The Selection: Bride Of The Dark Dragon

LARA

I opened my eyes and found myself in the dragon’s arms.

“I think it’s enough of this family reunion,” Demir growled, pressing me harder against his body.

“You have no right to take her away!” Gideon stormed towards us but a few Warriors of Light ran up to him and hold him back.

“I am not taking anyone,” the gerdian emperor sounded like he was angry, “Lara told you right now that she was staying here with me. Accept it.”

“I did not hear those words from her!” Deon scowled.

“I think you need to listen to your SISTER properly next time,” the gerdian smirked, “You miss a lot with that bad hearing of yours!”

Gideon tried to charge at him again but this time even Fabian joined in restraining him, throwing one quick glance at me.

“That’s enough!” he said, “Don’t forget what we agreed to! You found out that she is fine! We do nothing else!”

“Lara,” my brother looked straight into my eyes, “Please, come with me right now. I promise, you will never regret choosing me! I… I love you so much. Just come with me now!”

Pain stabbed my chest. I couldn’t see him like this but also I couldn’t respond to him the way he wanted. It was too much, and I turned away.

“I am sorry, Gideon,” I sighed, “I can’t!”

“Lara!” he shouted, and his voice echoed in the mountains while dark flames surrounded me again. I didn’t even notice how we were back on my balcony at the Gerdian palace and burst into tears.

“Shhh,” Demir pulled me closer and started to stroke my hair gently while I tucked my head into his cold armour. But soon it disappeared in the dark flames again and I felt the soft fabric of the shirt that he was wearing underneath. I felt him k**s the tip of my head and did not want to push him away. I needed him more than ever, I needed the comfort he was giving me right now.

“It’s going to be fine, Lara,” he murmured.

“How?!” I mumbled somewhere into his chest and felt him rub his cheek over me.

“He’ll sober up and get over it,” he stated. And I wanted to believe him. But more than anything, I wanted to forget. Forget the betrayal of my own family, forget the disturbing feeling in my chest… I wanted to replace it with something good.

I lifted up my face and looked at Demir, who looked concerned. Not thinking twice, I lifted on my toes and reached for his lips, wrapping my arms around his neck. I kissed him softly and he dig his fingers in my hair, holding me closer. The gentle k**s turned into a greedy one within seconds, both of us losing ourselves in the heat of the moment.

A m**n escaped me and Demir broke the madness, distancing himself from me.

“Lara,” he breathed unevenly, watching my every move, “We’d better stop!”

“I don’t want to,” I admitted, panting and tried to pull him closer for a k**s. But he didn’t let me.

“No,” he said, “Not today. Not like this.”

“Fine!” I got angry, “Do you want me to say it out loud? You win and I lose! I want you to k**s me! I want you to make me… forget of…of everything!”

“And I hear you loud and clear, Lara,” he said, holding me by my shoulders, “You have no idea how much I want to do what you are asking me to do. And more.”

I felt my cheeks flushing red and gulped.

“But this is not how I want it,” he continued, and I bit my l*p, making him g***n painfully, “You are my soulmate, Lara. It’s sacred to me. I don’t want to use you when you are vulnerable! I don’t want to take advantage of your momentary weakness. I want you to accept me when you are not shaken when you had time to think about it…When you truly saw me! Lara, don’t you get how I feel about you?”

I felt slightly guilty at this moment when I looked at his sincere eyes. And something new appeared deep inside of me at that very moment. Something sweet and warm, something light. It felt right.

I brushed my hand over his cheek and smiled, blinking off tears from my eyes, “Thank you for this, Demir.”

He let out a sigh and pulled me into a tight embrace, which told me more than thousands of words could. Slowly, I hugged him and relaxed my body into his.

“Demir,” I said, “I do not want to stay alone today. Could you stay with me?”

“Whatever you wish,” he smiled and leaned down to place one last k**s on my lips, teasing me slightly. And then he lifted me in his arms and took me to bed, taking off his boots and getting next to me.

“Weren’t you the one who turned me down literally moments ago?” I raised my brow as he pulled me onto his chest.

“Don’t remind me, Lara,” he snorted, “Trust me, it was the hardest decision of my life as of now. Don’t tempt me to go back on my word. Because if I do, there will be no turning back.”

I tried to hide my smile. It was unbelievable how comfortable I felt next to him. How calm I’ve become within seconds of being in his arms.

“You need to get some sleep, Lara. You look exhausted,” he told me, and I knew that he was right. My eyes closed by themselves and I saw a beautiful dream about us flying together. I had wings made out of light and he was a dragon. But it was the most beautiful dream ever…

We were spending every day together, talking, playing, reading… None of us was saying anything about that day. None of us dared to mention Gideon. Even when he was sending new letters to me, maids were bringing them and leaving them on my little desl. And I decided that I wasn’t ready to open them yet after everything and hid them in one of the drawers. It could wait.

But what couldn’t wait was the Masquerade Ball that was approaching fast.

When the assistant from the shop arrived with the new dress that I ordered, I asked them to let her in at once. I was nervous that they wouldn’t manage to do everything in time. But they did. And they even surpassed my expectations. I still didn’t know if I’d get enough courage to pull the stunt that I was planning. But I really wanted to.

I was waiting for Demir in the garden, sitting on a blanket under a thick tree, when I heard a bunch of ladies laughing.

“The emperor is a real beast if you know what I mean!” one lady giggled, “He always tires me so much that I need a week’s rest after our…encounters.”

A lump formed in my throat.

“Camelia!” another one giggled, “Is that the necklace that he gave you?”

“One of them,” Camelia Watford snorted, and I prayed for them not to notice me, gathering my dress so that nothing is poking out.

Their voice became quieter, letting me know that they were far enough, and I was able to breathe again. But their words still stuck in my head.

“Surely, you are not buying that,” I heard someone from a different side and jumped to my feet, fixing my dress. Princess Primrose, however, looked as perfect as ever in a silver dress with her fiery red hair cascading in waves down her shoulder and below her waist. Sometimes I wondered if she could ever look imperfect.

“Your Highness,” I curtsied before her and she smirked.

“I already told you last time,” Primrose stepped closer, “Camelia Watford is married. And that usually signifies the end of the relationship for Demir. He marries them off when they are down.”

I swallowed. I didn’t know that side of Demir at all. And I wasn’t sure that I wanted to know.

“He hasn’t been with anyone for months if that worries you,” the princess continued and I felt like I could breathe again.

“Why are you telling me that, Your Highness?” I asked and she clenched her lips.

“Because, Lara, it shouldn’t matter anymore since I found your wings,” she looked at me with a dare in her eyes.