The Selection: Bride Of The Dark Dragon

MIRA

Is he kidding me? Did I miss him? He just left, why is he back so soon?!

“Yes”, I reply, my body is not mine again. Just what is going on in those dreams? I never had dreams where I was not deciding anything!

Derrien sits back on the edge of my bath and trails my neck and chin with his fingers. Just like he did a few minutes ago. And I tremble under his touch somehow leaning forward and wanting more. The lord, however, takes his hand away and stands up, making me sign sadly at the feeling of emptiness that I suddenly felt. He chuckles lowly and I see him unbuttoning his shirt. I gulp at the idea of seeing his naked muscular torso again. The last time was not leaving my mind… He sits back next to me and bends down, caging me between his two arms that are now at both sides of me.

“Mira”, he whispers and I get my hand out of the water and touch his cheek. A short stubble he has prickles my fingers and I smile at the feeling, sliding my hand down his neck and all the way to his chest. His hot breath warms up my face as he pulls me into another k**s, tugging me by my hair at the back of my head. The bun I’ve made for the bath is undone and my ginger hair falls to my shoulders and into the water, making Derrien g***n into my mouth.

I feel his hand cupping one of my breasts and although I want to scream,”NOOOO!”, the me in the dream just arches her back letting him make trail of k****s down her neck and then even lower.

I seriously want to close my eyes, but I can’t. The sensations are so real as if I am really in his hands, letting him shamelessly caress my body, devour me…

“Derrien”, I mumble.

“Rien”, he corrects me in between k****s.

I feel one of his hands sliding lower and lower, below my belly button and right down my…

“Oh, Gods!”, I jump up in the bath, splashing water around me. I am alone. Breathing heavily, I remember what I just saw and how it felt… My cheeks flush and I notice that my hair is already undone as well. Without thinking twice, I dive into the water with my head to help cool myself down.

Just what is going on with me?!

After the bath, I put on my silk robe and go to the door to check on my barrier and try and make it stronger. I haven’t even felt Derrien breaking it… and yet he did. I come to my door and change to the magical vision. And gasp. There is a barrier on my door, but it’s not mine! It’s the one that I had before – Derrien’s! I try to touch it just to be sure and, surprisingly, this time my hand goes straight through it. This time he made it so that I could leave the room!

Closing the door and getting back to bed, I change into fresh underwear and the lacy nightgown. Somehow I already got used to the way it all looks and it doesn’t bother me anymore. Putting the light down in the lamps with a wave of my hand, I get into the bed and make myself comfortable there.

A smile forms on my face… I will have a peaceful night today. At last!

The next day goes as if in a blur. The lessons are short as we are sent back to our rooms to get ready for the ball. Morgan, Xia, Fawn, and Desirae come to me to get ready as, let’s be honest, my rooms are the biggest and most comfortable ones.

Before breakfast, when the girls came for me, I was surprised that they can go through the barrier as well and realized that Derrien tuned it in a way that I decide who can come in. Or maybe that’s just a very poorly made barrier and I am kidding myself. But I feel so much power from it so that I doubt that. And also I already got to know that lord Derwood’s magic is simply superb.

I am braiding Fawn’s hair as she asked me what was my hairstyle when I was wearing the dress she is going to be in today and I promised to do the same for her. It’s a bit complicated, but I am done first as I am not wearing too much make-up and my hairdo is simple as well with just some of my hair up and the rest falling in waves to my shoulders and below.

Morgan is helping Desirae with her make-up and Xia is taking care of herself. Speaking of her, she is wearing a very beautiful gown in blue and gold – the colours of her tribe. The dress has a very unusual design and would be exotic even for the gerdians. She is also doing traditional make-up, which also looks unusual for our lands. If someone would be attracting a lot of attention today – it most definitely would be her.

“I can’t believe that in just less than an hour we would already be dancing with the lords!”, Desirae smiles.

“They said there wouldn’t be much dancing today. That’s a smaller event”, Morgan reminds everyone.

“If I learned anything in the last few days”, Xia chimes, “There will be whatever the dark lords desire. If we make them want to dance – then there will be plenty of dancing!”

I snort at that. But honestly, Xia grasped the situation faster than anybody else.

“Mira, you have more experience than any of us with the lords”, Morgan says, “Any advice?”

“Be very careful at all times”, I say bluntly and smiles are fading on their faces, “There are some of them who better be avoided at all costs. Look for decent ones, if there are any, of course… And be careful what you do and say. They are very… temperamental.”

“On that incredibly inspiring note, we’d better change the subject!”, Fawn giggles suddenly.

“I am sorry I asked!”, Morgan rolls her eyes, “I always forget that you are not a big fan of theirs…”

“I am not, but, trust me that’s not bad advice”, I clench my lips.

We come to the ballroom without talking much to each other. Everyone is nervous for their own reasons. But as soon as we walk in we become truly speechless.

The huge hall we are in is decorated with flowers and golden ornaments making the usually dark and gloomy space look stylishly expensive and festive. Long lavishly decorated tables are covered with food and drinks to suit any taste. Stars created with magic are shining above our heads right at the ceiling, creating an incredible atmosphere.

“Not bad!”, Morgan signs.

“Ladies, I love you all, but starting now and until the rest of the ball every woman is for herself”, Xia smiles politely and walks away from us, “Good luck!”

A group of other commoner girls start waving at Desirae and Fawn, clearly asking them to join. They look hesitantly at me and Morgan.

“Oh, don’t mind us!”, Morgan giggles, “Have fun!”

“Go”, I smile at them and turn to the last friend standing as they leave, “Listen, I have a bit of a plan for tonight. Not the good kind.”

“Oh my!”, the brunette looks at me suspiciously, “Mira, don’t do anything stupid…”

“I can’t promise anything,” I press my lips apologetically, “Maybe it would be best when I am alone when I do it. I am really not sure what reactions there will be.”

“Say no more!”, my friend nods, “Be careful, Mira. And…good luck.”

“Good luck to you too, Morgan. I hope this evening plays out the way you want it to.”

She walks away and I move to the table with drinks. I am afraid I am going to need all the liquid courage I can get, considering what I am about to do…