The Dragon King's Substitute Bride [ON HIATUS]

A Delirious Betrayal

[Roanna’s pov]

This is how bad ideas start. When you listen to your i***t of a sister. I’m not a fool, I know my family is crappy. I know the way they treat me isn’t normal, or humane in any form. But I have adapted to it. It’s almost like I’ve been conditioned to say yes to them only. The thought of saying no drives me crazy.

When I was allowed to use a more private bathroom because the one assigned to me was put under repairs. I passed my family’s cell and my sister pleaded for me to stop and talk to her. The guard allowed me. As long as I don’t create a fuss they just leave me alone.

I agreed for several reasons, all of which boiled down to the word about me being conditioned. I don’t say no to them.

I live my life to make theirs easier.

She was hysterical. Crying and begging me to do something. She doesn’t want to get married or be pregnant. It is so typical of my family to do this. Get my sister engaged then let her bail out, or expect me to do something about it.

And of course, I did something about it. They allowed us to be in the same room with her while she was dressed. It was a small ceremony. Say a few words, she signs the contract, and everything is done. But they were hounding me to find a solution because sweet ole Jessica was terrified of losing her virginity to a dragon. I’m twenty-seven, and I know for a fact that she is not a virgin.

I’ve seen what she refuses to let my parents see.

Because the elders of Soleria don’t like the idea of their king marrying a thief, she was told to wear a massive robe and that was when the idea came to me. My sister and I are almost identical. Excluding my scars, my taller height, and my almost muscular stature. But other than that, we look the same. In this robe, my face would be covered and they would assume the increase in height was coming from heels or something. But we would have to switch right after the maids left.

That was the plan, then my sister would escape with the dragon shifter guard that she was hopelessly in love with. I’m not a genius or anything, but I know the dragons are loyal to their kings. So if this one is willing to go against his king, that can only mean he’s up to no good.

And when I said these suspicions out loud, I was called a jealous he-bag who knew she could never pull a man in her life.

This is going to end badly, I can already tell. Once the maids left, we swapped clothes immediately and I made sure every part of me was buried in that huge silk-made robe. When the maids returned to lead me out, my gut was sending alarm bells my way. Every bit of me was saying.... don’t do this!

But for my family, I will do everything. The ceremony was in a private room, and no one noticed anything different at all.

Maybe, maybe this might work. So here I am, pretending to be my sister and fooling one of the strongest men in the world.

I hope this was worth it for her because I know the rest of the family and myself, we’re not getting out of this one alive.

Things were fine until Zane Valtero arrived with his nephew. He carried the young boy as he walked towards the altar. Ready to marry... well the wrong Calderon.

The ceremony was about to start, and I was kneeling by the center. I felt Aspen’s stare on me. As the queen of Wyndora and a fellow descendant, she was the one I worried about the most.

I shouldn’t have. The problem was clearly her hybrid son. As Zane approached with the little menace in his arms, I felt my throat tighten. He took one look at me and said-

“Uncle Zane, I didn’t know you were marrying a descendant.”

my heart came to a raging stop, I’d never felt a more compelling urge to kill a kid before. Zane looked confused.

I waited for him to correct his nephew but he didn’t, he gave his full trust to the kid.

“Take the robe off.”

I could have laughed. My instincts were clearly right. This was about to turn sour, but at least my sister was out of her. And she wasn’t going to marry him. I got back to my feet and dropped the robe. Wearing only the garment on the inside.

“Roanna!” Aspen gasped out loud, and I leaped out of the way as her husband charged at me. I can’t fight dragons, talk less of a f*****g valtero. That man will crush me without effort.

I was surrounded, my heart pumping faster and faster as I tried to find an exit. Dragons everywhere. Even the elders here could beat me up. I hate them all. f**k them all! I despise these bloody creatures.

Zane placed his nephew down and told everyone to sit back.

“Explain yourself. What are you doing here?”

his wings shoved out of his back, and so did his long killer tail. Unlike most dragon shifters, Zane looked primal 24/7. You would be led to believe that his half-form was just the same, but it wasn’t. He was taller and bulkier, and he had horns protruding from the top of his head. He was a menace.

And he was out for blood. My blood.

“I told you my sister didn’t want to marry you.” He inhaled once, and when he exhaled steam followed.

