Bound To The Ice Dragon King
Chapter 211: The fear of the heart

Chapter 211: The fear of the heart

Rhea’s birthday celebration continued, the banquet hall was filled with the melodies of slow music. Prince Zack had asked Rhea for a dance, though she wasn’t good at dancing, his arm was firmed around her waist as he gracefully led her on the dance floor. She was nervous at first, but she found herself relaxing in his company with the warmth in his green eyes, which she also noticed had a hint of gold for the first time.

Rhea couldn’t help but recall how the prince had disliked her at first. But here he was treating her kindly after she’d married his friend, and the thought brought a smile to her lips.

"I wonder what could be the reason for that smile on your face, Lady El-Dezeus." Prince Zack commented softly.

Rhea couldn’t help but smile even wider, "I am just recalling how much you disliked me when I first came here," she admitted.

The prince chuckled, "I didn’t dislike you. I just don’t like humans in general."

Rhea pointed out, "The late queen was human."

He nodded, a fond smile touching his lips. "But she was different, my mother was unlike any other."

As they swayed to the rhythm of the dance, "Thank you," Prince Zack said, his emerald eyes reflecting sincerity. "For caring for Draven. He’s fortunate to have you by his side after all the hardships."

Rhea silently realized that, despite Draven’s lack of blood family, the palace inhabitants had embraced him as one of their own.

Prince Zack’s amiable nature made Rhea warm to him, appreciating his admiration for her husband. Her gaze searched the hall for Draven, and when she found him, he was also dancing with a beautiful stranger, a silver haired woman Rhea had never seen before. And Draven seemed comfortable in her presence to the extent he was smiling at something she whispered to his ear. They seemed to be close as she’d never seen Draven in presence of any lady apart from her before, and for some reason it ignited a spark of jealousy within her.

Swirling in the dance with Prince Zack, Rhea couldn’t tear her eyes away from her husband dancing with a woman with the same hair color as hers. Prince Zack, noticing her gaze, attempted to reassure her. "Don’t be jealous. She’s an old acquaintance from his clan, she was more like what humans called mistress to him in the past, they had no relationship other than giving pleasure."

To Prince Zack, he was trying to assure her not to get jealous because there was no relationship between Draven and the woman, but unknown to him, his words only fueled Rhea’s jealousy and deepened her sudden dislike for the woman dancing with her husband.

Rhea forced a smile, "I am not jealous." She said, yet her gaze stayed glued to the pair.

As the dance partners switched, Rhea found herself back in Draven’s arms. His eyes held affection as he asked, "Are you happy?"

She nodded, but her curiosity got the better of her. "Who was the woman you danced with?"

Draven chuckled, sensing a hint of jealousy. "Are you jealous, my love?"

Glaring at him, Rhea scoffed, "Why should I be jealous when you’re married to me?" Yet beneath her confident exterior, a twinge of insecurity lingered. The woman was beautiful, more than any woman she had seen. She was_

"Relax Rhea, Annalise Thorns is just an old acquaintances of mine, and she seems to take a liking to you as you have the same hair color. She wants us to come to a game night her husband is hosting in two days. Would you like to go?" He asked.

Rhea felt a rush of relief as she realized the woman named Annalise was already married. What was wrong with her? She had let her stupid overthinking overwhelm her again.

Rhea nodded, "We can attend the game nights," she agreed even though she had no idea what a game night was. She grinned and wrapped her arms around Draven’s neck as they swayed with the soft music.

Draven pulled her closer against his body, "You are not going to ask for a birthday present?" He whispered softly in her ear, his breath sending a surge of heat into her body.

"What else can I ask for when you have given me this much, Draven?" She had everything already. Despite the fact that her birthday had marked the day of his downfall, Draven had still celebrated the day with her, he hadn’t hated the day like her family did. She had everything in the world. She wasn’t greedy for anything else more than to spend her days forever in this blissful life with him.

Draven smiled bitterly at her words. No matter what he did, he felt like it wasn’t good enough to replace all the bad memories and hurt he had caused for Rhea. Her fate had changed all of a sudden because of him. If he hadn’t been betrayed, her mother wouldn’t have died and she wouldn’t have gone through hardships. She was his soulmate, even if his core hadn’t chosen her on that day and caused her mother’s death, they would have still met under another circumstances.

Alina had been the cause of both their misery, and she was no more now, but then her death would never change what had already happened. He might not be able to change all of the pain Rhea had gone through, but he was ready to protect her and give her anything she desired in this lifetime. Because they had forever to live as immortals.

Draven caressed her cheek, and whispered, "I still insist on giving a gift, my dear. It’s reserved for after the celebration."

***

Rhea gracefully left the dance floor, her laughter lingering in the air as she joined Aria and her friends. They chatted and talked about several things, like how Aria had been having a secret relationship with Valen and exchanged letters with him, while she was looking for the right time to tell her father about him.

As the night unfolded, Rhea and Draven bid farewell to their guests, the joy of the celebration still evident in Rhea’s radiant smile. Alone in the now empty hall, Draven took Rhea’s hands, a warmth spreading through her as he wrapped his arms around her waist. They strolled back to their room, his fingers delicately stroking her arms, creating a sensation that sent shivers down her spine.

In a tender moment, he held her hand, interlocking their fingers. Suddenly, she felt a cool touch on her ring finger. Startled, Rhea looked down to find a ring with a small blue diamond adorning her finger.

Draven’s deep voice whispered in her ear as he hugged her from behind. "It’s a promise, a symbol of our love. Do you like my gift?"

Rhea looked at the shinny blue diamond on the ring that was as blue as his eyes. She nodded, "Yes, it’s beautiful, I love it." Overwhelmed with yet another surprise, Rhea turned to embrace him.

Yet, as happiness enveloped her, the unsettling feeling crept back to her. A lump formed in her throat, a fear that this bliss was too perfect, that something might snatch it away made her tighten her hold around him. As she embraced Draven, the unsettling feelings in her heart lingered, casting a shadow over the happiness that moments ago felt boundless.

Draven, who felt his wife’s emotions in his heart, could sense her uneasiness. He stroked her hair like he was coaxing a child, then softly asked, "Rhea, what’s wrong?"

Rhea hesitated for a moment but then decided not to hide her feelings from him. She had been feeling this way ever since they’d returned the day Alina was killed. Every moment of happiness came with this unsettling feeling.

She pushed away from his embrace and gazed into his eyes, "I...I feel like everything is just so perfect. It feels too good to be true. And I have this weird fear of losing you or anything I have now." She admitted, "Ever since we came back from Birhhan two months ago, I have no happy moments without fear..." She glanced down at the ring on her finger as if she was guilty of feeling the way she felt.

Draven gazed at her downcast gaze, he understood the depth of her journey and the abruptness of her current reality. He gently cupped her cheek, his touch reassuring.

"I know, my love. You’ve been through a lot, and this is a big change. But it’s real, and it’s ours. You don’t have to worry about losing it. Just breathe and live in these moments." He pressed a kiss on her temple, "Don’t be afraid, nothing will take away what you have now."

Rhea’s dark eyes met her husband’s blue ones. His words unexpectedly eased the tension within her, and she nodded, letting herself relax from all the worries. She stood on the tip of her toes and pressed her lips on his, "Make love to me tonight, Draven." She whispered against his lips.