Nithe: The Dragon Emperor's Love

Chapter 8: Fate

When the older two woke up in the morning, they found the younger two fast asleep. Drakar sat up. Nithe went behind him and tied his hair, braiding it. Drakar didn't braid his hair in a long while. Their eyes met and they kissed. Nithe gently touched his alpha's cheeks and his ears as they kissed. Oh! he missed this man, this dragon, so much. Seeing the children together- Nyr and Lala - finally made him realise that he is indeed here. It finally registered that Drakar is indeed here by his side.

"I need time," mumbled Nithe.

"No one is rushing you. I will go look around. If that many could assemble at the borders, there must be a camp around," said Drakar.

"Be careful and don't play around," said Nithe.

"Please. Do I not fear for my skin?" asked Drakar, amused. Nithe would definitely claw him.

Drakar went looking and found trails of white tiger. He followed the scent to the borders of White Swamp Land. This land lies between the Northern Ridge and the ocean. It is sacred land for Dragons and the very reason he came here. No wonder. They were lying in wait. He promised Nithe, so he went back. He saw Nyr and Lala were in the yard. Nyr was letting Lala snuggle on his chest and both were talking to Nithe who was preparing food for them in the oven outdoors.

"Baba," squealed Lala and ran to him. Drakar picked him up and went and sat next to Nithe and Nyr.

Nyr grabbed the axe in his hand and inspected it.

"You didn't attack huh. That's new," he said.

"I promised your ama," said Drakar. Nyr looked at him.

"Good. If you didn't learn after all this time, you wouldn't deserve Ni ama," he said.

Drakar was quiet and Lala slowly crawled back to Nyr.

"You found them?"

"Yes, at the White Swamp Land," said Drakar. Nithe's eyes narrowed.

"How early did you announce your arrival?"

"In the court, it was confirmed two months back. Ama, he is always careless now and won't listen to advisors at all. Even this time when he listened, he did not follow the protocols they set," said Nyr.

Nithe was seething.

"The protocol is for you to let my brother arrange it for you. Are you being led around the nose by your sycophant courtiers?"

"I - Drakar looked at his omega. What can he say? That he didn't really care about his safety? He was sure he could take care of the situation and didn't really bother?

Nithe fixed their breakfast and all four of them had it in comfortable silence.

"Ama, I show Nyr everything?"

"Just the clan land. Wait here, Baba will take you two there," he said.

"Then Ama comes too," said Nyr.

Nithe nodded and set the bows he was working on aside and looked at Drakar. Nyr noticed the broken bond mark and didn't know how to ask, upset. So, he didn't ask.

The old courtiers saw the older prince and some of them trembled. Nithe looked at Drakar.

"He made their life a living hell after you left. He remembered each offence to you- as clearly as I did and turned a blind eye to," said Drakar.

"And you let him run amok? What if they harmed him?" asked Nithe.

"When you leave your blood and soul protection on him?"