The dragon's harem

Chapter 1567: Malinaʼs Family

Arad looked at Loki, ”Is the Queen ready to meet us?”

”No, itʼll be a while. Youʼll wait in a private quarter at the royal keep.” As Loki replied, Arad smiled and looked at Malina, ”Seems like we have time.

Arad wrapped his arm around Malinaʼs shoulder, trying to teleport with her. He couldnʼt.

Lindaʼs presence in his shadow felt like a heavy ball of steel chaining him to his place. If he wanted to teleport away, he had to carry her with him.

Arad pushed a second time, then, at the third time, managed to whisk her away with them using Vorvadossʼs eldritch magic.

Loki remained frozen in place, unable to believe that Arad teleported away, even with Linda still weighing down on him. He was about to order the car to stop and get all of the police force to follow him, but Alcott yawned.

”So? When will we get to the keep?”

That was a clear threat, and Loki gulped, ”We need to catch Arad first. I canʼt let him roam free.”

”Your sister is with him. Itʼll be fine. Youʼd better worry about me not roaming free.” Alcott leaned back, put one leg on the other, and looked out the window.

The massive and endless city flew past them, and he smiled.

The dragons were really in trouble. Without Linda around, none of them was confident that they could keep Alcott in check.

”Youʼre right.” Loki sighed. He can only trust that his sister can keep an eye on Arad.

Far back, Arad landed on the sidewalk and looked around. Right in front of him, across the front lawn of a big house, a pale man with silver hair sat on the porch, resting with a scythe at his side.

Arad had a bad experience with scythes recently, so he wasnʼt that happy to see it. Nyra was indeed a monster with that weapon.

But here, it seems that the man used the sycthe to cut his law.

The man, of course, was no human; he was a dragon, a great wyrm steel dragon that neared his twilight years. He was at the peak of his power, but it was clear that he only had a century or two left to live.

He moved, lifting his head and staring at Arad for a few seconds. The manʼs eyes flashed green as he spotted his daughter beside Arad.

”Malina... Itʼs been a while.” He stood leaning on the scythe, ”So, whoʼs this one by your side?”

He didnʼt need to ask; he could already tell. Arad was Malinaʼs husband, and it is obvious to any dragon with a functional nose.

Taking a step forward, his eyes shifted to Arad, ”Why do I smell Zephyr and her highness Linda on him?”

Malina sighed, ”Long story short, he got many wives. Iʼm just one of many.” She took a step and went between her father and Arad, making sure the two didnʼt get too close to each other.

”He smells of them Chromatics, reeks of many.” The veins on his face bulged out, and his eyes ignited with magic. ”Even that pink one, Balina...”

The Metallic and Chromatic dragons were still at war, and Malinaʼs father was a veteran who had fought in many battles. He was happy to see that his daughter had finally found someone, but wasnʼt at all pleased that she was getting along with the enemies.

”Of course I do. Balina is one of my wives.” Arad replied with a passive smile, ”Arad Orion, nice to meet you.” He extended his hand for a shake.

”Arad Orion?” Malinaʼs father stared at Aradʼs hand, ”The one who blasted Vlad? Youʼre the Emperor of some new kingdom in the land down under.”

Malinaʼs father took Aradʼs hand, shook it, and then started clenching down, trying to break it. Arad retaliated in the same way, clenching his palm, trying to squeeze the manʼs bones out.

Malina was stuck in the middle, unable to separate the two who stood there, looking at each other with smiles on their faces.

It was then that a hand came from behind Malinaʼs father and grabbed him by the neck.

”Honey, what are you doing?”

The hand pulled Malinaʼs father back. That was her mother, and unlike what Arad expected, she was a whole unit. A bit taller than Malina, but having a similar build to her.

Malinaʼs father was a Silver Dragon, but she and her mother were both Steel Dragons. To Aradʼs surprise, the mother was just as strong, a great wyrm Steel Drakaina.

As the mother dragged her husband away, Malina did the same and got Arad out of the way.

”Are you two going to fight?” Malina asked with a worried face, and Arad smiled, his eyes still fixed on her father. ”I wonʼt attack first.”

”Neither would I.” Malinaʼs father sighed, taking a step away from his wife. ”Takes a lot to stand like that to a great wyrm.”

Malina stared at him, ”You realize who is in his shadow, right?”

But her father only thought Arad had Lindaʼs smell on him. It was only now, when she mentioned it, that he looked closer and realized that Linda was hiding inside Aradʼs shadow.

”Why is she there?” Her mother took a step back. Everyone here knew how powerful Linda was. No one expected her to show up at their door.

”Weʼre here to visit the Queen. She is keeping an eye on Arad because only she can do that.” Malina sighed, grabbed Arad by the shoulder, and started walking toward the door.

”Wait! Linda is here to keep him safe?” Her mother called, and Malina looked at her with a grin. ”No, Linda is here to make sure he doesnʼt destroy the fortress before the Queen returns.”

There is a huge difference between keeping Arad safe and keeping the fortress safe from him. Many dragons could be considered a threat to peace here, but Arad was a different beast.

Needing Linda herself to keep him in check. That alone was a sign of great power. And with everyone being able to tell he is just an adult, the potential of his power seemed too high to be real.

They all walked into the house and soon were sitting in the living room, looking at each other.

Seconds later, a sharp voice rang upstairs, ”SISTER!” A little boy jumped down, skipping all of the stairs, rolled on the floor, and landed right behind the couch. ”Youʼre BACK!”

The young dragon was Malinaʼs little brother, Arian. He probably wonʼt leave the nest until he becomes a young adult, so he was still here for now.

She looked at him with a worried face, then turned back to her parents. ”Isnʼt he supposed to be hibernating?”

Her mother looked at her with a faint smile, ”Itʼs taking him a while.”

Her father frowned, ”He shouldʼve started hibernating nine years ago. Couldʼve been already well into becoming a juvenile.”

Arad looked at Arian, and the kid looked back at Arad.

”Who are you?” Arian asked, falling silent right after. Arad had seen eyes like that before, the eyes of someone with enough will to fight.

”Her husband.” The moment Arad spoke, Arian disappeared. He was already at Aradʼs face, swinging a fist of raw steel. His joins flashed with sparks, crackled with fire, and his fist clashed right into Aradʼs nose, exploding into a massive blast.

Malinaʼs parents had already moved to stop their kid, but to their surprise, the living room was intact. Arad and Arian were nowhere to be found.