Married To The Dragon Prince Against My Will-Chapter 270: THE ATTACKED

Ashen stormed through the arched doors, his cloak billowing like storm clouds, eyes blazing with a fury that could ignite the tapestries on the walls.

The attack on Lumina in his office replayed in his mind arrows slicing the air, her blindfolded gaze unflinching as she turned them back on the assassins.

He wanted to ask questions to the assassins but couldn’t wait any longer.

Alexis stood in the center of the chamber, conferring with advisors, his crown prince regalia gleaming under the light.

Then he turned at the sound of boots pounding marble, surprise flickering across his sharp features. "Brother? What.."

Ashen’s fist connected with Alexis’s jaw before the words could finish. The crack echoed like thunder, sending Alexis staggering back, blood blooming on his lip.

"I warned you," Ashen snarled, voice a guttural roar. "Touch my wife, and I will end you."

Alexis wiped his mouth, eyes narrowing as he straightened. "What madness is this? I did nothing..."

"Liar!" Ashen lunged again, grabbing Alexis by the collar and slamming him against a pillar. Stone dust rained down. "Those assassins reeked of your influence. You threatened her powers, her life. Then face me like one!"

Alexis twisted free, his own anger igniting. He shoved Ashen back, flames flickering at his fingertips subtle at first, a dragon’s breath inherited from their bloodline.

"You dare accuse me? In front of witnesses?" He countered with a swift punch to Ashen’s ribs, the impact driving air from his lungs.

But Ashen didn’t yield as he charged, tackling Alexis to the ground. Fists flew in a brutal rhythm Ashen’s knuckles splitting Alexis’s brow, Alexis’s elbow cracking against Ashen’s cheekbone.

Blood smeared the floor, their breaths ragged, grunts echoing as they rolled, each strike fueled by years of simmering rivalry.

"I warned you not to try my wife!" Ashen bellowed, pinning Alexis and landing a blow that split his lip wider. Alexis bucked, flipping them over, his hands clamping around Ashen’s throat.

"Defend yourself, brother because I won’t stop until you confess!"

The fight escalated into chaos. Tables overturned, vases shattered, courtiers fleeing to the edges of the hall.

Nobles rushed in, shouting for guards, but the brothers’ dragon heritage made them untouchable flames licked from their skin, scales glinting faintly under torn shirts.

King Aden, frail in his throne, rose unsteadily, his voice cracking over the din. Ashen was too angry to notice his father when he walked in.

"Enough! Stop this at once!" But his commands dissolved into the frenzy even the king’s elite guards hesitated, spears lowered but unused.

The nobles tried to intervene, one lord grabbing Ashen’s arm, only to be flung aside like a rag doll.

Ashen’s rage peaked. A deep, primal growl tore from his chest as his body convulsed.

Bones cracked and reformed, skin rippling into iridescent scales, eyes glowing amber like molten gold. Horns curved from his forehead, wings tattered and leathery unfurling partially from his back.

He towered now, a monstrous hybrid of man and dragon, claws extending from fingers that dripped with Alexis’s blood.

Everything turned mute at once, and in the realm, such a transformation marked one as a true monster, a cursed heir to the ancient dragons’ wrath. Whispers rippled through the crowd.

"The beast awakens..." "He’s become the legend’s curse..."

Everyone recoiled, even Alexis, who scrambled back, shock widening his eyes. "Ashen... what have you done?"

For the first time, regret pierced Ashen’s fury. He had hidden this form all his life, buried it under control and composure.

But Alexis had dragged it out, and now... what would Lumina think? Would she see the monster and flee?

Alexis edged closer, hands raised in a tentative plea. "Brother, listen..."

That movement ignited Ashen anew. He roared, claws slashing forward, aiming for Alexis’s chest. The king bellowed.

"Withhold him! Use the Drakon Bind, the chain forged for beasts like this!"

Guards surged with the ancient relic, a chain of enchanted, humming with suppressive magic meant to tame dragonkin gone feral.

They hurled it toward Ashen, links glowing as they wrapped around his arms.

But then Lumina burst into the hall, her blindfold stark against her pale face, skirts swirling as she ran.

Without hesitation, she planted herself between them, arms outstretched. "Stop!"

Ashen’s claw halted mid-swing, inches from her. His monstrous breath heaved, steam curling from nostrils, but her presence pierced the haze. She stepped forward, unafraid, and wrapped her arms around his scaled torso.

The heat of his form scorched her dress, but she held tight, pressing her cheek to his chest. "Ashen... enough. Come back to me."

