Novel Full Chapter 62: Overthrow The Drakhar Family
Chapter 62: Overthrow The Drakhar Family
"A dragon can survive without treasure. Never without pride."
~ Rebel Beast
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"Thamas!" Tamara called out, her voice echoing through the mouth of the cave.
After hearing what had happened between him and Prince Rhydian at the academy, she’d known exactly where to find him.
This had always been Thamas’ sanctuary.
His lair.
Most dragons despised other dragons trespassing inside their lairs. It wasn’t merely possessiveness but instinct. Their treasures were an extension of themselves, and inviting another dragon into that space was almost as intimate as baring one’s soul.
Normally, Tamara would’ve respected that boundary, but not today.
The afternoon sun spilled through the entrance, bathing the first stretch of the cavern in warm golden light. Yet the farther Tamara ventured inside, the more daylight surrendered to the darkness until the cave was illuminated only by scattered rays slipping through cracks in the stone high above.
One would think dragons would’ve abandoned such primitive habits after arriving in Novara region, but they hadn’t.
Treasure hoarding wasn’t just a tradition, but their nature.
Gold coins lay scattered across the stone floor, some stacked into uneven mounds while others had spilled into glittering rivers beneath her boots.
An ancient crown rested beside jeweled goblets whose owners had long since turned to dust. Ornate swords with gem-encrusted hilts leaned against the cave walls beside weathered shields while nestled among them were more modern trophies—a luxury wristwatch crafted from platinum, a limited-edition sports car key displayed atop a velvet cushion, rare gemstones sealed inside crystal cases, and paintings whose signatures alone were worth fortunes.
To another person, it would’ve looked like unimaginable wealth, but to a dragon, it looked like home.
The cavern widened until it resembled an enormous chamber rather than a cave, the ceiling soaring high enough that Thamas in his dragon form could comfortably stretched his wings.
That was when she found him.
Thamas lay motionless atop a sprawling mound of gold, countless coins shifting beneath his weight. And like many dragons seeking the comfort of their lairs, he hadn’t bothered with clothes.
His broad back faced her, bronze skin catching the faint shafts of light filtering down from above while the treasure beneath him gleamed around his body like liquid sunlight.
"Thamas!" Tamara called again, hurrying toward him.
He slowly turned his head and Tamara stopped dead in her tracks.
His irises had become molten green, split by narrow vertical pupils that radiated the unmistakable warning of a dragon balanced dangerously close to losing himself.
But that wasn’t all.
Thamas’ entire body glistened with sweat, every breath leaving him in a ragged hiss,
pain etched across his features.
"What are you doing here?" His voice came out rough, carrying the unsettling blend of dragon and human.
"I heard what happened," Tamara replied gently as she knelt beside him. Supporting him carefully, she helped him sit upright before her eyes immediately settled on his shoulder.
The bruising had darkened into an angry shade of purple, and the joint sat at an unnatural angle beneath his skin.
"It’s healing incorrectly," she said with a frown. "I can help you."
She reached for him but Thamas slapped her hand away.
"You think that bastard Rhydian wouldn’t know someone healed me?" he snarled, his green eyes flashing dangerously. "The punishment loses its meaning the moment you interfere."
Tamara stared at him in disbelief. "So you’re going to keep shifting until your body fixes itself?"
"If that’s what it takes." His jaw tightened.
"I need the pain."
He breathed through the agony. "I need something to remind me of the day I finally saw Rhydian Drakhar for the bastard he truly is."
Tamara studied him for a long moment before sighing.
"He gave you an order, didn’t he?"
"An order not to harm the humans?" Thamas laughed bitterly. "Tell me, Tamara... since when did dragons start bowing to those fragile little creatures?"
"Since we entered their world," she answered without hesitation. "In case you’ve forgotten, peace didn’t come easily. It took years before humans and beasts stopped trying to slaughter one another on sight. If Rhydian gave that order, then he had a reason for it."
She held his gaze. "He’s our prince and leader. We follow him."
"Not forever."
The words came quietly, yet they carried enough certainty to make Tamara’s stomach tighten. Her eyes narrowed. "What do you mean by that?"
Thamas’ expression hardened. "The Drakhar family isn’t invincible."
He leaned forward despite the obvious pain it caused him. "They’re powerful, but there aren’t many of them. The Draco Clan, however..."
His lips slowly curved into a humorless smile, eyes gleaming with dangerous conviction. "We have more numbers and Ilif enough dragons stood together—"
"Thamas." There was unmistakable warning in Tamara’s voice.
He ignored it, saying, "We could overthrow them."
"Thamas, what you’re talking about is treason."
"Then look at me!"
The force behind his voice silenced her.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
When Thamas was certain he had her complete attention, the anger gradually faded from his face, replaced by a gentler emotion.
"I see the way you look at him. You’re in love with him."
Tamara remained perfectly still.
"You think I don’t notice?" Thamas continued with a sad smile. "I know exactly how your eyes follow Rhydian whenever he walks into a room."
His uninjured hand slowly rose to cup her face. Unlike his words moments ago, the gesture was impossibly tender.
"You’re beautiful, Tamara." His thumb brushed softly against her cheek. "You’re beautiful, strong, and loyal. You’re everything a dragon queen should be."
Pain flickered across his face as he said,
"And you’re wasting all of it on a man who’ll never look at you the way you deserve."
His eyes searched hers.
"I would. I’d spend the rest of my life proving your worth. You’d be my queen."
For a brief moment, the cave fell completely silent, their eyes locked.
Anyone witnessing the moment from afar would’ve thought Tamara had been won over by his confession.
She hadn’t.
Gently, she removed his hand from her face before taking a step back.
"I’ll pretend I didn’t hear any of that." Her voice had become cold
"But hear me carefully, Thamas." She looked him dead in the eye. "If I catch even the faintest whisper of rebellion against Prince Rhydian or the Drakhar family..."
A flicker of scarlet fire danced briefly across her dark pupils. "I’ll be the first dragon to tear your heart from your chest."
She straightened her uniform.
"Recover. Then return to the academy."
Without waiting for a reply, Tamara turned and walked toward the mouth of the cave while Thamas’ unwavering gaze followed her every step.
The moment she reached the entrance, she
expanded into the magnificent form of a dragon. Brilliant crimson scales shimmered beneath the afternoon sun, each edged with the faintest trace of molten orange.
With one powerful beat of her wings, Tamara launched herself into the sky and disappeared beyond the mountains.