The Selection: Bride Of The Dark Dragon

MIRA

The next morning I hand Lina a pack of letters to everyone I know in the Gerdian Empire. My last desperate attempt to find out where Rien is now.

I think about different case scenarios in my head, not stopping for even a second. The only break I have is reading of Aaron Brookland’s journal, slowly analyzing every word he has written, checking the information with other books, maps, diaries. Finding even little specs of information that can potentially be useful to us in the future.

Future… Gods, I hope we still have a future ahead of us and I am not being just delusional now.

“My lady,” Lina enters the room and curtsies, “You have visitors.”

“Who?” I ask her, putting the journal down.

“Lord Sevill with his fiancée. And lady Isidore Vierne,” the maid replies.

“Lead them here!” I hurry her and jump to my feet to make sure that I look presentable.

“Mira!” the three of them appear out of dark smoke and Morgan throws herself at me, giving me the warmest hug, “I am so sorry!”

“Don’t scare her to death!” Isidore says grumpily behind her back, “She might think that you are bringing worse news than you actually do!”

“Oh, you have news then?” I look at them with hope in my eyes, but judging by their tense faces, whatever they know is no good news…

“Well,” Morgan looks at a very interesting spot on my carpet and I look at her fiancé desperately.

“We don’t know much,” Brandon says, “But Derrien wasn’t present at the Council meeting.”

“I knew it,” I grit through my teeth, “Chaos! It was a trap after all!”

“But it’s not over for him yet,” Brandon says and I look at him questioningly.

“What do you mean?”

“His general’s seal,” Sevill says and I act that I have no idea what he is talking about.

“What is that?” I flutter my lashes and he rolls his eyes.

“Cut the crap, Mira,” he snorts, “He may be your almost-husband but he is also my friend since forever. I owe him my life. I know that he told you about it when he brought you here. ”

“Oh, that seal!” I suddenly “remember” and he rolls his eyes, “So, what about it?”

“His warrior will only accept new leader if he or she will have that seal in their hands,” Brandon informs me, “Without it if Derrien is not there, they will not make a move even if the Emperor himself orders them in person. They are all sworn to Derrien by b***d. And so am I, by the way.”

“I know”, I admit, “Rien mentioned that once…”

“So, why don’t we speak plainly then?” he walks to the window, “The seal is the only reason they haven’t disposed of him yet.”

“But he is the emperor’s nephew!” I say desperately.

“Mira, our emperor is not a sentimental man. Derrien disobeyed him and that is it. He always was wary of him, because as a dragon, Derrien has way too much power. I don’t need to explain you, you saw it first-hand several times. Everything was good as long as he was fulfilling Emperor’s every request. And before you, that was exactly what Derrien did. But since the two of you met, everything changed. He started to ask for things, act rashly… and then finally he disobeyed a direct order… Ghardin doesn’t forgive and he killed for less…”

“But he loved him… he loved his mother,” I almost cry as I say it.

“Oh, please, this is just a story he tells us, and who knows what really happened there. Remember your perfect Sapphire Knight ex-fiancé? People of power tell us what we want to hear,” Brandon chuckles and Morgan smiles sadly when she looks at him, “Who wouldn’t want to keep a dragon at their hand? It was a perfect plan until you came along…”

“So, this is all my fault?” my b***d boils from the accusation.

“No,” Sevill says calmly, “Sooner or later it was bound to happen. Derrien is not like them. He has principles and honour, and heart. He may seem unemotional but he cares for his people. Ghardin would have realized that sooner or later and we would be in the exact same situation.”

“So, what now?” I cross my hands on my chest, “Do you know where they could keep him?”

“Yes, and you cannot get in there,” Brandon turns to face me.

“Try me!” I smirk, “If he is there then I will find a way!”

“If I am not mistaken, and that’s unlikely, he would be in the dungeon of the palace. There is a triple security barrier and only guards and royals can enter the premises.”

“Alright,” I bite my l*p, a plan is already emerging in my head, “What else should I know?”

