"Answering your first question, I’m Jayk Ash and this is Doctor Tibult, he is the one who saved your life. As for your whereabouts all you need to know now at this stage is that you are safe," Jayk said, he could see the girl was extremely confused and he didn’t want to break the news to her that she was in The Hidden realm. A realm humans didn’t know of. He will wait for her to get more settled in and comfortable before he tells her more. And besides he didn’t want to throw everything on her so soon.

"Why did the doctor need to save my life?" She asked as her gaze flitted to the doctor who gave her a shy smile.

"There was an incident and you broke your hip. If it wasn’t for the doctor’s quick response, you might’ve died." Jayk said.

Haylee gave a small grateful smile to the doctor, but her smile was quickly replaced with a look of worry.

"My parents, I need to tell them where I am," Haylee wanted to move but pain shot through her once more followed by another scream.

"Please malady, you must lay still. You are badly injured." Haylee gave a reluctant nod.

"Do my parents know I’m safe?" Haylee asked Jayk. He wanted to tell her that her parents were dead, but she was already in physical pain, he didn’t want to give her emotional pain too. Looking into her eyes, he couldn’t bring himself to tell her the truth so he did the only thing he could think of. He lied. It caused a sharp pain to his heart, but he didn’t let it show. Dragons couldn’t lie and if they did they would be rewarded with sharp pains in their chests.

"They know you are here and that you are safe." Haylee nodded but then a guarded look came over her face.

"Then why aren’t they here checking on me? Why aren’t they here telling me themselves what happened?" She asked skeptically.

"I will tell you everything later, but for now you must rest," Jayk said.

"No, I want to know. I want to know now!" She said defiantly. This girl was sure persistent.

"Fine, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. You are in another realm known as the Hidden realm. The Hidden realm consists of five kingdoms, each with different magical creatures. That is all you need to know now. And you are in the kingdom of Ashrock, the dragon kingdom," Jayk rushed out before he took a big breath. He didn’t want to tell her about the Hidden realm, not like this anyway. His temper got the best of him like it always did.

She looked at him and then at the doctor before she burst out in laughter.

"You’re telling me…that you are a dragon?" She said between laughs.

"And that I’m in some other realm, and not on earth anymore," She said as she continued to laugh, but the laughter caused her pain, she flinched and she stopped laughing. A smile was now on her face.

"Okay, okay. Whose idea was this? Did Karen put you up to this? She knows how much I love fantasy novels and dragons," Haylee asked as she looked around waiting for someone to jump out of somewhere screaming that this was some kind of joke.

"Who is Karen?" Jayk asked as his nose scrunched up in confusion. He couldn’t believe that she was laughing at him. She thought that he was lying; now he just had to show her that he wasn’t.

lShe is my best friend and she usually pulls these pranks on me," Haylee said.

"I’m sorry, I do not know her," Jayk said.

"The jigs up, I know that this is an elaborate prank. So where is she?"

"She is not here," Jayk said getting more and more frustrated.

"You’re good buddy, but I know it’s a prank," Haylee continued to say.

"It isn’t. I'm telling you the truth and I can prove it to you," Jayk said, his temper was rising. This girl irked him.

"Then prove it!" She said. Jayk sighed before he touched the crown on his head; grateful he still had it on. The red jewel in the middle, known as dragon fire, burned brightly. 

"Are you supposed to be some kind of king?" Haylee asked teasingly.

"Yes, in fact I’m king Jayk of Ashrock. King of the Dragons. High king of the Hidden realm," Jayk said with pride.

"You actually want me to believe that?" Haylee asked with a raised eyebrow, did this stranger honestly believe she would fall for something like this?

"Yes, because it is the truth," He said but she just continued to giggle, not enough to hurt her.

Jayk couldn’t take her teasing any longer and formed fire balls in his hands. The bright flame caused Haylee’s laughter to die in her throat.

"Believe me now?" Jayk asked with a smirk. He knew he shouldn’t let his anger control his actions, but this girl brought out the worst in him with her cute giggle. Wait? Cute?

Haylee couldn’t believe her eyes. The dragon king called Jayk held balls of fire in his hands. She stared at the fire balls and then back at him before nodding. How could she not believe him after he just made fire balls in his hands out of nowhere?

"How can you do that?" She asked as awe filled her voice.

"I’m a dragon. Dragons can control fire, but they need their Dragon Fire near them," He said as he pointed at the red jewel in the middle of his crown.

"So there really are dragons?" She asked.

"Yes, there are."

"Now why couldn’t my parents be here?" She asked.

"Because the creatures here aren’t too fond of humans and they would probably kill them. You are well hidden and only a select few know you are here. It is the only way to keep you safe," Jayk explained and Haylee nodded trying to process all this information.

"Now get some rest and I will visit you soon," Jayk said before he left Haylee to her own thoughts.

"Doctor, may I have a word?" He asked the chubby man, who nodded in reply.

"I will bring you some food," The doctor told Haylee who only nodded in reply to dumbstruck to reply.

Once he and the doctor was outside and back in his chambers he asked his questions.

"How long will she be staying here?" He asked.

"A while sire, her hip was badly broken and it is going to take some time for her to properly heal," Jayk nodded. He knew she wasn’t going to leave soon. It was dangerous having here surrounded by so many creatures who hated humans.

"Now if you will excuse me Sire, I need to get our patient some food," Jayk nodded.

The doctor was at the door when he turned around again.

"Sire?"

"Yes?"

"I know that I have no right to ask this from you, but I was wondering if you will help me with Haylee’s recovery. I know you helped a lot with you father-"

"Yes, I will help. It was my responsibility to take care of those traps anyway."

"It wasn’t sire."

"Well, even if I am not directly to blame I still feel guilty, now go get her some food," Jayk said and the doctor nodded before leaving the room.

Even though Jayk wasn’t fully responsible for the traps and what happens with them, he was still the king who was in charge of everything, and if something went wrong on his watch, it was his responsibility to make it right.

He thought back to his meeting with the girl, Haylee. She was sure a headstrong woman and he knew that she wasn’t someone to push over. She was someone who could stand up for herself. He also thought back to the strange feelings he felt as soon as his eyes landed on her. She had mesmerizing green eyes and her light brown hair was beautiful, he just wanted to drag his fingers through it. What was wrong with him? He berated himself for thinking about her like that. He hardly knew the girl and she was already testing his temper and consuming his mind.

No, he had to make sure she healed as soon as she can, because the sooner she can heal, the sooner she can leave and the sooner his realm would return to normal. Yes, when she was gone everything will be just fine. But until she leaves for good, he had to make sure that she recovers fully and that she is well protected. His mind went back to what Baelon said about her parents. Whoever murdered them might be after her and for some odd reason that made him angry.

He promised himself that he was going to protect her from all harm. And he knew just how he was going to ensure her safety.