Bound To The Ice Dragon King
Chapter 66: Meeting him alone in the room

Chapter 66: Meeting him alone in the room

Rhea laid on the bed facing the ceiling, unable to sleep despite her exhaustion. While Draven laid on the floor. The room was dimly lit, adding to the silent atmosphere, the only sound in the room was coming from the breeze blowing in through the window. Rhea cleared her throat and curiously asked Draven. "What will you do once you regain your powers and dragon form?"

Draven’s blue eyes darkened as he stared intensely at the ceiling. He then coldly replied, "Join forces with the east dragon clan and wipe out the human race."

Rhea’s eyes widened in shock, unable to comprehend his response. The east dragon clan were also part of the dragon realm, it was said that the east dragons were not as Powerful as the ice dragons, however, they also had their king, and if Draven got back his powers and joins forces with them...the human race would be doomed!

Rhea hurriedly sat up on the bed and glanced down at Draven. "But... but not every human is like your former lover. There are good people out there, who had nothing to do with the dragon business and your downfall."

Draven’s expression remained stone-cold, unmoved by Rhea’s words. "Are you trying to tell me that all these nobles don’t know about the elixirs being made with dragon essence?" He questioned with a slight hint of mockery, he then scoffed, "Every one of them is aware, the Emperor, the fire controllers, and your family. All humans are the same. They are selfish, destructive creatures. They deserve to be eradicated."

"That’s not true, not everyone is involved. It’s all your former lover’s doing, don’t include innocent people. And just wait and see, after we get to the bottom of all this, you’d see that not every human is as bad as you think they are. I will prove it to you."

Rhea’s shock turned into determination. Although she’d experienced hardship in the hands of her own family, but she still believed that not every human was as evil as Draven’s former lover, Alina. She was the one who took his powers, and obviously she would be the one behind this, however, they didn’t know for sure who and who was involved with her until they find the establishment where the elixirs were being made.

As for Draven, she wasn’t helping him for the sake of his revenge, but to let peace reign in the world. To save innocent people from getting hurt in this mess Alina had caused.

***

As the sun emerged from the horizon, it cast its golden rays across The Den Of Pleasure. Within the room, Rhea and Draven were in. Rhea slowly opened her eyes to the soothing melodies of birdsongs drifting in from the lavender tree branches hanging by the window. She stretched her limbs and glanced down next to the bed, where Draven still lay fast asleep on the floor.

Lying on his stomach, his ebony hair cascaded around his head like black silk. Aware that they had slept in late the previous day due to the banquet, Rhea tiptoed out of bed, careful not to disturb him. She walked around him on the floor and made her way to the bathing room to freshen up. However, just as she stepped out of the bathing room, towel in hand, a knock resounded from the door.

Rhea furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. It was too early for breakfast, so who could it be? She approached the door, opened it, and found Ivy, one of the girls from the balcony when she first arrived with Draven.

"Hey, my dear Ivy. Good morning," she greeted, adopting her manly deep voice, leaning against the door, she said,. "What brings you here so early?"

Ivy smiled and greeted, "Good morning, lord Malcolm, sorry to disturb your morning. However, Lord Barlin told me to inform you that he needs to speak with you urgently and privately in the VIP room now."

Rhea initially wanted to decline, but then remembered that she had important matters to discuss with Lord Barlin. She simply nodded and said, "Okay, I’ll be there in a few minutes."

It was rare that Rhea wasn’t annoyed by Lord Barlin’s invitation to talk with her. She quickly stepped back into the room and saw that Draven was still sleeping. Rhea sighed. Well, it was good he was still sleeping, she would prefer to meet Lord Barlin alone and discuss about the elixirs. The man’s feelings for her were out of this world and annoying, but she’d use it to her advantage this time.

All Rhea had to do was pretend she wasn’t annoyed by his visit and he’d tell her anything she wanted to know about the elixirs. However, if she brought Draven along with her to meet him, Lord Barlin might get jealous and refuse to talk. Thus, Rhea didn’t wake Draven and carefully sneaked out of the room.

Rhea walked through the corridors with Ivy escorting her to the VIP room, where lord Barlin was waiting for her. Not long, they arrived at the room.

The VIP room was dimly lit, with heavy velvet curtains draped over the tall windows, blocking out most of the daylight. Rhea causally stepped inside, her eyes adjusting to the shadowy atmosphere. Lord Barlin, who was dressed in his usual expensive attire stood in the center of the room, a smile curling his lips as he saw that Rhea had came alone without her husband.

"Oh, you’re here Rheanna. Please have a seat." As Rhea approached, he motioned for her to take a seat at the ornate table adorned with an array of exquisite designs.

Rhea didn’t sit down and asked instead, "Why do you want to see me privately? Is something wrong?"

Lord Barlin didn’t immediately reply, he glanced at Ivy who stood by the door side with his bodyguard. "You may leave, I just want to talk to Rheanna."

