The Selection: Bride Of The Dark Dragon

DEMIR

Lara is looking at me with her huge doe eyes as if I offered her what I really want to offer her. And the desire to pull her to that dance floor now becomes overwhelming. I have spent half of the evening pretending that I am not interested in her not to arouse any suspicions. But I am done pretending. I tried it but it’s definitely not my things.

I already know that I am going to take what I want. The only problem is that I still haven’t decided how to do it.

Since that crazy k**s happened I know one thing – Lara Artes is mine. And I am not wasting any time, playing games.

“My sister doesn’t know the steps of gerdian dances,” her fake brother says with a polite smile which I can only take as mockery.

“Nobody here except for us knows them, Lord Artes,” I smirk, putting all my inner strength not to break the hand with which he dared to touch me, “Isn’t that the whole point?”

“Lara is very shy,” the prick insists and I only grin wider.

“That’s why let’s not put her into the situation where she has to insult a foreign guest. In the Gerdian Empire, it is considered a great offence to refuse such a simple request from a guest. And, of course, the White Archipelago is not known for its hospitality but I thought that there are some basic manners at least. Was I wrong?”

I can see that the silver prick wants to say something snarky again but this time Lara brushes her gentle fingers over his hand. Only making me want to kill him even more than I already do.

“Gideon,” she chirps like a bird, “Lord Demir here is right. It’s just a dance. I’ll be back in no time, brother.”

It doesn’t escape me how he cringes at her last word. But she doesn’t seem to notice it and rises quickly to her feet, placing her small palm into mine. I lead her into the centre of the improvised dance floor and pull her closer when we are there. She looks at me, clearly shocked. And a smirk forms on my lips. I like when she reacts like that. I like it too much!

“What are you doing?” she furrows her brows, “We don’t dance like that!”

“Oh, Lara,” I chuckle, “I saw you dancing. If a girl danced like that at the Gerdian empire, she’d be taken at the very spot!”

“Taken where?” she flaps her lashes and I just can’t… How did she get to be so naïve living among such vicious creatures? Ever since I got in here I have this strong feeling that we landed in a den of snakes.

Oh, wait. I remember how. Her “nice and kind brother” is keeping her locked in her room together with books about how righteous all light ones are. The desire to take her away from here grows with every minute that passes.

“Never mind,” I chuckle, wrapping my hands around her tighter. Gods, it feels so good. And the blush on her cheeks makes me smile. She is so tiny and pure… But there is also this fire within her! She is full of surprises.

“What are you doing?” she hisses at me when I take her hand, brushing my fingers all over her delicate skin and put it on my shoulder.

“This is how the dance goes,” I smirk and make sure that there is no gap between our bodies. It feels incredible and she wouldn’t know that this is outrageous even by our standards. “I’ll lead,” I inform her, “Just follow everything I do and we will be fine.”

I start moving slowly, there is no need to take up the speed. But my little angel has no problems with her movements. It’s a common trait for air mages to be as light as a feather and move with elegance no matter the circumstances. But Lara makes them all pale in comparison. There is so much grace in her. She was definitely born to be a queen. But I already know that.

The blush leaves her cheeks as she gets more and more confident, circling through the room in my arms. And I have never been so sure in my life before. She is the one for me. The only one. That explains perfectly my dragon’s obsession with her and why I can’t stop thinking about her… That explains everything!

Her red lock falls beautifully onto her shoulders when she curtsies and her chest is going up and down. As if it was calling for me…

But the dance is over and I bring her fingers to my lips for a k**s. Tonight I know for sure, this woman will be my wife.

“Thank you for the dance, lady Lara,” I smile at her and can tell that she enjoyed all that as much as I did.

“Thank you, my lord,” she almost whispers but I hear every word.

Claps here and there appear and I bow to her to demonstrate respect.

“What a wonderful showcase of your traditional dances!” their leader raises his glass, “That was very original and interesting to see! Thank you!”

I take the angel back to her seat and notice just how her “brother” and that douche from earlier look at me now. They both know that I am a threat.

Good.

The dinner continues and Ryker does his best to maintain the image of the ambassador. I have to give it to him, I never thought that this guy made of stone and ice is capable of acting like that.

“And now start talking about what we discussed earlier,” I tell him through our minds and he doesn’t look so confident anymore.

“Demir, are you sure?” he asks, “It all seems to be too fast. You don’t know much about this girl and…”

“Was I asking for your opinion?!” I growl at him, giving him the look full of dark flames. And he nods respectfully.

“Keatar, my friend,” he smiles charmingly, showing off his pearly whites, “We enjoy our stay here and it feels like our nations can benefit from a tight friendship!”

“Indeed!” the leader of the Glowing Citadel agrees, sipping his wine, “What do you have in mind?”

He looks like a friendly man who definitely looks younger than he is. But one thing for sure, Keatar Marten is not that simple. I can sense the l**t for power coming from him.

“The most common thing that two Kingdoms can do to form an alliance,” Ryker chuckles lightly as if everything isn’t depending on the outcome of this conversation, “Marriage!”