at each other for a fleeting moment before bursting into harsh, echoing laughter.

“Pretty, isn’t she,” the burly man said, sneering up at me. “Too bad she’s cracked in the head. A

rabbit for a friend.”

I ignored their laughter and reached out to grab Nibbles, but another man seized my wrist, yanking me forward so hard my knees knocked against the table. The stench of stale ale and sour sweat

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Chapter 70 The Dragon’s Claim

rolled off him, making my stomach roil.

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“Well, well,” he slurred, his gaze raking over me before settling low with a disgusting curl of his lips. “Don’t see pretty little things like you ‘round here often. Especially not ones with a fine ass like this.”

Revulsion twisted in my chest. I tried to pull away, but his grip tightened painfully, his dirty nails digging into my skin. Another man grabbed my other arm, pinning me between them. Nibbles squeaked desperately, still dangling from the first man’s fist.

“Let me go,” I hissed, my breath ragged as I struggled against their hold.

Then a voice cut through the raucous laughter–a deep, thunderous growl that seemed to shake

the floorboards themselves.

“Get your hands off her,” it commanded, cold and lethal. “She’s mine.”

My heart stopped. Kierygan. His hood shadowed most of his face, but I could see his blue eyes burning from beneath it. For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of silver swirling in their depths.

One of the men holding me barked out a laugh. “Is that so?” he jeered. “Shouldn’t let your pretty toy

wander off, lad. Now she’s ours.”

Their laughter swelled again, crude and taunting. But then another figure stepped forward from

the dimness, his boots striking the floor with deliberate, echoing finality. The tavern fell silent.

It was Evander. He tilted his head slightly, his golden eyes gleaming cool and amused under his

hood.

“You really should listen to my friend,” he drawled softly. “Let the girl go.”

“Or what?” the burly man challenged, tightening his grip on Nibbles, making the little rabbit squeak

in fear.

Kierygan and Evander didn’t respond. In unison, they reached up and pulled their hoods back.

Kierygan’s skin rippled as silver–blue scales began to form along his neck and jaw, his nails

lengthening into sharp talons. Beside him, Evander’s golden eyes flared blood–red, his lips parting

to reveal long, gleaming fangs.

The sight of them–both terrifying and utterly inhuman–froze the men in stunned silence.

Suddenly, their grips on me loosened. I heard Nibbles thud softly onto the floor. Instinctively, I

darted back, pressing myself behind Kierygan and Evander just as Nibbles scrambled into my arms, trembling.

One of the men stumbled back, his eyes wide with horror. His voice shook as he croaked, “It’s… it’s

the Dragon King. And the Vampire Prince.”

Kierygan and Evander stepped forward, their movements slow and deliberate–like predators

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Chapter 70: The Dragon’s Claim

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savoring the moment. Each seized one of the men who had grabbed me, fingers tightening around their throats as they lifted them effortlessly into the air.

“Apologize to my lady,” Kierygan commanded, his voice low and unyielding.

The first man gasped, eyes wide with panic. “I’m sorry,” he choked out. “It was meant as a joke.”

“Yeah,” the other stammered, struggling for breath. “We’d had too many already. We didn’t mean it.”

Evander’s lips curled into a cruel smirk. “Pathetic,” he sneered. “I could drain your blood right now.

No matter how foul it tastes.”

A wet sound splattered. The man in Evander’s grip had just wet himself.

With a rough shove, Evander hurled him to the floor Kierygan followed, dropping the other with a harsh grunt.

“Be gone,” Kierygan’s voice thundered through the tavern.

The men scrambled to their feet, stumbling and scrambling toward the exit without a backward

glance.

Kierygan reached for me, his massive arm wrapping firmly around my waist as if to shield me from the world. He looked down, his blue eyes dark with a storm of emotions.

“Are you alright?” he asked, his voice softer now, though still edged with restrained fury.

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. My throat felt tight and raw from fear. So I just

nodded.

His grip on me tightened briefly before he guided me back to our table, his hand warm and steady on my waist. I sank into my seat, clutching Nibbles tightly against my chest. The little rabbit buried

his face under my chin, trembling.

Not long after, steaming platters of food arrived–thick slices of roast, buttered greens, and warm bread that smelled faintly of rosemary. Kierygan sat beside me, his arm resting on the back of my chair as he turned slightly to face me.

“Eat,” he ordered quietly, his gaze softening when I hesitated. “No one will ever touch you like that

again.”

My chest tightened at his words, echoing with what he’d said earlier. She’s mine.

What did he even mean by that? Was it only to protect me… or something else entirely?

I managed a small nod before reaching for a piece of bread, though my fingers still trembled. I forced myself to chew, but the food felt dry and tasteless in my mouth despite its rich flavors.

For a while, we ate in silence, the tavern’s noise a distant hum around us. Then Kierygan spoke

again, his tone shifting to something stern.

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Chapter 70 The Dragon’s Claim

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“Next time, control that rabbit of yours,” he said, his brows drawing down in a stern line. “We

agreed on this before we left. Contain it. If it runs off again, you are not to chase after it. Do you

understand?”

I nodded quickly, glancing down at Nibbles who was munching a stray piece of lettuce on my lap. I

sighed and scratched behind his ears.

“Did you hear that?” I whispered to him. “Don’t get me in trouble again.”

Nibbles twitched his nose in response, oblivious to the storm he had caused.

I glanced at Ulyanna and Evander. Ulyanna was focused intently on her plate, while Evander swirled

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