The hall fell silent at once Ashen’s wings shuddered, then folded. His claws retracted slightly, the transformation stalling under her touch. He eased back, the rage draining like blood from a wound, though regret lingered in his glowing eyes.

She pulled away just enough to look up, then slapped him sharply, resoundingly shocking everyone, who were shocked again.

"Why couldn’t you control your anger? The first lesson I taught you was restraint!"

Ashen’s fury reignited briefly, as he tried to turn to storm away, but she grabbed his arm, yanking him back despite the blood on his claws and the monstrous aura still clinging to him.

People averted their eyes, whispering in fear, but Lumina ignored them. She forced him down, making him bow before the king and Alexis. "Apologize... Now!!"

The king stared, astonishment etching his wrinkled face. Nobles who had failed to calm the beast murmured in awe one word, one touch from her had succeeded where armies might fail.

Lumina dropped to her knees beside Ashen. "Father, please don’t punish him. He acted out of love, misguided as it was."

Alexis, bloodied and bruised, watched from the floor, a crazed jealousy twisting his features.

His wife rushed in, hands fluttering to tend his wounds, but he shoved her away roughly. "Leave me!" He staggered up and limped out, fury masking his pain.

King Aden cleared his throat, voice steadying. "You are both at fault. Brothers should not draw blood like this. Ashen, apologize to your elder and let this end."

Ashen, still half-monstrous, muttered through fangs: "I... apologize, brother for the accusation, if not the intent."

The king nodded. "Then it is done. Go, heal your wounds."

Lumina helped Ashen rise, supporting his weight as they navigated the whispering corridors to their chambers. Maids bowed low upon entry, eyes wide at his form. "Return to your duties," Lumina commanded sharply.

Briella, approached tentatively, concerned in her eyes. "My lord!"

"He will snap if you don’t control yourself around him," Lumina warned, voice like steel. Briella froze.

Lumina guided Ashen into the inner room. Briella tried to follow, but Lumina blocked the door. "This chamber is forbidden to you."

Inside, she eased him onto the bed, his scales scraping the silk sheets. She fetched a basin of warm water, a soft towel, and began cleaning the blood from his face and hands. Her fingers traced the ridges of his transformed skin gently, wiping away grime with care.

"Won’t you change back to the man I know?" she murmured, dipping the cloth again.

He finally met her gaze, silent, the amber glow dimming slightly.

She set the bowl aside and slid beside him, wrapping her arms around his broad, scaled shoulders. "Ashen..." The whisper was soft, intimate.

At her touch, his form shifted scales smoothing to skin, horns retracting, wings vanishing into his back. He returned to his human self, exhausted but whole, still in her embrace.

"I told you not to act on anger," she said, stroking his hair. "You’ve learned that from me already."

"But he hurt you." His voice was rough, laced with lingering fire.

She smiled faintly, tilting his chin up. "Yes, he did. But you should have played it slowly... gathered proof, not fists." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"I can’t imagine when it means losing the one treasure in my life." His hands found her waist, pulling her closer.

She smiled wider, hugging him tight. "I am sorry for slapping you in public. I was just... pissed. You let them see this side because you couldn’t control your temper."

He paused, then said, "You’re not asking about my appearance."

She pulled back slightly. "You’re a son of the dragon it means that you are no bastard, but the true heir. Why worry? I knew I was marrying a dragon."

Her words hung unfinished as he surged forward, capturing her lips in a kiss that ignited like wildfire. It started tender, his mouth brushing hers softly, savoring the curve of her lower lip, the faint taste of salt from her earlier tears.

He deepened it, tongue tracing the seam of her mouth until she parted for him, a soft gasp escaping. His hands roamed one cradling her neck, fingers threading through her hair to angle her just right, the other sliding down her back, pressing her against him with insistent pressure.

Roughness edged in as desire overtook restraint. He nipped her lip, drawing a sharp inhale from her, then soothed it with a swirl of his tongue. His grip tightened on her hip, bunching her dress, pulling her onto his lap in one fluid motion.

She straddled him, hands fisting in his shirt as he trailed kisses down her throat hot, open-mouthed, teeth grazing her pulse point hard enough to leave faint marks.

He growled low, flipping them so she lay beneath him on the bed, his body caging hers. Fingers hooked into the laces of her bodice, tugging roughly until fabric gave way, exposing skin he claimed with urgent lips. She arched into him, nails raking his back, matching his fervor rough and romantic, a dance of fire and surrender that blurred the line between love and possession.

The room filled with their mingled breaths, the world outside forgotten as he took her to the brink, then over, in a crescendo of shared ecstasy.