Bound To The Ice Dragon King
Chapter 180: Being attack in the healing pool

Chapter 180: Being attack in the healing pool

Back at the dragon realm, Rhea couldn’t sleep as her mind kept wandering back to Aria and what condition she might be in at this moment. Restlessly tossing and turning in bed, she finally gave up on sleep after an hour and hastily got up. She threw on her outer robe, slipped on her shoes, and grabbed the lamp from her bedside.

Rhea left her room, deciding it would be better to go to the healing pool than to spend the night worrying without any rest. The possibility of finding Draven there only strengthened her desire to go. Being in the pool with him always eased her mind, especially since they had shared two kisses there before. Rhea always looked forward to seeing him there. To her delight, Draven was already in the healing pool in his Dragon form when she entered.

Resting his large head at the edge of the pool, Draven heard Rhea’s approaching footsteps. Opening his eyes, he felt his heart skip a beat when he saw her walking towards him in her silky night dress, unknowingly swaying her hips. He had been eagerly anticipating her arrival, unsure if she would actually come, but here she was.

Draven moved his head from the edge, leaving behind a cold spot. Rhea approached and sat in that spot, dipping her legs into the pool. She instinctively pulled Draven’s head closer so she could stroke him. Despite the chilly wind, Rhea didn’t feel the cold, clad only in her thin night dress with a robe. They sat in silence, enjoying each other’s company.

With her legs dipping into the cool water, Rhea’s fingers gently stroked Draven’s dragon head. The night was a moonless night and was cloaked in a soothing darkness, broken only by the warm glow of the poolside lamps that cast shimmering reflections on the water’s surface. The ripples played with the light, creating a dance of illumination.

Outside the protective fence of the pool area, the occasional gust of wind rustled the snowed ground. While Rhea’s gaze lingered on Draven’s head, his eyes were closed as she ran her hands around his large head.

A faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips as her thoughts drifted to the previous night. She recalled the way Draven had kissed her in the pool, a memory that ignited a simmering desire deep within her. She suddenly felt a warmth spread to her lower abdomen as she recalled the words Draven whispered to her ears last night;

’You should go back to your room before I wolf you down in the pool.’ he had whispered. What would have happened if she hadn’t ran back to her room? Would he really...

Rhea’s body responded to those thoughts and memory, and she felt her nipples harden, an involuntary reaction she tried to dismiss by shifting uncomfortably.

"What’s wrong? What are you thinking of?" She suddenly heard Draven’s voice in her mind.

"N-nothing." She murmured softly, a deep red blush crept up to her cheeks. But thankfully his eyes weren’t open for him to notice that.

Shaking her head to clear the unforgiving thoughts and images from her mind, Rhea tried to focus on the weighty matters at hand. Guilt washed over her as she realized she had allowed herself to be carried away by her own desires when her friend was in trouble. She knew she had to put those thoughts aside and concentrate on the matter going around the palace.

"Draven," she called.

"Hmm?" He hummed without opening his closed eyes.

"If Alina asks to exchange Aria with Enzo, do you think the king would let go of Enzo?" She had come to like the man after their conversation this morning. He was even ready to give his life as long as Alina would be brought to justice.

"I don’t know," he replied honestly.

Rhea pouted her lips, "You said I have matured, but I don’t think so. I kept imagining the worst scenario for Aria." She sighed deeply, "I won’t rest until Aria is back safely."

"Don’t let the thoughts overwhelm you, Alina won’t harm the princess as long as we have Enzo. She loves that man to moon and back." He assured calmly.

Rhea continued to caress his head, but then another thought came to her. "Draven," she called again, but this time her voice was more serious. "Based on what I’ve seen, dragons who lose their core either die or lose their abilities. But you, none of that happened to you."

Draven’s closed eyes shot open, his head moved away from Rhea’s touch as he looked at her. He knew what she was implying, but he wanted to avoid that topic at all costs. He had already made up his mind about the core and didn’t want anything to change it.

"All dragons need their core, you’re not an exception, right?" Rhea looked up at Draven when he didn’t respond. "So how is it that you claim your body can do without the core?"

Draven had no answer, or rather he didn’t want to answer that question. He searched for ways to change that topic. But before he could even think, the temperature suddenly rose, and then the roof of the fence was flung away by a force.

Draven, who was still in the pool, immediately transformed into his human form and draped his robe around his body. He glanced up towards the sky and saw a figure, but before he could make out the person in the sky, his sharp sense detected danger and flame.

With gritted teeth, he said, "Alina!"

Draven yanked Rhea away when he saw arrow flames descending on them from the sky. Before he could prepare himself, another rain of arrows came down towards them, he quickly formed an ice barrier around his body and Rhea, and the arrows struck the barrier. But Alina didn’t stop, she continued to send more arrows down on them.

