Page 70 of Dragon King’s Bullied Mate

“She has a name.”

“Ooh,” Malaya teased. “Protective.”

Mikael shot her a flat look before returning to the reports, though the warmth lingering in his chest refused to disappear. Scenes from earlier replayed in his mind.

Lyra had not adjusted easily to castle life. He noticed every strained smile she donned before entering crowded rooms and every flicker of discomfort when anyone whispered behind their hands while pretending not to stare.

The flower girl who bewitched the king.

The rumors spread fast. Some servants feared her while others resented her. A few simply watched with unabashed curiosity.

Earlier that morning Mikael had walked into one of the dining halls just in time to hear a visiting noblewoman mutter loudly enough for Lyra to hear. “It’s amazing what royal men will drag in from the countryside these days.”

The woman nearly dropped her teacup when Mikael stepped forward. “If you cannot manage basic respect toward the future queen of this crown, you may leave my castle immediately.”

The entire hall had fallen silent while Lyra herself looked stunned. The noblewoman fled moments later and nearly tripped over her own two feet.

“You are so easy to read by your expressions,” Malaya snorted. “You practically threatened to burn that woman alive over breakfast.”

“She insulted Lyra.”

“Yes,” Malaya replied dryly, “which apparently now qualifies as a capital offense.”

Mikael did not answer because disturbingly enough, part of him agreed. Malaya studied him carefully before her expression shifted into something more serious.

“I found something else tonight.” She hesitated. “The real reason I brought you coffee.”

Mikael immediately focused. “About Dag?”

She nodded once before pulling a folded document from her coat pocket. “This came from an old census registry in Stagholt.” She handed it over carefully. “Dag’s younger brother.”

Mikael scanned the page quickly. “Bjorn is incarcerated? That’s impossible. I went to his funeral myself.”

“That’s what I thought too.”

“But Dag always said—”

“I know what Dag said.” Malaya folded her arms tightly. “Apparently the entire family claimed Bjorn died in a river accident when they were children.”

Cold realization spread slowly through Mikael’s chest. Nothing but years of lies.

“Why would they fake his death?”

Malaya’s expression hardened. “Because prison was apparently more shameful.”

On the way back to his quarters, Mikael found Dag in the training yard sparring viciously against two guards hard enough that both men looked half-afraid to strike him properly.

Dag noticed Mikael immediately and dismissed the guards with a quick flick of his hand.

“What now?” Dag asked flatly.

Mikael stepped closer. “I didn’t expect to find you here this late, but since you are, we’re done lying to each other.”

Something briefly flickered across Dag’s face before it vanished. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Your brother.”

Silence. Dag’s jaw tightened visibly.