The Selection: Bride Of The Dark Dragon

MIRA

He is on his feet and next to me in no time and I gasp when he grabs the seal out of my hands, checking it quickly, making sure that it’s the real thing, and putting it away in the drawer of the nearby desk. I stay where I am the whole time, not daring to move.

He is back to me in just a few seconds, his hand cupping my chin and making me look at him.

“Clever girl,” he smirks, “I knew you would come to your senses one day.”

He walks around me, still not letting me raise. And I wait patiently for his decision.

“If I accept you, there are going to be rules, Mira,” he says.

“I understand, Your Highness,” I say calmly, not even trembling.

“If I let you stay today you will become mine forever in body and soul,” he says.

“Yes, Your Highness,” I agree, giving myself a mental note that this promise I would just have to break.

“You will learn to love me,” he says, but this time it’s as if he is telling this more to himself than to me.

“Yes, Your Highness,” I nod and feel his two hands on my shoulders.

“Raise, Mira,” he chuckles, and as soon as I do, his lips touch my neck gently, nose brushing over my cheek and ear, “And call me Ryden. No need for formalities anymore.”

“Thank you, Ryden,” I bite my l*p, trying not to throw up when his tongue swirls around my collarbone and he pulls me closer towards his own body, holding me by my waist.

And then I cough. He ignores it and I cough again and then again.

“Excuse me, Your Hi… Ryden,” I smile nervously, “Would it be too bold of me to ask for a glass of wine?”

“Of course not,” he rubs his thumb over my chin and walks to a table where I see a jug and glasses. Just what I need.

“I’ll do it myself,” I catch up with him and smile again, “Do you want one?”

I flutter my lashes and he chuckles stepping away.

“Yes, why not? Bring me a glass as well,” he walks all the way back to his throne and sits on it, watching my every move with delight. I carefully pour two glasses. Luckily, I have nothing to hide. My index finger touches the wine inside the Crown Prince’s glass just for a second, transparent nail polish dissolves in it without a trace.

I bring the glass to Dargen and he accepts it gladly, tapping a place on his lap, and I follow his indirect order, sitting where he showed me and taking a huge gulp of the sweet drink myself. His empty hand holds me by my waist but goes up and down from time to time. He takes a sip and is about to put the glass away.

“You know, Ryden,” I say softly, lowering my eyes, “Back in Akyria we have a tradition to drain our cups dry when we drink to the new beginnings…”

“Is that so?” he smirks and my heart sinks. For a second there it seems like he is not going to do it, like he knows what I am up to. I take a nervous sip from my glass and he chuckles at that.

“I guess someone needs liquid courage before what’s about to come,” he says and drinks everything almost in one gulp. I follow his example. Hopefully, it’s not that aphrodisiac from the Selection…

When he is done, he throws away his goblet and then takes mine and also throws it away, shuttering sound does not bother him as he slams his lips into mine.

“Finally!” he mutters and I pray to gods for my plan to work.

“Ryden,” I call his name and he looks at me with a smile on his face, “Ryden, why don’t we stop for today? You know I love you as it is, right?”

“Hmmm, right,” he says after a pause which almost cost me a heart attack.

“Also,” I stand up from his lap, “Why don’t you have another glass of wine. You are thirsty, correct?”

“Yes,” he responds with a smile and I smile back at him. I need to stuff him full with Sideria to be sure that the effect wouldn’t wear off.

Morgan and I have spent the last few days creating this potion, using dark magic amplifiers to make it stronger and then turning it into dust with which I’ll be able to cover my nails. One little dip and concentrated Sideria is in his glass. But I want to make sure that it’s enough. We couldn’t test it on gerdians and who knows how much time we’ve got. I mix the wine with all my nails in turn, feeling a bit of nausea as I do so. Mum taught me to never put my fingers in my food, let alone anybody else’s. But who knew that it might be so useful!

“Drink up! You look so thirsty,” I smile as I hand the glass to Dargen and he drinks it obediently, not taking his eyes off me the whole time. As soon as he is done, he grabs me by my arm and pulls me into his embrace.

“You don’t want to take me right now, right?” I say nonchalantly as he starts caressing my waist and my arms.

“I don’t know,” he mumbles and I get scared a little bit. Don’t tell me he is too strong and Sideria doesn’t work on him. In that case, I’ll be doomed!

“Why would you want it when we actually have much better things to do?” I whisper in his ear and he looks at me, surprised.

“What can be better than this?” he asks, his breathing heavy.

