The Dragon Kings' Forbidden Witch

The words slipped out before she could stop them.

Thorne’s eyebrow rose. ”Do I?”

Morgana’s face flushed. ”I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I didn’t mean....”

”Yes, you did.” His mouth curved. ”And you’re right to question it. I’ve been watching you, Morgana. More closely than I should. And that’s a violation of your privacy.”

She blinked. ”You’ve been watching me?”

”Since the banquet.” His gaze was steady. ”You drew my brothers’ attention. And when something, or someone....draws their attention, I pay attention too.”

”Why?”

”Because I’m the one who sees what they miss.” He stepped closer, his voice dropping. ”And I see you, Morgana. More than you realize.”

Her pulse raced. ”What do you see?”

He studied her for a long moment.

Then he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.

”Someone trying very hard to hide.”

Morgana’s breath caught.

”But hiding only works,” Thorne continued, ”if no one is looking. And right now, Morgana, everyone is looking.”

She swallowed hard. ”What do I do?”

”Be careful.” His expression was grave. ”My brothers are circling you. And when dragons circle something, it’s either because they want to protect it...” He paused. ”Or because they want to claim it.”

”I don’t want to be claimed.”

”I know.” His voice softened. ”But I’m not sure you have a choice anymore.”

The weight of his words settled over her like a shroud.

Thorne turned and moved toward the door.

But before he left, he glanced back.

”The gardens,” he said. ”If you need somewhere safe. Somewhere quiet. You can still go there.”

”Even now?” Morgana asked. ”Even though I know who you are?”

His mouth curved slightly. ”Especially now.”

Then he was gone.

Morgana stood alone in the library, her heart hammering, her mind racing.

He’s a king.

The stranger from the garden.

The one who had been kind.

The one who had warned her.

The one who saw her.

She pressed her hands to her face, trying to breathe.

Three kings.

And all of them were watching her.

***

Draeven’s Pov

The wine tasted like ash.

Draeven set the glass down and stared at the fire crackling in the hearth, his jaw tight.

He’d sent her away.

Again.

And he still couldn’t stop thinking about her.

The way she’d looked at him when he’d asked about her father. The way her voice had softened when she’d spoken about the dragon carving. The way she’d stood when he’d stepped too close...not cowering, not throwing herself at him, just... present.

Real.

He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply.

Two centuries.

Two hundred gods-damned years, and he’d never felt this.

This pull.

This need.

It was irrational. Dangerous. And it was driving him insane.

A knock at the door broke through his thoughts.

”What?” he barked.

The door opened.

Kaelen stepped inside, his pale eyes cold and amused as always. He was dressed for the evening...dark trousers, a white shirt half-unlaced, his hair loose around his shoulders.

He looked like he’d just come from someone’s bed.

He probably had.

”Brother,” Kaelen said, his tone light. ”You look... troubled.”

Draeven’s jaw tightened. ”Get out.”

”Now, now. Is that any way to greet family?” Kaelen closed the door behind him and crossed to the side table, pouring himself a glass of wine. ”I thought we could have a chat.”

”I’m not in the mood.”

”Clearly.” Kaelen took a sip, his gaze sharp. ”You’ve been brooding for days. It’s getting tiresome.”

”Then leave.”

”I would. But I’m curious.” Kaelen leaned against the table, studying him. ”What’s bothering you? The council? The selection? Or...” His smile widened. ”A certain little servant girl?”

Draeven’s fists clenched.

Kaelen’s smile turned predatory. ”Ah. So it is her.”

”Shut up, Kaelen.”

”Why? It’s fascinating.” Kaelen swirled his wine. ”You’ve been obsessed with her since the banquet. Staring at her like she’s the only woman in the room. Summoning her to your chambers. It’s almost... pathetic.”

Draeven turned, his eyes burning. ”I said, shut up.”

”Or what?” Kaelen’s voice was mocking. ”You’ll burn me? We both know you won’t.”

The air shimmered with heat.

Kaelen’s smile faltered slightly, but he didn’t back down.

Before either of them could speak, the door opened again.

Thorne stepped inside.

He looked between them, his expression unreadable.

”Am I interrupting?” he asked mildly.

”Yes,” Draeven said.

”No,” Kaelen said at the same time.

Thorne closed the door and crossed to the empty chair by the fire, settling into it with the quiet grace of someone who had all the time in the world.

”We need to talk,” he said.

Draeven’s jaw tightened. ”About what?”

”About the girl.”

The room fell silent.

Kaelen’s smile returned. ”Ah. So you’ve noticed her too.”

Thorne’s gaze flicked to him. ”I notice everything.”

”And what, exactly, have you noticed?” Draeven’s voice was low, dangerous.

Thorne leaned back in his chair, his dark eyes steady. ”That all three of us are drawn to her.”

Kaelen laughed. ”Drawn? That’s a polite way of putting it.”

”What would you call it?” Thorne asked.

”Obsession. Fascination. Lust.” Kaelen’s gaze slid to Draeven. ”Take your pick.”

Draeven’s fists clenched. ”Stay away from her.”

”Why?” Kaelen’s tone was sharp. ”Because you want her for yourself?”

”Because you’ll hurt her.”

”I didn’t hear her complaining.”

The temperature in the room spiked.

Draeven crossed the space between them in two strides and slammed Kaelen against the wall, his forearm pressed to his brother’s throat.

”You touch her again,” Draeven growled, ”and I’ll burn you alive.”

Kaelen’s smile didn’t falter. ”You’re welcome to try.”

”Enough.”

Thorne’s voice cut through the room like a blade.

Both of them turned to look at him.

Thorne stood, his expression calm but his eyes hard. ”This isn’t helping.”

Draeven released Kaelen and stepped back, his chest heaving.

Kaelen straightened his shirt, his smile tight. ”He started it.”

”And I’m ending it.” Thorne’s gaze swept over both of them. ”Sit. We’re going to talk about this like adults.”

Draeven wanted to refuse.

But the look in Thorne’s eyes....quiet, commanding, dangerous, made him bite back the words.

He returned to his seat by the fire.

Kaelen poured himself another glass of wine and leaned against the mantle.

Thorne remained standing, his arms crossed.

”Let’s start with the obvious,” Thorne said. ”We’re all drawn to her. Yes?”