CHAPTER 87: CLOSET CONFESSIONS

Okay. This was clearly important, and under any other circumstance, he would’ve been all ears.

But right now?

He was wedged inside what could only be described as a broom closet, except the broom had been replaced with one full-grown dragon who took up far too much space. Although honestly, it was likely a normal closet, just one that wasn’t made for the giant who was the dragon lord.

The air was stifling, not exactly a good idea to breathe when pressed like this. He was about to mouth a sharp ’Could you at least scoot over a little’, when a voice from outside made him freeze.

"Well, better us than the human, right?"

His heart thudded once, painfully loud. They were talking about him.

"Shh!"

"Don’t shush me. We all know no one’s going to find us here. Out of all the rooms, isn’t this one the most protected? With the most safeguards?"

"Well... that’s true. That’s why we’ve been borrowing Orien’s room. But we can’t really use this forever, right? What if he returns?"

"Return? If you were him and about to end up related to a human, would you come back? Maybe Orien left because he knew what was about to happen."

Another voice chimed in, softer, doubtful. "I don’t think he left on his own. Orien barely liked to move. He was always inside. He hasn’t even joined any of the late-night excursions, right?"

"Think what you want, but didn’t you see it with your own eyes earlier? Look at Seris. She’s been parading around telling everyone off, pretending she’s perfect, but now? Misdeeds everywhere. She even got disowned!"

"How does that even relate to Orien?"

"What if they’re the same? Just biding time before unleashing everything! Maybe he was waiting before he left. Maybe he hoped they wouldn’t announce it, but maybe he caught wind of it, so he just up and vanished."

"Without bringing any of his things?!"

"With all the barriers here, would you really risk taking anything out?"

"Well, no, but..."

"But it’s pointless. I know you thought he was cute or something, but he’s not here anymore. Even if he’s from the ruling clan, your family would never allow you to mate someone who’s already considered a disgrace. So maybe focus on important things."

A stunned silence sat between them in the cramped space. Cute? Someone thought Orien was cute?

Well, to be fair, the dragonling was adorable enough to pass for it. Provided he didn’t open his mouth. Just like a certain someone over here.

So maybe it ran in the family.

"Oh well, speaking of important things... Did you hear Seris earlier? Normally, she’s quiet, but did you hear her trashing the room and even the attendant after she was told the dragon lord stripped all her privileges?!"

At that, both of them instinctively turned. A brow lifted at Kael, sharp as a question mark. Did you really say that?

The golden menace shook his head once, slow.

That was when it hit—how close they actually were. Breath mingled, heat pressed chest to chest. For a wild second, his instincts screamed to jerk back, but before he could move, Kael’s hand pressed against his back, firm and grounding. A silent reminder: stay quiet.

"..."

So much easier said than done!

But then the voices outside wavered again, one of the dragonlings hesitating. "About that... earlier, I saw another attendant carrying a tray of food and drink. But her privileges were revoked, right? So... what was that about?"

"Well, do you think it’s the dragon lord’s doing?"

The silence in the closet thickened.

Kael’s hand didn’t move, still holding him still. Too close. Way too close.

While the aide could’ve sworn this could’ve gotten him killed any other time, he would’ve been surprised to learn that the same dragon lord thought it wasn’t safe enough.

There was still a very small gap, so what if they needed to flee?

He had "concerns", a lot that had to do with justifying how he’d been holding a certain someone like that.

But then his justification was put to a stop when someone mentioned him.

"The dragon lord? Have you forgotten how we almost died earlier?!" one voice hissed. "Do you really think the dragon lord would do something like that for someone with a disgusting mouth?"

Another voice replied quickly, defensive but uncertain. "No... but then who would’ve sent something like that? Her family?"

"No, it can’t be. She’s always been in that weird state with her clan, and after being disowned like that..."

A hush fell before another dragonling spoke with weight in their tone. "Then it’s got to be that."

"That?"

"You all know what I’m talking about. Don’t act like you don’t. You even skipped it when I said we had to talk about it. But now? Now it’s impossible to skip. That was exactly like how we got the notes, wasn’t it?"

If only the hiding infiltrators could see through the closet door, they would’ve witnessed every single dragonling glancing everywhere but at each other. The silence reeked of guilt.

"Come on! We were told to keep it a secret, but look at what happened instead!"

Kael and his aide sat in tense quiet, waiting. The pause stretched long enough to prickle nerves until, finally, one voice broke through, softer than the rest.

