The Dragon King’s Substitute Bride
Chapter 79

HERA

"So what you mean to tell me is that your hair just changed into a different color overnight?"

"Yes."

"And no one thought that was... strange?"

I frown.

"I mean they did, but what were they expected to do, throw me out a day after my birth? And why does knowing this bother you so?"

He is not looking at me but I can almost see the wheels spinning and turning around in his head.

"Because it may be important, perhaps even a clue..."

I shiver, suddenly cold and now aware of how naked I still am. "A clue...to what?"

But rather than answer Midas gently lifts me off of him and gets up, heading to the ornate gold and silver dresser that sits just opposite the side of the bed we are on. "A clue to what Midas?"

I repeat my question to his back trying not to let myself be distract by how impossibly good he looks.

He turns around, but again, he does not answer my question.

Instead he holds out something to me, something white and cotton-like.

"Here, put this on."

I am about to ask him why he is making me wear his shirt.

Then I remember that my dress is lying in a ruined mess at the feet of his door and I have nothing else to wear.

I slip the tunic easily over my head and pass my arms through it, letting it drop to where it ends somewhere past mid thigh.

It smells like him and as expected, my hands have completely disappeared

and the neck is so wide, it hangs off one shoulder.

It is hideously large on me that I could cut it up and sew another dress with the extra material left.

But I barely even notice, my eyes are fixed on him, steady, my mind however is a mess.

"You have yet to answer my question."

Leaning against the dresser he folds his arms and crosses his ankles.

"Hera, what you are able to do...it is impossible."

What in all the realms is he talking about?

I struggle to make sense of the words, frowning so hard that my eyebrows begin to hurt.

"I admit it is strange but impossible...surely that cannot be true. How impossible can it be if I am able to do it?"

"The ability to see the future is magic Hera. Very...very strong, 7th realm magic."

I am trying not to show my fear but I do believe I am doing a very good job of it.

I swallow, my mouth suddenly dry.

"The 7th realm...isn't that..."

"The realm of the gods yes. And your hair changing color the night of your birth, that is an indication that your powers, you were born with them. You were born with magic." I can sense that there is more.

Something else.

Something that could shatter everything I ever known.

I am almost afraid to ask.

A part of my brain is screaming for him to stop speaking, to let things remain as they are.

But somehow I also know that it matters little whether he says the words out loud or not.

From the very first moment I had step foot into his realm, everything had already begun to change.

I look up at him to replace him watching me, gauging my reaction to his words.

So I push down my trepidation as far behind my eyes as I can and get up slowly, wringing my hands, twisting them this way and that way.

"So what does that mean?"

He holds my gaze, his own unflinching.

"Humans are never born with magic Hera."

Time stops and everything seems to slow down, sounds, sight even my heart.

No...no...this cannot be happening.

"So what in all the realms does that mean? I am human for crying out loud...I am!"

I stop suddenly, my blood turning to ice, jagged ice that pokes and tears at my veins.

My voice quietens...lowers as I look up at him.

"I am human...right?"

He does not answer.

"Midas..."

I am trying so hard to be strong but my voice cracks and I start to feel light headed, faint even and it takes all my will power to stop from crumbling to the floor. My will power and his arms that are suddenly around me, lowering me back to the bed, pulling me to his chest.

"I do think you are human. If you were anything else I would have known."

My hands are gripping the edge of the bed so tightly that my fingers actually start to hurt.

"Then why...why is my hair the color that it is, why do I have this... power inside of me if it as you say and human are not supposed to possess magic?"

He sighs and says the words like they are heavy, words he is unused to and does not like saying.

"I do not know."

"Oh Gods above..."

Before I can dissolve into a full blown panic attack he turns me back to him so I am looking at him again.

His hands are warm and callused on both sides of my face and he uses his thumb to swipe at the tear that threatens to roll down my cheeks.

"What I do know Hera is that you are mine and no matter what happens I always....always protect what's mine."

His...he called me his...

Said it in that serious, brooding way he says everything and I can feel my heart start to beat again, accepting the words, letting the solid warmth of it invade every part of me.

Then just as quickly, it is followed by a sinking feeling and where it comes from I am unsure but the words are slipping out before I can stop them.

"But what if the one who needs protection is you...from me?"

But he does not even bat an eyelid.

Instead he leans forward and touches the tip of his nose to me.

"Then I am just going to have to cross that bridge when I get to it."

But I am unsatisfied with how calm he is being.