“Don’t you want to rub your victory in your cousin’s face?” I say, my voice trembling just a little bit. He looks at me and slowly a smile spreads across his face.

“You know me too well,” he chuckles, “But maybe first we should…”

“You know you want to torture him more than you want anything else,” I say patting his head awkwardly, “Just take me and the seal to him, it will make you so happy to see his face… when he sees that now you have everything.”

“You are right!” he suddenly lets go of me and stands to his feet, “Let’s go to the dungeons first!”

“Don’t forget the seal,” I smile, “Isn’t it one of the most important parts?”

“Yes,” Dargen takes it and grabs my hand again, pulling me closer, “Of course it is. I can’t wait!”

Dark smoke surrounds us and I can’t help but feel a bit sad. It was so easy to manipulate him that it’s scary. Did Tristan feel the same when he was drugging me? I guess I can say I have learned from the best…

We appear in a clean hallway with many lamps, each of which works with fire magic. This is not what I expected to see when Dargen said that we are going to the dungeons.

“I have to say I am impressed!” I almost whistle, but stop myself from doing so. No one is supposed to know that we are here. “The dungeons in the Selection castle looked ten times worse than that!”

“I know,” Dargen smirks, “That place was filthy. But here is my real and I prefer to keep it tidy since I spend a lot of time here.”

I want to ask first what he means by that but quickly remember that he was the one torturing Isidore at the Selection when she was the main suspect. He even got her confession although she was not guilty at all. And the funny thing here is that Isidore was blamed because she was drugged by Sideria. And now the exact same thing happens to Dargen. Hopefully, he would even be blamed for letting Rien escape in the end. Retribution at its best.

“Here,” he stops with pride against a room with bars and I see my Rien, lying on a neat bed and staring at the ceiling. His room is decent – with a bed, a desk, and even a bookcase. They probably still treat him like royalty. I don’t see any bruises or cuts on him, but he does look tired.

As soon as he hears us, he jumps to his feet and at the bars in no time, looking at me with shock and horror in his eyes.

“Mira!” his face looks so tense, I notice a few new wrinkles on it, “What are you?”

“She is with me!” Dargen puts his arm possessively around me, “Surprised? It didn’t even take me that long! Less than two weeks and she came to me herself! And not only that, she brought me this little thing.”

He gets the seal out of his pocket and demonstrates it to Derrien, the latter grips the bars so tight his knuckles turn white. He looks at me with a tense face but doesn’t say a word anymore. Then suddenly, his face softens. He knows.

“Ryden, dear,” I turn to the Crown Prince, “Wouldn’t it be fun if we go inside there?”

“Not really,” he hesitates and looks at me questioningly. He always knew he doesn’t stand a chance against Rien in a fair fight…

“Oh, it is going to be great! You are much stronger than him, he has nothing on you!” I try to persuade him and hear Derrie clear his throat behind me. A little hint to not overdo it.

“Of course you would use the situation,” Rien looks bored, eyes on his cousin, “This damn cell has been sucking magic and strength out of me for days!”

“So, there is absolutely nothing to be worried about here,” I add, “You can have your revenge if you go inside. You will enjoy it! And you will show me just how much better of a man you are!”

“Ghm!” Rien coughs loudly. Gods, I am going to be in so much trouble for all of this later.

“You are right!” Dargen smiles at me, looking like a child who has just been allowed to open his birthday present the day before the actual birthday!

He touches the lock on the door and it opens with ease, sensing his magic. According to Brandon’s advice, only the crown prince and the emperor would be able to do that. That’s why I am here.

He steps inside and I feel like I am pushing him to a cage with a tiger. So, yes, it feels satisfying after our last encounter.

Rien submits him easily, throwing a few good punches on the way.

“Mira! Call for help!” delusional prince croaks.

I create a shield to block the sounds of what is going on here. Ryden Dargen is unconscious in no time, Derrien throws his limp body to the bed, facing the wall, and covers him leaving just the head. Luckily their hair is the same. He holds his hands above Dargen’s face for a while and after he is satisfied, he leaves the cell, sealing it with his own magic now. Good luck opening that!

His lips cover mine in the most passionate k**s that we’ve ever shared.

“You’ve been a naughty little mage,” he says, catching his breath in between, “We are going to burn all the clothes you have on today. I hate that he touched it.”

“You can burn whatever you like,” I mumble, “Just don’t disappear like that anymore!”

“I won’t, I swear,” he mutters and then steps away, the seal is already in one of his hands, “Let’s go back home, Mira! And then I will take you to a safer place.”

“Actually, I have a better idea…”