Page 78 of Dragon King’s Bullied Mate

Dag laughed harshly. “Your kingdom?” He gestured wildly toward the mountains surrounding them. “This kingdom abandoned people like us long ago.”

“You murdered innocent people.”

“I was trying to save Bjorn!”

The name struck through the storm sharply. Mikael’s expression hardened.

“I was all about the kingdom.” Dag’s breathing roughened visibly. “Then the Skelvarns promised they could recover my brother a couple years ago. They had contacts. Information. They gave me hope.” His eyes darkened further. “Then I met Boden.”

Boden emerged beside him gripping a blade against Beckett’s shoulder while the child trembled violently.

“I needed leverage powerful enough to force negotiations for Bjorn’s return. I knew you were a sucker for kids, so the plan was perfect.”

Mikael stared at him with growing horror.

“Before we could act,” Dag spat bitterly, “this fool killed his wife during one of his drunken rages and nearly beat the boy to death. He lost custody. Beckett disappeared.” His jaw tightened. “Then I discovered Lyra had taken him in.”

Pieces clicked together viciously.

“The poisoning,” Mikael said coldly. “Why did you poison me?”

“Plans changed.” Dag’s expression twisted. “And I thought, why stop at my brother when I could have it all? You were supposed to die. Simple. Efficient. No heirs so I planned on taking the crown. Everything solved at once.” His eyes flicked toward Lyra. “Then she ruined everything by saving you.”

Lyra lifted her chin despite the bruise darkening her temple. “You ruined yourself.”

Something cracked visibly across Dag’s face at her words. Boden suddenly shoved Beckett backward and raised his blade toward Lyra instead.

“Enough talking.”

Everything happened at once. An arrow suddenly pierced Boden in the chest and he fell forward off the cliff. More arrows flew through the air, and chaos erupted.

Mikael moved as he saw Lyra launch herself at Beckett and usher him deeper into the cave. Dag seemed confused at his sudden loss of control over the situation, and he ran down a narrow path to the far side of the mountain.

“Dag!” Mikael hollered as he gave chase. Once out of sight, he finally let his dragon free.

Power exploded through him with terrifying force as bones shifted violently beneath skin and heat erupted across his bloodstream like wildfire unleashed after years trapped beneath iron chains.

Massive opalescent wings tore outward into the storm and a roar split the mountains apart.

Dragon fire erupted as Mikael descended upon Dag with catastrophic fury. The mountain itself trembled. Dag stumbled backward in shock as Mikael landed and pinned him to the side of the mountain.

“Mikael!” Lyra cried as she stumbled down the path.

The dragon turned instantly and Boden suddenly appeared out of nowhere, blood running down his chest, and making the mistake of grabbing her.

Mikael hit him with enough force to throw the man with deadly force into frozen stone. Boden never rose again.

But Dag lunged for Lyra in blind desperation, but the dragon intercepted him before the strike landed. He grabbed him in his talons and threw him toward the cave. Dag crashed hard against the cave wall while Mikael shifted back into human form only enough to seize him by the throat and slam him brutally into the rock again.

Rage drowned everything.

“You’ve abused her enough,” Mikael growled.

Dag coughed blood. “She took my family.”

Mikael tightened his grip. The dragon wanted death. Dag clawed weakly at Mikael’s arm while terror finally overtook his face. Then Lyra’s voice cut through the fury.

“Mikael.”