Jasmine takes Seo Jun's hand as they leave the restaurant. A warm feeling fills Seo Jun as his stomach does a flip at her touch. Seo Jun is so absorbed in watching Jasmine that he doesn't notice they are being protected. He is lounging against a marble post by the hotel entrance. City is watching the couple. His attire is somewhat shabby compared to the rest of the hotel guests and staff. Scratching the stubble on his chin, he grins at how easy it will be to get rid of Seo Jun. Selene sees City watching Seo Jun a flash of irritation fills her.
"That man over there seems to be interested in our girl and the dragon. You think you can find out why?" Selene looks up at her companion.
"Of course, did you forget who I am? Lucian rolls his eyes at Selene. Closing his eyes, Lucian breathes deeply. His appearance changes to mirror that of Seo Jun. Selene nods to Lucian before walking into City. His smell was not what she expected. Her senses are filled with the fragrance of plumeria. Looking into his eyes, she notices they fluctuate between human and dragon. This man is a low-ranking dragon.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I was lost in thought. I didn't hurt you, did I ?" Selene keeps her head bowed as she apologizes.
"It is ok; who would mind a beautiful woman bumping into them." City chuckles as he flirts with Selene. Selene notices that Jasmine and Seo Jun have left the hotel.
"I am sorry again; I will take my leave now. Take this as compensation." Selene hands the man some cash. She is taking the opportunity to place a tracking beetle on his jacket. Walking away quickly, she leaves the rest to Lucian. Lucian smiles at how much Selene has changed in the last eighteen years. She has gotten quite the flare for spying on others now. Lucian waits till Selene is out of sight before walking toward City. She was bumping into him and knocking him down.
"Hey, what's the big deal? Do I have a bullseye on me today? You are the second person to bump into me today." City looks up and sees who he believes to be Seo Jun.
"I am sorry I was not paying attention," Lucian tells City with his head bowed.
"It's ok now that I see who it is. Why don't you be a good boy and come with me? I have something to discuss with you before I take you back to your father." City grabs Lucian's arm, moving him out of the hotel. They get into the back of a waiting car.
"Go and hurry. I don't know how much time we will have." City tells the driver. The driver is young, not much older than Jasmine. He could even be more immature,as the driver's mind is weak and easy to read.
"I get this job done, and it will be a party time for days with the money I make." The driver thinks to himself. Lucian probes a little deeper and sees that they take him to a hidden cave that will flood with the next tide. Lucian turns his attention to City. His mind is guarded but penetrable. He sees a young child lying on an altar—an older dragon raised above her with its chest glowing with a silver-blue flame. The child begins to scream as she is turned to ashes. The dragon shifts back to human form, placing his hands in the ash. A scream erupts from the dragon as his hands come away empty. Lucian is confused by what he just visioned.
"I guess you are wondering why I have taken you?" City asks.
"You said my father sent you. No need to explain." Lucian says coldly, trying to sound like Seo Jun.
"Your father took my wife. She was a human. Since she could withstand my dragon fire, his majesty thought she could bear him a sliver dragon heir. My wife could not have children as she no longer had her reproductive organs. She had an accident as a child, and to save my wife's life, the dr removed everything. When he failed with her, he tried with her younger sister. He failed with her as well. He has pushed for all these centuries to have a silver dragon heir. He has yet even to produce one child. He ordered me to kill you and bring your head back as proof. Forgive me, but he is holding my son, and I cannot just let him die. My son is all I have left. I was lucky I had two lovers; both died early in life. My son is from my first wife. He has found his mate and wants to do the ceremony. When your father saw his mate, he took her for himself and imprisoned my son. If I want them back, I must do this. " City explains. Lucian had opened his mind to Selene when the man began to tell his story. Selene is already on her way to get help for this man's family. Lucian closes his eyes and changes back to himself.
"I am sorry, but I am not the one you are after. I am Lucian, the God of the underworld. Please tell me where your son and daughter-in-law are. I will release them." Lucian probes the man's mind deeper and can see his son. He is in the dungeon of the old palace.
"Selene, do you know this place?" Lucian asks her by sharing the vision with her.
"Yes, I lived there centuries ago. I know a secret entrance. I will get Uzil to help me. This way, we can get both out before anyone notices." Selene waves her hand to open a portal to Uzil's home. Uzil feels her presence as soon as the portal opens.
"Selene, what has happened?" Uzil asks her as he gets his weapons.
"The dragon king is after Jasmine's mate, who is his son and heir. He is holding two people we must rescue to help keep her safe. " Selene tells him she looks at the celestial before her. He has allowed himself to age with his mate. He seems so fragile and old that she thinks she has made a mistake.
"Get that look off your face; this is just a facade. I will be myself once we walk through the portal. " Uzil's gruffness reassures Selene as they walk through the doorway into the old palace.
Meanwhile, Seo Jun still has Jasmine walking through the old city ruins by hand.
"I have so many questions." Jasmine looks up at Seo Jun.
"Ask anything. I cannot lie to my mate." Seo Jun replies.
"First, why are you still holding my hand?" Jasmine asks playfully.
"I like the feel of your hand in mine. Does that bother you?" Seo Jun takes Jasmine's hands in his and looks into her eyes. Trying to see if he can tell what her feelings are. She smiles up at him, her face bright with happiness.
"Don't mind; it feels nice having you close. What I wanted to ask is, why is your father abusing his power? If I understood from my dream. He was breaking the laws of the dragon clans. That is why they brought him to you. " Jasmine asks.
"My father was not always this way. I had an older sister who was also a silver dragon. Ari was killed in childbirth. It is not easy for dragons to have children. We used to burn human women with our dragon heart fire. If they could withstand the fire long enough, a child would be born from the ashes. One king could not take to burning his mate. So he thought he would never have an heir. Then one day, his mate became pregnant in a human way. The first silver dragon was born. He could control all of the elements. His power was more significant than any dragon before him. The clans decided from that day on that the old way of having children would be no more. The first silver dragon was kind and fair. Only silver dragons have been allowed to rule from his time to now. Something broke inside of my father when my sister died. He became hungry for power. Dragons have never been emotional beings. When we do feel emotions, they can become overwhelming. I think my father just became overwhelmed by grief and then anger. " Seo Jun tells Jasmine quietly, his voice overcome with emotion. Jasmine puts her arms around Seo Jun, giving him comfort and warmth.
"I understand that. Many of my family are not emotional beings. When their emotions take over, bad things can happen. Remind me to tell you a few stories of them later." Jasmine notices a statue of a gorgeous god giggling; she slips out of Seo Jun's arms, runs over, stands on the top toe, and kisses the statue.
"So this is how you used to look like a grandfather," Jasmine whispers to the marble statue.