Bound To The Ice Dragon King
Chapter 43: Doomed with the dragon

Chapter 43: Doomed with the dragon

Rhea didn’t bother turning around as she walked away from Draven and headed towards the secluded house in the forest to prepare for her upcoming trip to the capital. In reality, she didn’t have anything to pack; she was simply returning to the house to find something to eat before her departure.

As soon as Rhea stepped inside the house, a sharp pain pierced her heart. Despite rejecting Draven, her heart remained burdened and restless, as if she had left a piece of herself in the forest. However, a thought suddenly crossed her mind: what if Draven acted impulsively and revealed their location, with the intention of dying together because she’d refused to help him?

If Alina possessed the ruthlessness that Rhea had assumed, wouldn’t she resort to any methods to obtain the core? What if she dispatched the shadow stalkers to pursue her?!

Rhea swallowed hard and rubbed off the cold sweat on her forehead. Perhaps she should go back and stick with the dragon for now?

No way! She shouldn’t. That man was nothing but bad luck himself, sticking with him would bring more misfortune to her already unfortunate life. But then what if that Alina come after her?

Rhea paced across the room restlessly ad she thought about it once again, but in the end she couldn’t make up her made on what to do. Hence, she decided to cook something for herself instead. She went out to the river in the back of the house to fish. It took her almost half of the day before she finally caught a big fish.

With a joyful grin, Rhea returned to the house and promptly headed to the kitchen, clutching the fish. As the sun began to descend, casting a golden glow through the large kitchen window, her fair complexion was accentuated.

She hummed a happy song as she prepared her food, by the time she finished cooking, the sky had already darkened completely. She made herself a delicious looking fish soup. However, right when she finished serving herself, a certain someone suddenly appeared from nowhere and causally sat down beside her on the floor.

Without a single word or slightest bit of hesitation, he took the bowl of food from her front and started to eat it as if it was his.

Rhea was stunned beyond words for a moment, before snapping at him, "The heck! How dare you shamelessly walk in and take my food?!"

Draven’s hunger was evident as he paid no attention to her words and nonchalantly feasted on her food. Only when she tried to intervene and grab the food from his hand did he swiftly evade her, giving her a sideways glance before stating, "As your husband, it is your duty to prioritize serving me before yourself." He said flatly.

Rhea froze. The nerve of this dragon, who was calling himself her husband? She’d already made it clear that there was nothing between them, and she had no reason to stay around him, yet he shamelessly followed her back to the house instead looking for a way to get out of Birhhan.

Rhea gently rubbed the area between her brows to ease the throbbing pain in her temple. "Why have you returned to this place? Haven’t I already expressed my refusal to accompany you back to the capital?" She inquired in a composed manner.

"Hmm, you did." Draven hummed, he continued to slowly eat as he spoke, "But..." He raised his head and locked eyes with Rhea’s deep black gaze. The moon’s pale light illuminated half of his face, leaving the other part shrouded in darkness. His chilly tone faltered slightly, revealing a hint of self-deprecation. "Besides keeping you near me, what other options do I have? You’re my only source of hope."

His words were roguish, but when she saw his sorrowful expression, she became speechless. She silently gazed at him for a moment. She admired his pale handsome face, and the way he firmly chewed on the food as if chewing down his sadness. She would’ve helped him if it hadn’t involved going against her realm and people. If it had nothing to do with the fire controllers. But...

She couldn’t. The situation was so sticky she didn’t want to be a part of it. Besides, she’d already taken it upon herself to investigate the culprit behind Rinus’death, she couldn’t be a part of Draven’s mission.

Without a word, Rhea got up and served herself another bowl of soup before sitting down beside him again. She sullenly started to eat, she ate for quite sometime until she couldn’t eat anymore. She used her sleeve to wipe her greasy mouth before saying,

"You can keep staying in this house, but by tommorow morning, I will be leaving this town. You should also go back to the dragon realm, your mission is impossible in your current state." She mused softly, then slowly stood up to her feet.

