RISE OF THE DRAGON HEIR: from amnesia to ascension

chapter 29

"I... promise you.... I promise, if you won't let me live, you will never ever hear from me again" Thomas said in a trembling voice as he continued to plead for his life.

Saint's piecing eyes continued to bore into his soul, then he looked up at Victoria's dishevelled form walking toward him.

His pupils dilated instantly. "Are you okay, dear?" He asked her, "Did they hurt you?" Saint's asked again, running his eyes all over her to make sure that she was alright.

"They hurt me a bit but I'm okay now." She confessed, while rubbing the back of her left arm nervously.

Saint tightened his grip on Thomas so much, he had started to wince like a little child in pain.

"I beg of you, I'll do anything that you ask me to, just spare my life, I'm begging you!" Thomas continued to plead, his whole body was drenched in his own sweat and bits were already dripping down his face despite the cold air.

Saint loosened his grip on him, causing Thomas to fall back.

"Don't move a muscle!" Saint warned him sternly and Thomas knew better than to try to escape Saint Dragon. He hadn't witnessed Saint's powers but he had heard stories of what he was capable of doing.

So he laid still on the cold ground, gasping for air, while his entire body shook fervently. He could still feel Saint’s iron grip on his throat, and though he had been released, the fear had not left him.

"Pl...please," he whimpered, his hands trembling as he crawled backward, trying to put some distance between himself and the man standing over him. "I'll...i’ll tell you everything. Just don’t kill me!"

Saint remained still, his dark eyes cold and unreadable. The air around him felt heavier, charged with something unnatural, something otherworldly.

Thomas licked his dry lips, his mind scrambling for a way out. "It’s Paige, the clan head of kin clan, you know him, I know you do!" he blurted out. "Paige is behind everything!"

Saint’s eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening. "Explain what you mean by that!"

Thomas swallowed hard. "He wants Victoria. Ever since he set his eyes on Victoria a few days back, he has been crazy about her. He told us to take her, to make her desperate—so that when he came to her rescue, she would have no choice but to rely on him. He planned to marry her!"

"I tried to warn him that it was a stupid idea but he wouldn't listen to me and threatened to have my flesh fed to the dogs if I didn't bring Victoria to him." Thomas might have exaggerated that last part a bit but he didn't care—as long as it would keep Saint back from killing him and going after Paige instead.

Saint’s hands clenched into fists. A dark, simmering rage boiled within him. He had already despised Paige, but now, knowing that he had plotted against Victoria, used these lowlifes to force her into his arms—it was enough to make his blood burn.

"You’re lying," Saint said, his voice low and dangerous.

Thomas shook his head furiously. "No! I swear it! He’s been pulling strings from the shadows. He wants more power, and he knows marrying Victoria would give him influence over her family’s wealth and connections. He’s been waiting for the right moment!"

Saint exhaled sharply through his nose, forcing himself to calm down. His eyes flickered to Victoria. She was sitting in the car, staring at him with wide, unreadable eyes.

She wasn’t hurt. That was the only thing keeping him from crushing Thomas right then and there.

His fingers flexed as if deciding whether to strike, but after a tense moment, he let out a slow breath and stepped back.

"Get lost," he muttered.

Thomas didn’t hesitate. He scrambled to his feet, his legs wobbling as he took off running down the dark road. As he fled, his voice carried through the night.

"Saint has resurrected!" he screamed, his voice filled with terror. "He’s back!"

Saint ignored him, his attention shifting entirely to Victoria, She hadn’t moved, She just sat there, staring at him.

The silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken words.

Saint’s anger cooled slightly as he took in her expression. She wasn’t crying. She wasn’t trembling. She just looked… lost.

He should say something—Tell her to come with him—Ask her if she was alright.

But he didn’t, Instead, he took a step back, then another.

Victoria’s eyes widened slightly as she realized what he was doing. He was leaving. She opened her mouth, but no words came out.

Saint turned, his coat swaying slightly with the movement, and began walking away. It was better this way.

He had left once before, and she had moved on. If he asked her to return with him now, what would change? She had made her choice.

But then—

"Saint!"

Her voice stopped him in his tracks.

For a moment, he didn’t turn around. He just stood there, his back to her, his fists clenched at his sides.

"How did you know?" Victoria asked softly.

Saint slowly turned, his expression carefully neutral.

"Know what?"

"That I was in trouble," she said. "How did you know where to find me?"

He held her gaze for a long time.

He could tell her the truth. That he had felt something—like a pull deep within his chest, an instinct stronger than thought itself. That he had been restless, unable to shake the feeling that something was wrong.

But instead, he gave her a small, almost empty smile.

"I was just passing by."

Victoria’s brows furrowed slightly, as if she knew he was lying but wasn’t sure why.

Saint turned away again, his steps steady as he walked down the road.

Victoria remained where she was, watching him disappear into the night.

And for the first time since their forced separation, her heart whispered something she didn’t want to admit.

She still wanted him to stay.