They arrived at a set of enormous double doors, and two uniformed guards pushed them open for them to step inside.

The throne room was vast. High ceilings supported by pillars stretched upward, and tall windows along the walls let in streams of light. At the far end of the room, seated on a throne was King Carson Ian Tudor.

He was a good-looking man in his late forties, with dark long hair. He wore a less formal robe that had subtle gold trims.

Standing to a corner by the King’s right was his first son, Alistair. He had black hair and the ears of an elf. While in his black regalia, he had a calm expression and looked like he was in his mid-twenties.

But there was one more figure in the room, and she was not part of the group Bella had said would be present.

She stood directly beside the King, tall and imposing, her presence filling the room with an almost tangible weight. Her long silver hair flowed down past her shoulders, streaked with red, black and actual flames.

She had glowing predatory eyes, the scales of black dragon and a large tail to fit.

This was evidently the King’s Beast-Class summon. His Dragon, Beilong.

Although, in her humanoid form.

Ethan’s mind raced. Why is she here?

And right then, an uncomfortable possibility struck him. If demons could sense other demons by presence alone, what was stopping dragons from doing the same?

How in the world was he going to avoid being sensed as a dragon by that summon staring directly at him.

He kept walking forward calmly but internally he was already preparing for the worst. "Fuck."

He stopped a respectful distance from the throne. General Iroh inclined his head. "Your Grace, Mr. Stark." Then moved to stand at the King’s left side.

"Your Grace," Ethan said, giving the King a respectful nod.

Iroh’s expression shifted immediately. "You’re in the presence of the King. Do you not know it’s customary to bow?"

Ethan glanced at Iroh for a moment. It wasn’t that he didn’t know. If he were still a hatchling, or even a wyrm, bowing wouldn’t have been an issue.

But as a Skyreaver dragon, something fundamental had changed in him. His pride was not just a personality trait. It was woven into his very being, as natural and necessary as breathing.

Dragons were the most prideful existence in creation. Some might even say they held more pride than the gods themselves.

And they would only bow under three conditions: if they were in love, if they shared deep fondness with close friends or family, or if they were genuinely afraid of the one before them.

Outside of those circumstances, the only way to make a dragon bow was by force.

Ethan didn’t fear the King. Even knowing that the dragon beside him was a walking calamity didn’t change that.

Bowing now would mean going against his very nature. It would be like asking him to stop thinking. It was that deeply rooted, and at this point, it couldn’t even be considered his fault.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t making his situation any better.

Ethan returned his focus to the King, ignoring Iroh. "You summoned me, Your Grace."

His gaze shifted slightly to Beilong, who hadn’t stopped staring at him, and now with narrowed eyes.

"Yeah. I’m cooked." He thought.

Iroh’s frown then turned into to rage. He stepped forward, drawing his sword in one smooth motion and pointing the blade toward Ethan. "You’re in the presence of the King, and you will show your respect!"

Alistair’s expression remained neutral, though his eyes flickered briefly toward Ethan with interest.

King Carson said nothing. What he genuinely wondered was how Ethan still managed to keep his composure. Most people, even S-tiers, would have caved under Beilong’s presence.

That had been the reason he brought his summon out in the first place; to begin the meeting on a note of fear.

Yet Ethan seemed almost unfazed.

Outside, Eduardo’s hand moved slowly toward the hilt of his katana. He had heard the thundering voice of the General. But more than that, he could feel the sense of imminent danger.

Ethan glanced at Iroh, then at the blade mere inches from his chest, before turning his gaze back to the King. "I mean no disrespect—"

Suddenly, King Carson let out a short laugh and raised one hand. "It’s okay, Iroh."

The General turned back to the King, then bowed, "Your Grace."

He sheathed his sword and stepped back into position.

King Carson leaned forward. "Mr. Stark. I welcome you to the palace."

"Thank you," Ethan replied.

The King nodded and continued. "Your family has been in Gritnia for as long as I can remember. I think I may have even met your father once." 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

He glanced toward Alistair. "Nathan, was it?"

"Yes, Father. Mr. Nathan Stark," Alistair replied.

Ethan couldn’t tell if the King was being deliberately offensive or if he genuinely didn’t remember the name of one of the most influential men in the country over the last twenty years.

"Ah, yes," Carson muttered, as if the name had just come back to him. Then he turned his gaze back to Ethan. "I just wonder sometimes if the Starks ever go back to visit home."

And there it was.

Ethan wasn’t dumb. He knew exactly where this was going. The phrasing and tone. This confirmed with absolute certainty that Kieran had told the King.

"Bloody snitch." He thought.

Still, Ethan played oblivious. He tilted his head slightly with a puzzled expression. "I fail to understand. But yes, I go back home every day from work."

"Oh no, no. Not that." Carson let out a short laugh, then his expression turned serious again. "I mean your birthplace. In the continent of demons."

Now, he wasn’t dancing around it any longer.

Ethan said nothing for a moment. He didn’t show fear, or apprehension, or even surprise. His voice was calm when he finally spoke. "I apologize, Your Majesty, but you’re still wrong. My birthplace is right here in Gritnia."

King Carson’s face twisted into a frown. Even Alistair reacted visibly, his eyes narrowing just slightly.

Iroh looked like he was seconds away from drawing his sword again. Was this boy really trying to lie to the King’s face? And with that casual tone?

"But," Ethan continued, maintaining direct eye contact, "I understand how there could be some confusion. My father, after all, did travel from there to this place. However, I myself haven’t been curious enough to know what that part of the world is like."

He held the King’s gaze steadily, but out of the corner of his eye, he didn’t fail to notice the piercing stare of Beilong, who hadn’t looked away from him once.

Carson stared back at him for a moment. Then, without warning, the dragon took a step forward.

"Beilong?" Carson muttered, with genuine surprise.

But she didn’t turn back at the sound of his voice. She simply walked slowly toward Ethan.

King Carson’s expression shifted into confusion. Alistair glanced at his father, then back at the dragon.

Ethan, on the other hand, had already accepted his fate. He knew what was about to happen. So he stood still, waiting to see how they would react to the truth.

Beilong reached him. She walked around him slowly, circling about. Her nose tilted slightly as if taking in his scent. Then she stopped on his other side, standing directly between him and the King.

She turned her head and looked back at Carson, saying nothing nor bearing any expression.

However, they didn’t need words as their minds were connected through the bond.

And in that moment, King Carson’s eyes widened.

He stared at Ethan. Then at Beilong. Then back at Ethan.

His expression shifted rapidly before he forced it back under control. He cleared his throat.

"Alistair. Iroh," he said quietly. "You both should leave."

Alistair turned toward him, with surprise on his usually calm face. "Father?"

Iroh was confused as well. "Your Grace?"

"I want a private meeting with Mr. Stark," Carson said. "So you both will take your leave. Now."

Then, without question, both men bowed. "Your Grace."

They turned and walked toward the doors which closed behind them with a heavy thud.

Beilong walked back to the King’s side, her tail swaying slowly behind her. She resumed her position beside the throne, though her eyes never left Ethan.

King Carson stared at Ethan.

Ethan stared back.

And between them, they knew the conversation was about to take a very different turn.

—

A/N: (7/22)

Gifts: (0/7)