She turned back. “Yeah. I am.”
She wondered if maybe she should have lied. Told him she had some sort of disgusting disease so that he'd let her go.
“But you have Ellington’s syndrome.”
Lucy gaped at him. How the hell did he know that? It wasn’t a deadly disease or anything, just a chromosomal disorder that changed the way she processed proteins. Most people went their whole lives without even knowing they had it. “You accessed my medical records?”
He didn't answer her question. Instead asked another one. “And your mother had asthma, yes? A very particular form?”
Lucy out and out refused to answer this question. She was not about to discuss her mother with this creepy ass man in a weirdly big chair. But Muscles nudged her. She needed to answer.
She nodded curtly.
A smile curled into King Dalyer’s face and Lucy fought not to shiver against it. It made him even creepier.
“Why, you're a miracle.” The King’s voice had a quiet, fascinated edge to it. “Almost as if you were designed just for me.”
Lucy’s blood froze. Tonight she'd been frustrated, angry, startled, nervous, confused, and very scared. But this was the first time she was truly frightened. She felt sick imagining what he meant by that. She shuffled her feet just slightly and immediately felt the warmth of Muscles beside her. Apparently her body had decided it was time to move a little closer to him.
“You see, my family has had a little problem over the last few generations.” The King still hadn’t moved an inch in the chair and his unnatural stillness disturbed her. “Most of our children die.”
At that, he lifted one hand and examined one of the many rings on his fingers. “Even those who make it to adulthood are… weaker than the ancestors. Soon we won't even be able to defend the throne. Especially from this pesky little rebel alliance that keeps rearing its head.”
“Defend the throne with just physical strength?” Lucy asked, unable to keep from cutting in. “Isn't that a little medieval? Couldn't you try, I don’t know, negotiations?”
The King stared at Lucy incredulously, letting out a low chuckle. Even Muscles gave a little chuff of surprise from next to her.
“Child, that is not our way. We are creatures of battle.”
Lucy shrugged, kind of odd phrasing, but whatever. “Alright. So what do I have to do with any of this?” She was one second away from stomping her foot.
“You,” the King said as he finally broke his stick-straight posture and leaned forward, studying her. “Are a delightful little cocktail of DNA. And any child of mine, borne by you, would be the most powerful being in the land.”
Lucy’s jaw dropped. What. The. Royal. Fuck.
CHAPTER SIX
Amos tried hard not to grimace at the look on Lucy’s face. She was looking at the King like he was an absolute psycho. King Dalyer was not going to put up with that for long until he took offense and punished her insolence.
Perhaps thinking that she didn't understand what he'd said, the King went on. “We will mate. You will bear me offspring that will be the heir to this throne.”
With that, Lucy’s mouth clapped shut. She brought one hand up and rubbed across her forehead, like she had a headache. Crossing her arms over her ample chest, she looked up at the King.
“Yeah. I’m gonna take a pass. Hard pass.”
“Excuse me, human?” The King’s eyes glittered like stones at the bottom of a well. Amos knew what was coming, even if Lucy had no earthly clue. He took one step in front of her, not blocking her, just getting ready.
“What makes you think you have a choice in the matter?” The King’s voice dropped to a level so deep it bounced off the walls like bass. “It’s laughable to think you are even capable of refusing me. You're powerless here, human.”
Amos heard Lucy gasp behind him as the King tossed his head backwards and his long, suddenly reptilian tongue lashed out at the air. Bone spikes shot out of his spine and his skin took on a blood red hue as scales unshackled and clicked themselves into place. His tail curled around him and landed with a wet thump on the floor. He shot upwards and outwards, tripling in size in the blink of an eye. With a sharp sound, his claws clicked out and there he sat on the throne, full dragon.
Amos could hear Lucy’s panicked breath, but could also feel King Dalyer’s rage directed toward her. Something in him told him to shift to his dragon form as well. But never once had he shifted to face off with the King. It made him sick to think about it. But he had to de-escalate the situation. If the King hurt Lucy, it could forever doom the royal line.
“Your highness, she's not safe here right now.” He stepped fully in front of her. “I’m taking her away. We can finish this later.”