The Selection: Bride Of The Dark Dragon

LARA

My eyes lock with Demir’s as he is the first person I notice when I enter the hall. It’s hard not to notice the black spot in the sea of white and silver. And even among the five gerdians, he is especially hard to miss since his eyes are glowing with dark magic. More than I have ever seen before. Right next to him is my brother and for the first time ever his face looks like he is about to kill.

I try to get my hand from Fabian’s grip but he adds another one to it and brings my fingers to his mouth, kissing them gently.

“Happy to see you in our house, Lara!” Keatar Martel snickers and somehow it makes my b***d boil.

“I am happy to be here too, Lord Marten,” I smile charmingly, “But I am afraid your herald got a little bit mistaken. Either that or he knows about my life more than I do myself. As far as I am aware just a few hours ago when I left my home, I was still unattached. So, unless my brother decided my fate without me present…”

“Of course, not!” Gideon stands up and walks to our group, “I was as shocked as you, Lara. The herald must have taken you for Fabian’s real fiancée if he was so sure. My friend, is that true? Are congratulations in order?”

We both stare at the younger Marten expectantly and as always, Fabian laughs it off.

“No more wine for the herald tonight!” he shouts and a group of his supporters bursts out laughing and clapping. Perks of being the favourite of the crowds. But then Gideon turns and gives them his famous look and all the laugh dies down. Perks of being the most feared. And my brother is by far one of the best warriors, wisest advisors and the strictest of all commanders. Not many people are willing to go against him.

“Lara, since you are here, why don’t you join us?” Deon offers me his hand and I accept it gladly. I shouldn’t have listened to anyone and should have just gone home. But since I am here, it’s best to stay by his side. All those talks about marriages and alliances of families make me nervous. “Ambassador, dear guests, let me introduce to you lady Larissa Artes,” Gideon says and I almost choke. One thing that slipped my mind is that he was sitting right next to the gerdians. And now when I look at it, he brought me right to the place where Demir is.

“That’s an honour for us,” the Ambassador smiles politely and then asks all of a sudden, “You have such beautiful colour of hair, Lady Larissa! May I ask if that’s the shade you’ve been born with?”

I could swear that I heard a kicking sound under the table and although the ambassador keeps smiling, his eyes seem teary now…

“Is lady Lara your sister?” Demir asks unexpectedly, and I want to fall through the ground right this very moment.

“Larissa,” Gideon stresses the formal way of addressing me, “Is all the family I have left.”

“But she is your sister, right?” the gerdian asks calmly yet I feel a certain aura of danger coming out from him.

“Of course, my lord,” Bria appears out of nowhere, “They are the famous Artes siblings!” She smiles brilliantly, shining the sapphires on her white dress and radiating beauty, “It’s just that lord Gideon is sometimes so protective of Lara, please, forgive him.”

“He is forgiven,” Demir smirks, “Lady Bria, is it?”

I feel an unexpected pang somewhere in my chest at the way he is suddenly interested in my friend. It’s not surprising, she is considered to be one of the most beautiful women on all the islands. But still…

“Yes,” she giggles playfully, and I feel slightly sick, wanting to leave that place. Somehow I don’t want to see the two of them flirt with each other.

“Why don’t you sit here, right next to lord Gideon. In that way, he will have another beauty to protect and his little sister can have a drop of freedom for a few hours?” the gerdian suddenly suggest, pointing to one of the chairs. And if Bria takes it, then she will separate Deon from me, leaving me right next to Demir…

“How naughty!” Bria giggles again but jumps at the opportunity, turning to my brother, “Gideon, you wouldn’t mind, right?”

He doesn’t reply to her at first but then an unfamiliar sneer appears on his handsome face.

“You know,” he chuckles, “I am feeling so selfish today. Why don’t I arrange myself two beauties for protection today?”

And with that, he moves the chair that is the closest to Demir, offering it to Bria. She gracefully sits in it and Gideon moves another chair for me, which I also take. And he takes the one in between.

I feel slightly disappointed again. But why would I? So, we kissed. Once! That doesn’t mean anything. And looking how now he is sitting there, just two chairs away from me and talking cheerfully to Bria, I guess there is no difference for him with whom to flirt. He just met me first and that was the only reason he paid attention to me. And now he is here, at the White Archipelago. He’ll see that there are many girls much more beautiful and attractive than I am. And he’ll forget all about me…

“Why so sad?” Gideon’s warm hand touches mine and I force a smile for him. Honestly, how selfish am I to distract him when this is clearly a political evening? I should excuse myself and escape to our home.

“Parties are really not my thing,” I smile at him and he looks pleased with my words.

“I am the same. Too many people and I don’t want to see most of them,” he adds, lifting up my palm and covering it with his second hand, trying to warm it up, “You also seem so cold…”. He leans down and blows some hot air to my fingers, making me smile. He always does it on chilly evenings…

“Our dear friends from the White Archipelago!” the Ambassador stands from his seat all of a sudden and raises his hand, “On such a beautiful evening we want to give you the gift of gerdian traditional music and dancing. In honour of our new friendship! Please, do not refuse!”

“Of course, my friend!” Keatar agrees at once, nodding in approval.

The gerdian then produces a small beautiful box and opens it. An absolutely unknown to me but very beautiful melody starts playing, enhanced by magic and all five gerdians stand up from their seats. The Ambassador invites Bria, who blushes and apologizes to Gideon for leaving him. One of his bodyguards invites my friend Naria, other two go to some unknown to me ladies…

But soon a huge dark shadow starts lingering over me and I turn to see Demir with an expressionless face.

“Lady Lara, allow me to invite you for this dance,” he offers me his hand and I want to put mine into his when my brother catches it in the air…