Page 80 of Dragon King’s Bullied Mate

Lyra sat beside Mikael near the throne platform with Beckett quietly beside her. Nobles whispered uneasily throughout the chamber as she stared at the man who had made her life miserable.

Dag looked thinner already.

The arrogance that had once sharpened his every expression seemed hollowed out now, leaving only exhaustion and grief behind as chains rattled softly around his wrists while guards escorted him forward.

For a long moment he said nothing. Then finally he lifted his head.

“I conspired with the Skelvarn,” he admitted hoarsely, his voice echoing through the chamber. “I assisted their infiltration of the castle and participated in the attempted assassination of King Mikael.”

Dag swallowed visibly before continuing.

“I believed they could help me recover my brother from prison.” His expression twisted painfully. “By the time I realized what the Skelvarns truly were, I had already become part of it.”

Silence settled heavily across the court. Then Dag’s eyes shifted toward Lyra. For the first time since she had known him, he looked unable to hold her gaze for long.

“My treatment of Lyra throughout our childhood was cruel,” he said quietly. “Unforgivable.” His jaw tightened. “I hated her because she represented weakness to me at a time when I could not survive my own grief. Hurting her became easier than confronting myself.”

The words struck harder than Lyra expected. Hearing him finally admit it aloud before the entire kingdom loosened something buried painfully deep inside her chest.

All those years she had secretly wondered if perhaps she truly had deserved it somehow. If perhaps she really had been too quiet or too weak. Tears burned unexpectedly behind her eyes. Mikael noticed immediately and his fingers closed firmly around hers.

He rose to his feet. “Before I sentence Dag, there’s another matter that needs to be addressed officially. Some among you,” he said coldly, “have questioned Lyra’s place beside me because of her birth.”

Several nobles visibly stiffened as Mikael continued.

“She has shown more courage, loyalty, and strength than many born into noble blood ever will.” His voice deepened further. “She protected this kingdom while others betrayed it.”

Lyra’s pulse quickened. Then Mikael turned toward her fully and before the entire court, he dropped to one knee.

“Lyra, if you will have me, will you stand beside me as my queen?”

Shock rippled audibly through the chamber. Mikael didn’t even glance toward the reaction. His focus was entirely on her.

She took his hand and placed a kiss in the palm before she cupped his face. “Of course I will.”

He stood and kissed her soundly. “If any person here believes her beneath me,” he said calmly, “they may challenge my judgment openly now.”

Nobody moved.

Nobody spoke.

Malaya smirked from her place near the wall.

One by one, the nobles lowered their heads and for the first time in her life, Lyra did not feel small.

“As for you, Dag,” Mikael faced the man. “For many years, you were my best friend. I believe for many years, you were a loyal guard.” He paused. “And since because of your betrayal, I found my true love. Your punishment shall be life in prison…”

The room murmured but he held his hand up.

“But for your years of loyalty, you will be incarcerated with your brother.”

Tears openly streamed down Dag’s face as Lyra squeezed Mikael’s hand in approval.

Boden’s body had been recovered from the mountain caves two days after the attack. The news affected Beckett strangely, not with grief or even anger, but mostly with quietness.

Lyra found him later that evening curled beside the window in Mikael’s chambers staring out toward the snowy cliffs while dusk settled across the mountains.

She sat beside him carefully. “Sweetheart?”