“You can use the Seal as your last bargaining chip,” he says, “Find it and offer negotiations to the Emperor…”

“Not happening”, I interrupt him, “You can’t negotiate with someone you will never trust. What will I say? Here’s the seal, give me back my man and we will live quietly in our castle? What are the chances of that?”

He doesn’t say anything because he knows I am right.

“Please, don’t think that you can take the Seal and command his army,” he sighs.

“And why not?” I raise my brow.

“Because it’s just half of the army, the other half is still loyal to Ghardin and Dargen. You will have just a 50% chance of winning if not less. And also we are at war. If you do this, akyrians would attack us and you may end up in an even worse situation,” the man explains.

“Then it’s good that I have a slightly better idea,” I smile and he looks at me in surprise. They all do.

“I knew you would come up with something!” Isidore snorts, “Whatever it is, I am in!”

“Good,” I smile to her, “Because I will need you to meet my friends. Morgan, your help would also be required. And yours, Brandon. To chaos with it, I need all the help I can get!”

“You already have a plan?” Brandon raises his brow in surprise.

“I think I do!” I nervously wipe my sweaty palms on my dress, my heart is racing, “Help me to get an audience with the Crown Prince!”

“Are you kidding me?” Sevill looks at me like I am a crazy person, “The only place he would want to see you now is his bedroom… I am surprised he is still not here yet! It’s probably an Emperor’s order prohibiting him to do that since you are the only thing they have to make Derrien talk.”

“Bran, I don’t care!” I almost shout at him, “I need that audience! Even if it is in the bedroom. I’ll be fine!”

“He would kill me if I help you with that!”, the gerdian insists, “And then he would s***k you so hard you wouldn’t be able to walk for months!”

“Good!” I blush but still hold my ground, “For that he would need to be alive and with me!”

“Damn!” Isidore chuckles, “Just do what she asks! She can clearly handle herself and that piece of a … prince!”

“Morgan, I need you to help me with something too,” I turn to my other friend.

“Anything!” she agrees at once.

“Can we at least leave Morgan out of this?” Brandon asks and I almost pity him. Almost.

“No,” the girls and I reply in unison.

“To chaos with you!” he mutters, turning away to the window again, “You akyrians are all crazy!”

It was easy to be granted a permit to visit the Crown Prince. And Brandon was not mistaken he decided to meet him at his private chambers. I guess he already fixed that wall.

The guards have checked me several times and gave me dirty smirks when they found out that I have no weapons of any kind with me. I know what they are all thinking, leading me to Dargen.

They open the door for me and I enter, holding my wine red dress so that I wouldn’t stumble on it while I walk. It is a very revealing dress. The most provocative one I’ve got. And considering gerdian fashion, that speaks volumes. My hair is down, I didn’t even bother with a complex hairdo, waves cascading freely down my bare back and hands.

Dargen is sitting on a chair that resembles a throne in the center of the room, wearing some kind of silk wrap shirt, which shows off almost all of his abs and pants with high boots. He looks at me lazily, but I notice the sparks in his eyes as I walk in.

“Lady Miradora,” he says as if he is really bored, even though he doesn’t take his eyes off me the whole time, looking me up and down and paying special attention to my cleavage, “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Your Highness,” I make a very deep curtsy and stay in it, not daring to stand up.

“Raise,” he chuckles, clearly pleased with the whole situation.

“Your Highness,” I clear my throat and look at him for the first time, blushing and biting my l*p, “I have come to ask for your help and protection.”

“Hm,” he smirks, “Interesting. I’ve been offering you those so many times and you always declined. I wonder what changed, lady Mira?”

He is playing with me and enjoying every second of it.

“I had plenty of time to think and have reconsidered my previous behaviour,” I say to him raising my chin, “I was wrong and I want to apologize.”

The smirk on his face goes wider.

“And why should I forgive you?” he asks, throwing a grape into his mouth and still watching my every move.

I kneel and lift up my hands, materializing the seal in them, “I hope that you will be able to forgive me and count for your mercy after I bring you this general’s seal, Your Highness!”