Page 76 of Dragon King’s Bullied Mate

Mikael crouched beside the body.

“There were documents missing from his satchel,” one guard said hoarsely. “He was bringing evidence to the council when someone intercepted him.”

Lyra’s stomach twisted violently.

“What evidence?” Mikael asked.

The guard hesitated. “Proof of Skelvarn sympathizers operating inside the castle.”

Mikael rose slowly to his feet. “Who knew he carried this information?”

“Only a few people,” the guard answered shakily. “Including Commander Dag.”

A terrible feeling settled instantly in Lyra’s chest.

Mikael’s expression darkened with terrifying stillness. “Where is he now?”

“No one can find him, Sire.”

Dag was gone.

Chapter 27

Mikael

The great hall glittered with gold and candlelight while diplomats from neighboring territories filled the castle with polished smiles and carefully measured conversation. Mikael could feel the wrongness beneath it all but there hadn’t been time to cancel the festivities.

Music drifted through the crowded hall while nobles laughed too loudly and servants moved between tables carrying silver trays heavy with wine. Mikael’s dragon had been restless since dawn, prowling beneath his skin with sharp agitation that refused to settle no matter how many guards he stationed throughout the castle after Dag’s disappearance.

And Dag’s absence lingered like rot beneath everything.

Mikael stood near the throne platform with one hand resting lightly against the hilt of the dagger concealed beneath his ceremonial coat while his gaze moved constantly across the room searching for threats hidden among familiar faces.

Across the hall, Lyra knelt beside Beckett near one of the massive hearths, helping him sneak pastries from a dessert tray while pretending not to notice his increasingly obvious theft attempts.

The sight struck Mikael with painful warmth. Beckett looked up suddenly and grinned when he noticed Mikael watching him. Mikael found himself returning the expression automatically.

Then the windows exploded inward.

The sound was deafening. Glass rained across the hall while screams erupted instantly and black-cloaked figures flooded through the shattered entrances with drawn weapons bearing the crimson Skelvarn insignia across their cloaks.

“Protect the king!” someone shouted. Chaos detonated across the ballroom as guards worried about him while he tried to reach Lyra and Beckett.

Diplomats scattered in panic while guards surged forward to intercept the attackers, steel colliding violently beneath the roar of terrified voices. Mikael drew his sword in one smooth motion just as the first assassin reached him.

The man never landed a strike.

Mikael drove steel through his throat with brutal precision before pivoting into the next attacker, every movement terrifyingly efficient as blood sprayed across polished marble floors already slick with panic and death.

More poured into the hall. Too many for the guards to handle. Mikael knew this had been planned carefully and well coordinated.

Mikael caught sight of flaming arrows suddenly streaking through the air toward the upper levels of the castle, followed by fresh screams echoing from distant corridors.

He knew these were diversion attacks and that the entrances would be blocked. This all had Dag written all over it.

Rage sharpened instantly inside him.

“Don’t worry about me. Get Lyra and Beckett out of here!” Mikael roared toward his guards while slashing another attacker across the chest.