CHAPTER 59: NEWS THAT BROKE THE PIGGY

Well, they didn’t, but one aide should have.

Should. Have.

And yet, when he arrived at the sprawling estate of the Dragon Lord—after dragging a baby dragon away from what was labeled as his sanctuary—Riley Hale was greeted not by relief, but by the most outrageous accusations.

"My son, are we up for execution?" asked Renee Hale, mother to the alleged dragon killer.

The question was delivered softly, but even after Riley assured them it was safe to talk here, both his parents still spoke as if the floorboards might rat them out.

"Mom! What execution!?"

"Who gets hauled into the Dragon Lord’s estate in the middle of the night... only to end up riding in a nondescript vehicle with no other explanation?"

"..."

"As it is, I am aware of your work grievances, and really, it’s understandable you’d one day snap. So I just want to know if it’s possible for us to plead on behalf of Liam?"

"Your father and I, we’re old enough to take the punishment. If he allows it, we’ll also ask to take your punishment."

Haaa...!

Riley could not believe what he was hearing. He wanted to scream that he would have done that long ago if it were possible. But it wasn’t, and that was exactly why he was in this predicament in the first place.

With a face so sour he even found himself repulsed, he handed over his phone, which displayed the most incriminating headline.

His mother and father exchanged a look before bracing themselves to see what they thought would be an official announcement of treason. Instead, both of them twitched in surprise.

From Agenda to Affection: The Ministry’s Newest Scandal Involving a Golden Dragon and His Human Aide

And with great difficulty, Riley announced, "They think I’m the Dragon Lord’s mate."

"..."

"..."

Crash!

Surprisingly, it was Liam who had caused it, his piggy bank shattering against the floor.

He had been trying to listen in the entire time, and the moment he heard the word punishments, he had fetched his piggy bank, intending to offer it. In school, they were taught that fines were used when someone did something illegal.

But then he heard that his brother was the Dragon Lord’s mate.

And his very young brain went into overdrive. Dragons were the coolest beings in existence. His brother being with one? This was better than any fairy tale. In his head, Riley was now a hero in shining scales, riding dragons through the clouds, maybe even wearing a golden crown while Liam waved at cheering crowds below.

"Brother, is that true?! Are you really together with a dragon?!" Liam’s eyes shone with such pure innocence that Riley was momentarily blinded.

Liam was probably not going to like it, but Riley had to say something about it.

Except—

Heuk! Heuk!

The sound of tears.

Riley’s head whipped toward it so fast he felt his neck complain. "Mom?!"

He was stunned. In all his years, he could not remember seeing his mother cry. Maybe she always held it in for the family’s sake. Even when his father had fallen sick, she had worn a smile like armor. But now...

"Mom! I know, I’m going to figure out a way out of—"

"My son! Thank goodness!" She rushed at him, hugging him tight. Tears streamed down her face, and Riley almost toppled over from the force.

She clutched his shoulders, checking him over as if she might find some hidden injury, all while muttering thanks to whatever divine being had allowed this miracle to happen.

Riley stood frozen, wearing the look of someone who had just been told the moon was made of cheese. His brows pulled together in confusion, his ears almost ringing. Had he really just heard his mother thinking this was a good

thing?

It occurred to him that maybe she believed he had attempted to assassinate the Dragon Lord, and that a scandal like this was far easier to clean up—especially since it wasn’t true.

He was wrong.

Before he could say anything, he spotted his father.

Wiping away a tear.

"!!!"

"Wait! I—" Riley finally blurted, but no one seemed ready to listen.

Too late.

Liam had already launched himself at Riley’s leg like a human limpet, grinning up with pure, starstruck wonder. "Does this mean you get to live in a castle? With treasure? And dragons flying around all the time? Can I visit? Can I ride one?"

