The Selection: Bride Of The Dark Dragon

LARA

I was taking up both, speed and height, knowing that they were going to chase us. I had a few minutes at best before both the red dragons and the corrupted Warriors of Light came to their senses. I felt incredibly strong, stronger than ever, in fact. But I still had to fly slow because I was carrying Demir. I love him more than anything but he was heavy, very heavy. However, I knew that whatever happens, I would never drop my precious cargo. He was the last thing that I had in this world.

I could sense them approaching from behind. The Warriors of Light appeared first and soon I saw Bria catching up with me. I had no illusions about her intentions but unfortunately, there was no way for me to protect myself and my hands were busy at the moment too. So when she drew her sword for an attack, I prepared for the worst. I could dodge if I was lucky. Nevertheless, at the last moment, the blade was stopped right before my face and I saw Fabian maneuvering between the two of us and parring his sister’s sword.

He really was serious about helping me. Brighta, the Goddess of Light, thank you for that! But the odds were still not in our favour. As there were two of us and several of them. More and more warriors of light were joining us in the skies and I was sure that sooner or later they would get to me. I could never imagine that my end would come from my own people! What an irony!

Three Warriors of Light were flying at the same speed as I was, all with their weapons out, and I took a deep breath, trying to fly faster. One of the men launched at me but to my huge surprise, the other two caught him halfway, blocking his attack. Now I looked at them better, trying to recognize the faces. New wave of the shocking revelation came to me at once – they were all from Fabian’s squadron! As in his people! Did it mean that they were on our side too?!

“Don’t stop!” one of them said, “We’ll cover for you!”

I nodded at them and kept going, clenching harder to the gerdian that I was holding. I couldn’t believe my luck!

I saw warriors of light fighting around me but luckily it looked like Fabian and his people were winning, meaning that Demir and I got another chance.

But when I heard roars behind us, that hope started to vanish rapidly. Dragons were after us too now. And they were bigger, faster, stronger…

I could see how tense the faces of the warriors protecting me became. They knew that now they didn’t have a shot. While I knew that now it was my time to do something.

The sun was setting and its rays were blinding me a bit, even though it felt like they were charging me at the same time. That was when an idea struck me and I looked at my newly found protectors, who already got rid of the Warriors of Light who tried to kill us. The people around me were on my side.

“Whatever happens,” I shouted loudly, “Just follow the Light and you’ll be fine!”

They looked startled slightly but there was no time to explain more. Not that I could do it anyway. I didn’t know myself why I was so sure that my plan would even work.

I summoned the Light. Pure and all-consuming, just like back at the wall but … more of it. Much more! I was starting to feel that there was no limit to what I could do…

The dragons roared, blinded by my power, and were even burning from it. It was too much for them and I knew it. Some of them started falling down to the ground while others turned around and flew in the opposite direction thus ending the chase.

Slowly, one by one they were all gone. And I knew that I just won that battle.

I kept the Light for a while, just in case. Because I saw everything while I used it and so did my companions. I looked at Fabian and he smiled at me, flying closer.

To my surprise, he handed me his cloak.

“We need to place him inside,” he pointed at Demir, “This is how we carry the wounded from the battlefield. I will help you, otherwise, you’ll collapse soon. Or drop him.”

I hesitated, but he stretched his hand with the cloak again, “I think we have already proved ourselves. Have some trust in me. Let me help.”

I had to admit that my hands were getting numb. Even with all the strength of the seraphim, it was going to be a long flight To the White Archipelago. And this is where we were headed. Since there literally was no other place for us to go now.

Demir was unconscious in my arms, although he wasn’t bleeding any more. And I did everything the way Fabian told me so we could carry him together. Other Warriors of Light wanted to help as well but I declined every time. I wanted to stay close to him at all times. It was important now more than ever.

“Don’t worry,” Fabian chuckled, “He’ll survive. We were fighting with Dragons for a while now and one thing I know for sure is that a dragon will never die if his soulmate is close.”

However, Demir stayed unconscious up until we reached my homeland, getting me worried sick. And only when he muttered something I was able to breathe normally again.

The Citadel of Light was gleaming in the moonlight, its pearly walls finding bits of light even at night time. Strangely, the closer we got to it, the brighter it was shining. That was when I realized that it was me, I was illuminating that magnificent building with the light that was coming out of the feathers of my six wings.

“We will land in the Inner Circle,” Fabian told me, pointing at the open round square inside of the Citadel. We started lowering slowly, careful not to drop Demir. And I saw priests and priestesses running out to look at us. That was good because they were considering the best healers and I needed them to have a look at my soul mate. But to my surprise, when my feet touched the ground, they all drop to their knees and lowered their heads before me. And so did all the Warriors of Light that came with us. I looked at Fabian hesitantly and he nodded at me smiling, slowly standing on one knee and offering me his sword as well.

