Bernice shook her head. "That's how the royals work, Emma. They are selfish. It's not that they are born selfish. It's just the way they are bred and brought up in a way that all they can think of is about the kingdom they are ruling or themselves."
"What do you mean?" Emma snapped. "What about Angus's feelings?"
Bernice walked to the head of the bed where she sat at the edge. "I will have to talk to him." Her glance went at his hand. She frowned and picked it up. A small star sign glowed in it. She gasped.
"What is it?" Emma asked, confused and shocked at the soft glow in his hand.
"I don't think Angus can leave Yizinia any soon."
"Why?"
Bernice looked at the baby dragon who was sleeping soundly coiled around Angus's ankle. "If Angus tries to get out of the portal even if the queen allows, he will risk his dragon's life. He is just a hatchling. Too fragile. And if the dragon's life is at risk, it will have a direct effect on Angus's life." She stretched his fingers out and showed the glow to Emma. "This will always remain in his hand. If the King of Aztec sees it, he will be after Angus. He is always looking out for more dragon riders."
A sense of trepidation ran down Emma. "How did Brantley happen to have his dragon out of Yizinia?"
"That's because Rirsyr hatched outside Yizinia and he chose Brantley as his rider. If I am not forgetting, I think Rirsyr's mother laid eggs in Falshire Forests. If you are lucky to have been chosen outside Yizinia, you can stay out, but if you are not, then you can't leave this place."
Emma got up and began pacing the room. "Why is everything so twisted in my life?"
Bernice too rose on her feet and came to her. She stopped Emma in her tracks by holding her hands. "Emma, life is tough, but that's how we sally forth."
Emma's shoulders dropped and she pressed her head against her mother's heart. "What am I supposed to do? I miss Lord Lazarus a lot."
Suddenly, Bernice pulled away. "That reminds me. Who has marked you, Emma?" She knew the answer before Emma could say, still she wanted to hear it from her.
"Lord Lazarus," Emma murmured as a blush rose on her cheeks and she lowered her eyes.
Bernice's lips curled up with excitement. "I knew." She lifted her chin up with her fingers. "I have to mention this to Violet."
The door of the room opened and they found King Titus entering inside with Violet. Instantly they bowed to the royalty. Titus had a grin on his face when his eyes went to Angus and trailed to his little dragon. "They are adorable!" he said with a gleam in his eyes. When he turned to Emma, he said, "I can't be thankful enough to you for bringing your brother to Yizinia. If there is anything I can do for you, let me know."
Emma was surprised to see that the king was kinder than the queen. "I—" she forgot what to say as she took him in. With dark hair and darker eyes, he was over six feet tall. Wearing violet tunic and black trousers that hugged his thighs, he looked strong.
Bernice chipped in for Emma, a plan suddenly forming in her mind. She looked at Violet and said, "Lord Lazarus is Emma's mate and he has marked her."
Violet's eyes became wide like saucers. "Lord Lazarus?" she said in a hoarse voice. "That's incredulous!" She gave Titus a knowing look.
"I want both of you in the meeting chamber. Now!" Titus ordered.
Emma whipped her head to look at Bernice, but Bernice shrugged. She didn't know what was going on in Titus's head. As the king and queen made their way to the meeting chamber, Emma and Bernice followed them. The guards immediately closed the door when the healer walked in the room, protecting Angus from curious onlookers.
The meeting chamber was dark with only a few candles lit in the chandelier that hung over a round oak table. Titus sat at the head of the table on the tallest chair while the other sat down on his right. Curious, he asked Emma, "Is that Lord Lazarus who marked you?"
She nodded, nervousness rolling off her in ripples.
"Lord Lazarus is the next king of Wilyra," Violet said.
"He should be," Emma replied in a voice filled with doubt.
"Explain what you mean." Titus leaned forward and placed his elbows on the table.
Emma narrated everything to him emphasizing how Lazarus was standing trial for a murder he never committed and how King Viktor hated his eldest because he wanted to keep the crown on his head. She also talked about the last riots that took place in the north villages where Prince Jade was killed.
"Hmm…" Titus steepled his fingers and rested his chin over it as he listened to Emma's problem. "And he sent you here because he felt you were not safe back there?"
"Yes."
---
Back in the Wilyra Palace, the court was fully packed. Every minister, junior or senior was attending it.
Lazarus was standing a trial. He was standing in the middle of the courtroom, flanked by Magnus and Yul. Sitting on his throne, Viktor brushed his stubble as he watched his oldest son with a sneer.
"It was Emma's father who killed Jade, and we have no reason not to believe that he was encouraged by Emma to kill Prince Jade," he said in a loud and bold voice. "This clearly means that Emma was in cahoots with you to kill Jade because you saw Jade as your direct adversary to take over the kingdom of Wilyra. Earlier you had said that because of Emma, you killed your other two brothers, but the truth is that you killed them because you wanted to eliminate them."
Lazarus raised his eyebrow. His father had played a very dirty game. He had put him in a very tight spot this time and Drogo was nowhere to be found.
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