The Selection: Bride Of The Dark Dragon

A smug smile spreads through his face and I realize that maybe coming here wasn’t such a good idea after all. It’s too secluded. No one would see or hear us here!

I stand up and help Cecilia do the same and we curtsy together.

“Tell Rien,” I whisper to her quickly when I bend to help her again. All this time Dargen is not taking his eyes off me.

“Mira, long time no see!” he smirks, coming closer and then throws an angry look at the old lady, “Get out!”

“Your Highness!” she struggles to curtsy again even with her cane, but still does it perfectly and then leaves swiftly. Hopefully to look for Rien.

“Your Highness,” I greet him and he says nothing. He slowly walks around me, like a predator. Which he definitely is! Watching me, testing my patience, enjoying the whole thing!

“You look as good as I remember,” he says after a while, “As always, gerdian fashion suits you more. You were born to wear dresses like that.”

I feel a light brush of his fingers over my bare back, sending shivers of horror down my spine. It’s as if my body rejects him on a physical level.

He stops right in front of me and lifts my chin up with his fingers so that I look at him, studying my face.

“Tell me, Mira, how is life with my cousin?” he asks, eyes on my lips.

“Very well, you Highness,” I say after I gulp, “He treats me well and takes care of me.”

“And is it all that you need in life?” he chuckles, “Just someone who will treat you good and take care of you?”

“Well,’ I want to say something but he places his thumb on my lower l*p to stop me and then brushes it over and over again and again, making my lips part. He looks at me as if he is in a daze, relishing every moment.

“I can make you Empress,” he suddenly says, “You will have everything. And I will treat you ten times better than he does. All you have to do is say yes to me, Mira.”

Oh, gods… This is bad! There is no way in chaos I would even consider it!

“Say yes and I will make every wish of yours come true, fulfill your every dream,” he places his hands on my shoulders and turns me to the ballroom, “Look at them – they will all be your servants! With a flick of your finger, they will live or die! You will decide fates of people, kingdoms even!”

“Your Highness, I will not be good in any of this,” I interject, “I was not born to become a queen and let alone the Empress!”

“Tsss, Mira,” he whispers into my ear, fingers pressing harder into my flesh, “When I speak, you do not interrupt.”

So much for I’ll fulfill every wish of yours! I am desperately looking for Rien between all the guests, but it looks like he is still with the Emperor. I wonder what they are talking about. Everything is going not according to our plan today!

“I will bring your family to the Empire,” he keeps whispering, brushing his lips and nose over my earlobe, his hot breath on my neck, “I already sent people to get them.”

“You shouldn’t have to”, I say calmly even though my heart is racing like crazy now. If he gets my parents then I will find myself in an impossible situation! He can use them to make me do what he wants! Gods, tell me he doesn’t have my family!

“What do you want me to give to you so that you say yes?” he forcefully turns me to face him, his eyes glowing red.

“Your Highness,” I carefully choose my words, “It’s impossible. I am already engaged to the archduke.”

“Do you think I care?” he sneers, “The Emperor is not happy with Derwood anymore, he is out of grace. He has no power over me. I can take you if I want. But I want you to choose me over him! I want you to come to me yourself! I want you to stay by my side and tell him that you choose me because I am a better man, husband, lover…”

“Is that the only thing that interests you?” I raise my brow. Although that all actually makes sense. Rien was always better than Dargen in everything, always the best, always number one. While Ryden was in his shadow at all times. Now when he has all this power he wants to prove to him that he is the better man. This is why he is so hung up on me. I am the necessary trophy that would prove his victory! I am something that Rien really wants for the first time in his life. I am the only thing that could truly hurt him. And he wants to use me.

“No, not the only thing”, he pulls me into a much tighter embrace, burying his head in my hair and taking a deep breath.

“Your Highness, this is inappropriate!” I struggle in his arms.

“Dance with me, Mira!” he orders and dark smoke surrounds us transporting us to the centre of the dance floor. Ryden lifts up his hand and waves to the musicians, “Music!”

I recognize the melody at once. It’s the Zarkand – the dance of a hunter and his prey. Throughout this dance, a woman tries to escape while the man catches her and in the end, makes her do what he desires. It’s beautiful, but I hate it with my heart and soul because the sense of it goes against everything that I believe in. Of course, Dargen would choose something like that.

Every time I step away from him – I can breathe, but then, without a doubt, he pulls me back into his arms, closer and tighter every time. There is no escape from him.

When he “catches” me once again, I prepare for the next movement, ready to “escape” any moment. But he doesn’t let me go. Instead, he pulls me closer, cups my chin, and slams his lips into mine! Right in the middle of the ballroom, while everybody is watching us. No one dared to step on the dancefloor while we were there…

I struggle against him, but he is much stronger physically. I try to push him away, but it is useless. Finally, he breaks the k**s, still holding me in his arms with a look that says to me that he wants more, but I manage to get out and… slap him in a fit of rage. It feels satisfying but I immediately regret it. I should have done it! Shouldn’t have awoken the beast…

The sound of my slap echoes through the room. And gasps that follow break the silence. Only now I realize that music is not playing anymore.

“How dare you!” Dargen grits through his teeth.

“I am engaged!” is all that I can say, lifting up my hand and shaking my bracelet in front of his face, “I love Rien! He and I are…”

“Enough!” he roars and backslaps me. I fall down and feel a metallic taste in my mouth at once, everything spins around me.

I feel like someone is lifting me into his arms. Rien, please, I hope it’s you!

The dark smoke surrounds us and the last thing that is on my mind before I lose consciousness is, “Rien doesn’t use dark smoke…”