Draven remained silent and nonchalantly ate his food, as if completely oblivious to her words. However, as soon as Rhea left the kitchen, he abruptly ceased eating and directed his gaze towards the moon through the kitchen window. His pale blue eyes transitioned from blue to pure black, while his face remained devoid of any emotion. He quietly murmured, "The days of me being a human are swiftly coming to an end..."

--

Rhea returned to the room she’d been staying in the house, she did a simple late night routine bathed, and tied her hair in a bun in front of the bathing room mirror. However, when she stepped out of the bathing room, she found Draven in the bedroom, he stood firmly before the room’s window, his broad back was facing her.

Rhea pretended like Draven didn’t exist and carefully laid down on the bed. However, before she slept, she stealthily opened her eyes and peeked out to look at him.

Draven, who was standing by the window gazing at the moon, suddenly looked over, his pale blue eyes locked onto Rhea’s furtive gaze.

Rhea’s cheeks suddenly flushed in embarrassment. She coughed to clear her throat before flipping over on the bed to face the other side. She shifted around a bit and then pretended to fall asleep.

Nonetheless, after everything that had happened today, and with Draven’s piercing eyes boring onto her back, how could she fall asleep so easily? Rhea maintained her rigid posture despite feeling his gaze on her and quietly laid on the bed.

After what seemed like forever, she felt some movements in the room. It seemed Draven had finally decided to also get some sleep, she could feel his movement on the ground beside the bed. However, she didn’t expect to suddenly hear his steady breathing immediately he laid down.

This dragon seemed to actually be in the mood to sleep than she was.

Rhea felt slightly unsettled with how close he laid beside her bed. She turned around and planned to blatantly stare at his sleeping face. However, she didn’t expect that the moment she’d turned around, Draven’s closed eyes would snap open.

His piercing blue eyes locked onto Rhea’s black ones. Although, it was his usual cold and detached look, it wouldn’t release at the slightest. Her every movement was tracked by him.

Rhea gazed back at him for awhile, she frowned when he still didn’t look away, she then asked, "It seems you are planning on keeping your cold eyes on me so I wouldn’t leave, right?"

Draven didn’t try to deny it and blurted out, "Yes."

Rhea chuckled in amusement, "Even if you watch me the entire night, I’m still leaving in the morning."

"Then I’ll have no choice but to go to any extent to bring you back to me. I will not allow you to depart from my presence."

"..."

Rhea couldn’t help but see herself as quite lamentable. In stories, those kind of words were spoken by a tycoon to the woman he loved. However, when the words from Draven’s mouth were directed to her, she only felt that it was like a devil plaguing her to the point her head started to hurt.

Rhea cursed under her breath, she then sat up on the bed and crossed her legs, "Damn, you’re being too persistent to the point it’s starting to annoy me. I know you’re older than my great grandfather, so I will be respectful to you if you will respectfully stop disturbing my life."

Draven also sat up and wordlessly stared at Rhea. She then remarked, "Listen carefully, you possess your essence but lack any magical abilities, whereas I possess both. From any perspective, you are no match for me. If I choose to employ my powers against you and desire to distance myself, you will have no means of compelling me. And if you even consider attempting to deceive or coerce me as you did when retrieving your essence, I will ensure that your plans are ruined. I will become a significant hindrance and cause chaos. It would be in your best interest to return to your realm and leave me be in mine."

Draven, who had been quietly listening to her finally spoke, "Are you done?" He asked.

Rhea nodded and looked at him with grout expectation. "Do you now understand?"

Draven nodded and succinctly replied, "It’s all nonsense, everything you said."

"...!"

"Nothing you say would make me change my mind, little girl. It’s either I take my core from your body, or I take you along with me." He said nonchalantly, then laid back down, "You should sleep so we can leave early in the morning."

Rhea was about to retort in fury, but before she could utter a word, Draven unexpectedly sprang up from the ground as a flock of birds flew out from the trees in the distance. The quiet night was suddenly filled with the fluttering of their wings. Draven’s ears perked up, and he briefly glanced out the window towards the birds’ direction. Then, he turned his attention back to Rhea, their gazes locked momentarily.

She then exclaimed, "Hell and damnation, you are doomed!"

Draven strode back towards the bed, he then remarked, "Point of correction, we are doomed. Hurry, they are headed this way, we have to leave."