The Dragon king's Second Mate

A life altering deal

~Rylan's pov~

I wanted to sleep for a few more days, and not be disturbed. Not even in the slightest. But.... that would not be the case.

I checked the calendar when I awoke, three whole years had gone by. I should know. I ordered a guard to mark the date each day so I would know once I came out of my slumber.

Three f*****g years. I feel well rested, I feel on edge.

Something isn't right. My body woke itself because it sensed danger. I was out of my nest immediately. I slipped into one of the other rooms, my large body was difficult to mask but I did so well. I made my way towards the entrance, stopping by each room to check and to hide in case the enemy was coming from the entrance.

And would you believe…. This careless intruder came with a child. The baby wailed, and I awaited with slitted eyes. Prepared to kill this careless fool.

A woman stepped into the light, glancing around but I doubt she even took in everything that was placed in this cave. She looked exhausted, so tired that she dragged her feet.

Beautiful rainbow colored eyes filled with tears and sadness. Her body was too thin, she needs food or I fear even the wind my break her before I even get to touch her.

She's no danger to me. She's a danger to that child.

The baby looked like her, and we locked eyes. He or she cried even more. Making the mother sigh.

Her feet stepped on to the bones my guards must have left. The crunch annoyed me, but it was the blood that drew from the soles of her feet that made me angrier. She made no sound.

Continuing to walk like she was unharmed. What the f**k is wrong with this woman?

I followed her. Keeping my feet light to not draw her attention.

Seeing the tears on this infant and the haggard look its mother had poked something deep within me.

Her scent though, despite the need for a shower, she smelled like a garden of dark lilies.

A venomous plant with a strange ability to survive even the harshest conditions.

They smelled nice despite being poisonous. I liked the scent on her. And I haven't liked a scent since my first mate.

Anger boiled in my belly at the thought of that wretched woman. To death with that b***h.

This strange woman in front of me smells better than my first mate did, and that's not a good sign.

I stood by the doorway, waiting for her to acknowledge my presence. She has a bad sense of survival. How the f**k is she still alive?

Does she even eat? Who would trust her with a child?

She finally noticed me, and I growled a question at her.

"What the hell are you doing in my cave?!"

She jumped back, letting out a sharp wince. I'm guessing her feet scraped the rough floor. A tick formed in my jaw.

"My f*****g god! Are you trying to kill yourself?" I marched over to her, and she tried to evade me. Dumb little thing. I narrowed my eyes, and she stopped. Feeling the murderous intent from my aura.

I brought my arms out and cupped the child. She was too weak to fight me.

"No, don't eat my baby. I'm sorry. I'll leave. I just didn't want him to drown. I'm doing my best. Please don't-" she was sobbing now, and I glanced at the child.

"Is your baby a boy or a girl?"

"Boy. Xavier." Cute name.

He's not dressed for the weather out there, and he certainly doesn't look healthy. He need more food, cleaner water.

He needs to be cleaned, and changed into something that smells like flowers. Sweet smells eases babies.

I made a soft purring noise against his ears. We do this for dragons, it soothes them. It might work for him.

I watched as the baby slowly stopped his cries. His tiny hand clung to my beaded necklace, and he nuzzled my neck. Like my scent calmed him down.

He must be as dumb as his mother because I know I don't smell good. I smell like a man born from fire. Which is accurate.

I waited for a minute, allowing my purrs to lure him to sleep. This child isn't even mine why the f**k am I caring for another person's child?

Why would the father leave his wife and child to roam around? Did she steal the baby?

So many questions.

And so little answers.

"Get up. Sit on the nest. I'll ask you some questions and you better not lie."

She nodded, struggling to get to her feet. She looked miserable and pathetic. For such a pretty woman, I found this to be devastating.

Beauty should be cared for. She should be nurtured like she's a rare pearl.

I'm not going to acknowledge how I enjoy her deadly scent.

I sat on the floor, and she sat by the edge of the nest. We faced each other.

"What is your name?" I still held her child and she darted a worried look at the baby. "He's fine. I think we can both agree he's better in my hands than yours." That seemed to hit a nerve, and she looked defeated. But I felt no happiness.

I'm not a good man by any means, why's this woman making me feel bad about my words? I don't feel bad for any morally wrong thing that I do.

"I'm Aspen Mandel." She says, her tone is low. Soft, I like it.

"You're a werewolf?"

"Not really. I'm a goddess descendant."

They still exist?

"Ah, one of those assholes. I'm impressed you're alive. Last I checked, your kind is despised."

"I'm just as surprised." She says nonchalantly.

"I am Rylan Valtero." I introduced, still soothing the baby. I doubt I look as menacing as I should with an infant in my grasp.

Her eyes widened. "What-"

"Shush!" The child stirred, but didn't wake and I felt relief. His body was coming to a better temperature but I still think he needs a check up.

"I'm sorry. I-" she gulped. "You're a Valtero. You…. Conquered-"

"Sixty percent of the world with my brothers? Yes! I am the oldest. I am a killer. I am a monster, a murderer of thousands. Hell, maybe even millions. I am the man you hear horrible stories about."

