Ancient Secrets

"I should be in that council chamber as well," Visenya huffed, slumping onto the bed. "Clearly, they're discussing me."

"You don’t know that," Sarai countered.

"Oh, please, mother," Visenya retorted. "What else could they possibly be talking about? I'm sure father is in there right now, telling Lucian to stay away from me."

"And he'd be wasting his breath," Sarai said. "There's no convincing that boy when it comes to such matters."

"I wouldn't put it past him to try," Visenya insisted. "He despises him... you both do. You always have."

"It's true," Sarai sighed, taking a seat next to Visenya. "I once loathed that boy. But there's something different about him, something beyond his obvious words and actions. There's a depth in his eyes, as if he's witnessed and experienced things that forever change a person."

"You noticed it too?" Visenya inquired, her voice tinged with surprise.

"Mhm,” Sarai responded, a genuine warmth radiating from her smile, “and it must be you. Love has a way of changing people."

Sarai paused, her eyes filled with both warmth and concern. "But there are things that you don't understand. It's not just your father and I that Lucian has to convince of your union. There are individuals in this world who are committed to their usual way of things and don't embrace change easily."

Visenya's heart sank as the weight of Sarai's words bore down on her, but she refused to let doubt creep in. Deep down, she just knew that their love possessed the strength to conquer any obstacles that lay in their path.
———

As Lucian and Ezra entered the council chamber, a palpable tension hung in the air. Ezra's expression remained stern and unyielding as he took his place at the head of the table. Lucian stood tall, meeting Ezra’s eyes with a steady and resolute gaze, ready to defend his love for Visenya.

"Sit," Ezra commanded, pointing to a chair across from him. Lucian respectfully complied, settling into his seat with a calm demeanor that belied the storm within.

"Now, tell me," Ezra began, his voice filled with an unsettled curiosity. "Why do you think your father is reluctant to inform the Council that you’re mated to a Lycan?"

Lucian drew in a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. “I believe he's concerned that they won't accept us," he replied earnestly.

"And does that not trouble you in the slightest?" Ezra pressed further, his tone laced with derision.

"With all due respect, sir," Lucian responded firmly, “I couldn’t care less about their acceptance. Visenya and I are fated mates, and nothing and no one will come between us."

Ezra chuckled softly, his voice filled with amusement. "As you know, it's a rare and fortunate occurrence to find your complement so early in life. Your father, for instance, waited hundreds of years before your mother came along. He witnessed the aging and passing of those dearest to him throughout those years. Such is the blessing and curse of being a Dragon Lord. I suppose that is the price you pay for your longevity."

A sense of weight settled over the conversation, and Ezra's gaze reflected a knowledge that he had kept hidden until now. "And the Dragon Lords who came before you, and lost their mates for one reason or another, withered away unexpectedly. Your kind keeps perishing at increasingly younger ages, with infertility on the rise. Yet, nobody has ever really bothered to ask why. It's a painful reality, but one that your elders have learned to navigate. They have dedicated their lives to using this to their advantage, believing it to be their God-given right to shape the world as they see fit. They have even gone so far as to erase fragments of history that could cast them in an unfavorable light, horrors that would give you nightmares. And though they may have succeeded in erasing such things from your own history, us Lycans have never forgotten."

"I'm not sure I follow," Lucian replied, his brow furrowing in confusion.

"Perhaps," the Lycan King suggested, "you should ask your father what the elders did to the mage and her kind when they learned that she was mated to a Dragon Lord."

Lucian's perplexity deepened as he looked upon the Lycan King. "But the mages were known for their vile deeds, committing heinous acts and engaging in human sacrifice."

"Were they truly so wicked?" Ezra raised. "Or is that what they wanted us all to believe?"

"Are you telling me that the council intentionally eradicated an entire race and then orchestrated a massive cover-up?" Lucian’s voice was filled with disbelief.

Ezra met Lucian's gaze, his expression solemn. "That’s precisely what I'm telling you," he affirmed, his tone laced with conviction.

"I don't believe that," Lucian said adamantly. "We were bestowed with authority over this world. The gods themselves appointed us as guardians of the people, to ensure order and maintain balance."

"A role that your kind has shamelessly abused," Ezra interjected. "Think about it, Lucian. When was the last time a Dragon Lord marked a human mate?"

Lucian's mind drifted for a fleeting moment, diving into the depths of his own thoughts. Ezra's inquiry lingered in the silence, casting a shadow of doubt over everything Lucian had been indoctrinated to believe. He couldn't help but admit that Ezra was right. Try as he might, Lucian couldn't recall a single instance of a Dragon Lord marking a human.

"You see," Ezra explained, "the elders aren't particularly fond of the idea of interbreeding. They accept the mating between dragons and humans, as it is necessary to ensure the survival of your kind. However, when it comes to dragons interbreeding with other supernaturals, it makes them quite nervous. They fear the possibility of another species emerging and potentially overthrowing their dominance. They simply can't take that risk."

"And you think that when they find out about me and Visenya... they'll kill her?" Lucian asked, his voice filled with concern.

Ezra's face grew grave, his words weighed with an eerie certainty. "I know they will and I have no doubt in my mind that your father knows it too."

"I won't let that happen," Lucian declared firmly.

Ezra scoffed, his voice filled with doubt. "Do you honestly believe you can stop them? An entire army of dragons wouldn't be enough to stop them. You can't protect my daughter. If you truly love her, as you claim, then ensure the council never hears about this mating. I’m sure we can convince Visenya to reject you if she knew the fate of her people depended on it."

"She can't reject me," Lucian asserted. "It won't work."

"You can't be so sure," Ezra countered. "We have to try."

"I am sure," Lucian insisted. "She's already attempted to reject me once, it didn't work."

"She rejected you?" Ezra's confusion was evident. "When did this happen? She only just found out you were her mate a few minutes ago."

"Look," Lucian let out a sigh. "Let's just say, I know things. Things that you wouldn't believe."

"Try me," Ezra challenged.

"Well, I know that you have over five million tons of black zaphynite hidden away somewhere."

Ezra's eyes widened in horror, a mix of shock and fear washing over him. "That's preposterous! How dare you make such outrageous claims!"

Lucian's unwavering gaze never faltered as he looked upon the Lycan King, exuding a palpable sense of assurance that sent shivers down Ezra's spine. With each passing minute, Ezra grew increasingly uncomfortable, prompting him to rise from his seat, his wolf emerging in response to the perceived threat.

"Relax," Lucian calmly reassured. "Your secret is safe with me."

Ezra's brows furrowed with suspicion, his mind racing to uncover the source of Lucian's knowledge. "How did you come to know about that?" He demanded, his tone seeping with anger. "Is there a traitor lurking within my infantry?"

"There is no traitor," Lucian asserted. "Look, I know I haven't done anything to earn it, but you're just going to have to trust me. Maybe I can't protect Visenya, but I won't have to if I mark her."

"Marking her will not solve anything, and I will not risk my daughter's life," Ezra said firmly. "I would rather die."

"Oh, I believe you," Lucian replied. "But this time, you won't have to."