Hidden Flame: Bound to the Triplet Dragon Kings

The events of the night replay in my mind—the summoning of Donn, James’ revelation of his true nature, and the

plotting of their strategy against Victoria. | sent those images to my mates since we hadn’t had a chance to talk

yet. But

it’s the intimacy we shared afterward that lingers most vividly, a reminder of the strength we draw from each

other. My

hand moves to his scarred shoulder, my thumb brushing over the faint mark of a past battle. She wonders how

many more scars he'll bear before this is over because my scars are invisible. After this is over, | will see if he

would liketo

heal his scarred flesh.

James's eyes flutter open, his bright green gaze locking onto mine. “Morning,” he murmurs, his voice rough with

sleep.

His hand tightens around my waist, pullingcloser. “You're up early.”

“Thinking,” | admit, my voice soft. “About Donn, about Victoria, about us.”

James's expression turns serious, his brow furrowing slightly. “We'll stop her, Avery. Together. With Donn’s help,

we'll find

her weak spot.”

I nod, but my mind drifts to the uncertainty that lies ahead. “What if it's not enough? Victoria's been planning

this for

years. She's ruthless, James. And she’s not alone.”

He kisses my forehead, his lips warm against my skin. “We're not alone either. We have each other, and we have

allies. Donn’s not the only one who owes you a debt.”

| smile faintly, finding comfort in his words. “I know. But it’s not just about us. It’s about the kingdom, about the

people

who depend on us.”

James props himself up on one elbow, his gaze intense. “Then we'll fight for them. We'll fight for everything we

believe

in. And we'll win.”

His confidence is infectious, but | can’t shake the unease that lingers in the pit of my stomach. She knows James

is right —they have to believe in their ability to succeed. But Victoria's shadow looms large, and the queen's

cunning is

unmatched.

As if sensing my thoughts, James leans in, his lips brushing mine in a tender kiss. “We'll be ready,” he whispers.

“For whatever comes.”

| wrap my arms around him, holding him close as if to anchor myself in the present. The warmth of his body, the

steady

beat of his heart, remindsof why they're fighting. It’s not just about power or politics—it’s about love,

loyalty, and

the future we hope to build together.

The sound of knocking interrupts our moment, and James groans, resting his forehead against mine. “Whoever

that is

had better have a damn good reason for disturbing us.”

| chuckle, gently pushing him back. “Go see who it is. I'll be right here.”

James hesitates, his gaze lingering onbefore he slides out of bed, wrapping a robe around his broad

shoulders. He

crosses the room, his movements purposeful, and opens the door a crack. | can’t hear the conversation, but | see

James's

expression shift from annoyance to surprise, then to concern.

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“Avery, you need to see this,” he calls, his voice tight.

| swing my legs over the side of the bed, pulling on my robe as I join him at the door. Outside, one of the palace

guards

stands rigidly, his face pale. “Your Majesty, there's been an incident. You need to cquickly.”

James exchanges a worried glance withbefore turning back to the guard. “Lead the way.”

The corridors of the palace are unusually quiet as they follow the guard, our footsteps echoing off the stone

walls. My

unease grows with each step, my mind racing with possibilities. What could be so urgent? What could have

happened

while they were asleep?

The guard stops abruptly outside the throne room, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. “Inside, Your

Majesty,” he

says, his voice barely above a whisper.

James pushes open the heavy doors, and | follow, my heart sinking at the sight before me. The throne room is in

disarray —chairs overturned, tapestries torn, and a faint scent of smoke lingering in the air. But it’s the figure

slumped on the

floor near the dais that catches my attention.

“Jace,” | breathe, rushing forward. The butler lies motionless, his slender frcrumpled awkwardly. His silvery-

blonde

hair is disheveled, and there's a dark bruise forming on his cheek. | drop to my knees beside him, my hands

trembling as

| check for a pulse. It's weak but steady. “He’s alive,” | say, relief flooding through me. I look up at James, my

eyes

searching his. “What happened? Who did this?”

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James's jaw tightens as he scans the room, his gaze sharp. “I don’t know, but we’ll find out. Stay with him. I'll get

help.”

He strides toward the guards stationed near the entrance, his voice commanding as he issues orders. | remain

by Jace’s

side, my fingers brushing his hair back from his face. His violet eyes flutter open, and he blinks slowly, confusion

clouding

his features.

“Your Majesty,” he rasps, his voice weak. “What... happened?”

“You've been attacked,” | say gently, my heart aching at the vulnerability in his gaze. “You're safe now. James is

getting

help.”

Jace tries to sit up, but winces in pain. | help him lean against me, my arm supporting his back. “I... | tried to stop

them,”

he murmurs. “They were looking for something. They said... they said they'd killif | didn’t tell them where it

was.”

“Tellwhat they were looking for,” | urged, my voice steady despite the fear clawing at my chest.

Jace’s eyes dart around the room, as if searching for the attackers. “I don’t know. They mentioned a... a key. A

key to

something important. But | don’t know what they meant.”

My mind races. A key? What could it be? And why would someone attack Jace for it? My thoughts are interrupted

by the

sound of approaching footsteps, and James returns with a healer in t

word

word

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