"The three Valtero kings. You're real. You…. You must be the king on Wyndora."

How'd she figure? She dropped to her knees, and bowed. "I am truly sorry. I did not mean to barge into you home-"

"But you did, and this is not my home. I was hibernating. How did you know I ruled Wyndora?"

"The stories say the eldest runs Wyndora. The angriest runs Soleria. And the greediest runs Emberhelm. The ice, venom, and fire dragons. The three kings of Draconia."

Smart woman. I grinned flashing my teeth. The sharp fangs on the side sent her chills.

"You know the stories well. There are no lies told there."

"What can I do to keep my life? Please don't hurt me, or Xavier."

I roll my eyes. "Tell me why you're taking care of a baby when you can't care for yourself."

She leaned back on her heels, and clenched her fingers. "I don't have a choice. I'm a rogue. Exiled from my home. I can either care for myself and Xavier as best I can, or we can die. I wouldn't be here if that stupid old man didn't try to take Xavier while I slept. I ….I know I'm bad at this. I didn't ask to be pregnant. But I'm taking responsibility for this beautiful child. It's not his fault I suck."

She teared up again, and I didn't know what to do. What the hell do you do when someone is crying?

Comfort them?

I don't know how to do that, my brothers and I are dragons. Physical abuse is our love language. I don't think hitting her in the arm will make her cry less.

She smells like she should be mine, but I don't exactly trust woman who are given to me by the gods. Those fuckers never send me anyone good. But she smells…. Like she should be mine.

But she carries baggage. She's not fit to be a queen. If I take her with me. She would have to either be my queen, or my consort.

And consorts….. I don't keep consorts. They're just fancy terms for concubines. That's Malek's forte. Greedy as he may be, he likes to f**k every single day.

I can go years without s*x. Zane is at the middle. Perhaps that's why he's the middle child. Ha! Good humor.

Anyway, keeping a woman who already has a child is not good. How would I explain it?

I could test her…. Keep her as my consort for a specific period of time, and then if I trust her enough…. I can take the plunge and make her my queen. My woman.

Yeah, that's a good idea. Consort, then queen. Or maybe never a queen. I don't really need one. I like ruling my Kingdom alone.

Am I ready to do a good thing for someone? No, I'll get something out of it. That's the only way this works. I'd be cheating myself. I'm not a good person.

"You need money, you need a home, you need good conditions to be able to take care of this child. And yourself."

"I'm trying but no pack will hire a rogue. Pixies require a perfectly done job, and you've seen…. I'm a mess. I've done a bunch of hard jobs here and there, but they're never enough for anything."

Hard jobs? f**k she's been doing this all alone?

I should kill the father of her child. For letting her get to this point. Something tells me, she'll let me do it.

"Do you eat?"

"I stopped after the baby was born. There's a lot I need to do. I can't breast feed him because I'm not clean, and I think that's affecting him."

"Where's his father?"

Her face hardens and that's all I need to know.

"If I make you a deal, offer you a place at my kingdom. It comes with a stay at the palace, my protection, food, clean water and a chance to earn thousands of gold- no we do not use paper currency-" I stopped her before she could ask any questions. "If I offer to a chance to raise Xavier right, what will you give me?"

My eyebrow raises, waiting for her response.

"I have nothing to give you other than my life and my body."

I smirked.

"I'll take it."

She looks taken aback. This Aspen girl was not expecting that response from me.

"You'll take my life and body?"

I chuckle. "Don't say it like that. But yes, I want to own you. Not like a pet, I have one. But I want to own you, for only two years. Two years, if you can stay as my consort I'll give you any amount of your choice and you can leave after that."

"I just have to…. What does a consort do?"

"They're essentially…. f**k toys."

Her jaw slacked, and I laughed.

"You .. mean I'd -"

"Yes. You would accompany me wherever I have to go, be treated well and spoiled. But you'll only spread your legs for me. I'll f**k you whenever, and wherever. For two years. You can do whatever after. I don't give a fuck."

"I… um…. But you're a barbarian?"

"I know. You see, I don't have consorts because I don't like to keep them. I'm not a guy who likes to f**k around. But the other reason why I don't have one, is because I have a record of being grumpy, and just the scariest mother fucker to be in any relationship with. So they tend to beg for me to not pick them."

She eyed me in a funny way. "I don't see how. Your offer is pretty great. And you're not bad to look at."

You say that now…. But you haven't lived with me. Even my brothers have complaints.

"Sure, let's find out if you still feel the same way in two years."

"Just two years. Would I get a contract?"

"No. You get my word."

"But-"

"My word, or nothing. Think of the kid." A low move, but I turned Xavier's head from my shoulder. Cradling his small body in my large hands.

She stared at her child for a moment, then down at herself. Determination crossed her features. "I'll do it. Two years. I'll be taking your word."

"Good girl." I praised. Even though this is quite a dumb decision, but she really has nowhere else to go.

Which means I have two years to see if I've been gifted a mate who will end up melting the venom that clouds my heart , or if she will end up traitorous like my first.

Only one way to find out what that answer will be.