The Selection: Bride Of The Dark Dragon

MIRA

He was smiling at me and looking dashing in his dark green coat, embroidered with gold, his family emblem on his chest.

“Oh, my!” I smile back, “Marquis Ashterton!”

“In the flesh!” he bows to me and k****s my hand, “Enjoying the evening, your future Highness!”

“Oh, please!” I roll my eyes, “Too much attention to my taste! I don’t even know how I agreed to all this!”

And now that I think of it, I really don’t… I don’t remember agreeing to this. I just somehow know that I did… Strange.

I look at Dereck and notice his face change.

“Would you be so kind as to gift me the pleasure of your next dance?” he offers me his hand.

“That would be interesting,” I snort, “It’s funny that we never dance before.”

“Let’s fix that!”, my friend leads me back to the dancefloor and as the music starts, we start to move.

“How is the Academy?” I ask nonchalantly.

“Not the same without you,” is all he replies.

“Well, that’s because I am irreplaceable!” I giggle, “The last time I saw you…”

And I choke on that, realizing I don’t remember when I saw him or any of my friends last.

“Is everything all right?” he asks, looking concerned and… worried?

“Yes, I just… I don’t think I remember the last time I saw you. So much has happened lately…and…”

“I see,’ he grits through his teeth, “Well, Mira, as I have already told you, be careful with what you eat. Or drink.”

“Are you implying something?” I raise my browsю

“Well, you are a clever mage, Mira, you’ll figure it out,” he says, looking away. And then suddenly he throws me to the side and I gasp with shock as this is not how this dance is going. But someone catches me and turns me the way the next move is supposed to be. At the same time, tiny lights start cascading from the ceiling as if they were fireflies. Guests applaud and I realize that it’s probably just a part of the celebration.

“Forgive me my rudeness, my lady,” the man who is now my dancing partner says and I look at him in shock, recognizing the man from the garden. He was also the one staring at me right before the bracelets… Could it be a coincidence?

“That’s quite all right,” I say awkwardly as he leads me around the room in the dance.

“Killian,” he introduces himself, “Killian Krauten.”

“Nice to meet you, lord Krauten,” I smile weakly, feeling that something is off.

“Mira!” he almost growls and my eyes widen in shock when his face suddenly changes. It’s similar but much more… beautiful. Straight manly lines and captivating eyes. Those eyes have been on my mind for a while now. And when I see sparks of magic in them, my heart starts beating faster! I know this! This happened before! It’s… It’s…

“Who are you?” I exhale heavily and his face contorts with pain. He looks so tired, exhausted even.

“What have they done to you?!” he mutters, pressing me closer to his own body. And this feels familiar too.

“I know you,” I whisper, “But I don’t know how…”

“You are mine, Mira,” he smiles sadly, “Whatever they did – you know this…”

My lips part in surprise and he covers them with his. Sparks go through all my body as he wraps his hands around me and I dig my nails in his shoulder making him m**n in… pain? Was that painful?

He breaks the k**s and I see that it’s hard for him to breathe. To be honest he doesn’t look too good. Something is wrong. I notice a strange feeling on my chest, it’s a bit wet and cold. And when I look at it I notice a bloodstain.

“Oh, gods!’ I almost scream, “You are hurt!”

“Doesn’t matter!” he interrupts me, “Mira, I’ll be back for you! Soon! Until then I need you to protect yourself and make your final choice!”

“What choice? What is…’, he slams his lips into mine once again, biting my l*p harshly. What the… Something cold slips into my hand and he steps away.

“Here he is!” I hear Tristan roar and see him running inside the ballroom, “Seize him! Kill him!”

Guards rush inside, loads of them, and the man I just danced with charges for the other exit. I notice a small trail of b***d behind him.

“You are not getting away!” Rick, who I didn’t even know was here all this time, shouts loudly and runs after him before everyone else. Explosion and all the guests start screaming and running away in panic.

“Protect the crown princess!” Dereck commands next to me, creating a fireball in one of his hands and taking me with his other. I feel like he got whatever I was holding in his hand right before Tristan reaches me.

