The Selection: Bride Of The Dark Dragon

DEMIR

They both stood before me in the room illuminated with Lara’s light. And it took me just a second to admire it. This is the kind of magic I never saw before, and I had to admit that it fascinated me.

Prim’s hair was unusually dishevelled slightly. Just a little bit, but enough for me to notice. Were they fighting? My eyes went immediately to Lara, who hid her hands behind her back. Did my soulmate just put my naughty sister back into her place?

“Oh, Demir!” Prim grinned at me, “Just the man I wanted to see. We need to talk.”

“Indeed, we do, sister,” I nodded at her, still watching Lara who suddenly turned slightly pale. What were they talking here about exactly? “Just give me a minute, Prim. I’ll say a few words to our… guest and be back with you in no time.”

“Guest?” the dragon princes shot her brow up, “Is that how you call it now?”

“See you later, Prim,” I gritted my teeth, “Off you go.”

“As you say, brother,” she curtsied mockingly and left us alone, sending me a displeased gaze right before she exited the room.

It was so quiet in the room now that I could hear how fast Lara’s heart beat. However, I didn’t try to comfort myself with the thoughts that she was happy to see me. Her facial expression told me once and for all that she was furious. With me… With everything…

“How do you find your accommodation?” I asked the most stupid thing. What would be next – I’d ask her if she slept well while I put her to sleep?

Her golden hair was shining even more now when it was illuminated by her light… Reminding me that I just put a target on her back and now everyone in the Gerdian Empire would want to kill her. My enemies would want to get her… And even my friends and family… She’d never be safe from this day forward and all thanks to that stupid prophecy.

“Are you kidding me?” she snapped at me and I could swear that I saw sparks of light magic on the tips of her fingers, “How dare you! Where am I? Why did you do this to me?! Was that the plan all along?!”

I opened my mouth to say something but she continued, “Before you mumble anything ridiculous, I am going to tell you once and for all – I am not getting married to that Emperor of yours!”

I knew that she had no idea even now that I was the Emperor. But it hurt a little bit still to hear her say that out loud like that!

“What makes you think that the Emperor wants to marry you?” I smirked, cursing myself silently. Just why would I say that instead of trying to calm her down?

“Then why did you bother bringing me here in the first place?” she growled looking at me with furrowed brows.

“Let’s just say I did it to save you,” I said partial truth. Telling her that she was my soulmate now would make her laugh. Or worse…

“Oh, how kind of you!” she snarled at me, “And may I ask from whom exactly are you saving me? From my Homeland? From my family and friends?”

“Yes,” I replied bluntly and closed the door behind me, stepping inside. Unfortunately, she stepped back. As if she was afraid of me and didn’t know what to expect.

“I will not touch you,” I assured her, but she didn’t look convinced, “Until you ask for it yourself.”

“Ask for it?” she snorted, “You are delusional!”

She rolled her eyes as if I said something absolutely ridiculous and that ignited the fire within me. That was a challenge of sorts and dragons hated to be challenged. Or loved it. It was hard to decide. One thing for sure – it never left us indifferent.

“So, you insist that you are not wanting to continue where we left of last time?” I arched my brow as I came closer, cornering her to one of the walls.

“After you tried to marry me off to that ancient emperor of yours,” she did not give in as she spoke, “I assure you, I have no interest in you whatsoever. So, if you are telling me that you are not going to touch me until I beg you – good! Because that means that you are never touching me again and this is exactly what I want!”

She was so fierce when she said this that all I wanted was to grab her and k**s her. But that wouldn’t do any good now. First, I’d prove to her that she was right and second, I’d only scare her to death. And I couldn’t have any of that. Besides, why terrify her if I could play with her instead?

“How about a bet?” I smirked, looking into her clear blue eyes.

“What kind of bet?” she didn’t seem impressed, but she did look interested. And that’s how I knew that I got her.

“If you ask me at least once,” I carefully touched her chin with my fingers, feeling tingles erupting through my body, “You are going to stay here and marry our Emperor.”

Her face frowned at once and I was sure that she was about to slap me, yet she held it back.

“I thought he is not interested,” she snorted bitterly.

“You know, I think he’d consider it… Uniting nations is an important matter and all that…”

“How kind of him,” she rolled her eyes and put her hand on my chest, trying to push me away lightly. However, I did not budge as the touch created more tingles and it felt too nice to break it now.

“He is a very kind man,” I nodded, part of me wanted to tell her who I was immediately. On the other hand, this didn’t feel like a good moment at all…

“All right,” she suddenly agreed, surprising me, “One month.”

“One month?”

“Yes, one month and if I don’t beg you, you let me go! Forever!” she pushed me harder, and I had to step back. Meanwhile, she walked gracefully as far away from me as it was possible in this room. She had bare feet and her dress was torn. Hair dishevelled since our flight and beads kept falling off as she moved. Yet she still managed to take my breath away. Yes, Lara Artes was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.

“Fine,” I caught up with her quickly and shook her hand, “It’s a deal! I didn’t know that you were planning to stay here for so long, but I am happy to accept your request.”

“What?” she looked at me in shock, “What are you talking about? You and Smoke kidnapped me and I am a prisoner here!”

“I don’t know what you are talking about!” I laughed from the heart, “The dragon brought you unconscious and I graciously decided to let you stay here because I know that the moment you come back home, you’ll have to marry your own brother. And something tells me you had no idea about his plans for you…”

“Deon said that only to protect me!” the naïve creature insisted.

“Yeah,” I snorted again, “And that’s why he had papers ready and signed?”

She stayed silent just for a few seconds but soon gathered herself and raised her chin high, “You wouldn’t understand! Besides, don’t change the subject! You said it yourself earlier that you brought me here! And now you are denying it?!”

“I brought you here to this room,” I replied nonchalantly, “For safety. Or should I have left you lying in the yard where the dragon landed?”

“Smoke is your dragon!” she exhaled loudly through her nostrils and clenched her fists.

“His name is not Smoke!” I retorted, rubbing my forehead, “Anyway, lady Lara. You wanted to stay here for a month and I allow it! I’ll appoint you guards and maids, and make sure you have everything you might need. You are welcome! See you tomorrow.”

And before she had a chance to say anything else, I left her room.

“Wait!” she shouted but I already managed to close the door behind me. I didn’t lock it but made sure the guards stayed in place. Somehow I just knew that today she wouldn’t try to escape.

I came back to my office when I saw two unhappy advisors inside…