The Dragon King and His Fallen Star novel Chapter 84

Chapter 84: What Scares Her More

EIRLYS’ POV

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I woke to the golden rays of sunset warming my face and the soft rattle of Nibbles’ cage in the

corner.

Blinking slowly, I lay still for a moment, disoriented.

The last thing I remembered was Danaiah tending to my injuries… then Emma arriving with a cup

of tea that smelled of chamomile, lavender, and mint. Whatever was in it had pulled me under

completely.

I sat up slowly, half-expecting a sharp flare of pain in my ribs or cheek-but none came. No

soreness, no ache.

Glancing down, I realized I was no longer in the torn, bloodstained clothes from earlier. Someone-

Emma, most likely-had cleaned me up and dressed me in a soft, pale-blue gown. Even my hair

had been brushed and smoothed, every trace of the day’s chaos gently erased.

I rose to my feet and padded over to Nibbles’ cage. He twitched his nose at me as I opened it, placing some rabbit food, a few leaves of lettuce, and a single piece of strawberry on the tray.

“Eat up,” I murmured. “You’ve had a big day.”

Nibbles lunged at the food without hesitation, his tiny paws gripping the tray as he devoured the strawberry first, eager chomps echoing in the quiet room. I watched him for a while, a faint smile tugging at my lips as his ears twitched and his nose bobbed in quick, contented motions.

A low grumble from my own stomach broke the moment.

Right. I needed to eat too.

Turning to the closet, I pulled out a soft, slightly oversized sweater and slipped it over my nightdress. Then I stepped out of my room.

I made my way through the halls toward the dining room, the scent of warm bread and glazed meats growing stronger with each step.

Orryx spotted me first.

“Oh, there’s our little dragon tamer,” he called out with a lopsided grin, raising a goblet in my

direction.

Evander gave a playful clap against the table, while Callum and Ulyanna offered small nods from where they sat. I flushed, but managed a smile, my heart fluttering with a mix of embarrassment, and something that felt oddly like pride.

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* Chapter 84. What Scares Her More

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Then Kierygan turned from his place at the head of the table. His expression was unreadable for a heartbeat… then it softened ever so slightly.

“I didn’t think you’d wake in time,” he said, his voice lower and rougher than the others. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m… fine,” I replied, stepping farther into the hall. “Danaiah’s treatment worked.”

He studied my face for a moment longer, as if checking for cracks I might be hiding. Then he gave

a small nod and gestured to my seat.

“Eat.”

I didn’t need to be told twice-and I didn’t hold back. I was starving.

I began piling a little of everything onto my plate, catching a small, satisfied huff from Kierygan beside me. I had barely taken two bites when Callum’s voice cut through the low hum of

conversation around the table.

“So,” he said, one brow arched, “did you enjoy your first dragon ride?”

My fork paused mid-air. “I did,” I said truthfully. “The view from above was… breathtaking.”

“Breathtaking,” Kierygan echoed, voice dry and deadpan. “You screamed the entire time.”

I turned toward him sharply, cheeks full, nearly choking. I glared at him with wide eyes as I

swallowed. “I did not scream the entire time!”

Laughter rippled around the table.

“If you weren’t trying to show off and scare me on purpose,” I shot back before I could stop myself,

“I wouldn’t have screamed at all.”

Before I could say more, Kierygan leaned in slightly and, out of nowhere, pinched my cheek.

“I wasn’t showing off,” he said, a little too quickly.

I stared at him, blinking. My cheek tingled where his fingers had briefly touched it. He looked back

at me with an expression somewhere between smug and amused-and then coolly returned to cutting into his meat as if nothing had happened.

Evander scoffed. “You’re his first passenger ever,” he said, grinning. “Of course, he tried to impress you. Bigger beasts tend to have bigger egos.”

“Shut up,” Kierygan muttered, shooting him a glare.

That only made the laughter around the table swell

Before anyone could say anything else, Mirael’s voice sliced clean through the laughter. “How thrilling for you,” she said, her tone smooth as glass, though something brittle coiled beneath it.”

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Chapter 84: What Scares Her More

I’m sure soaring above the clouds with a dragon is.. unforgettable.”

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I didn’t look at her, but I could picture her perfectly wearing that carefully practiced smile, but her gaze was just a little too sharp to be warm.

She didn’t stop there. “But perhaps we should turn to more pressing matters,” she continued, setting her goblet down with a deliberate clink. “Like the ambush at the market. Malric and Morwenna are growing bolder.”

Ulyanna nodded from farther down the table. “And it seemed they knew our every move,” she added, her eyes shifting between Mirael and Kierygan. “Eirlys mentioned the feeling of being watched-first at the cave, then again in Obsidia.”

Evander leaned forward, folding his hands. “They may have sent a spy,” he said, voice low. “It’s possible one is already here. Among us.”

The room fell still.

Even Mirael, whom I half-expected to scoff or deflect, said nothing.

Silence stretched until Orryx finally broke it.

“While we’re on the subject of ambushes,” he said, setting his goblet down with a deliberate clink,” you should know that shortly after you left for Morvanya, our patrols spotted movement near the eastern border. Rogues-circling, like they knew you were gone.”

That drew Kierygan’s gaze. “How many?”

“Dozens. They didn’t engage. Just testing the perimeter. Watching.” Orryx’s fingers tapped once against the table. “We drove them back before they could try anything. Rotations have been doubled.”

Across the table, Mirael’s brow arched slightly. “Rogues? Near the border?” Her voice was light, but touched with surprise. “I hadn’t heard.”

Callum let out a short laugh, sharp as flint. “You’d have known-if you’d been here,” he said. “Maybe you could’ve tracked them back to Malric’s camp. But you weren’t here.”

Mirael stiffened. Her smile faltered. “I—”

“Where have you been, anyway?” Callum pressed, spearing a slice of roast with more force than necessary.

All eyes turned to her.

Even Kierygan. “I don’t recall sending you on any mission,” he said, his voice quiet, but cold.

Mirael’s gaze flicked to him. “I… went to visit an old friend. A healer,” she replied-too quickly. “I wasn’t far. Just needed a few days to… unwind.”

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< Chapter 84: What Scares Her More

Kierygan said nothing.

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”

Then Ulyanna gently cleared her throat, her voice a calm current slicing through the storm. Regardless of anyone’s whereabouts,” she said evenly, “we know what they’re after. They want Eirlys-and they want to bring down Altierra.”

My fork paused midair.

I had been quietly eating while the conversation swirled around me, but I froze the moment I heard

my name. The reminder that Malric still wanted my light-to destroy Altierra and bring down

Kierygan-was enough to smother the hunger I’d felt just moments ago.

Suddenly, the food in my mouth tasted like ash.

I set my fork and knife down, the soft clink against the plate louder in my ears than it should have been. I looked up at Kierygan.

“May I be excused?” I asked softly.

He frowned, eyes flicking from my face to the plate I’d nearly finished. For a moment, he didn’t

answer.

Then, finally, he gave a small nod. “Alright.”

I rose from my seat and walked straight back to my chambers. Once inside, I shut the door softly behind me and made my way to the bed. Sitting down, I pulled the blankets around my legs, cocooning myself in their warmth.

Silence settled in like fog.

My thoughts drifted-back to Malric, to Morwenna. To what he had done with my light… and what he would do if he ever succeeded in taking me back.

Suddenly, a knock sounded-three sharp raps that jolted me upright. The door creaked open without waiting for a reply.

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