CHAPTER 26: IN THE PRESENCE OF DRAGONS

Riley had been through a lot.

Assassination attempts. Exploding documents. One cursed stapler.

And to be fair, just being around his boss should count for years of experience.

But walking beside Kael toward the ancient gates of the Dravaryn estate—artifact in hand—somehow made all that feel like a warm-up act.

Officially, he was here to return a lost relic.

Unofficially?

To see if the rest of the dragon clan would even acknowledge Orien’s disappearance.

Kael had made the decision fast: Orien would remain hidden in the Ministry office. No announcement. No alert. No warning.

Because if someone on the inside really was behind the abduction, they needed to believe their plan hadn’t failed. Not yet.

So here they were. Playing politics.

Which meant Riley was now holding the equivalent of a magical time bomb wrapped in velvet, standing in front of the most ancient and temperamental dragon elders known to history.

Great.

He adjusted the collar of his coat and tried not to fidget.

The gates opened.

The Dravaryn estate was beautiful. Regal. Drenched in elegance that whispered of ancient power. The walls hummed with latent magic, and the windows glowed faintly with enchanted runes that likely judged your soul the moment you crossed the threshold.

Kael didn’t say a word. He didn’t have to. His presence was enough to clear the way, each step quiet but commanding.

However, that was Kael, and this was his house. Meanwhile, Riley couldn’t help but tug nervously at the edge of his coat, wondering if he should’ve brought an actual gift, and not this cursed artifact that was hidden inside another artifact.

But maybe he should’ve brought a will. In fact, he really ought to make one when he manages to return from this place.

If he manages to.

He was ushered into the drawing room, where two very poised figures awaited him.

"Lord and Lady Dravaryn will see you now," the attendant said.

The moment Riley stepped in, he bowed instinctively. "My deepest gratitude for receiving me—"

"Riley," the lady said, cutting in smoothly. Her eyes were molten gold, and her smile was warm enough to defrost an entire continent.

It wasn’t their first meeting.

In fact, Riley had probably seen Lord Karion and Lady Cirila more times than Kael had in the past few years. But that was always during formal gatherings, flanked by an entourage and shielded behind the etiquette of status.

So this?

This was something else entirely.

The moment the steward stepped out and the door clicked shut behind him, a voice boomed across the room.

"Riley Hale!"

Riley nearly dropped the artifact he’d been cradling like a precious, possibly cursed infant.

Suddenly—he wasn’t standing anymore.

There were hands. Several. One tugged his elbow, another guided his back, and then he was swept up like a broom in a whirlwind of very polite, very overwhelming enthusiasm.

By the time he blinked again, he was seated.

Not just anywhere.

Right next to Kael.

In front of Lord Karion and Lady Cirila.

Dumbfounded.

And not just a little bit. Full-on, jaw-slightly-hanging, eyes-wide kind of dumbfounded.

It wasn’t until Lady Cirila leaned forward and asked gently, "How are you, Riley? Are you well? That must have been terrifying—facing merfolk like that."

That Riley snapped back to reality.

"Oh. Uh. Yes. Thank you," he said quickly, blinking himself upright. "It was... a bit sudden. But I’m alright now."

She studied him carefully, then nodded, seemingly relieved. After all, it was an acceptable question considering how human he was. He could’ve been fish bait back then.

Riley held back a sigh. Honestly, it was kind of nice to be asked.

Lady Cirila smiled, and Lord Karion gave a thoughtful nod. Riley’s heart calmed just a bit.

Maybe his father was talking about this when he insisted on the greatness of the Dravaryn clan and how honorable it was to be working for them. He likely remembered Lord Karion’s rule and thought it would always be that way.

And considering Riley could’ve ended up impaled or fried or drowned that day, it was comforting to know at least someone cared.

Because if it had been left to Kael, the man would’ve scolded the corpse for being late with the paperwork.

Okay, maybe not that bad... but honestly? Most people would agree.

Including his own parents.

"You should’ve just called Kael," Lady Cirila said, frowning softly. "He would’ve dealt with the enemies himself...eventually..."

Riley, who was finally free of the artifact, shook out his hands and gave a sheepish smile.

"I wasn’t sure if there’d be time," he admitted. "And I didn’t think it was right to let them go. What if they vanished before we could track them?"

