Who Is My Husband
Scene 63

Kailee followed the queen out into a private garden. The sun flashed over the array of colorful flowers littering the grounds. They walked between them on a white stoned path. There was a small fountain in the center where birds sang and dipped their wings. She looked around, getting lost in the sight. She had thought the garden back at Clover Estate was beautiful, but it was nothing compared to this.

“This is my own private garden. So, we will not be disturbed here.” Edith said, snapping Kailee’s attention back up to her.

Disturbed? What would they be getting disturbed over? Kailee felt Bethany’s presence come up closer to her.

Edith stopped walking in a wide-open area. She turned and looked directly at Bethany. “A female guard for our new princess… very interesting. Of course, I always felt that the royal family should be guarded by those who are strong. Are you worthy of guarding her?”

Kailee went to object but Bethany put her hand on Kailee’s shoulder. “That’s what your real goal was anyways, right? You brought us out here because you wanted to check if I was strong enough.”

Edith smiled. “Oh that makes me sound a bit sinister. Let’s call it more of a… double checking the protection level around the new princess, shall we?”

“Now wait a minute. I can protect myself. A test is unnecessary.” Kailee looked up at Edith with a steady gaze. She didn’t like the idea of her new protector and friend being put to the test. As if she was someone weak.

“That doesn’t matter. Think of Trey. Who here is stronger than him?” Edith said.

Actually, I am… Kailee thought to herself.

“Yet, he has a first knight that is by his side. He also has his double that is always close. And…” Edith sighed. “And our special troublesome Reggie… My point is even Trey has strong men by his side.”

“Don’t worry Kailee. If this will put the queen at ease then let her put me to the test.” Bethany said as she straightened up in confidence.

Edith smiled. Perfect. She thought to herself. Bethany was falling right into her trap. “I can’t promise you won’t be injured.”

“I can’t promise I won’t injure anyone who attacks me.” Bethany said simply.

“Very good. Just what I want to hear.” Edith smiled widely. Well… start. Edith said in a mind link.

A dark grey dragon suddenly emerged from the tall bushes. He obviously just shifted and was waiting there for a signal. Bethany shoved Kailee back and leapt towards the dragon, shifting mid jump. Her silver dragon clashed into the grey dragon.

The ground trembled as the two dragons began to tussle. Then they took to the sky. Kailee watched in horror as the grey dragon sliced Bethany with his claws. Even in the air the angry red streaks could be seen over Bethany’s silver dragon. Bethany roared at the grey dragon and lunged into him. She dodged him at the last second and swung her tail into him, sending the grey dragon crashing downwards into the earth.

Kailee felt a moment of relief that instantly vanished. Two other dragons had now taken to the sky. She took a few steps forward and felt a warm hand land on her shoulder.

“Easy Kailee… just wait.”

Kailee glanced back at Edith who had a curious smile on her face. As if she was anticipating something. Her eyes sparkled up at the sky. Then Kailee noticed a familiar haze look go over them as she mind linked with someone. And two other dragons soon rose into the air. And then the grey dragon she had sent to the ground also flew up to meet her in the air.

Bethany hovered in the middle of five dragons. B***d dripped down her leg from where her flesh had been torn from the grey dragon’s claws. She growled a warning to the other dragons and blew smoke out of her nose. This was not a fight she could win. These were not average dragons she was fighting against. She could tell they were strong and well trained. This was not a test. It was a battle she could never win. Why? What was the queen trying to pull here? She braced herself as the dragons dove at her.

She slipped around and spit fire at them. But all she could manage to do was evade them. She tried to put a few feet of distance between them. Bethany snapped her jaws at them and spewed out a wall of fire. She danced in the sky swinging her tail as she worked to evade her attackers. Unfortunately, avoiding five skilled dragons is impossible. Claws ripped into her side, and she bellowed loudly in pain. She pushed herself backwards as the red liquid dripped down her side.

She slipped around and spit fire at them. But all she could manage to do was evade them. She tried to put a few feet of distance between them. Bethany snapped her jaws at them and spewed out a wall of fire. She danced in the sky swinging her tail as she worked to evade her attackers. Unfortunately, avoiding five skilled dragons is impossible. Claws ripped into her side, and she bellowed loudly in pain. She pushed herself backwards as the red liquid dripped down her side.

The five dragons were hovering in front of her. The five simultaneously charged at her at the same time. She was wearing down and couldn’t move as quickly from her injuries. She braced herself for pain. She couldn’t avoid them.

But then a red blur flew in front of her. The loud ear-piercing roar of the new dragon shook the sky. She blinked in shock at the familiar dragon who had his wings spread open forming a shield in front of her. His low growl sent shivers down her spine as he flapped protectively in front of her. Grum was protecting her. Where did he even come from? She could not understand why he was protecting her but he was. She could see him tilt his head to look at her from the side. His eyes looked at her in a gentle way until they landed on the wounds on her body. Then she could see a rage build up behind them.

Kailee watched from the ground as the other dragons halted at Grum’s presence. Edith grinned widely and then the five dragons backed away and lowered back to the ground.

“Life is just full of surprises.” Edith said casually.