"Are you not worried I might be some sort of oddity? What if I am a witch or even worse what if my parents are not actually my parents and I am some strange hybrid cross between a giant and some human... fairy person?" "Witches are human Hera, they just aren't born with their skills and I am no expert but I believe you would be a lot taller if you had giant blood in you."

"I am serious Midas."

"So am I."

"But it makes no sense."

I do not even realize that I have gotten up from the bed.

That I am now, even at this moment pacing around the king's room with my hands in my hair, then at my sides, clenching them in fists so tight I can feel my nails press into my palms hard enough to break the skin.

"You say humans do not have magic, are not born with it and yet here I am walking around with a flaming carrot top head, having dreams and knowing things I am not supposed to know. How is this even happening, what does it mean? Am I dangerous, should you be afraid of me...should I be afraid of me? What if I..."

He kisses me softly. Once...twice...a third time.

Until I stop trying to speak and start breathing again.

I did not even see him get up.

He lifts my right hand to his lips and kisses the inside of my wrist, feather soft over my racing pulse.

"On the ride to Adarin, you said you trusted me."

"I did."

"And now, do you still trust me?"

"I do."

Call me insane for trusting the man who's Ryders burned down my village but I do.

I am unsure why, I do not even know when it happened.

It just did.

He tucks my hair behind my ears.

"Then trust me when I tell you we will figure it out and that you have nothing to be afraid. Not only are you queen of the 5th realm, but you have me now and you always will."

I simply nod, unable to say anything more.

My throat suddenly feels chocked up and I am brimming with emotions I am not entirely sure about or even ready to admit out loud.

But I am beginning to realize that when I am with him, I do not always need words.

He smiles softly. "Now stop pouting. It makes me want to kiss you and I will never be able to leave this room if you don't.

So naturally, I fold my arms across my chest and pout even harder.

But before it can work, the servants are at the door, knocking loudly.

Turns out the king not sending for them or showing up out of his room at the fourth bell, sends the chief steward into a panic attack where he is convinced that the king has somehow been attacked in his sleep.

I catch a few side eyed, surprised glances when the servants see me in the king's room but Midas is here and they dare not say anything.

I pretend not to watch him dress and prepare.

My cheeks turning redder with each passing moment, my mind shifting between [**t and need.

How can I miss him so much already when he is yet to even leave?

He catches me staring and tells me not to look at him that way.

I put on my best innocent face and ask him what way?

He says I know what he means and I in turn tell him I am not a mind reader and that if he is always so vague, his subjects will have a hard time understanding him.

He laughs.

But he does not stop dressing.

So I swallow my pride and blurt out the words before common sense can prevail.

"Stay with me."

That stops him and he turns to look at me, his hands sending the swords sliding silently into their sheaths behind his back.

He walks up to where I am, sits on the edge of the bed and pull me into his lap.

I am being incredibly selfish.

I do not care.

He sighs. "You know I want to stay."

"Then stay."

"You also know that I cannot do that. Adarin and Rardath...this dark elf business, I need to sort it out and no...I cannot let you come with me. Not until I know what we are dealing with." "What use is it being king if you cannot do what you want?"

The corner of his mouth tilts up in the ghost of a smile.

"I am forever asking myself that exact question. Perhaps I should have been born a stable hand instead."

I laugh. "You would make a terrible stable hand."

"How dare you?" He appears insulted but his eyes are smiling.

"Hera..."

"Yes my Lord?"

"You do know that it does not change who you are right?"

I freeze and sigh.

So he can see through my act.

Can tell that I am still very much shaken up inside by everything that is happening.

"How can you say that when we do not even know who I am...or what I am?"

He tilts my chin and stares hard at me, making me unable to tear my eyes away.

"You are you Hera. The human who risked her life and left everything behind to save her realm even though it had been nothing but cold and harsh to you.

Someone who would albeit foolishly, run head first into danger to save people who do not even deserve it, simply because it is the right thing to do. And this gift... if it is that, it does not define you and it most definitely does not change who you are." My heart feels so full it is about to burst and I am unsure what to do.

How to react.

So I do the next best thing.

The one thing I am good at.

I push my feelings down and smirk at him.

"So you admit that marrying you is a risk to my life?"

He scoffs "That...out of everything I said, that is all you decided to take?"

"What, it is important. For future reference."

I am rewarded when he laughs

"By Hades am I glad I got you instead."

Then he kisses me. Hard and long

And before I can recover from that, the dragon king is gone.

Leaving me to sort out my tangled up emotions and the insane fact that I might not be so human after all.