"I-I didn’t come earlier to try and be the mate. You all know I already have someone... But I was hoping that someone would get chosen so no one else would have to be forced to make all that preparation..."

That timid admission seemed to unfreeze the others.

"Yeah! Also, if it’s like that, do we still have to keep stashing away our powers? Why do we even need to keep letting out blood every month if there’s already a mate?"

The words struck like thunder.

"!!!"

Inside the closet, he nearly choked on air. His jaw dropped, eyes wide, as he swung his head toward the golden menace beside him. Indoctrination was already one nightmare, his expression screamed, but blood collection? Monthly bloodletting?!

Kael didn’t move, didn’t speak, though the sharp glint in his eyes confirmed he had heard it all.

Heat prickled in the narrow space. His shoulder pressed tighter against the dragon lord’s chest without realizing it, his grip tightening on his own clothes as if bracing against the sheer absurdity of what they had just learned.

"About that..." one of the dragonlings started hesitantly, "earlier I asked my sister how much blood was actually needed for the bonding rite, and she said... a drop would do."

"WHAT?!" another immediately exploded. "Then why are we being asked to fill a jar every month?!"

Inside the cramped closet, his whole body jolted at the shout. Yes, his brain screamed, excellent question! Who in their right mind needed jars of dragon blood if a drop was enough?!

"Wait, maybe it’s because it’s the dragon lord?" another voice offered, uncertain. "Like... maybe there’s a greater bond if more blood is used. I mean, it’s the dragon lord after all."

His gaze shot sideways at Kael. Golden eyes met his, steady, and the dragon lord gave a slow shake of his head.

Okay, so it’s a no!

"Then why?!" he mouthed furiously, but Kael’s expression didn’t budge.

"I would’ve thought the same thing, too," one dragonling muttered, "but that was before. Now... I’m not even sure. Maybe we should ask?"

"What?! No!" came the immediate chorus. "Don’t you remember we’re supposed to keep this a secret?!"

"How do we keep it a secret when everyone already knows?! My family asked me before I even got dragged back here! And I had no idea what to tell them because we don’t even know who sent it!"

"Obviously someone important," another whispered sharply. "Because who else could send things here without getting caught? Even what our parents bring in is checked and examined."

"You say that because you never come out."

"I don’t, but it’s not like I don’t know. You all have to leave in dragon form. And you can’t even bring things in or out."

"Well... true..."

"But what now? Do we just wait for more notes? Do we follow if they come?"

"Follow? What, you actually want to be the dragon lord’s mate?"

"You don’t get it. How could you even compare your crush to the dragon lord? Even as a nail, it’s not comparable!"

"Even if I didn’t like anyone, I wouldn’t be that presumptuous. I can see the dragon lord already has someone."

"Do you seriously believe that?"

"You don’t?"

"Obviously, it’s for show. Or maybe the flavor of the week."

A gasp followed. "Flavor of the week? My parents told me to give up because they saw with their own eyes that the same human you’re calling ’flavor of the week,’ was treated differently."

"What do you mean?"

"Haaa! Seriously?! None of us could even get a proper look. I heard even the seniors, the ones who’ve met him formally, weren’t given more than a glance."

"And yet my mother said when the human walked, the pebbles on the ground were thrown aside. One by one!"

"WHAT?! Did they see that correctly?!"

"YES. Are you saying my parents are blind?!"

"N-no! But... seriously?!"

"Yes! And the Dragon Path? He turned it into blue flames and moved the flames whenever the human took a step. The human didn’t feel any discomfort and walked all the way. But when Seris tried to come in, she got singed."

"Woooooah!"

"Seriously?!"

"I mean, Seris deserves that. Maybe even the flames predicted she was about to run her mouth, but did he really do that for the human?"

"Yeah. And everyone thought it was strange. But the human didn’t even react, like it was normal."

"So what?"

"Are you slow?"

"What the—what do you mean slow?!"

"Then how could you not get it? Obviously, it means the dragon lord does it so often the human doesn’t even notice anymore."

"!!!"

In the closet, his jaw dropped so far it almost hit his knees.

WHAT?!

His entire body screamed to burst out and demand answers, but before the noise escaped, Kael’s hand shifted.

Fingers tipped under his chin, closing his mouth with a maddeningly light push.

He gawked up at the dragon lord, silently demanding, "Explain. Now."

All he got was an eye roll. The kind that somehow managed to say both So? and Later.

As if he’d ever get a straight answer. Even if he waited a thousand years!