The Selection: Bride Of The Dark Dragon

LARA

I am still breathless after our dance. Which I will probably never be able to forget. It felt strange to be so close to a man and I probably should be ashamed of myself for not detesting it and even liking it. Yet I don’t.

The men start talking and Demir is not looking at me anymore, so I try my best not to look again. Honestly, this man starts to drive me crazy, and I need to put my guard up as soon as possible. Otherwise, I am risking making a fool of myself.

The men are talking about something when I clearly hear the gerdian ambassador say the word that makes everybody turn their heads, “Marriage!”

What was that just now?

Gideon’s hand immediately lands on mine and I look at my brother questioningly. He, however, is not looking at me. All his attention is on that ambassador.

“Lord Krast,” Keatar seems surprised as well, “What are you proposing exactly?”

“A marriage alliance of course,” the gerdian in question smiles, “Our emperor still doesn’t have an empress…”

“How unfortunate,” the leader of the Glowing citadel gives a fake smile to our guests, “I have heard that he doesn’t want to get married and that’s the only reason. Has he, perhaps, changed his mind?”

“He did,” the ambassador replies but I can tell he is not entirely happy about all this, “More than that, since we really want to form an alliance with the White Archipelago with one of our closest neighbours, the Emperor decided that he would like to choose a wife from here.”

“Incredible news,” Keatar’s face stretches into a grin, “I am sure any noble family would be honoured to become a part of the Gerdian Royal Family.”

“We are happy to hear that,” the ambassador smirks.

“The emperor is welcome here anytime to pick a…”, our leader starts saying.

“Our Emperor has put this responsibility on my shoulders,” Demir says suddenly and I flinch, “And a bride for him has already been chosen.”

It’s suddenly so quiet in the room that when someone drops a fork it sounds like an earthquake.

“May I ask who you have in mind?” Fabian exclaims in a grim tone all of a sudden and Gideon’s hand squeezes mine tightly.

My eyes meet Demir’s and a smirk appears on his face, a shiver goes down my spine at this moment.

“Lady Larissa Artes,” he announces coldly and my lips part in shock.

How could he?! All this time when I was thinking about him and we met in our dreams he was thinking that I would be a great couple for his master?

Brighta, the Goddess of Light, help me! Because I feel like murdering people right now. And this is not the way of Light. But then again, gerdians aren’t exactly people, right?

“It’s impossible!” Fabian shouts in anger.

“Out of the question!” Gideon pronounces simultaneously.

Now I am actually thankful to the two of them. But my b***d is still boiling. I’ve heard terrible things about the gerdian emperor! First of all, he is ancient already. Second of all, he is ruthless and cruel. He has no problem starting a war or killing people. Living with a monster like this would have been torture!

“Lady Artes…,” Keatar looks like he meditates on this, “This is not ideal… Her marriage alliance with someone else is almost formed already… But you can choose any other unattached girl. My own daughter Brianna would make a great wife even for an emperor. She is considered to be the most beautiful…”

“Lady. Larissa. Artes.” Demir stresses every word in a dead tone, “She is the one chosen for our emperor. No one else!”

I feel a lump in my throat and a desire to come up to him and give him the slap of his life! How dares he?! What is he thinking?! It was appalling enough when he mentioned it the first time after our dreams, our k**s, our dance… But to insist on it with such eagerness! I wouldn’t tolerate it!

“I am not sure this is possible,” the oldest Marten is taken aback, which is a rare occurrence to him, “She is almost…”

“She is not married, neither is she engaged. That makes the lady free, and our choice is made!” Demir insists and I try really hard not to summon light to the tips of my fingers and hit him with it this very moment. I always lacked self-control but right now it’s almost unbearable!

“Lara is already taken!” Gideon’s voice sounds like a thunderstorm in the middle of a quiet day. But his words take me by surprise.

“Oh, really?” Demir leans to the back of his chair with a sneer on his face and crosses his hands on his chest, “Elaborate on this, please. If it’s a fake statement, you would be responsible for lying in front of the representatives of the Gerdian Emperor.”

“There is no need to lie! Lara’s engagement papers were signed years ago!” Deon says and my heart skips a beat. What is he talking about? Right now, I was sure that he is bluffing to protect me. But he doesn’t even flinch when he says all that. Is there an engagement that I had no idea about? Is this even possible?

“And who is her fiancé, may I ask?” Demir suddenly looks terrifying with dark magic dancing wildly in his eyes. And Deon doesn’t say anything for a while as if he is thinking if it’s worth revealing the truth.

“So I thought,” the gerdian smirks and looks back at Keatar Marten, “So, about the…”

“I AM!” Gideon stands up and the room suddenly fills with gasps.

And one of them belongs to me.

What is he saying?! Is he crazy?!

“And how is that possible?” Demir grits through his teeth.

“My father took Lana into our family as a child,” Gideon says in a calm tone, “He gave her our last name. But he intended for her to become my bride from the very beginning. So, when she was ten, he signed papers at the registrar to make it official. We are not connected by b***d, the law permits a union like ours.”

I look at the whole scene in shock. What are they all doing? What are they all saying?! This can’t be real! I must be dreaming, and this is some kind of nightmare…

Gideon is not looking at me and a little throbbing feeling appears inside of my chest…Not a good one.

“My Lords,” Keatar Marten stands up from his seat as well, “This is a very serious conversation and why don’t we take it somewhere else. Follow me, please.”

The gerdians stand up, and so is Fabian, Gideon walks out of the table and nods to our knights who appear at both sides of me.

“Go home, Lara,” he says dryly, “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Wait for me.”

I look at my sudden escorts in a daze. How is this? They all left to discuss my destiny and I am the one not invited for the conversation? None of them even bothered to ask my opinion!

“Deon!” I call for my brother angrily, but he waves his hand, telling me to go where he already sent me. The knights step closer implying the same thing.

Too many eyes are on me and I know that this is not the time and place for a scene. My eyes meet with Bria’s and there is an unfamiliar expression in them. She is not happy with everything that is going on, but there is no reassurance in her eyes either. Just what is this?

I am walking back home still feeling that everything around me is surreal.

In my room, I go to the balcony at once, because I feel sick from everything that happened today. And I need some air.

A sudden thought comes to my mind and I go back and find my new wings, putting them on and summoning the power of Light to help them attach.

When my mood is this bad only one thing usually helps me – flying!

I step on the rail of my balcony, ready for a jump when I feel a strong wind blowing straight into my face and raise my head to check what is going on.

But the sight of a huge black dragon, spreading his wings right in front of me, makes me speechless…