Married to the Hidden Dragon King

Riley wakes from a fatal moment four years in the future to find her wound gone and the Parker sisters' courtship ceremony about to begin. She realizes Zoe has been reborn too. This time, Riley lets Zoe cast her spirit fruit first, determined to change her fate.

After Zoe claims Lion Clan Chief Grayson Ellis, the Parker family pushes Riley to make an equally advantageous match. Riley quietly clashes with Zoe, determined not to repeat her past. Meanwhile, Dragon King Aiden Reed is pressured by the elders to choose a mate but remains disguised. At the ceremony, Riley announces she has chosen a partner from the underground insect clan.

The spiritfruit lands on a beastman from the underground insect clan, and Riley declares him her mate. The Parker family erupts in fury, accusing her of shaming their name, while Zoe mocks her. Recalling Zoe's disastrous flight from the same bond in her past life, Riley decides this choice at least brings her peace.

Riley declares the insect clan beastman Aiden her mate, and the Parkers sever all ties with her on the spot. Zoe taunts that Riley will always be beneath her, while Riley warns that life with the Lion Clan may not be the dream she imagines. Watching it all, Aiden quietly welcomes the chance to escape the palace's scheming women.

The Parkers gift Zoe a set of Azure Spirit Stone jewelry while offering Riley only a worn silver chain as a keepsake. Zoe mocks that junk suits her sister. Lion Clan Chief Grayson Ellis arrives with a large force, belittles Riley's insect clan mate, and suggests he could take both sisters if Aiden fails to appear.

Grayson climbs Heaven's Stairway to sixty-six steps and receives the Beast King's War Axe. When Riley's insect clan mate steps forward, the stairway vanishes beneath him, drawing mockery from the crowd. Malika stops them, realizing the stairway did not banish him—it disappeared because he never needed it. He is her keeper.

Malika is stripped of her council seat. The Grand Priest arrives to officiate the bonding ceremony, but steps aside to let Aiden enter first, shocking the crowd. Grayson and Zoe place their hands on the bonding stone, drawing brilliant light. When Riley and Aiden follow, the golden light is so intense it stuns everyone. Afterward, Zoe mocks Riley for having to walk home, but Riley leaves with Aiden.

Aiden brings Riley to a modest dwelling, admitting he never expected to find a mate so soon. He gives her his mother's ring, meant for his future mate. Later, he mentions a nearby hot spring where they can unwind, and Riley tells him he can do anything he wants to her.

After their night by the hot spring, Aiden apologizes to Riley before leaving, confessing that today is the Deer Clan's Ancestral Spirit Festival and he hid it to protect her. Riley then witnesses everyone hailing Aiden as the Beast King.