Wolf Princess Sold to the Dragon King novel Chapter 202

Chapter 202: We Cuddle With Mate. No.

The healer peeled back the blanket, touching Guinevere’s arm for her I.V.

Kael’s entire body snapped tight, eyes flashing gold, aggressively ignoring his dragon.

That man dares put his hands on our mate? BURN HIM. SLOWLY. THEN AGAIN.

When the healer left, he checked on her one more time. Cassian’s blood was already helping her. More color was coming back to her face.

He kissed her forehead on pure reflex, then realized what he was doing and jerked away like he was caught mid-crime.

His dragon rumbled, irritated.

We lay with her.

He let out a long breath. Fucking hell. When she woke, not touching her was going to be hard.

✦✦✦

Three seconds. That’s how long the peace lasted. Three seconds between closing her door and hearing the first sound of organizational collapse echoing up the stairwell. A new record for the worst goddamn Keep he’d ever set foot in.

By the time he reached the great hall, he’d counted fourteen problems.

Kael found Tyler Draven issuing orders to a group of sleep-deprived warriors. It was his first day on the job as Alpha and categorically a full-scale, five-alarm, what-the-fuck.

When Tyler saw him, he snapped to attention so hard his boots squeaked on the stone. "Sir."

Cute. The kid was shaking and saluted like he’d been practicing in a mirror. Kael ignored both things and went straight for the jugular.

"How many guards are on the princess’s tower?"

Color left Tyler’s face. Kael didn’t wait for him to answer.

"Two guards on her door. Right now," he ordered. "Two more at the base of the tower stairwell. Two at the midpoint. Rotating four-hour shifts. Nobody enters that tower without my authorization. Are those instructions clear?"

Tyler’s eyes went wide. "Yes, Sir."

Smart kid. Fast learner. Still an idiot, but a trainable one.

"Good. Those guards are late. Go."

Tyler went.

Was Kael being overprotective? Absolutely. So fucking what. The bar for acceptable was already six feet under and Kael had passed it on his way to hell.

✦✦✦

Tyler returned to the great hall at a jog, where Kael was already neck-deep in the next problem.

There were many next problems.

"Walk with me," Kael began. "We’re doing this once. I am leaving this Keep with her the second I can shift. When I leave, you need to be able to run this place without a dragon holding your hand. That means you learn fast or your pack dies slow. Clear?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Let’s start with the part where you rationed water to the eastern barracks but forgot that the infirmary shares the same supply line."

Tyler winced. "I thought the infirmary had its own—"

"It does not have its own. Your wounded fighters have been drinking from the same cistern your archers have been pissing next to for six hours because nobody moved the latrine station after you repositioned the eastern line."

"I... did not think about the latrine station."

"Nobody ever thinks about the latrine station. That’s why good commanders are paranoid about the latrine station. Move it downhill. Minimum fifty yards from any water source."

"Yes, sir."

"Who performed best during the first wave?" Kael asked. "Specifically. Name and action."

Tyler thought. "Gavyn Holt. He reorganized his squad mid-engagement when their formation broke. Redirected archers to cover the south flank without being told."

"That’s your field sergeant. Promote him. He’ll be loyal to you for life. Delegate tasks to him on mindlink as we go."

Tyler nodded, absorbing every word.

"New leadership will be tested in any kingdom. Not just here," Kael continued. "That means you are thorough. Send runners for visual confirmation on top of mindlinks. When we finish, you do a round yourself. Understood?"

"Yes, sir."

Tyler got runners fast. Kael noticed. The kid was eager, a little desperate, and responded well to being told exactly what to do. Good. Kael wasn’t running a daycare.

They walked through the Keep at a pace that was partially strategic and partially because Kael’s ribs were informing him that standing still hurt worse than moving.

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