CHAPTER 479: UNEXPECTED VISITORS

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Chapter 479

~Zara’s POV~

I flew from behind the desk and crossed the room in seconds, throwing my arms around him.

Andrew caught me easily, squeezing tightly. "Gods, it’s good to see you. You’re still taller than me, I see."

"Lies," I said, laughing into his shoulder. "Don’t let the heels deceive you. You are still taller. But who knows, maybe you’ve grown shorter." Zara giggled.

"Impossible. I’m the pride of the family’s gene pool."

I pulled back to look at him. "You returned from your travel without warning?"

"Had to. Things are shifting, Zara. Zade said I was needed here."

"True, he is right. I’ve got news you’re going to want to hear."

Andrew’s smile faltered just a little. I stepped back. "News?"

Andrew’s eyes darkened slightly. "Yeah. It’s about—"

A knock cut through the air and I groaned inwardly, rubbing my forehead. "Not now."

Taylor stepped in through the door, smiling, though I could see the exhaustion behind her eyes. "Ma’am," she said carefully.

"Yes?" I replied, already dreading the interruption.

"There’s someone here to see you."

"I’m currently busy," I informed her, my tone sharper than I intended.

"But ma’am..."

I sighed. "Did they book an appointment?"

"No."

"Then tell them Snow isn’t on seat and—"

"He specifically asked for you and Mr. Zephyr, ma’am," Taylor interrupted quickly, like she knew I’d shut the door on this otherwise. "He said it was urgent."

I tilted my head, narrowing my eyes. "What kind of urgent matter doesn’t come with a name or business?"

Just when I thought I had all I needed to shut this down, Taylor added in a hushed voice, "He’s a royal, ma’am. From an allied kingdom at that."

That stopped me.

A royal?

I glanced at Andrew. He only shrugged, mouthing probably Kaid before stretching out one long leg and settling into the couch like we weren’t seconds away from being pulled into something.

Again.

I sighed, waving my hand. "Fine. Let him in."

Turning to Andrew, I whispered, "If it’s Kaid, this won’t take long. I’m sorry, we’ll continue soon, don’t be mad."

"Me? Never," he replied easily.

Then the knock came again, heavier this time and soon the door opened to reveal my visitor.

And the moment my eyes landed on the figure walking in, the air left my lungs.

Silver hair—long, silken, and tipped with soft streaks of violet—flowed over his shoulders like moonlight over still water.

His tuxedo, tailored to sharp perfection in obsidian black and silver trim, fit his broad frame as if it had been sculpted for him.

Every inch of him exuded grace, but with that deadly stillness only the ancient bloodlines carried.

But it was his eyes that did it.

One violet. One cold blue. Time rewound.

"Hello, Zara," Davion said, his voice smooth and intimate, as if we hadn’t lost days between us.

"D–Davion..." I whispered, frozen in place.

Andrew’s eyebrows shot up. "Davion... Davion Draco? As in, the Dragon Prince?"

Davion turned his head, a polite smile curving his lips. "Yes. Prince Davion Draco of the Obsidian Flame. And you are?"

Andrew stood immediately, offering a respectful bow of his head. "Andrew Blake. Her cousin."

Davion extended a hand with the kind of casual charm that could disarm empires. "A pleasure."

Andrew shook it, his expression carefully neutral. "Likewise... Your Highness."

Their hands dropped. I watched the entire exchange like someone watching a train wreck they couldn’t stop—slow, inevitable, and destructive.

"Sorry, couz," Andrew said softly, giving me a small, apologetic smile. "But I’ll leave you two to it. We’ll catch up later. Dinner with Zade?"

I didn’t argue.

There was no point.

Because even though Davion was standing calmly and politely, the air had shifted entirely. His aura rolled across the room like smoke—warm, old, and powerful. Subtle for now, but it had weight. Presence.

He was no lycan. No ordinary alpha. He was a freaking, fucking, mighty dragon.

And not just any dragon. The dragon. Prince of the Obsidian Flame, heir to the most feared and respected bloodline in the draconic realms.

As the door clicked softly behind Andrew, silence settled like fog. I hadn’t moved from behind the desk.

Davion took a few slow steps inside.

"Still beautiful," he murmured, eyes scanning me from head to toe without shame. "Time has been kind to you."

"Flattery will not soften me," I replied quickly, jaw tight. "What are you doing here?"

"Is that any way to welcome your ex-husband’s saviour?" I bit the inside of my cheeks. "I came to see you." He smiled, and my stomach did something I hated. "You know that."

"It’s been a few days, Davion."

He stepped closer. "And I’ve waited every single day."

I stood straighter. "Don’t come into my company acting like you have the right."

"Don’t I?" His smile was calm, but there was something hungry in his gaze. "The council sent me a letter, Zara. I must marry if I want the throne. And you, you were always meant to be queen."

I let out a dry laugh. "That offer wasn’t meant for me. I thought it expired days ago."

"Maybe," he said, voice low. "But our bond didn’t."

I flinched.

"I felt it," he added, taking one more step. "The magic stirring. Something has shifted. Hasn’t it?"

He was watching me now. Closely. Reading me the way he used to—like I was the only mystery worth solving.

I swallowed hard, ignoring the way my heart had kicked up its pace.

"You’ve always had a flair for drama," I said, retreating a step to maintain the space. "But you can’t waltz in and demand things. I’ve built a life before you, Davion."

"With Snow?" Davion asked, gaze darkening.

That hit me like a slap.

"You have no right to bring him into this," I said through clenched teeth.

"I have every right," Davion said, voice like steel under silk. "Because I gave you something important to save him. So yes. I can."

I hated that part of me wanted to argue it. "I didn’t ask for this," I said quietly.

"Yes, we don’t but Zara, I told you, I will come for you," he replied.

Silence again.

"Why now?" I asked, softer.

He tilted his head. "Because I’ve run out of time. And because I still want you."

I looked away. "This is madness. Snow and I are mates. There was nothing ever going on with us. So no. I do not want you."

Davion looked at me with a particular kind of warmth mixed with coldness as his lips curled into a wicked grin. "Then would you have me take back my scale?"