The Dragon King and His Fallen Star novel Chapter 79

Chapter 79: Threads and Trinkets

KIERYGAN’S POV

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The sun had just begun to peek above the towers, painting the sky in shades of pale rose and muted purple. Eirlys and I stood at the foot of the grand steps, flanked by Ulyanna and Evander, waiting for our carriage to be brought around.

King Lucius stood before us, his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze calm and unreadable. Beside him stood Prince Draven, his golden eyes flickering with quiet curiosity as he studied our

group.

I turned to the king. “Thank you,” I said, bowing my head slightly. “For your hospitality… and for your assistance in deciphering the message.”

He inclined his head just enough to acknowledge my gratitude, his crimson eyes sliding past me to linger briefly on Eirlys. “It was… enlightening for me as well,” he murmured, a faint smile curving his lips. “You can repay me by upholding our agreement.”

Ulyanna stepped forward. “My witches and I will visit the human territories as soon as possible,”

she said firmly. “We’ll do what we can to delay the spread of the plague.”

She paused, her gaze softening as it fell on Eirlys. “While we continue to work on a cure.”

“Safe travels,” Prince Draven purred, reaching for Eirlys‘ hand and brushing his lips over her

knuckles.

At least this time, his kiss didn’t linger, but he leaned in close to her ear, whispering something I

couldn’t catch.

Eirlys flushed, pulling her hand back quickly. “Until next time,” she murmured politely, her voice

small.

My chest burned with silent fury at the brazen way his gaze roamed over her face–her eyes, her lips. Every instinct screamed to step between them and snap his neck in half. Instead, I clenched my jaw and kept my expression neutral as I placed a hand gently on the small of her back, guiding her away from him.

Prince Draven’s smirk widened knowingly.

Then, unexpectedly, King Lucius turned his gaze to Evander. They had been cold to each other throughout the entire visit. Lucius‘ expression remained unreadable, but his voice softened almost imperceptibly as he said, “I am glad you got to visit home, son.”

Evander’s posture stiffened. For a moment, a flicker of old pain crossed his face before his usual easy smile slid back into place.

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“There’s no need for courtesies,” he said lightly, though his voice was dry. “We both know you’re far from thrilled to see me here. You still haven’t forgiven me… and you still blame me for her death.”

A ripple of silence spread through the courtyard. Even the morning breeze seemed to still around

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King Lucius‘ gaze remained steady, his eyes unreadable. “No one blames you, Evander.”

Before Evander could respond, Prince Draven scoffed quietly, folding his arms across his chest. ” No,” he drawled. “It’s you who hasn’t forgiven yourself, little brother.”

Evander flinched as if struck. Without another word he turned sharply away from them just as our carriage arrived. In silence, he climbed inside, disappearing behind the polished doors without a backward glance.

I turned back to King Lucius, dipping my head slightly. “He’ll come around,” I said quietly, though even as the words left my mouth, they felt hollow.

Lucius held my gaze, his eyes dimming with something old and weary. “Perhaps,” he murmured, his

voice almost lost to the wind.

Prince Draven shook his head, eyes glimmering with silent amusement.

Without another word, I turned and gently nudged Eirlys into the carriage. The doors closed behind us with a quiet finality as the horses began their slow descent from the obsidian palace of the

Morens.

The carriage rumbled steadily along the cobblestone roads, the rising sun casting fleeting beams through the curtained windows. Inside, silence settled heavy between us.

Eirlys sat across from me, her back pressed against the plush cushions. Nibbles‘ cage rested on

the floor by her feet, the rabbit curled up fast asleep, his nose twitching with each gentle sway of

the carriage.

She stared out the window, watching the dark trees blur past, her reflection ghosting across the

glass. I leaned forward, bracing my elbows on my knees as I studied her quietly, the question

clawing at my chest until I could no longer hold it back.

“What did he say to you earlier?”

She blinked, startled from her thoughts. “Who?”

“Draven,” I said, my voice low but edged with quiet insistence. “Before we left, he whispered something to you.”

A soft flush bloomed across her cheeks. “It was… nothing.”

I narrowed my eyes, holding her gaze despite her attempts to look away. “If it was nothing, you

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wouldn’t be blushing.”

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She shifted, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear, her gaze dropping to her hands as they twisted tighter in her lap. “Really, Kierygan… it’s nothing important.”

“Tell. Me,” I demanded, a little too firmly, leaving no room for argument.

She sighed, her shoulders slumping in quiet defeat. “He just…. apologized.”

My brows drew together. “Apologized? For what?”

Eirlys bit her lip, as if warring with herself. “About the wine. He said… it was just for fun, and…” Her

voice trailed off.

“And?” I pressed, folding my arms across my chest!