However, Draven’s barrier wasn’t strong enough to withstand Alina’s attack, the barrier began to crack and it was clear it was about to break down.

Draven knew he wouldn’t be able to hold the arrows thus he turned around and hugged Rhea in his arms using his body as a shield. He blocked the descending arrows with his back, some of them passed throw the fragile barrier and struck his back, he muffled a groan and tightened his hold around Rhea.

Draven’s embrace was strong, his arms was crushing her against his body. In his arms, Rhea felt safe and the arrows passing through the barrier didn’t reach her at all. Rhea felt her heart tightened as she heard his pained groan. It was then she realized that even though Draven had retrieved his dragon form, he was still using his life to protect her.

Thankfully, not all the arrows hit him, some of them melted through his barrier.

Alina finally got a better look at the two in the pool, she saw how they were wrapped in each other’s embrace. Her eyes darkened as she saw her attack barely harmed them as she’d anticipated. She had come here to kill those who had wronged her, and no matter what, she would end Draven and take the core from the girl along with Enzo.

Alina’s eyes blazed with fury as she remained suspended in midair, her flame magic pulsating around her. With a determined grimace, Alina raised her hands high above, and as if responding to her command, hundreds of flaming swords materialized in the air around her. The intensity of her magic was palpable, and the heat emanating from her powers was strong enough to melt the snow around the entire palace ground.

As she unleashed her fiery attack, the blades descended in a shimmering cascade, leaving trails of searing flames in their wake. Draven had no choice but to release Rhea from his protective hold, knowing she wouldn’t stand a chance if the swords struck her in her condition.

Draven darted left and right, displaying incredible agility as he danced through the deadly rain of swords. With each passing moment, his movements became more erratic as the relentless assault showed no sign of slowing down. His muscles strained, sweat dripped from his brow from the risen temperature in the atmosphere, and his breathing grew heavy as he deflected the sword from Rhea’s direction, dodged, and countered the flaming blades with his own ice.

Rhea watched helplessly, her heart racing. Alina’s power was overwhelming, but Draven’s determination to protect her was unwavering. He didn’t let a single sword get through to harm her.

And when Alina noticed this, she clenched her teeth and instantly teleported, appearing behind Rhea in a flash. She raised her flaming sword, ready to strike Rhea. However, just as the sword was about to reach her, Draven transformed into his dragon form and used his mighty tail to strike Alina in the stomach.

The force of the blow sent Alina flying into the late Queen’s residence, causing the building to break from the impact.

Draven’s dragon form wrapped protectively around Rhea’s body. The surroundings fell silent for a few seconds before the seemingly unharmed Alina rose into the sky again. This time, her expression was filled with murderous intent. She looked like a devil sent from the underworld to eliminate sinners.

The two sides stood facing each other in confrontation.

With Alina’s attacks, Rhea understood the situation. For Alina, the strength she used to attack them meant nothing to her. However, for Draven, he had to transform into his dragon form to fight her. It was a painful realization for Rhea that the current Draven El-Dezeus was no match for Alina Credan. And with this realization came a lump in Rhea’s throat as she saw blood seeping from his wounded back, but despite that, he still shielded her with his body.

When Alina saw Draven’s bleeding back, she let out a chilling, mocking laugh that reverberated through the night. "Draven El-Dezeus! With your feeble strength, don’t even entertain the thought of preventing me from murdering that girl! I will take her and subject her to a torturous death before tearing open her chest to obtain what I have desired for many years!"

Rhea’s complexion grew pale as she realized that Alina was indeed aware of the core residing within her body. Despite the dire circumstances, Draven remained composed. He only tightened his tail around Rhea’s body and gazed up at Alina with his intense blue eyes. His voice emanated from his dragon form, "You can only accomplish such a deed over my lifeless body, Alina. But do not forget that you are alone in the dragon’s territory, and no one cares if you hold a position of leadership in Birhhan!"

With those words, countless dragon roars filled the night. Within moments, numerous Dragon soldiers soared into the darkened sky. Even King Henry himself joined their ranks.

Rhea turned to observe Alina standing solitarily, surrounded by dragons. Despite the presence of these mighty creatures, Alina’s expression betrayed no fear, only anger. Rhea had never thought that Alina would be consumed by such rage over Oriana’s death to the extent of venturing into the dragon’s territory alone to seek vengeance for her niece. However, upon reflection, Rhea came to a realization.

Alina Credan was a person who, in order to be with the man she loved, seduced Draven and spent over a century living with him, only to betray him on their wedding day. She was someone who committed numerous sins and unforgivable crimes in her pursuit to reclaim the heart of her beloved. Throughout it all, she selfishly loved, never once considering the desires of the person she claimed to love.

Her love was driven by selfishness, causing harm to the one she claimed to cherish. She would go to any lengths to protect those dear to her, even if it meant destroying the world. Rhea realized that people like Alina were the most dangerous beings on Earth.