The Crown's Fire - Chapter 287

Chapter 287: Our Little One
‘It can’t be!’ Katelina thought as she watched the red dragon circle around Floria, sniffing her with curiosity. Her heart raced, but she forced herself to remain calm. Glancing at Levi, she saw him approach and gently pick up the dragon.

To avoid suspicion, Katelina addressed Floria with a warm smile. “It just hatched, and it’s still a bit curious about everything. Go ahead, continue with your work, Floria.”

Floria hesitated for a moment, but then nodded, clearly relieved, before she turned and left.

Katelina subtly signaled to Levi. “Come with me. Let’s take the baby dragon to its room to rest.”

Levi nodded in agreement, and together they walked to the dragon’s chamber in silence. As soon as they were inside, and the door closed behind them, Katelina’s expression became more serious. “What did it say? Did it choose Floria as its dragonrider?”

Levi’s brow furrowed as he stared into the baby dragon’s eyes. “Yes… but something’s not right. It said it wants Floria, but it hesitates. There’s some sort of conflict. It’s like it’s drawn to her, but doesn’t trust her fully.”

Katelina’s eyes narrowed as a realization dawned on her. “Maybe because there’s a different soul inside her body. The red dragon can sense it, and that’s why it’s holding back.”

Levi looked up, startled by her words, but then slowly nodded. “That makes sense. The dragon feels something isn’t right.”

Katelina felt a surge of relief that the baby dragon hadn’t chosen to stay with Floria. Katelina knew they had to solve the issue with Floria quickly before it escalated. Deciding to keep the red dragon close, she held it in her arms as she made her way back to her bedroom. Levi was busy with his training, and she didn’t want to leave the dragon vulnerable in his absence.

Inside her room, she went to the chest of magical artifacts Seer Beirut had entrusted to her. Her fingers brushed over various items until she found what she was looking for— a pair of connected gems designed to store memories.

“Perfect,” she hummed, an idea forming in her mind. She sat down and cast a strong spell, imbuing the gems with protective magic. Carefully, she fashioned the gems into a necklace, focusing her energy on making the spell as discreet and undetectable as possible.

Her plan was simple: give the necklace to Floria under the pretense of a gift. The gems would store any suspicious memories or interactions she might have, providing them with insight into whatever was affecting her.

Katelina admired her work for a moment before tucking the necklace safely away. Now all that was left was to present it to Floria without raising any alarms.

She glanced down at the red dragon, which purred softly in her arms. “You’re going to help us figure this out, aren’t you?” she whispered. The dragon blinked up at her with its curious, bright eyes.

Katelina gently stroked the red baby dragon’s back, humming softly. “Don’t worry, we’re going to save Floria’s soul. Once we do, I’m sure you’ll be able to fully choose her as your dragonrider without hesitation.”

Just then, Apollo arrived with Ezekiel, and Katelina briefed them both about the situation—the newly hatched dragon had chosen Floria but with some reluctance.

Apollo studied Levi’s sketch carefully, his expression thoughtful. “So, we just need to wait for Levi’s vision to come true, where the fake Floria lets the real Floria’s soul float in the lotus flower in the pond,” he mused. He admired the detailed sketch Levi had drawn. “The crown prince of Zion has so many talents.”

Ezekiel grinned proudly. “Well, my wife is an excellent painter too, so it’s no surprise my brother-in-law has these skills. It runs in their blood!” His boast made Katelina blush and chuckle.

Apollo rolled his eyes with a grin. “Alright, I’ll coordinate this with Kasper and find the pond as soon as possible. By the way, can you finally call Atlas back? You’re giving him too much time off!”

Ezekiel smirked. “Oh, come on, let the man breathe. He’ll be back in two days once Ezme’s heat cycle is over.”

They continued discussing the next steps while Katelina busied herself feeding the baby red dragon. Once it had eaten its fill, she placed it in the dragon chambers under Lurio’s watchful eye to ensure it was well guarded.

When she returned to her bedchamber, Ezekiel and Apollo were wrapping up their conversation. Apollo soon bid them farewell and left, leaving Katelina and Ezekiel alone.

Once they were alone, Ezekiel opened his arms wide and said, “Come here.”

Katelina blushed but moved toward him, settling onto his lap as he wanted. He buried his face against her chest, breathing in her scent, and let out a soft hum of satisfaction.

“I feel so tired, but seeing you makes me feel alive again,” he murmured.

Katelina smiled, her fingers gently tracing circles on his back. “How about a massage to help you relax?”

He sighed, but a mischievous glint flickered in his eyes. “That sounds nice, but I was thinking of something else. How about you ride me instead?” he teased, shamelessly.

“Ezekiel!” she gasped, her cheeks reddening as she playfully scolded him.

“What?” he mumbled, already trailing kisses along her collarbone.

Katelina moaned softly as his lips found her skin, his hands roaming beneath her dress, caressing her hip. His other hand began undoing the ties at the back of her gown.

Katelina’s heart raced as Ezekiel’s hands moved over her body, his touch gentle but filled with intent. She shivered when his lips pressed against her collarbone, the warmth of his breath sending a jolt through her. She always found herself melting into his embrace.

“Ezekiel…” she whispered.

“I’ve been always waiting for this, to always be alone with you like this,” he murmured against her skin, his lips travelling down her neck as his hands continued their exploration. “You always drive me crazy, Katelina.”

Just as her dress loosened further, she placed her hands on his chest, her cheeks flushed. “You are insatiable,” she breathed, though there was no real reprimand in her tone, only affection.

He smirked and looked up at her with a playful glint in his eyes. “Only for you.”

Ezekiel paused for a moment, his hand resting on her belly. A soft, protective look crossed his face as he whispered, “Right, I need to be careful. Our little one… I don’t want to hurt you.”

Katelina smiled, her heart swelling with love. She gently placed her hand over his. “I’m fine, Ezekiel. You don’t have to worry so much.”

But his gaze softened further, and with a tenderness that melted her, he kissed her lips gently. “I do worry,” he admitted softly, “because I love both of you more than anything.”

His touch became more deliberate, each movement slow and measured as he caressed her. He moved with such care, mindful of the small life growing within her. The usual intensity between them shifted into something gentler, as if he was savoring every moment, ensuring her comfort and safety.

She loved Ezekiel so deeply, and every day she found herself overwhelmed with gratitude for having someone like him as her partner in life.