Wrapping my coat tighter around me, I spun on my heel and stared into those arrogant grey eyes without hiding my anger.

  “What do you want, Max?” I snapped. “Wasn’t it enough, humiliating me like that? Decided to do it again? Or is ruining my life at the Winter Ball some new yearly tradition of yours?”

  I didn’t give him a chance to respond.

  “What’s there to talk about? It’s been a year! A whole year, Max!”

  As he stepped closer, I grabbed his shirt, my nails digging into the fabric.

  “Ventus said you were avoiding me—because of the scandal. I believed him, Aurora,” he whispered. “Like an idiot, I believed him. I’ve been tearing myself up all year. I’m tired, Frosty. I’m sorry. But I’m asking again—take the mark. I can’t let you go. The beast inside me… it’s unraveling. Please, Aurora.”

  He pulled me to his chest.

  And somehow… there was no fear this time.

  It was strange, but in his arms, I felt like I could finally breathe.

  The fear faded. The ache eased. And something deep inside stirred—some part of me still drawn to his magic, still craving the warmth.

  For a few fleeting seconds, I let myself feel safe again.

  His silver eyes promised everything I once dreamed of—protection, care, the kind of closeness I’d forced myself to forget.

  And as if he could read my thoughts, he held me tighter… pressed a soft kiss to my temple… and breathed warm against my hair.

  “My Frosty girl… I’ll take care of you. I swear.”

  Everything was unfolding exactly as Chester had warned me.

  I was so exhausted from being afraid that for a moment—I almost welcomed Maximilian’s offer.

  And that moment… was enough to snap me back to reality. The spell broke.

  All that remained was anger.

  Anger at myself for letting him get that close.

  And anger at the Terragon heir, who clearly thought he'd already won.

  “If you think Ventus’s threats are enough to drag me into your bed, you’re wrong, dragon,” I growled, pulling away from him. “I’d rather let the Fifth Junior Advisor finish the job and choke me out in a hallway than become your Amatrix.”

  Maximilian’s eyes widened. He hadn't expected that.

  Judging by the fury flashing across his face, he clearly hadn’t known what his future in-law had been up to.

  But I didn’t give him a chance to defend himself.

  “I don’t care if you knew or not that Vir Ventus threatened to strangle me after the ball. I don’t care that he tried again tonight—and I barely escaped a lunatic dragon who decided you weren’t worthy of a mistress, and that his daughter would give you a child instead. You humiliated me, Max. With your silence. With your indifference. You crushed my dreams and ruined my life. And now you want to finish the job—by forcing me into your bed?”

  I looked him straight in the eye.

  And for the first time, the dragon had no words.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  “I’ll kill him,” Maximilian growled, the meaning finally hitting him. “Do you want me to do it now? I’ll kill him right here—in this hall.”

  His eyes went black, rage overtaking him.

  But I was done being afraid.

  I motioned him closer, and he leaned in.

  “I want you to disappear from my life, Maximilian Terragon,” I whispered. “Let me gather what little pieces I have left. I won’t take your mark. If you want a child so badly, you’ll have to force it on me. But either way… your Amatrix won’t survive it.”

  He let out a guttural growl—and suddenly crushed me against him, his mouth claiming mine in a searing kiss.

  I froze in his arms. Didn’t push him away. Didn’t kiss him back either.

  I could’ve cast a spell. I could’ve fought.

  But he was right about one thing—If he truly wanted to, he could tear this hall apart… And the battle-dragon students might even help him do it.

  So I did the only thing I could—nothing.

  I pretended to be a doll. If he planned to take me by force, then let him feel exactly what awaited him: a lifeless, emotionless shell, whose only purpose was to bear him an heir.

  He kissed me for what felt like a minute, his lips bruising mine with anger—but when he felt nothing in return, the dragon growled. And it wasn’t Maximilian anymore—it was the beast.

  The next second, a black shadow launched itself from the balcony and disappeared into the sky.

  I opened my eyes and wiped my mouth with the sleeve of my coat. The kiss had been rough and bitter, but I would survive. I’d scrub my lips raw and rinse away the taste—like I had so many other things.

  I looked around, unsure what to do next. The black dragon had vanished into the snowy trees, denied what he came for.

  Taking that as the end of the conversation, I stepped back into the ballroom—and ran straight into Chester near the balcony door.

  His eyes dropped to my lips, and he narrowed his gaze.

  “What did he do?” he hissed, eyes sweeping over my wrinkled coat and dress.

  “Tried to kiss me. Offered the mark again. Then flew off,” I said simply, pulling my coat tighter.

  He let out a sharp breath, his eyes flashing toward the balcony, then reached out his hand.

  “Let’s go, Aurora. You’re staying with me tonight. They backed off too easily—and that’s suspicious. The advisor and Vir Ventus already left the Academy. The show’s over.”

  We stopped by my room just long enough to grab Wizardis, then Chester led me to the staff quarters.

  “Bed’s yours, Aurora,” he said, pulling a few covers off the massive bed.

  I looked around—and when I saw no second bed, I tensed a little. But Chester just muttered something under his breath and smiled, using a spell to send a large trunk floating off into the living room.

  “Don’t worry, girl. I’m not a dragon. There’s a latch on the door. And I think you know what a pocket dimension is—so you don’t have to worry about me. I won’t be sleeping on the floor,” he added with a glance, then nodded at the door and stepped out of the room.

  I closed the door, but slept fully dressed—I didn’t even risk taking off my gown in the bathroom. I knew perfectly well that Chester Dymov was a mage. And whatever his true reasons were for stepping between me and the dragons, I couldn’t afford to relax.

  Not that I really slept.

  A snowstorm raged outside, and I couldn’t find any night-lights or calming wards in his bedroom. Every sound in the dark made me flinch.

  Tired and rumpled, I opened the door to the living room at first light—then slammed it shut just as fast.

  Vir Dymov was still asleep, stretched out on a narrow couch and practically naked.

  His toned torso was bare, and his light trousers clung far too tightly to his hips. I only looked at him for a few seconds—but it was enough to make me feel like I’d done something shameful.

  The shame hit so hard that I fled straight to the bathroom. And judging by the mirror, the flush on my cheeks wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

  The water didn’t help.

  And if it hadn’t been for the soft knock on the door, I might’ve stayed in there until lunchtime.

  “Aurora, you barely saw anything. I’m dressed now. Come on out—I need the bath, too. There’s only one,” came Chester’s voice through the door, clearly trying not to laugh.

  Sighing, I opened the door and kept my eyes low.

  “Thank you, Vir Dymov. I think I’ll go back to my room now. I doubt anyone’s still planning to kidnap me.”

  He exhaled, then gently lifted my chin so I had to meet his eyes.

  “You’re my fiancée, remember?” he said. “I’m sorry if I embarrassed you, Aurora. But this is just another sign of how far we still have to go.”

  Brushing a stray strand of hair behind my ear, he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead.

  “Go on. Rest, girl.”

  I had never gotten dressed so fast in my life.

  Snatching up the cage, I all but ran back to the dorms.

  Only after I reached my room, activated the ward, and set Wizardis on the table did I finally breathe easy.

  I didn’t know what Chester had seen in my eyes.

  But I hoped he hadn’t seen fear.

  Better he think I was just a flustered girl who got embarrassed by a half-naked man—than one who was still afraid of him.

  Shaking the too-fresh image of the sleeping assistant from my mind, I slipped out of the wrinkled gown and collapsed into bed.

  I was asleep in seconds.