The Selection: Bride Of The Dark Dragon

LARA

My new plan was to ignore everything that was going on around me and pretend that I wasn’t even there. It was a good plan. But unfortunately, it failed in less than a minute as I lifted up my eyes and met the heavy gaze of the gerdian emperor.

For a few seconds we were just looking at each other and there was so much in his gaze, that was full of sparks of dark magic. He looked at me hungrily, as if he didn’t see me for years… when in fact just about a week passed.

And I wanted to take my eyes off him, but it was as if they were glued to his handsome face.

A smirk formed on his lips and he raised his glass at me. I didn’t know how to react to that. I suddenly felt so small and unworthy among all those beautiful girls in their lavish dresses. I was still holding Gianna’s train and for the first time realized how ugly and shabby my maid’s uniform was in comparison.

“Look, the duke raises his glass at our table!” one of the girls whispered and they all did the same at once, shooting their best smiles at him. I did not like any of it. But just stood there like an i***t with another girl’s dress in my hands.

“Dream on,” Gianna snorted, “He is only looking in my direction!”

I wanted to put the train down but the Beauty of the South hissed at me, “Stay where you are! If I have to move in any way, make sure I don’t have any obstacles! And follow me at all times.”

“Yes, my lady,” I nodded quietly, clenching the fabric in my hands.

“Don’t you think it’s a bit cruel to make your maid stand like this the whole evening?” one of the ladies, a blonde with clear blue eyes said, looking at Gianna, “No one else’s maids are here…”

“If you’re going to envy me, do it quietly, Iris,” the southerner scoffed, “My maid is so loyal that she doesn’t want to leave me even for a moment. Right, Kara?”

I nodded again. I wasn’t going to make a scene.

“Is that why lady Fiona was running around looking for her replacement just hours ago?” A brunette on the other side of the table chuckled.

I wished she didn’t remind Gianna of this, because she immediately threw a death stare at me. She’d hardly let me forget about it now. And probably would even make me pay.

I looked at Demir again, suddenly I needed to see his gaze again. But he did not look at me. He was talking to someone next to him and even chuckling from time to time.

The dinner went on and on and I just stood there. He didn’t look at me once.

But this was good.

It was great.

Amazing.

Just what I wanted.

It was perfect.

Then why did it hurt so much?

“Ladies,” I heard his voice and it pierced straight through my soul. I raised my eyes at him again, but again he paid me no attention, even though that we were standing now just a couple of feet apart.

I clenched my fists harder. I just needed to survive this dinner and then I could go back to hiding in my room. Sooner or later this Dark Selection would be over and I would be free from all this pain.

The girls started greeting him cheerfully, only one of them stayed reserved – the same blonde that denounced Gianna earlier, Iris. I was starting to like her.

“Lady Gianna,” Demir smiled gallantly, “I see that my present suits you. It makes me very happy.”

The excitement of the other contenders faded.

“It was such a beautiful gift,” the Beauty of the South giggled, clearly happy with how she managed to stun everyone, “I couldn’t wait to put it on.”

“Good,” he smirked, “I was worried that it will be problematic for you to move in it. But red is definitely your colour…”

“No worries, my lord,” Gianna smiled caressing the fabric on her thighs and making all the other ladies roll their eyes, “This dress is worth all the sacrifice.”

“I see that your original maid is back,” Demir said, not even sparing me a glance. He was making his point loud and clear.

“Yes,” Gianna nodded, “Luckily she was found just in time to help me with the dress. I’d hate for this beautiful fabric to sweep the floor. It’s precious to me…”

“Don’t worry, the Gerdian Empire has loads of precious things. You will get used to them over time,” Demir chuckled, touching the back of her seat.

It was as he was promising her all those gerdian treasures and she giggled, and gigged, and giggled… Annoying the hell out of me.

After all, she was the Lady of the South, hadn’t she seen a dress in her lifetime?!

And him… That…gerdian! I was performing the ultimate sacrifice here for him, rejecting the love of my life to save him! Yes! I was saving him! And he…he… He did it on purpose! He wanted to hurt me on purpose! And it was… Ugrh!!!

Sparks of light shone on the tips of my fingers and within seconds the fabric that I was holding inflamed. It was a strange fire and it mesmerized me. So white and pure… Incredible!

Never have I ever created anything like it. I didn’t even know that it was possible… The white fire was something new.

Someone screamed in the background but I ignored it with my hands in the white flames. Pure light! The most amazing thing about it was that it did not hurt me. It felt warm but that was about it…

“Careful!” someone shook me vigorously and I looked up, seeing Demir’s worried face. For a second there I even forgot about everything. But the reality sunk in as I heard Gianna shouting loudly, “Somebody help me! Duke Freywood! Please!”

I closed my eyes and summoned the light back to me. The flames disappeared but it was too late. The gerdian’s hands left me as he grabbed a jug with water from the table and splashed it all over the lady of the South. And somehow most of the water landed in her face and hair and not the train of her dress where it was actually needed.

“M-my…l-lord,” she mumbled, “Th-thank you for saving me… I…”

Boy, she did not look happy but Demir already turned his back to her and took my hands into his, examining them carefully even though there was clearly nothing wrong.

“You are welcome,” he muttered to Gianna, “Ladies, help lady Vensal to get to her room. I need to take the maid to the healer to treat her burns.”

“But…”, The Beauty of the South seemed startled by this decision. However, quickly realized that she couldn’t do anything about it.

“Of course, duke,” Iris stood up in her pretty pale pink dress and moved towards her wet rival, “We will make sure that our dear Gianna is well taken care of. Take your time.”

I looked at the blonde and she gave me a little smile. The next thing I caught, however, was the furious gaze of the lady of the South. She would never forgive me that. She’d make me pay…

But the dark flames surrounded me, tickling my skin, kissing it… This time the transportation took longer than usual. And while we travelled, swallowed by the dark fire, I only felt Demir’s hands caressing me, his body pressed tightly against mine… So familiar, so desirable… and so close. I could feel his scent, I could sense his warmth, I heard how fast his heart was beating…

Everything stopped spinning and the dark flames died down. But we were still holding each other. I didn’t even know how that happened that my hands were wrapped around his neck and my face tucked somewhere in his chest. I didn’t want to let go…

“Tell me that you are done playing,” I felt a k**s on the top of my hand and Demir’s fingers entangling into my hair. He inhaled loudly my scent and his grasp on me tightened to the point that it was hard to breathe…

“Tell me that this is over and I can take you home, Lara”, he said, making my heart clench from pain…