Riley stared down at him. "No, you can’t—"

"I can train to be your sidekick!" Liam announced proudly. "I’ll polish your armor, feed the dragons, and guard the treasure room. I won’t even take anything! Except maybe one gold coin after I ask for permission. And maybe a shiny scale. But only if it’s already fallen off."

Before Riley could answer, Renee clasped his hands tightly, her eyes shining as if the years of holding back something had suddenly cracked.

"You’ve... finally done it, my son," she whispered.

"...Done what?" Riley asked slowly, sensing danger in the way her fingers trembled.

She didn’t answer right away. Something in her gaze was far away, as if remembering a night only she and her husband had lived through. Inwardly, her chest eased in a way it hadn’t for decades. The thought pressed against the seal in her mind, unspoken but heavy—if this is true, maybe he’ll finally be safe.

"It means you’ll be all right," she said instead, voice steady now.

"Mom—"

"And," she added quickly, almost too quickly, "you might even... have a future where no one can touch you."

"Touch me? Mom, I’m not—"

Her husband stepped forward, his own eyes suspiciously bright. He had said little, but his shoulders had loosened for the first time in years. The tension that had lived there since then had eased, just a little. "If this is real, Riley," he said quietly, "then it’s the best news we’ve ever had."

"What?!" Riley yelped. "You’re all acting like this is some fairy tale ending? Do you have any idea how dangerous—"

"Dangerous?" Renee interrupted, her voice suddenly firm. "My dear, there’s no safer place than by the Dragon Lord’s side..." She didn’t finish, but her expression said enough.

Liam nodded so hard his hair flopped into his eyes. "Yeah, you could tell anyone to stop picking on me at school, and they’d have to listen! You could say ’leave Liam alone or face dragon fire,’ and they’d all run away!"

"This is not a free pass for playground threats," Riley muttered.

Liam grinned. "I wouldn’t really do it... unless they were really mean." Then, in a tone that was far too serious for a seven-year-old, he added, "But if you do get to marry a dragon, can I please, please be in charge of feeding it? I’m really responsible. I can even give it extra meat when it’s cranky!"

The conversation was spiraling—Liam was now explaining how his future dragon wedding would involve fireworks shaped like scales—when three firm, deliberate knocks sounded against the open sitting room door.

Everyone froze.

Kael Dravaryn stood there, one hand still resting lightly on the doorframe as if the knock had been more of a formality than a request. This was, after all, his estate. Still, dragons had their habits, and Kael’s odd courtesy of knocking before entering another’s space was one of them.

His golden gaze swept past Renee, past her husband, barely pausing on Liam, before fixing squarely on Riley.

"I require you," he said simply.

There was the barest of nods. And frankly, Riley’s eyebrow shot up as his family managed to get even more than the other dragons.

Was something extremely wrong?

Riley stared back. "You... require me for what?"

Kael’s tone didn’t change. "There is a matter that needs immediate handling."

"What kind of matter?"

"It is... that." His eyes flicked once toward the others in the room, then returned to Riley. "You will understand when you see it."

The vagueness was enough to make Riley suspicious. "This isn’t some kind of ’help me carry something heavy’ situation, is it?"

Kael’s lips barely moved. "No." Then, after a pause, "He asked for you."

That "he" could only mean Orien.

Liam’s head shot up, eyes bright. "Is it a dragon thing?!"

"No," Kael replied flatly, looking at him this time around.

Which meant it was absolutely a dragon thing.

Riley sighed, pushing himself to his feet. "I see. Please lead the way, my lord."

Kael was already turning toward the corridor, his slow, unhurried pace making it clear Riley would be following whether he wanted to or not.

As they stepped out, Liam leaned toward his parents and whispered, "It’s totally a dragon thing. I bet he’s teaching my brother secret dragon stuff. When I grow up, I’m going to be called for dragon emergencies too...

Only this was probably an emergency that no dragon-loving fan would’ve ever thought would happen.

Because in the center of an overstuffed couch lay Orien, or what looked like what was left of him?