“Our Lady of the Seraphim!” he exclaimed, “This is the biggest honour of our life to see you arriving here today!”

I didn’t know what to say or do, so just mumble, “Thank you.”

And they all started cheering for me…

~ * ~

It was strange to see people bow to me every time they met me. But this was exactly what was happening during my stay at the Citadel of Light. Every priest, priestess, Sister, or Warrior of Light were showing me their respect every time they could.

The girl that everyone ignored became the one that everyone sought to see.

Yet I stayed in the same room as Demir for the next day while healers were working their magic on him. I was holding his hand the whole time because I knew that physical contact was needed for him to feel better sooner. He was a dark dragon and a dark mage, and that meant that healers of light were not the best match for him. But we didn’t have any other options. So I hoped that because of our connection he will accept their magic better.

I was standing on my knees next to his bed, his one hand wrapped in both mine while I leaned over him slightly and closed my eyes just for a moment… I tried to reach him in my dream but no matter how hard I tried – I couldn’t. The thoughts of what happened back at the Gerdian Empire also we’re not leaving me alone. We lost Ryker and we couldn’t get Prim out. I could only hope that Xander Rust would not hurt the woman he was claiming to be in love with. Not to mention that he needed her to become the emperor. I bet he would have to postpone the ceremony now and that gave me more time. Although I still didn’t know what to do…

~ * ~

I woke up as I felt someone caressing my hair gently and jumped with fright, looking with wide eyes at smiling Demir. The colour returned to his face and I felt that my lips were opening and closing but no words were coming out…

“I’m afraid to ask,” he chuckled lightly, “are you so happy to see me or shocked because you were already planning my funeral?”

I felt tears rolling down my cheeks and he squeezed my hand back. I didn’t even realize I was holding it the whole time.

“Demir!” I threw myself into his arms and he embraced me tightly.

“My love,” he whispered, “I once told you that I will hold your hand whatever happens and wherever we find ourselves in life. But it seems that you are the one who is keeping it.”

“It works both ways, I guess,” I leaned closer and kissed him softly on the lips. I wanted to pull away, but he held the back of my head, deepening the k**s. He was unconscious for two days but that was what he craved the most…

“Silly gerdian,” I pushed myself away, “You need to eat, to drink, and to take your medicine!”

“No medicine will work better than my own soulmate,” he smirked I tried to get up but hissed from pain slightly.

“And your soulmate you’ll get,” I promised to him and he looked at me expectantly, “As soon as you eat, drink, take your medicine and bathe!”

he fell back onto his bed, sighing heavily with disappointment. Then he lifted up his hand and formed an energy ball made of dark magic. The sphere split into dozens of gleaming little pieces, and they all flew out in the window.

“What was that?” I asked him, not sure what to think.

“I’m summoning my family,” he confessed, and his face became darker, “I’m afraid we need their help.”

“That we do,” I couldn’t disagree with that but my good mood disappeared. I sat back on the edge of the bed and took his large palm into mine, “I’m so sorry, Demir.”

I couldn’t look him in the eye. After all, I did fulfill that damn prophecy and ruined the perfect life that all of them had.

“It’s terrible what happened,” I bit my l*p, “Prim and… Ryker…”

“Lara,” he moved closer and caught my chin, making me look at him, “What happened is not your fault. You are not to blame for your brother being a perverted psychopath and for Xander being a brutal murderer. The war with red dragons started even before you were born. I will never blame you for any of that. And we’ll get Primrose back as well as the empire. And Ryker’s death would be avenged. Xander will pay me for this!”

“Still,” I sighed, “I feel so guilty about that.”

“I can see that,” he pulled me closer and I landed in his warm embrace, “One day you will realize that everything is not that simple. The world around us is more complicated than just one prophecy.”

“I hope so,” I mumbled into his chest, inhaling his scent and trying to believe him really hard.

“There is a good thing in all of this also,” Demir said all of a sudden and I look at him in surprise.

“What would that be? Enlightened me please! Goddess knows I need it now,” I snorted.

“The prophecy is fulfilled, isn’t it?” He smiled slightly sadly, “You and me, from now on we are free to build any future that we desire. The universe will not be pulling us anywhere anymore. We are done.”

At that moment I had a little bit of happiness raising in my heart. I shoved it down because it wasn’t time for it since Ryker just died and Primrose was still a captive in Xander’s hands. But he was right… We were free now! And it felt amazing!

~ * ~

I walked out of our chambers at the Citadel to be met with Fabian. In the past two days, he became my personal guardian. And I couldn’t believe it but this was our relationship now. But he seemed reliable and determined and we agreed on practically everything.

“He’s awake,” he stated the obvious and a happy grin appeared on his face, “That means that we can start. You can’t postpone it any longer! Everyone is waiting for you, Lady of Seraphim! ”