Just like Atreus said, we reached the base in two days. Those two days spent of traveling were silent. Atreus didn't talk to me and dutifully led me around, only speaking if it concerned Meilin. It was as if he didn't care for idle chit chat other than if I had a question about Meilin, where Meilin was located, and when I would see him. It was surprising to see his loyalty ran so deep. When we were near enough to see the military base, with its towering pillars and impending gateway, I wanted to collapse right on the spot from exhaustion, but I knew we had to keep moving.

"We're here," Atreus said as we drew near. Instantly, a dozen archers notched and aimed their arrows at us as we approached the gateway.

"It's me, Atreus!" he shouted.

For a moment, no one moved and I was scared that they wouldn't know who he was, but after a moment, the door to the gateway cracked open and Commander Bohai stepped out. His hair was tousled and he had a tired expression on his face, his shoulders tense and his hand resting on the hilt of his blade. When he saw Atreus, a ghost of a smile spread across his face, but when he saw me, his eyes widened and he sighed in relief.

"Atreus! I've never been so excited to see you," Bohai said as he jogged over to us. Atreus kicked the horse forward to a trot, meeting up with the commander.

"I hate to say this, but my mission wasn't successful and I had to—"

"That doesn't matter at all," Bohai said with a wave as he looked me up and down. His critical brown eyes were full of concern and relief. "You have no idea how matters are faring here."

Atreus stiffened in his seat, his shoulders square. "What happened? Is Master Drakkon alright?"

Bohai shook his head. "The rage of the Dragon spreads wide and fierce like a fire," he said with a loud sigh. "He went berserk when he found out Lady Daiyu was kidnapped. His rage knows no bounds and it's been a hassle trying to deal with him. If he had his way, he would've burned down every village here in the north to find her. It took me and Fang to calm him down and not jump to reckless behaviors."

Hearing those words brought a tremor to my heart, my grip on Meilin's dagger tightening and confusion blooming within my chest. Did Meilin honestly care that much that I had been kidnapped? Was he worried about me, or was he more concerned with appearances and how that would look if his bride was taken away? Did Meilin care for me?

"Commander Bohai," I said softly, garnering his and Atreus's attention. "why is the emperor so angry that I was taken? We hardly know each other and have only spoken a handful of times."

Atreus was silent while Bohai watched me for a moment. After what felt like forever, he gave me a small smile. "Meilin cares for those under his protection. Those he decides to care for are his utmost priority and he hates when one of his own is hurt in any sort of way. He told you that day he chose you, didn't he, about how you are his? That means that he has taken you and placed you with the people he will protect."

My heart warmed at his words.

"We better get you to Meilin," Bohai continued.

"She can't walk," Atreus said as he eased himself off the horse and held his arms out towards me. "Her feet are cut up so I'll carry her."

In a few moments, I was helped off the horse and placed in Atreus's arms as he followed Bohai into the base. Soldiers were everywhere, littering the halls and speaking loudly. They paused when they saw the commander walk by and openly stared at me, most likely wondering who I was and why a woman was in the base. It was embarrassing to be held like that and led around the halls and stairs, but after everything I had gone through for the past week, it wasn't nearly as bad as it could've been.

"Is Master Drakkon currently in a bad mood?" Atreus asked hesitantly as we made our way up the stairs.

"Livid," Bohai answered without missing a beat. He glanced at me and his eyes flicked from my feet to my sullied clothes. "He'll murder someone when he sees the state she's in."

Atreus swallowed. "Master's temper is too hot. "

"That's what killed the princes," Bohai said with a shrug. "If they didn't interfere between Meilin and the previous emperor, Yan, Meilin probably wouldn't have—" He stopped talking when he saw the color drain from my face. Clearing his throat, Bohai focused straight ahead. "He's already upset about Fang, so Lady Daiyu's capture sent him off the rails. I'm positive he'll be none too pleased with all of this."

Atreus's mouth was set in a firm line as his eyes clouded with anticipation and anxiety. I could practically feel the tension rolling off his broad shoulders as I held onto him, his muscles tightening.

"Did you kill them?" Bohai suddenly asked. "All of them, are they dead? You know that if you let any survivors—" The look in his eyes said everything.

Atreus smiled ever so slightly. "As if I would leave a trace of scum behind."

"Good, that's the only thing that might quell a bit of Meilin's temper."

Before they could further talk about the subject, we paused at a doorway that most likely led to Meilin. Bohai exchanged glances with Atreus and me, his dark brown eyes glimmering with unease. For a moment, we remained unmoved at the doorstep, but then Bohai pulled his fist back and slammed down against the door repeatedly. "Meilin, I'm entering."

Pushing the door open, Bohai walked inside, Atreus trailing behind him. There was a meeting of sorts being held, a giant oval-shaped table in the center of the room with various men huddled around it, a giant map laid out on it. A quick scan revealed that Fang wasn't among them, but when my eyes landed on Meilin, all thoughts seemed to disappear as I took in my fiancé.

Long hair pulled back and dressed in military attire, he was the image of a handsome soldier, his swords strapped to his waist and his grim expression encompassing the image of a vengeful hero—or villain, in his case. One look at him sent fear shooting through my chest and it was the oddest sensation, to want to see someone you fear so much. I don't know why I was so concerned with seeing him, but the relief that he was ok and the fear at seeing him look so deadly was too much for me.

I was conflicted.

He looked like a beautiful dangerous creature. Since when was beauty so . . . dark? The rage in his eyes was enough to tell me of the extents he was capable of, and the vengeance he would take against those that wronged him.

When his eyes landed on mine, his expression froze and I saw something flicker within his obsidian colored eyes. His gaze shifted from my face to my clothing to my feet, before he glanced over at Atreus. For a moment, everyone was silent.