“Mira!” my fiancé is here, “Oh, gods, Mira! What did this monster do? You are all in b***d! Did he tell you anything? If he did – it’s all lies, Mira! It’s…”

“Oh, Tristan!” I fall into his arms, trying to squeeze a tear or two out of myself, “He said that he knows me! But I don’t know him! Who was that?”

“It’s all right, my love,” he plants a k**s on the top of my head, taking my hands in his as if he is checking for something, “He is a traitor! I think he wanted to kidnap you to threaten me! But it’s all right now, you are safe. You did so well!”

“Luckily Dereck protected me from him,” I look into Tristan’s eyes, “If he wasn’t here on time then I don’t know what could happen… I.. I was so careless!”

“Thank you, Marquis,” Tristan nods to Dereck, “You have been very helpful tonight.”

“I am so lucky to have such a good and loyal friend!” I sob and now throw myself into Dereck’s hand, he pats my back reassuringly and slips the cold metal thing back into my hand, while I quickly shove it into my… well, cleavage. Noticing that Dereck turns as red as a tomato but it’s time to throw myself back to Tristan now.

I have no idea what is going on. But I am sure that something is! Someone is lying to me and someone is using my trust! And I need to find out who that is!

Rick comes to us and bows deeply, “I have to apologize, You Highness! Whoever that was, he managed to escape…”

Tristan takes me back to my room, holding my hand at all times.

“What are you thinking about, Mira?” he asks when we enter, even though etiquette says that he needs to stay at the door.

“Uhm,” I sign, “I am thinking about what a terrible battle mage I am!”

“Wh-why?” he looks surprised.

“Well, because I got scared and startled when everything happened today. I didn’t fight him off although I should have… I… I am so embarrassed for myself, Tristan! I don’t know how to look in the mirror anymore!”

“You silly girl!” he pulls me into a hug, “You don’t need to think of things like that anymore! Just stay safe and stay with me…”

“You don’t understand,” I sigh, “I feel so sad now…”

“I see,” he breathes in the scent of my hair, “Can I help?”

“Actually,” I push him away a bit a smile like a child who sees a candy, “Yes! I think I need to get back to training! Can I do that?”

“Of course,” chuckles, “I would…”

“Great!” I interject, “Please, tell Dereck that I could start tomorrow!”

“Dereck?” he looks at me, startled.

“Yes, he is my battle partner. He knows everything I need to work on! And he told me he has a lot of free time now, so…”

“I am not sure that it’s such a good idea,” Tristan is definitely looking for a way out.

“Why? Do you think Rick would be jealous of him? I think they are well over that!” I smile.

“You mean that they…”, he almost smiles but controls himself.

“Oh, you didn’t know?” I cover my lips, “Please, keep it a secret. Their families would never agree to this kind of… let’s call it friendship.”

“All right then,” Tristan k****s the tip of my nose, “Everything for you!”

“Thank you,” I smile and move away, “Gods, I am exhausted!”

“Well,” he sighs, clearly disappointed, “I will get back to work then. And you stay here and relax. I will see you the first thing in the morning!”

“Great!” I smile and wave him good-bye.

“Oh,” he suddenly remembers, “It’s time to take your medicine, Mira!”

Chaos!

“All right, I’ll take it after I have a bath!”

“What kind of fiancé would I be if I didn’t make sure that you take good care of your health!” he comes to the table where a bottle with “elixir” stands and pours it into a bigger glass this time which doesn’t escape my eyes, “There you go!”

“Thank you,” I take it without any hesitation and drink all of it in a few gulps, “It tastes disgusting, though! But it’s so sweet that you care for me this much.”

“Then k**s me,” he says firmly, although his lips are trembling in anticipation.

“I don’t see why not!” I smile and come closer to him. I don’t need to do anything else, as he grabs me into his hands and k****s me with passion, taking his time and enjoying the moment.

And then I fall…

“Mira!” he looks so worried, I think this time he is truly concerned.

“Oh, I am so dizzy!” I complain, “Your k**s hit me off my feet, sir Sapphire Knight! Impressive!”

He smiles, reassured with all my actions tonight. We say our goodbyes and he leaves. But before maids are called to help me undress, I hurry to the bathroom and put two fingers into my mouth – the elixir leaves my body and so does everything else I managed to eat before the ball…