Kailee looked at her and smiled widely. “But it wasn’t a surprise for you since you set this up.”

Edith shrugged. “Richy told me they were mates and I thought Grum may need a small push for him to feel the pull. In either case that was quite the show. Your female warrior is quite a formidable opponent. I didn’t think she would last as long as she did against our elite.” She looked upwards as Grum and Bethany floated back down to the ground.

“How did you know Grum would come?” Kailee furrowed her eyes and tilted her head over towards Edith.

“Because he followed after us the moment we left the room. Richy told me. So I knew I couldn’t miss this opportunity. Oh I am certain I didn’t magically form a union there but I made his instinct to protect his mate call out. And that is an important step.”

Edith and Kailee watched as the two shifted back into their human selves on the ground. To both of their surprise Grum immediately walked up to Bethany. He reached his hand up and tenderly checked her over.

Edith nudged Kailee and nodded her head for her to follow. Of course, maybe that was all that he needed. Edith chuckled into Kailee’s head.

You don’t think five dragons were a bit much? Kailee asked as she followed beside the queen back to the castle.

I only planned to use one, but she was too good. I needed to make the situation desperate. Don’t worry, they were warned not to hurt her any worse than minor flesh wounds. They bleed a lot, but it is nothing she can’t heal from fast. Just enough to provoke a protective mate to come to her aid.

Kailee smiled. There was more to her mother-in-law than meets the eye. She actually was kind in a vicious sort of way. But what she did had results. Though Kailee would have thought she would have given them a moment to settle in first. It seemed fairly rushed. As they walked into the castle and out of hearing range from Grum the queen stopped walking and turned to Kailee.

“You think it seemed rather rushed, don’t you?” Edith saw Kailee’s surprised face. She chuckled. “I can’t read minds or anything but figured you were thinking something like that. The truth is these things shouldn’t sit for too long. It is better to just push them into the deep water and show them they can swim. Instinct won’t allow them to sink.” She winked at Kailee. “Now, let’s go have a nice cup of tea in quiet.”

She slipped around and spit fire at them. But all she could manage to do was evade them. She tried to put a few feet of distance between them. Bethany snapped her jaws at them and spewed out a wall of fire. She danced in the sky swinging her tail as she worked to evade her attackers. Unfortunately, avoiding five skilled dragons is impossible. Claws ripped into her side, and she bellowed loudly in pain. She pushed herself backwards as the red liquid dripped down her side.

Kailee smiled and nodded her head. She liked seeing that Edith cared about Grum’s happiness. He wasn’t just a tool or a knight to her. Otherwise, she would not have gone as far as she did. Grum’s happiness was also important to her. She admitted she had a negative impression of Trey’s family from before. But maybe it was only because they were concerned about their son.

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Reggie stood leaning his arms on the stone edge of a wide balcony. The view overlooked a crystal lake in the distance that was lined with dark green luscious leaves. On a stone path leading up to the lake two people held each other tight.

“Reg…” Trey said as he walked up from behind him. He looked down at the couple and then glanced over at Reggie. “Are you alright?”

Reggie smiled and nodded his head. “Yeah. Surprisingly I am. And this right here proves it to me.” He said as he nodded at Lance holding a woman close against his chest. “I guess the two of them together doesn’t bother me like it used to.”

“Neither one of them even knows… do they?” Trey said in a quiet tone.

“No. And they don’t need to ever know. It is better this way…” Reggie looked out towards the edge of the lake with a small smile on his face.

“I’m proud of you Reggie.” Trey bumped his shoulder into him.

Reggie chuckled. “It took me some time, but I can be happy for them. I just want their happiness.” He turned around and leaned his back on the railing. “I think we should go and hunt down Kailee. Who knows what plans Aunt Edith has up her sleeves…”

Trey shook his head and sighed. “I hate leaving her unattended Reg… even here in the castle. I’m going to need to have more than Bethany with her at all times.” He turned and looked at Reggie with a serious expression. You know whoever else is involved here is an aristocrat. There is at least one traitor in this castle and who knows where else. Who knows how many… I can only trust our little group.

We will take turns watching her. Reggie linked mentally back to Trey. They were keeping this conversation quiet just to be safe.

No, I need you out there doing your thing for information. I am going to leave Grum with Kailee.

Reggie smirked. A nice subtle way of keeping him close to Bethany too.

Trey shrugged with a wide grin. Whatever works right? When it comes to Kailee her safety is my top priority. She will be safe with both Grum and Bethany near her side. Plus, Grum is my first knight and has high authority in the castle. He is a familiar face. It will warn others not to approach what is mine.

So this is also a possessive thing? Reggie smirked and Trey gave him a crooked grin.

“Come on Reg, let’s go see how my princess is doing.” Trey slapped Reggie on the back. He glanced back as they walked away looking down to where Lance was holding his mate close. It had taken Reggie a long time to get over his heartbreak there but finally he could see it was past him. Even the calmness in his eyes. Somewhere out there was a mate for Reggie. And he hoped she found her way into his life soon. He deserved it. Of course, once that happens, he won’t be able to use Reggie and his typical methods of extracting information. For now, it was a good thing he did not have a mate.