The Selection: Bride Of The Dark Dragon

LARA

“Red dragons?” that was something new again and I was afraid if I am able to comprehend everything in one go. But he was talking. And I wanted to know everything. Brighta, the Goddess of Light, I needed to know everything!

“Who are they?” I asked, “Are there any others?”

“There are plenty,” he chuckled, “Some groups are bigger, some groups are smaller… Dragons also differ in shapes, sizes, colours, strength… Dark dragons like me are the strongest, of course.”

He c****d his head, and I stifled a laugh. It was interesting if all dragons had the same size of ego or was that the privilege of the dark ones?

“Of course,” I nodded understandingly.

“If you’ll be laughing, I will not be telling you anything,” he smirked, and I bit my l*p apologetically. His eyes stayed on that for too long and I looked away, blushing.

“So,” he cleared his throat, “Red dragons…”

“Yes, red dragons,” I wanted him to keep talking and stop making me feel so… I didn’t even know what…

“Back before my father became the Emperor,” he said, “The dragons left the human world. There were many reasons for that and I am not going to dwell on what’s not important anymore. But it was my father, who found them again and talked some of them to come back with him and help him with his claim for the Gerdian throne. He promised them protection and freedom. And after they won, that was exactly what he gave them. It was very good for the dragons. They started finding their soulmates again, our population increased. Most dragons lived happily under my father’s rule. We had some basic laws about not hurting humans for no reason, hiding our identities while traveling for common protection, and so on. It was working great. But as it always happens, not everyone was happy.”

“Let me guess,” I sigh heavily, “The red dragons?”

“Yes,” Demir smiled sadly and looked outside the window we were sitting at, “The reds… Among dragons, the Golden Dragons were always the strongest. They were descendants of dragon god Darmerion. But there were always just a few of them. And their biggest supporters, and also, spouses, were usually the red ones. They are creatures of pure fire. And that says a lot. They are strong and deadly, but also hot-headed, temperamental, uncontrollable… They used to be in positions of power at the old Dragon Kingdom. But under my Father’s rule, everything changed. My father was the first dark dragon. But he wasn’t the last. When he brought dragons here, many dragonesses found their soulmates in gerdian males. Their families produced my kind and dark dragons became bigger in number. As I have already told you, we turned out to be stronger and the red dragons started to lose their position and fame… They didn’t like it and they were very loud about that. First a strike here and there, then they didn’t arrive at an important battle… My parents tried to reason with them but all they wanted was power. So, as soon as my father descended the throne and passed me the crown, they struck where it hurt the most and betrayed us. They tried to cease the Empire and kill me. Their leader Xander, wanted to make my sister Primrose his wife and return everything to the way it was.”

“That’s horrible,” I tried to swallow the lump that formed in my throat, “Did Prim love him?”

“Chaos, no,” Demir snorted, “She hates Xander’s guts, even though he is obsessed with her for years. He is cruel, manipulative, scheming, and absolutely unstable.”

“So, what happened exactly?” I tried to return us to the main point of discussion.

“Long story short, it was my first war and I won,” the man in front of me chuckled, “But it was never over. I had my moment of weakness and let them live… I shouldn’t have done it, but back then I was too young and too naïve to understand the consequences of them being alive. I spared them and now they constantly terrorize the Empire, trying to kill me from time to time.”

“And that’s what happened when we met?” I asked, feeling that it became harder for me to breathe. I didn’t like what he was telling me. I didn’t like the knowledge that someone wants him dead even now.

“Yes,” he sighed, “They threatened the family of one of my warriors and when they attacked me, he hit me in the back. It was his talon that you got out of me. Thanks for that, by the way.”

“You are welcome,” I smiled, “You helped me too, you know.”

“I know,” he brushed my cheek all of a sudden, and I didn’t want to push him away. However, another realization came to my mind.

“Demir,” I looked straight at him and furrowed my brows, “Those men that attacked me back at the city. Were they red dragons as well?”

“Yes,” he growled and dark flames started their wild dance in his eyes, “They were watching us and I left you in the shop to deal with them. Unfortunately, you didn’t stay there, did you?”

He gave me a reproachful look and I gave him an innocent smile.

“How could I have known?!” I giggled but then soon got serious again, “And that man with the scar… It seemed like the two of you knew each other.”

“Sean Sarn,” Demir’s lips twitched a bit when he said those words, “He was my best friend back in the days of our youth. It was he who tried to kill me right after my coronation. It was I who left him those scars on his face. I showed mercy to them because of him. Yet as you can see, he wasn’t grateful. If anything, he is Xander Rust’s right hand until this day.”

“What a horrible man,” I exclaimed, and a sad smile appeared on his face.

“It’s more complicated than that, Lara, but I don’t want to talk about him too much at the moment. Maybe another time I’ll tell you more…”

“I would really like that,” I put my hand on his and he rubbed my fingers with his thumb.

Back in my room that evening, I couldn’t find a place for myself. It was too much. Too much information, too many expectations… Too overwhelming. But also slightly exciting…

The most gorgeous man I’ve ever met told me that I was his soulmate. He was so sure of it… But how could I be sure?

I liked him a lot. Of that, I was sure. If anything, I liked him too much. I was letting him do things to me that I couldn’t even imagine before. And I enjoyed them… But was I ready to marry him and be with him the way he wanted me to? Would that be the right decision for me? I never imagined my life anywhere else except for the White Archipelago… And Gideon. What about him? I am sure that it was all nonsense about our marriage, and he has a perfect way out. But would he ever approve of Demir? One thing for sure – I knew that we needed to talk…

Unexpectedly, dark flames appeared on my bed and I saw a black box with a silver ribbon on that. Without any kind of hesitation, I opened it and gasped at the contents…