She swallowed nervously. “And… he just wanted to annoy you,” she whispered. “He didn’t mean for

me to get sick.”

My jaw tightened, a low growl vibrating in my chest before I could stop it. “That blood–sucking

bastard.”

She flinched at the harshness of my tone, hugging her arms around herself. I forced myself to rein

in my temper and asked more quietly, “Did he say anything else?”

She shook her head quickly, eyes downcast. “No… that was all.”

I studied her face for a few moments before leaning back against my seat. She mirrored me, her

gaze returning to the window. We sat in silence as the carriage rolled on, the landscape passing in

a blur of muted greens and browns.

After a while, I noticed her straighten slightly, her eyes brightening with that quiet wonder I had come to recognize. She leaned closer to the window, her breath fogging the glass slightly. Curious about what captured her attention, I shifted forward and followed her gaze.

Outside, a bustling village market sprawled along the roadside. Stalls lined both sides, draped with

colorful cloths that flapped in the warm breeze.

Merchants hawked everything from woven baskets and painted ceramics to freshly baked breads and fragrant bundles of herbs. Children darted between stalls, their laughter ringing across the square, while travelers milled about, bartering and browsing beneath strings of hanging lanterns swaying gently overhead.

I rapped twice against the carriage wall.

The horses slowed to a halt, their hooves clopping softly against the packed earth. Evander and Ulyanna’s carriage rolled to a stop behind us.

I pushed the door open and stepped down first. Before I could reach for her, Eirlys lifted Nibbles

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out of his cage, cradling him gently against her chest. Then she placed her small hands in mine

without hesitation as I guided her down the carriage steps.

Behind us, Evander stretched languidly, raking a hand through his tousled hair. Ulyanna stepped

down beside him with a relieved sigh, rolling her shoulders to ease the stiffness from travel.

“I’m taking a look around,” Ulyanna declared, smoothing down her robes as her gaze swept over

the vibrant market. “Perhaps I’ll find rare herbs for my spells… or even a dress for the coming

festival.”

Evander arched a brow, amusement flickering in his eyes. “Don’t buy out the entire market, lady.”

She sniffed and waved a dismissive hand at him before striding off into the crowd, her hair swaying behind her. Evander fell into step behind us at a lazy pace, hands tucked into the pockets

of his dark coat.

Eirlys walked silently beside me, her head turning from side to side as she drank in the sights and scents around her. My gaze flicked toward a dress shop nearby, mannequins draped in flowing fabrics of every color. I was about to lead her there when I felt a soft tug at my sleeve.

I glanced down to see Eirlys looking up at me with tentative hope glimmering in her eyes.

“May I…” she hesitated, glancing across the market street. Her eyes fixed on a shop across the road where the display window glittered with all kinds of delicate trinkets and charms. “May I get something for my friends?”

She clutched Nibbles closer to her chest as she waited for my answer.

Wordlessly, I reached into my coat and drew out a handful of silver and gold coins. I placed them in her small hand, curling her fingers firmly around them.

Her eyes widened. “Thank you,” she whispered, slipping the coins quickly into her pocket.

I bent down slightly, locking my gaze with hers. “Wait for me there. Don’t go anywhere else until I arrive. Understand?”

She nodded fervently. “I promise.”

“Good.” I released her hand.

She turned and hurried across the street, her pale hair fluttering behind her like a silken banner. I watched until she disappeared safely into the trinket shop before straightening and gesturing to

Evander beside me.

“Come,” I said. “We need to find a dress.”

Evander smirked faintly, brushing dust from his dark sleeves. “Ah, the mighty dragon king shopping for gowns.”

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“Silence,” I muttered, striding forward.

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We stepped into the dress shop, greeted by a swirl of rich colors and delicate perfumes. Bolts of

embroidered fabric lined the walls in cascading rows, shimmering beneath lantern light.

As I scanned the displays, I became aware of quiet footsteps trailing behind us. At first, I ignored them, thinking it was another customer. But no matter where Evander and I turned–between

shelves and racks–the footsteps followed.

Evander noticed too. His eyes darkened to blood–red, fangs sliding out as his lips curled into a

silent snarl.

I gave him a curt nod.

In an instant, he vanished–dissolving into dark mist and reappearing across the shop floor. A

startled gasp rang out, followed by a sharp scuffle, then the crack of flesh against stone as

Evander pinned someone hard against the wall by the throat.

I strode forward, weaving between racks of silk and chiffon until I saw who he held.

It was a woman. Her hair was a cascade of burning red, falling in soft waves down her back. Green eyes glared out from beneath dark lashes, narrowed in venomous defiance despite the sharp scent of fear rising from her skin.

“Why are you following us, witch?” Evander growled his voice low and dangerous.

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