If I thought the alarm bells were ringing before I was ill-prepared for what came next. No one made a move to do anything as he charged at me. Like a beast on all fours, he was faster on the ground, and no matter what corner I ran to, he was right there only a second later. I made my way to the door I came from, bursting out into the hallway.

I need to find a way out. I need to find my family and get them out too. Zane had wings, he could take me out from heights I could never get to, but he was hunting me on the ground. Treating me as prey he was ready to rip to shreds.

I came to the room where I knew my family would be. I slammed the doors behind me and rested my weight against them.

“We need to leave. We have to-” I cut myself off as I became aware that the room was empty. Did they take them back to the cellar?

Another twist from my instincts, they’re gone. I quickly pieced it together. They escaped with Jessica. Leaving me here to suffer the wrath of the dragons, when I wasn’t even the one who got their attention in the first place.

Once a fool, always a fool.

Knowing my family, what the hell was I thinking? Something rattled the door behind me, sending me flying forward.

The shock that rippled through me came from every corner.

“You and your sister thought you could fool me?”

“they left me,” I murmured out loud. Like I couldn’t believe it. Even though they didn’t consider me a daughter, they’ve never left me to.. not to this extent. Knowing that the consequences would be devastating. They left me.

Zane glanced around the room then he laughed. “Well, that is interesting. They left you?” he laughed even harder, turning the shock into a bitter rage. But would I attack him, while he’s still in this form... I’m not that stupid.

Or at least I think I’m not. How did I let this happen? I let them badger me into solving a problem that wasn’t mine. Only for them to leave me.

“Oh, this is funny. You are going to get what you want. And your family is going to die.”

I twitched. “That’s only if you find them.”

Zane c****d his head to the side. “I can. I can track them by scent. I can hunt them down any time because they were wyndorian prisoners, and my brother has them bathe in water that is laced with Aqua Veil Powder. It’s my brother's invention. A finely crafted, shimmering powder that, when sprinkled into water, dissolves instantly, leaving no trace. It is a creation of ancient dragon alchemy, designed to cloak bathers in a subtle enchantment. I can find them whenever I want.” he grinned. “you’re in Valtero lands. You can’t play me you f*****g wolf!”

I clenched my fist. f**k this.

I crouched and tried to find my calm. My anger was boiling to the point it might pop. I hate them, but it’s like I can’t turn it off. I know they suck. I know they’re awful, but I always want to help them. Even when they ditch me.

Maybe if they’re free and far away from me, I can just... just what? My life has never been my own. I don’t know what to do with it.

“What can I do to make you spare them? They’re lowly thieves. You don’t need to worry about them. They’d never come back here. Too afraid without me there for them.” he flew towards me, pinning me with a stare.

“You want to keep them alive? Even when they abandoned you? You’re a moron, and you are not my problem. You want to help them, give me a child. I will get you a better contract. In the next eighteen months you better be f*****g pregnant, or my mercy for your pathetic family will turn to nothing.” he growled, and his eyes reflected an evil promise. Some would say f**k it to their family and use this chance to break free. But as I said, I can never... I’ve never been able to... to say no to them. To stop protecting them.

It hurts whenever I do this.

Weak. Pathetic and weak. They left you. They made the brave choice of cutting you off. And here you thought you were important..hahaha. You are laughable.

Say it, Roanna, laughable. Once a dog, always a dog.

I swallowed.

“I can’t do that. I’m an alpha, I can-” his eyes told me everything.

“Then maybe you should have thought of that before you agreed to help your sister escape. Aww, you look stricken. That’s unfortunate. Get comfortable, runt, you’re about to see what solerians do to thieves who think it’s a wise idea to trick their king. I almost feel sorry for you. But you’re not worth my empathy.” he didn’t give me a second look after that. His words cut through me, and once he was gone. I was on the ground asking myself what the f**k is wrong with me?

I don’t know when it happened, but some part of my brain is unable to let my family die. I ache, I burn from their betrayal, and it doesn’t matter. They’re probably out there, preparing to live their best lives.

The dragon king was right though, I’m not worth empathy. I brought this on myself. I’m broken on the inside, and now not only do i have to sleep with this guy, I have to get pregnant. A biological impossibility.

All for them. It’s always for them. I don’t own my own life. I fought hard to keep them alive so they would never leave me.... and in the end, it didn’t matter.

They left anyway. Dropping me in a situation with no possible solution.