"Atreus," Meilin finally breathed. He straightened up and rose from his seat. "Everyone, out."

When the various people stood up and scuttled around for a second, mumbling something to each other, Meilin's sharp gaze shot at them.

"Now!" he roared.

In mere seconds, everyone vacated the room save for Atreus, Bohai, and me. Meilin studied me for a moment before turning his attention to Atreus, who was as taut as a bowstring at this point. He cleared his throat. "Master Drakkon—"

"Who did it?" He was staring at the blood on my dress and the bandages around my feet, anger dancing in his eyes. "Who hurt her?"

Atreus swallowed.

"Who the hell touched her?" Meilin took a few domineering steps towards us.

"They're dead," he said hesitantly. "I made sure none survived."

He narrowed his eyes. "Atreus, how did she even become a part of this mess? You were supposed to be—"

"Things happen," Bohai interrupted. "She was caught up in the middle because she's your bride, Meilin. It's not Atreus's fault that unexpected things happened; all that matters is that he brought her back, safe—"

"Are you sure you they're all dead?" he said in a harsher voice, his eyes glinting with malice. "Are you positive, Atreus, because if any—"

"Positive. I made sure of it."

"Are you sure?"

Atreus looked hurt at being doubted but he nodded nonetheless. "Yes, Master Drakkon."

Meilin breathed out but still didn't look too pleased. When his eyes landed on me, his shoulders became more tense and the sharp look in his eyes intensified. It was as if his rage was bubbling every time he got a look at my face.

"Give her to me," he said as he walked the short distance to Atreus. Without questioning, Atreus handed me to Meilin, who easily scooped me up in his arms. Heat flushed over my face at being held by him but I also felt a tremor run through my body; his rage truly was a scary thing.

Meilin looked over at Atreus and sighed, his eyes softening ever so slightly as he took in the stressed out and partially ashamed expression on his face. He was clearly beating himself over the words that Meilin had directed at him. "Atreus, thank you," Meilin said, startling the youth. "You did a good job."

Instantaneously, Atreus straightened up and tried to hide the smile that was growing on his face. It was slightly adorable how the tough, serious, and blood covered kid respected and loved Meilin to the point that Meilin's words made or broke his day. "Anything for you, Master Drakkon," he said proudly.

"Bohai, can you take care of the rest of the meeting?" Meilin asked him, his tone becoming more and more controlled as the seconds ticked by. "I'll take Daiyu to my room so she can rest."

Bohai gave a nod. "Of course."

"Atreus, you go and get yourself cleaned up too," he said as he gave one look at Atreus, who was still stained with blood. "You look like you came out of a battle field and you smell like a barnyard."

With that, Meilin slipped out of the room, all the while carrying me. I kept my eyes closed as he walked to his room, my heart pounding loudly in my ears. My feet were still aching, but I barely registered that as my mind focused on how I could feel the slight movements Meilin's chest as he breathed, how he was touching me, and the rhythm of his heartbeat as I rested my head against his chest.

Finally, after what felt like forever, Meilin set me down on a bed. It was then that I realized that we had entered what was his room. Surprisingly, the room looked nothing like an emperor's room. Instead of the giant room back in the palace, this room was small, cramped, and looked too military like. No fancy decorative pieces or unnecessary furnishing was around the room and only the bare essentials were there—bed, desk with stacks of papers, and space for movement.

The bed was, however, huge and comfortable. When I was seated, I tucked a tendril of hair behind my ear and for the first time as I watched him scrutinize me, with his dark eyes roaming all over me, I felt embarrassed by my appearance. My hair was greasy and unwashed, my dress was stained with blood and dirt, and my skin was caked with dirt—essentially, I looked nothing like myself.

"How are you?" he asked hesitantly as he drank my image into his mind.

I stared down at my hands. Was I fine? No, I most definitely wasn't, but things could've been worse, right? What would've happened if Atreus wasn't around? I could've been killed and raped in this scenario, but all I ended up with was cut feet and embarrassment.

"Daiyu?"

I raised my eyes to meet his. "I'm fine."

He didn't look convinced. "My little rabbit, you must be emotionally . . . " He paused. "Do you want certain medication? Most likely you—" He sighed loudly and rubbed the side of his face, turning away for a moment. He was flustered. "I can't take away the nightmares you'll have. Most likely you'll forever remember their faces. I never wanted you to go through—"

It was then at that moment that I realized just what he was trying to say to me. He thought that I was already sullied. The thing that struck me the most was that he was willing to keep me as his bride even though he thought that I was raped. The way he was speaking, so gently and carefully, told me that he wasn't going to discard me that easily.

"I haven't been touched," I interrupted him. "Atreus saved me."

For the longest moment he stared at me, the words registering in his head. "That's good," he finally said, sighing in relief as he sat down on the edge of the bed. He rubbed at his wrist and tried to smile. "Torture comes in many forms, and I would hate for you to have to deal with any. I've already dealt with my fair share of it, so to think that you too would have to deal with it—" He paused and rubbed the nape of his neck. "I'm glad you haven't been violated like that, but it still must've been horrible."

I nodded.

"Is there anything you need?"

"A bath," I murmured. "And food."

"Anything else?"

"No."

"I'll let you rest," he said as he rose to get up.

"Wait," I suddenly said. He stopped and looked down at me, his dark eyes boring holes into mine. I reached into my dress and within the folds, produced his dragon dagger, holding it for him with a hesitant smile. "I brought it back safely."

He stared at the dagger and then me, his expression softening as he grasped the dagger. "Thank you."

"Next time," I said slowly. "Can you tell me more about yourself and that dagger?"

I felt like there was more to his story than anyone knew, and although I was scared of him, my heart was warming up to the fearsome Dragon that spoke to me so gently.