Reborn: the Dragon God’s Bride Chapter 05
The next morning, they dragged me to the throne room.
Then I saw him.
The scarred man from the temple stood in the center of the hall. His left wing hung at this weird angle, mangled and broken. Half his face was covered in scars. A dirty cloth wrapped around his left eye. He leaned on a wooden crutch, his body trembling slightly.
But when his one good eye found mine, something in there was warm. Soft, even. I felt it right in my throat.
Father sat on his throne, looking at the man like he was garbage. “You’re the cripple who wants to marry my daughter?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” His voice was rough but steady.
State your name!”
Kael Ashborne.” He bowed slightly, wincing at the movement. “I was a border guard, Lost my wing in the war against the shadow dragons.”
The hall erupted in laughter. Nobles covered their mouths, but I could see them smirking. Someone whispered “a cripple and a wingless fraud” loud enough for everyone to hear.
Damien stood near Father’s throne, arms crossed.
That smug smile on his face made me want to scream.
“You dare ask for a royal princess? What makes you think you’re worthy?”
Kael lifted his head. “I don’t have noble blood or perfect wings. But I can protect her. With my life.”
Damien actually laughed out loud. “How touching! A crippled soldier playing hero. Tell me, what exactly will you protect her with? Your broken wing?”
The crowd roared with laughter again.
wanted to tell them all to shut up. This man stood here, letting them mock him, just to… what? Save me?
Why would he do this?
Father leaned back in his throne. “You know what?
I’ll allow it.” His smile was cruel. “A wingless fraud deserves a crippled husband. You two are a perfect match.”
My stomach dropped.
“But,” Father continued, “I won’t waste resources on wedding ceremony. You’ll stay in her cell. When the creature is born, we’ll decide what to do with all three of you.”
Kael bowed again. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Don’t thank me.” Father waved dismissively. “Guards, take them away.”
As the guards grabbed my arms, I caught Damien’s eye. He was practically glowing with satisfaction.
They threw Kael into my cell and slammed the door.
For a long moment, we just stared at each other.
He limped to the corner and started spreading his torn cloak on the floor. “I’ll sleep here. I won’t bother you.”
“Your leg…” I heard myself say. “You need the bed.”
He looked up, surprised. “I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not.” I moved to the other side of the bed. “Just… take half. There’s room.”
A small smile crossed his scarred face. “Thank you.”
That night, I couldn’t sleep.
“Why did you do it?” I whispered into the darkness.
Silence. Then, “I promised someone I’d protect you when you needed it most.”
“Who?”
“Someone important.” His voice was gentle. “Sleep now. You need rest,”
I felt him shift slightly on the bed, and suddenly heat spread through me. Not regular heat. Something else.
Magic.
My wrist tingled where the mark had appeared in the temple.
What is he doing?
The heat moved through me, warm and steady. I should’ve been scared, but instead I felt… safe. For the first time in weeks.
What are you-”
“Shh.” His hand barely touched my shoulder. “Just let it work.”
did. And slowly, the fear that had been sitting on me for weeks started to lift.
Over the next few days, Kael became my shadow. He fixed the broken window with scraps of cloth. Stacked stones to level the wobbly table. Told me stories about the border lands to distract me from the guards‘ taunts.
Every night, he’d channel magic into me while I slept. And every morning, I felt a little stronger.
One evening, I caught him staring at the wall with this intense focus. His magic signature felt… wrong. Too
powerful for a bronze dragon. Too controlled.
“You’re not just a soldier, are you?”
He turned, that gentle smile back. “I’m whoever you need me to be.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“No.” He touched my hand briefly. “But it’s the truth”
Two weeks after Kael arrived, music echoed through the palace.
I pressed my face against the barred window. In the distance, the main hall blazed with lights. Dragons in formal attire filled the courtyard.
Isadora’s wedding.
I felt sick. Not because I wanted Damien. God, no. But because my little sister was marrying a monster and she didn’t even know it.
“She looks happy,” Kael said quietly behind me.
She won’t be for long.” I watched Isadora’s distant figure in a white gown, smiling and waving. “He’ll drain her dry. Just like he tried to do to me.”
“We’ll stop him.”
“How?” I spun to face him. “I’m locked in here, waiting to die. She’s out there, thinking she found love.
There’s nothing I can “Time.” Kael’s good eye held mine. “When your child is born, everything changes. Trust me.”
Two months crawled by.
Then one day, footsteps stopped outside my cell. The lock clicked.
Isadora stood in the doorway.