The Selection: Bride Of The Dark Dragon

LARA

The emperor of the Gerdian Empire was wearing a black coat with dark golden embroidery, his mask was mostly plain gold and covering the upper part of his face, but I noticed feather patterns at the edges, which made me smile. On his chest, there was a golden pin with a white feather and that was probably meant to make him match the dress that he prepared for me and that Sandra was wearing proudly now.

Yet he looked so smug that I wanted to do something to cool him off.

“That was cheating!” I narrowed my eyes at him, “You were supposed to find me and not use your gerdian magic!”

“To use it I had to know exactly where you are,” he shrugged his shoulders and I saw mischievous sparks of dark magic in his eyes, “And for that, I had to find you first. To be honest, I am offended that instead of looking for your soulmate, you were dancing with another man.”

I remembered the man in the ruby mask and turned to look for him. It was a bit rude to disappear like that even though it wasn’t my fault exactly. At the next moment, Demir spun me around and then pulled me against his chest, blocking my view. However, I already noticed that my previous dance partner was gone. I was intrigued about who that was since his words stuck in my head, but on the other hand, it could be practically anybody. Camelia could send that man to me. And even without her, I was sure that there were plenty of people who did not like the emperor’s new fascination.

Oh, well.

I noticed how Demir’s lips are clenched tightly and smirked, “Your Majesty, if I didn’t know any better, I’d think that you are jealous.”

His eyes sparkled again and he led me deeper into the dancefloor. It was the second time we dance together and maybe it was a coincidence, but it was exactly the same dance that he taught me back at the White Archipelago. Here it was considered completely normal and I noticed other couples indulging in it as well, so I felt free enough to be bold too and enjoy it.

“Jealous…is such an ugly word,” he smirked, making me arch my back, “I am…concerned.”

“Oh, are you?” I chuckled as he lifted me in the air briefly, so that I landed back in his arms, “Elaborate on that, please.”

“I was concerned that you tried to hide from me instead of looking for me,” he admitted.

“Isn’t it more interesting this way?” I smiled and after looking at me intensely for a few seconds, he smiled back.

“I would have to agree. But I still don’t like that you danced with someone else before you danced with me.”

“So, it would be all right to dance with someone else after you?”

“Don’t even think about it,” his grasp on me tightened and I couldn’t say that I hated it.

“If I am honest, I had something to be concerned about too,” I said before I had time to think about it.

“Do tell me, Lara,” he smirked.

“I heard a certain lady making her claim on you,” I said bluntly, and his expression changed. I could see it even with the mask still on.

“The only lady who can make a claim on me is in my arms this very moment,” he replied at once and I felt warmth in my chest, “The rest is irrelevant. I have no control over what people dream about or speak, Lara. But you do have control over who you dance with.”

“Touché,” I admitted his small victory, “In my defense, you can’t refuse dance invitations under the blossoming ardenia flowers.”

We both lifted our heads and looked at one particularly big one right over us. The glowing flower’s petals were moving slowly on the ceiling, it was almost at full blossom.

“I knew it was a stupid idea with those flowers,” Demir muttered.

“No,” I shook my head, “It was not. They are very beautiful… Mesmerizing…”

We stopped as the music finished but did not take our hands off each other.

“So, how did you find me?” I asked, licking my dry lips.

“Lara,” he traced them with his finger, “I’ll find you anywhere with my eyes closed. Soulmates can feel each other.”

I remembered how I knew at once when he entered the room and swallowed. Did we really have a connection like that?

I felt his breath on my lips as he leaned lower to me. A tiny spark was slowly falling between us and I didn’t even understand at once what it was. I was too entranced by the idea that he was about to k**s me. But then another spark landed on my nose, glowing brightly…

“It’s…”, I gasped in shock at the realization.

“Ardenia’s dust!” Demir finished the sentence for me, looking up. The flower we were standing under was spraying its pollen that looked like tiny stars that landed on us. They were disappearing almost instantly, after all those were tiny particles of magic that were easily absorbed by everything they touched…

“A blessing,” I said absentmindedly and we looked at each other. People around us were watching us now and I felt slightly embarrassed, knowing what was about to happen next.

But Demir waved his hand and dark smoke surrounded us.

“I take my words back,” he chuckled, pulling me closer by my waist, “Those flowers were the best idea ever!”

He tilted his head so that our masks do not touch each other and covered my lips with his. And I lost my mind in the whirlpool of emotions as tiny sparks were flowing around us while we kissed madly.

I don’t know how long we were gone, but when we came to our senses, a completely different melody was played by the musicians.

The sparks from the flowers were gone, but the sparks in Demir’s eyes were just starting their wild dance.

And we followed their example, not leaving the ballroom for most of the night. I didn’t know most of the combinations and figures of gerdian dance but luckily Demir was a patient teacher. Or maybe he just didn’t care because something completely else was going on now between the two of us… Every move, every touch, was bringing us closer…

When the music suddenly stopped, I wasn’t happy… And by the look on Demir’s face, neither was he.

“Time has come, lords and ladies!” Prim stepped onto the small staircase next to the throne at the head of the hall, “One minute until midnight and all masks are off!”

“Fifty-nine! Fifty-eight! Fifty-seven!” the crowd started to count, and we looked at each other. I knew that the minute he takes off his mask, our time together will be over. And so did he.

“Thirty-two! Thirty-one!”

Demir grabbed my hand and started to drag me towards the exit.

“Twenty-five! Twenty-four!”

Ryker stepped in front of us with his arms crossed on his chest, “Seriously?! You still have a speech to give and an ambassador to talk to!”

I sighed. It was disappointing.

But just then, Demir pressed me against his chest and snorted when dark flames surrounded us, “Not today!”