Lord Barlin’s bodyguard motioned for Ivy to leave with him, as a woman from The Den Of Pleasure, she was well aware of Lord Barlin’s identity and family background, she dare not refuse to obey him. However, before she left, she glanced towards Rhea, who smiled to reassure her to do as she was told, only then did Ivy step out with the guard.

Lord Barlin waited until the two left before he turned back to Rhea. "We haven’t seen each other for a long time now, so I thought to invite you to have morning tea with me while we talk. I hope you don’t mind?" He spoke in a smooth, hypnotic voice, attempting to put her at ease.

Rhea shook her head, then replied with a forced smile. "Not at all, my Lord." She didn’t mind having tea with him, infact she was extremely pleased that they’d be talking, in that way she could get her own information. It was just a simple conversation, a chance for her to manipulate his thoughts and get what she wanted. But little did Rhea know, Lord Barlin had other plans in store.

With a false sense of trust, Rhea took a seat across from him and watched as Lord Barlin poured tea into delicate porcelain cups. The scent of the tea wafted through the air, sweet and alluring. It made her salivate at the thought of tasting such expensive tea. However, she wasn’t here for that, she planned on listening to his rubbish and then find an opportune moment to cut in and ask her own question.

"My Lord, what do you want to talk to me about?" She asked as she took the cup of tea he handed her.

Lord Barlin’s eyes gleamed with anticipation as Rhea took the cup. However, he composed himself from revealing his true intentions. "Are you in such hurry to hear what I have to say that you won’t even let us enjoy the morning tea first?" He asked as he drank from his own tea.

Seeing that he’d poured the tea from the same jug and drank it, Rhea didn’t suspect anything to be amiss. She lifted the cup to her lips and took a big gulp. "No, my Lord. We can..." Almost instantly, Rhea felt a tingling warmth spreading through her body. Unease settled in the pit of her stomach, and her heart began to race.

Hell and damnation! She’d been poisoned! Panic rose within Rhea as the realization dawned on her and the unsettling feeling intensified, she closed her eyes to maintain her composure.

Lord Barlin, sensing her discomfort, moved closer, inching his face towards hers. He wanted her to meet his gaze, to succumb to the aphrodisiac’s effects and become vulnerable to his manipulations forever. But before Rhea could lock eyes with him, the door burst open with a resounding crash.

In stormed Draven, his blue eyes blazing with fury. He wasted no time in crossing the room with lightning speed, his powerful hands wrapping around Lord Barlin’s throat, cutting off any chance of retaliation. "What are you planning to do with her?!" He demanded, his voice tranquil, yet it also had an inkling of a murderous aura.

When Lord Barlin didn’t speak and only stared on in shock, Draven tightened his hold around his neck. "If you don’t speak, I’ll rip off your neck."

Lord Barlin gasped for breath. All his life, he had been sheltered. Aside from his strict father lecturing him a few times, no one else had ever dared to use such terrifying tone nor grab his neck when speaking to him. His eyes widened in panic as he recognized Draven as Rhea’s husband. With trembling eyes, he looked up at Draven, who was two heads taller them him. However, when he met the cold murderous gleam in his blue eyes, he was scared out of his wits.

Lord Barlin gasped for breath as he began to hit on Draven’s hand around his neck. "Let...go..of.."

Draven’s grip only tightened around the man’s neck. Draven had just woken up a moment ago and realized Rhea was not in their room. He hadn’t thought much about it as he knew the girl liked to wander around, however he was about to step into the bathing room when a strange feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. He knew immediately it wasn’t his feelings, but Rhea’s. He had quickly left the room and met Ivy on the way who informed him Rhea was with Lord Barlin in the VIP room.

"I will strangle you if you don’t speak, you_" Draven stopped mid-sentence as he heard a small moan escaped from Rhea, his hold around Lord Barlin’s neck subconsciously loosened as he turned his head to her direction. However, that only gave Lord Barlin an opportunity to hit away his hand and escape.

Draven was on the verge of chasing after the man when a sudden "thud" noise emanated from the table. Draven furrowed his brow and quickly approached Rhea, whose head had now slumped onto the table. He swiftly extended his hand and hoisted her up. "Rhea?"

Rhea’s body swayed in sync with Draven’s shake. Gradually, she opened her eyes and met Draven’s piercing blue gaze. In that instant, her body jerked as though struck by an indomitable force.

"Draven..." She murmured softly.

With a swift motion, she wrapped her arm around his neck and pulled him closer, her eyes filled with desire. The room was dimly lit, casting shadows across the elegant furniture and ornate decor. Rhea’s heart pounded in her chest as she tried to control the overwhelming sensations coursing through her veins. What was wrong with her? Heat swelled inside her, all she wanted was to feel Draven’s body against hers.

"Rhea, what’s wrong with you?" Draven asked, his voice laced with a mix of anger and concern as she pulled him closer. However, Rhea’s inhibitions had shattered by the aphrodisiac, she moved towards him with an almost feral hunger. And without warning, she pressed her lips against his.