The Dragon King's Heart

She placed both hands on his shoulders as she continued, "For better or for worse, we have our differences. I don't have to like you, and the same goes for you."

Laina saw the passion Ethan had for the people. After all, she had been keeping tabs on him for a very long time. He had just been misguided by those around him. 

"So, Your Majesty. Do we have a deal?" Laina asked as she put out her hand. 

Ethan nodded as he shook her hand, "We have a deal."

Once everything was settled and arranged, Ethan prepared to leave. Laina attempted to keep him for the night, after all, it was late and dangerous outside. But he insisted on returning to Kinshearth at once. 

"If they discover that I'm missing in the morning, they are going to panic," he added. 

"Alright," Laina called for Florin and Kol,"Escort King Ethan back to Kinshearth Palace."

The vampire and the hybrid obeyed without question. Ethan protested but Laina refused to listen. 

"Rest assured they will not harm you. They will protect you, just in case," Laina chuckled, "If I really wanted to have you killed, you would not have stepped foot in this house, to begin with."

After sending them off, Laina let out a yawn as she headed upstairs. Titan got up from his spot by the fireplace to follow her upstairs. She was unsurprised to see Dante, Margaret, and Marius looking back at her. 

"Are you sure that's a good idea, Laina?" Margaret asked anxiously. 

She shrugged her shoulders, "I guess we'll just have to wait and see."

But before they could go anywhere else, there was a knock on the door. Dante stiffened immediately and so did Marius. From the look on their faces, it was as if they knew who was at the door. 

"Who could it be at this hour?" Laina wondered as she walked down the stairs to open it. 

"Maybe they forgot something," Margaret added as she went down too. 

Marius grabbed onto Margaret's arm and pulled her back. Before she could protest, he shook his head. His look of worry sends a shiver down her spine. Something must be wrong for him to react this way. 

Before Laina could reach for the doorknob, Dante suddenly appeared before her. He physically blocked her from opening the door. 

"Dante? You scared me!" she yelled as she rubbed her chest. 

When she looked up at him, she fell silent. 

"Laina, I'll get the door," he said swiftly. 

Before she could ask what was wrong, he peered over her shoulder and added, "Margaret, can you bring Laina upstairs to rest? Please?"

It was unlike him to be so courteous with her. From the tone of his voice, Margaret knew he meant it. Although she did not know what was beyond the door, she decided to heed what he said. Laina, still confused as to what was going on, refused to go. 

"What's wrong, Dante?" she asked as she furrowed her eyebrows with worry. 

A pit fell in her stomach, "You're not leaving, are you?"

She did not know why those words came out of her mouth. But she felt it in her gut. Dante kissed her on the forehead. 

"No, I'm staying right here. I'll explain everything to you later, alright?" he said as he looked deep into her eyes. 

She could tell he meant it. Choosing to believe in him, Laina relented. She tightened her fists as she walked up the stairs. She did not look back. She stopped in her tracks as she bit her lip. Laina wanted to say something. But nothing came out. In silence, she continued the rest of the way up. 

Once Laina disappeared up the stairs, Dante took in a deep breath as he opened the door. Just as he had suspected, two knights in full body armor greeted him. As soon as they saw him, they got down on their knees. 

Marius, peered over Dante's shoulder to see who it was. He gasped when he saw who they were. They were the Lunar Imperial Knights. They were sent to Gaeia by the Empress, Dante's mother. 

"Your Majesty, King Dante. We are here to escort you home. Your training and preparation for the Celestial Tribulations will begin shortly," the two knights said in unison. 

Dante clenched his jaw. He had almost forgotten about the trials. He looked back up the stairs, momentarily glancing over to Marius too. He cursed beneath his breath. 

He cannot leave now. 

"Convey my message to the Empress," he declared as he straightened his back, "I will prepare for it on Gaeia. She need not worry, I will be ready."

Dante was about to close the door when one of the knights stopped him. 

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. But the Empress's orders-"

Dante was having none of it. He grabbed the knight by the collar of his breastplate and lifted him into the air with one hand. A dark blue aura covered Dante he bared his sharpened canines. The aura caused the remaining knight to fall to the ground. 

Even Marius, who was standing a distance away from him, could feel the pressure of his aura. It was suffocating. 

"I do not take orders from the Empress. If you wish to keep your life, convey my message and count yourselves lucky," he warned before dropping the knight onto the ground. 

Before they could protest, Dante added, "Even if the Empress herself comes to get me. I will not go with her.

I will fight her till I breathe my last."

With that, Dante closed the door and turned back to face the living room. Marius had goosebumps all over his body. He did not dare say anything, as Dante stood there, seething in anger. 

"Dante, shouldn't you-" Dante shot Marius a glare. He immediately pursed his lips and looked down. 

Preparing for it was crucial. It could determine whether or not he would make it out alive. Dante looked down at his hands. The curse's effects only made things even tougher. 

Marius could not hold back any longer. Even if it would get him killed, he had to say something. 

"Why don't you explain everything to Laina. I'm sure she will understand," he pleaded. 

"Absolutely not," Dante replied without skipping a beat, "If Laina finds out about the curse and the trials..."

He refused to think about what would happen then. Dante shook his head."Then what are you going to tell her?" Marius asked as he crossed his arms while leaning his back against the wall. 

Dante furrowed his eyebrows as he massaged his temples. He promised to be truthful to Laina and he intended to keep his promise. 

"I will tell her about the trials."

"But training in Gaeia won't be as efficient and effective as training in the Celestial Realm."

"With the right conditions, I'm sure it would be fine. Besides..." Dante walked over to him. 

He placed his hand on Marius's shoulder, "If I don't make it through the trials, I'm going to make every moment I have with Laina count."

With that, he proceeded upstairs towards his shared bedroom with Laina. Margaret was just about to close her door on her way out from there. They exchanged a look.