Descendants: To Kill A Dragon

Chapter Twenty-Two

A/N: The story is fully written now, so expect a swifter update schedule.

• • •

"My Queen." Ben announced, bowing before the magic mirror. "I have good news."

"Of course. Let's hear it." Mal grinned, smirking widely.

"My motion was passed. Your kingdom is now a part of Auradon, and there has been a scheduled meeting for the day of your arrival. When would you like to make your debut?"

"Two days from now. I want to do this as soon as possible." Mal explained. "Can I bring an honor guard?"

"Of course. Keeping the numbers small would be less controversial, but up to fifty are allowed in the Union Charter for meetings like this."

"Excellent." The Fae Queen nodded. "Give me two days to set my affairs in order, and I'll be ready."

At that, she turned off the magic mirror, and turned to Evie, barely able to keep the smile off her face. "We're so close, babe." She whispered, pressing their foreheads together. "I swear on my mother's soul that I'll get you that crown. The big fancy castle. I'll even get you a prince, if you want one."

"I don't want a prince." Evie murmured, "Just you, Mal. Only you."

"You and Carlos will have to stay behind you know." Mal whispered, and Evie nodded. She wasn't sure which of the boys Mal would be taking with her, but it seemed she'd decided on Jay. "I'd rather have his fighting skills on my side, and you and Carlos are so good at ruling. You can take care of the Isle while I'm gone."

"It'll be like you never left, my poison apple. I'll make sure of it." Evie insisted. They'd had this little meeting with Ben by themselves, since it was just an update and not a Dragon Court meeting. Secretly, Mal was starting to think that Jay and Carlos might not mind watching them together (if Ben's initial reactions were to be trusted), but it made things less awkward, since Mal had no intention of sharing Evie right now. Right now, she wanted to celebrate, and it suited her well that they were alone.

"I don't know what I'm going to do without you." Evie whispered, and Mal stroked her hair back, out of her face.

"Think of me every night I'm gone, while you're laying in our bed, and when I get back, I'll bring you a gift." Make wasn't certain what, just yet, but it had to be great. Nothing but the best for her girl.

• • •

"Phillip, we need to talk." Aurora tried to get her husband's attention, and he brushed her off like he brushed the lint from his tailored jacket.

"Leave me be, woman. I have an important meeting to get to, and I won't be late." The king insisted before he rushed out the door, slamming it behind him in a way that made the windows rattle, even in their sturdy, gorgeous, stone house, at the heart of the city center.

The next time Aurora tried to corner him, he very nearly slapped her - and while Phillip was far from an ideal husband, he'd never once rasied a hand against her until now. That's how she knew it was serious.

"The faeries left, Phillip." Aurora pushed on, trying to impart the urgency of the situation. "What if they went to go to that little brat Maleficent spawned!?"

"Then good riddance to them." The king replied, sniffing imperiously. "Your father, King Stefan (God rest his soul), was murdered in the war with the Fae. I don't want them anywhere near us."

"That's not the point, Phillip." The woman hissed in reply, "Do you want her to have an army?"

"She's a half-human bastard child, who doesn't even have wings, or horns." Phillip smirked, and sipped his whiskey. "She's just a criminal with a penchant for murder. If an army somehow fell in her lap, she wouldn't know how to use it."