Also, what if Kael took forever, and he tried buying time or confronting them properly? Wouldn’t he be dead then? But really, blame it on his alarm. It wasn’t like he wanted to fight right then and there. He was actually trying to be safe.

"I see," she said gently. "Thank you for jumping in, Riley."

Before he could say more, Lord Karion asked, "And what of the assailants?"

"They were deliberately left behind," Kael finally spoke, his tone cool, sharp. "Likely lackeys. They had no idea what the child was."

Riley remembered how they’d swept the surrounding streets after, carefully adjusting the footage of nearby CCTVs. Ensuring that if anyone came looking, all they’d see was how Riley was a regular human and not some Ministry personnel. Thankfully, that wasn’t hard when Riley hadn’t been wearing anything incriminating save for his embarrassing getup that his colleagues saw.

Kael turned slightly toward his father. "Has anyone taken initiative yet?"

"Not yet," Lord Karion said. "But his birthday is soon. It would raise questions if we searched too early, but on that day, they’ll have no choice but to explain his absence."

"They’ll likely claim he ran away," Kael muttered.

Riley frowned, then tilted his head. What kind of school loses a dragon and says he ran away?

"But with his personality," Lady Cirila added, "even the other students will find that questionable."

Riley blinked, remembering the sour look on Orien’s face the whole time he’d been outside the Ministry. The twitchy glares. The defensive silence. The general air of ’I hate being perceived.’

Ah.

He looked at Kael.

Maybe the kid was related to him, after all.

Riley’s thoughts were pulled back to the present when Kael finally spoke.

"But what we must look into," Kael said, tone low and flat, "is how someone got their hands on the artifact... and how someone managed to take a child out of our territory without being noticed."

The air shifted.

Something cold slid down Riley’s spine.

The mood sobered instantly. The warmth from earlier vanished.

And for the first time, Riley truly felt it.

He wasn’t just in a room with Kael.

He was seated before three dragons.

Dragons who, seconds ago, had been smiling and praising his efforts... and now looked like they were ready to declare war.

The shift was so fast it made Riley feel like he’d skipped a page in the conversation.

He tried very hard to blend in with the antique chair.

Don’t move. Don’t speak. Don’t breathe too loudly.

But Lady Cirila turned to him anyway.

Her eyes weren’t cold, but they were piercing.

"This wasn’t your usual kidnapping," she said. "And if not for you, the outcome could have been much worse. He wouldn’t have had a fighting chance. Not when he wouldn’t have been able to remove that artifact... even if he tried."

Riley froze.

Wait. So that thing...?

That strange, ominous piece that still gave off residual pressure, even after removal—

It couldn’t be broken?

Not even by a dragon?

He swallowed.

So how exactly was a locked dragon supposed to remove it if not by brute force or magic?

Although, come to think of it, Orien said it was like he lost touch with his magic and abilities, so did it require another dragon’s aid?

He didn’t get a chance to ask. Because Lord Karion was now looking at him.

"Riley," he said, voice steady, "we’d like to reward you for saving our grandnephew. We may not be able to do it publicly, which is unfortunate... but we’d still like to offer you something for your trouble."

"Huh?" Riley blinked. "I don’t— I mean, I was just doing the right—"

Lady Cirila cut in gently, already smiling. "With your personality, you’d likely say no. But as dragons, we do not leave debts unpaid. So please—humor us. Make a wish."

Riley’s mouth opened.

Then closed.

Then opened again.

His brain was scrambled. He was an aide. He hadn’t prepared for this kind of emotional or economic warfare. After all, he was here as some sort of smokescreen.

He glanced to his side, desperate for a distraction.

And locked eyes with golden ones.

Kael.

Watching him.

Riley’s heart skipped.

And then it hit him.

A line. Burned into his brain from the contract he had now read thoroughly.

ARTICLE III: NON-REPAYMENT CLAUSE.

"The debt owed shall not be forgiven, reduced, or otherwise nullified by coin, property, or threats. No sum of gold, gem, or kingdom shall be accepted in lieu of the debt."

The words echoed like a war drum behind his eyes.

Riley stared forward, blank.

Then, very faintly, he whispered to himself—

"...what about paying a life for a life?"