Married To The Dragon Prince Against My Will-Chapter 249: THE KING

"Lumina..."

Ashen called her name softly, taking a step toward her but at the same time worried about what she would say to him.

She lifted her hand immediately, palm facing him in warning.

"Do not come closer," she said, her voice trembling despite her effort to sound steady. "You hurt me... so don’t you dare try to please me."

Ashen stopped at once as his chest tightened painfully. "I needed to stop you," he said quietly. "I needed to control the situation before you committed a mistake that..."

"Do not touch me," Lumina snapped. "Do not speak to me." Her lips curled into a bitter smile. "You used your power on me for him."

Ashen shook his head. "That is not true."

"You chose him," she cut in sharply. "You hurt me for him."

"I am sorry," he said, the word heavy with regret.

She laughed softly, a hollow sound that made his heart ache.

"Have it your way then," she muttered. She turned and stormed out of the room.

Ashen moved instinctively to stop her, but the door slammed shut in his face with a sharp crack that echoed through the chamber.

He was frustrated and didn’t even know what to do, only to turn back to his brother.

The moment Lumina ran out hurt Alexis groaned, trying to push himself up.

"She will eventually side with someone else," Alexis spoke out weakly. "So you better create a stronger bond with your concubine when she... " The words never finished.

Ashen abruptly punched his face and the sound of skin meeting skin was loud and painful.

Alexis staggered, clutching his cheek in disbelief as he stared at his brother.

"You just hit me?" he asked, shock written all over his face while Ashen’s eyes burned with fury.

"You idiot," Ashen growled. "I told you never to touch the woman I love."

Alexis fell silent at once, if there was something he had learned since he came was to take his brother’s warning seriously.

"What?" Alexis said after a moment. "Didn’t you just..."

"I stopped her because I needed to protect her," Ashen interrupted, stepping closer. "I do not care about the throne. I do not care about the council. If you push her again, I will destroy everything standing between us." Alexis swallowed at once.

"I am warning you," Ashen continued. "Tread carefully if you do not want to regret it."

Ashen turned to leave, but Alexis called out behind him.

"Ashen." and then he paused.

"You should be the one treading carefully," Alexis said, slowly pushing himself upright. "Your wife is an Enchantress and the king wants you on the throne." Ashen turned back, unimpressed.

"He will remove anything that stands in the way of that title," Alexis added quietly and Ashen smirked.

"So the same people who abandoned me from the beginning suddenly want control now that the truth is out," he said coldly. "And you think that frightens me." He asked as he stepped closer to Alexis.

"Try whatever you think you can," Ashen warned. "Just remember this. If you harm her, I will not hesitate."

He held Alexis’s gaze for a moment longer, then turned and walked away.

The moment he got out of the coven room he stopped abruptly when he saw Lumina still standing there.

Her arms were folded tightly across her chest. Tears streaked silently down her cheeks.

"My queen," Ashen breathed.

She turned her face toward him, and the sight of her tears shattered something inside him.

"Why..." he began, then paused, struggling to choose his words carefully, now aware of how sensitive she would be.

"Are you trying to ask why I have not left yet?" Lumina asked bitterly.

Ashen gave a small, pained smile.

"My queen," he called out again, stepping closer. "I only want to know why my beautiful queen is crying. I do not like seeing tears in your eyes."

She scoffed and turned her back to him.

Ashen smiled faintly at that familiar defiance. He bent and lifted her gently into his arms.

"Let me go," she protested weakly.

He chuckled softly, noticing how her arms instinctively wrapped around his neck.

"Really," he teased. "Then would you drop now?" She glared at him and his smile deepened.

"I am sorry," he apologized sincerely. "I only wanted to keep you safe."

Her resistance melted at once, she had purposely not left because she didn’t want to stay mad for long, after all she knew Alexis would find ways for him to receive a concubine if she wasn’t close to Ashen.

Lumina rested her head against his shoulder, exhaustion finally seeping through her anger.

Ashen walked slowly toward their chambers, holding her carefully as if she might shatter.

They had not gone far when the king’s aide stepped into their path.

"Your Highness," the king’s aide said, bowing deeply. Lumina stiffened immediately.

"What," she snapped sharply. "What do you want?" and the aide smiled politely.

"The king requests your presence," he said to Ashen.

Ashen quickened his steps instinctively, but two guards emerged, blocking his path.

"Your Highness," the aide added, "His Majesty requests you come alone. These guards will escort your wife back to the chambers."

Lumina’s grip tightened around Ashen’s neck.

Ashen’s expression darkened.

"Tell the king," he said calmly, "that if I am not coming with my wife, then I am not coming at all." The aide hesitated.

"Your Highness..."

"Domt call me that." Ashen corrected him but he only smiled in return.

After a moment, he sighed. "Very well," the king’s aide said. "You may come together." Ashen nodded.

He adjusted his hold on Lumina and began walking again.

The palace corridors were silent as they made their way toward the throne hall. Torches flickered against stone walls. Servants bowed deeply as they passed, eyes filled with curiosity and fear.

Lumina felt the weight of every gaze.

Ashen sensed her tension and tightened his hold slightly.

"I am here," he murmured but she said nothing. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

When they reached the massive doors of the throne hall, guards pushed them open.

The king sat upon his throne, his expression unreadable.

The moment Ashen stepped forward with Lumina still in his arms, a murmur spread through the room.

"Put her down," the king said slowly but Ashen did not.

"She is my wife," Ashen replied calmly. "She goes where I go."

The king’s eyes narrowed.

"So this is the choice you make," the king said. "To stand with her against the realm." Ashen lifted his chin.

"Yes Father," he answered without hesitation.