The Selection: Bride Of The Dark Dragon

LARA

He lifted me into his hands carefully, as if I was the most precious and delicate thing ever, and then walked out of the water and into the house. My skin was immediately covered with goosebumps, but I only wrapped my hands tighter around his neck and placed my head on his chest, which made a smile touch the corners of his lips. His heart was beating evenly now, and the sound was bringing peace to my heart.

It was beautiful yet humble inside. I’d probably even call it cozy.

Massive wooden walls had carvings all over them. The windows were tall and there was a stone fireplace in the centre of the main room with a sofa in front of it. Thick fur carpets were covering the floors, so when Demir placed me on one of them, I loved the warm and ticklish sensation.

He disappeared in dark flames for a second and reappeared with a few pieces of soft fabric in his hands, one of which he threw over me and started to dry me as if I wasn’t capable of doing it myself.

“The water in the lake is magical, you know,” he told me nonchalantly and I looked at him in surprise, feeling how my cheeks were turning red. I knew very well what we just did but it all felts so new. And he was standing there naked and looking at me as if what was happening was… normal.

“And since then everyone who makes love in that lake gets pregnant and has many babies,” he continued and for a second there my jaw almost fell to the floor. What did he just say?!!

But then I saw this evil smirk of his and I knew that he was teasing me again.

“Demir!” I slapped his shoulder slightly. But then I froze, realizing something. What we did just now could result in us having children… And that was something I wasn’t ready for.

“Lara,” he cupped my chin, “Do not worry. It was just a joke.”

“I know, but..” I looked at him apologetically yet desperately and he understood what I said.

“Lara, dragons can only have children with their soulmates and if they both desire it. You can’t get pregnant unless you really wish for it.”

“And if you wish for it?” I raised my eyes at him.

“Just my wish isn’t always enough,” he admitted with some kind of sadness in his eyes, “I really want to have everything with you. But I… I lived for a long time and you are still young. I will wait for you as long as you need. I will wait until you are ready…”

He wrapped me in the soft fabric and wrapped another one around his thighs. Then walked to the huge fireplace and with a click of his fingers fire started to burn there. First, it was the cold fire of dark magic, but gradually it changed to the normal warm flames.

I looked at him and at how the light was kissing his bronze skin that still had crystals of water all over it. He turned and stretched his hand to me, calling me to join him. I was getting slightly cold already so was glad to receive such an invitation.

We sat on the sofa and he placed me in his arms, drying my hair with his fingers and talking to me in the process. He told me about his youth and of how his parents used to bring the whole family here. How the lake had healing properties and his father created it especially for his mother after she had a hard delivery of one of his brothers. He told me of his first years as a king and how he struggled with the new role. He told me how he traveled around the world. And I told him about my life at the White Archipelago, realizing that there was not much to tell.

I spent my life under Gideon’s wing and that was it. He trained me, he taught me, he controlled every aspect of my life. I told him about the part that I loved – our holidays, traditions, temples of Brighta, and Warriors of Light. I told him how I found out that they would never let me become one of them.

“Their loss,” Demir kissed the top of my head, “You don’t need to belong to a group, Lara. You can be what you want.”

“It’s not that easy,” I chuckled, “Warriors of Light get the blessing of the Goddess of Light. With that blessing, they can summon their true wings. The legend has it that once upon a time all the people at the White Archipelago had light wings.”

“And what happened?” the dragon emperor asked.

“Betrayal,” I smiled sadly, “One of the Warriors of Light betrayed the Goddess and they all were punished as a result. Wings were taken away forever. And now only the worthiest can have them back if the Goddess gives them her blessing.”

“Your prick brother got them somehow,” the man next to me snorted, “And you didn’t… Something is wrong with that system.”

“It doesn’t matter anymore,” I smiled and rested my head on his chest while he was playing with my hair, “It’s in the past now. You don’t need warriors of light at the Gerdian Empire, right?”

“Not really,” he agreed, “But what I really need and want is for you to be happy.”

“You are sweet,” I smiled, feeling how heavy my own eyelids became. I blinked once, then twice, and closed my eyes…

The darkness consumed me.

In the morning Demir gave me clothes that he found in one of the closets. But all he found was a very simple blue linen dress. I had the dress from the ball, of course, But that seemed a bit too much for breakfast. And the heels were too high as well. So, I was sitting there with bare feet and enjoying the meal that the emperor prepared for me personally. Although I had no idea where he got all those sausages and eggs in a clearly uninhabited house, it was the best breakfast that I ever had.

“Stop it,” I begged him when I caught him watching me eat again.

“Sorry,” he chuckled, “It’s just… You make me very happy, Lara. And I didn’t feel like this for a while.”

I smiled at first but then it felt like he was not done talking. So, I put my knife and fork down and looked at him with concern in my eyes.

“Shame we have to return,” he sighed heavily, and I felt relieved that this was what was bothering him so much.

“That’s fine,” I giggled, “As long as we are together it doesn’t matter if we are in a small house by the lake or at the gerdian palace.”

We appeared in front of the door to my room. My hands were around Demir’s neck and his were pressing me against his body tighter.

“My lady,” he chuckled without letting go of me, “That dark flames ride would cost you one k**s.”

“Really?” I grinned, “Selling transportation now?”

“It’s a tough world out there, Angel,” he said and pulled me into a greedy and possessive k**s.

At that moment someone cleared their throat right next to us…