Chapter 105

[ 1,200 words ]

Beware the dragon who begins offering treasures, for possession often begins long before either heart understands it.

~Rebel Beast

Aria’s heart pounded against her ribs like the hooves of galloping horses. There was no mistaking her predicament. She was trapped inside a restroom with an apex predator.

Instinctively, she continued backing away, only now realizing just how enormous Rhydian truly was. Aria had always considered herself tall for a woman, yet standing before him now, she felt almost small. The Dragon Prince towered over her with broad shoulders and a solid build that made the room seem even smaller than it already was.

He didn’t need dragon fire to kill her. With the strength in that body alone, he could probably tear her apart with his bare hands.

Her back struck the tiled wall, causing her to stumble slightly. There was nowhere left to run.

Rhydian continued advancing without haste. There was something unnervingly calm about the way he watched her. Those piercing blue eyes never left her face, carrying the certainty of a predator that knew its prey had nowhere left to run.

“D-Don’t do this, Your Highness,” Aria blurted out, struggling to keep the panic out of her voice.

“Call me Rhydian,” he replied.

His voice was deep and husky, rich enough to send an involuntary shiver crawling down her spine.

Confusion replaced some of the fear clouding her thoughts.

Wasn’t he supposed to kill her?

Why, of all things, was he asking her to call him by his name?

“Good, little one. Good,” Rhydian said, a note of unmistakable pride creeping into his voice.

The reaction only deepened Aria’s confusion. Something was seriously wrong here.

“Stay back!” Aria cried the moment he took another step toward her. “Please… don’t hurt me. I’m more useful to you alive than dead p>

“Hurt you p>

Rhydian frowned, looking genuinely puzzled by the suggestion.

“Why would I hurt Treasure p>

“Huh p>

Aria stared at him, her confusion only growing.

Without saying another word, Rhydian slipped a hand into the pocket of his trousers, and when he pulled it back out, Aria’s eyes widened.

Gold necklaces draped over his fingers in tangled loops, intertwined with bracelets, rings, and gemstones that glittered brilliantly beneath the restroom lights. The handful looked as though he had reached into a pile of valuables and simply grabbed whatever came up first.

A few rings and bracelets slipped through his fingers, striking the tiled floor with a series of soft metallic clinks before skidding toward Aria’s feet.

Her jaw slowly fell open.

Those weren’t cheap imitations. Even with her limited knowledge of jewelry, Aria could tell they were genuine. The gold possessed a rich, unmistakable sheen, while the gemstones reflected the light with a brilliance no fake could hope to imitate.

Her first thought was absurd.

Where in the world did he get all this? Did he rob a jewelry store?

Then it hit her. Dragons hoarded wealth.

Gold, jewels, anything that sparkled and caught the eye. It had always been one of the defining traits woven through every story ever told about them.

Although, considering the beasts had arrived in the human world with nothing after the barrier collapsed, there was a very good chance every single piece of jewelry Rhydian was offering her had once belonged to someone else. Which, when she really thought about it, was still stealing.

Rhydian extended the handful of jewelry toward her and Aria stared at it before slowly looking back up at him, completely baffled.

What exactly was he expecting her to do with all that?

“Wear them,” Rhydian commanded.

Aria was speechless.

For a moment, she was convinced she hadn’t heard him correctly. But Rhydian didn’t appear interested in explaining himself.

“Pick the finest,” he said. “Wear it around your neck p>

His voice faded as his eyes traveled the length of her body until they settled on her waist. Then lower.

Aria’s breath caught.

Heat rushed into her cheeks as his gaze lingered on the bare strip of skin exposed between her cropped shirt and the waistband of her trousers.

His stare wasn’t crude or mocking. If anything, he looked utterly captivated, which somehow felt even worse.

“And around your stomach,” Rhydian finished, his voice low with satisfaction.

Aria’s first instinct was to demand an explanation until Alek’s words from breakfast resurfaced in her mind.

“Instinct doesn’t always follow logic. Biology is filled with examples of innate behaviors appearing before the individual consciously understands them. What I’m saying is that sometimes the nervous system responds first, and the mind spends the next several minutes trying to make sense of what just happened p>

The memory made Aria pause.

Could this be one of those instincts?

Did this mean Rhydian wasn’t consciously choosing any of this? That it was the dragon inside him that wanted to drape her in gold?

The thought should have reassured her. Instead, it tightened every muscle in her body. Because if Alek was right, then Rhydian wasn’t pretending. He genuinely had no control over whatever was driving him.

Aria hesitated. She looked from the jewelry in Rhydian’s outstretched hand to the Dragon Prince himself before cautiously reaching forward.

The moment her fingers brushed the tangled collection, another ring and two bracelets slipped free, falling to the ground.

Instinctively, Aria bent to pick them up.

“No p>

The single word halted her, and she looked up.

“Leave them,” Rhydian said. “Wear it p>

Swallowing, Aria carefully sifted through the glittering collection until one necklace caught her eye.

Unlike the others, it wasn’t overly extravagant. The chain was crafted from slender strands of woven gold, each link so finely made it resembled lace more than metal. Resting at its center was an ornate oval pendant framed by tiny pearls and intricate gold filigree that curled around a deep ruby. It looked like something a noblewoman from centuries ago would have worn to a royal ball.

Beautiful.

And undoubtedly expensive.

She carefully lifted it free from the tangled mass while Rhydian watched without blinking.

Aria could feel his gaze following every movement of her hands. Trying her best to ignore it, she turned the necklace around and reached behind her neck to fasten the clasp.

Her fingers fumbled, and the tiny hook refused to catch.

She tried again and yet still nothing. The silence stretching between them somehow made the simple task feel impossibly difficult.

Finally, the clasp clicked into place.

Thank God.

The ruby pendant settled gently against the hollow of her throat, and Aria lowered her hands.

She hadn’t expected putting on a necklace to feel so… awkward.

Or perhaps it wasn’t the necklace at all but the way Rhydian was looking at her.

His blue eyes never wandered from her, drinking in the sight with unwavering fascination.

A slow, almost imperceptible smile softened his features.

“Beautiful,” he murmured.

The single word made warmth creep into Aria’s face. She didn’t know whether to hide behind the nearest wall, or demand to know why he was looking at her as though she had just become the most precious thing in the room.

Then he commanded, “Put on the others p>

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