Chapter 23: My Guard
>>Aelin
Ariston’s calm defiance stood in stark contrast to Draegon’s fiery rage.
The room seemed to hold its breath as Draegon charged toward us, but before he could reach us, a figure darted into view—Ruoxy. She sprinted after Draegon and grabbed his arm with both hands, her voice urgent and commanding.
"Draegon, stop!" she cried, her grip unyielding.
Draegon’s muscles tensed, and he tried to shake her off, his growl low and menacing. "Let go!!" For a moment it looked like there was hatred filled in his expressions.
"No!" Ruoxy insisted, tightening her hold and digging her heels into the ground to anchor herself. "You’re not thinking clearly!"
For a moment, it looked as though Draegon would fling her off, his movements wild and unpredictable. But then, abruptly, something shifted. Draegon froze in place, his expression softening as if a switch had been flipped. The anger that had consumed him moments ago drained away, replaced by an eerie calmness.
!?!?
The sudden change was so jarring that whispers rippled through the room. Even the Queen, who had been watching with amusement, raised an eyebrow in mild intrigue.
Draegon straightened, his face now composed and unreadable. He turned his gaze to me and Ariston, his voice smooth and measured. "My apologies," he said, his tone devoid of the anger that had filled it moments ago. "I wasn’t angry at you. Something else upset me, and I allowed it to cloud my judgment."
Ruoxy stood beside him, her hands still on his arm, her eyes flickering with an emotion I couldn’t quite place. Draegon nodded to the Queen and then to me. "If you’ll excuse us," he said, his tone courteous but distant. "We’ll take our leave."