The Selection: Bride Of The Dark Dragon

MIRA

Slowly, I get to my senses. Rien… Rien has just hit me with his magic. Maybe it’s a mistake and he didn’t recognize me?

I lift up my head and see him moving towards me. Eyes on me but no smile on his face. What is going on?

Some knight jumps at him but he easily breaks his neck and throws him away. I’ve never seen him like that… Could… could he have tricked me? Could he be lying to me all this time just like Tristan did?

He comes close to me and looks at me with angry eyes. There is nothing from the Derrien I just met in my dreams! I look at him with an open mouth as I just don’t know what to expect next.

“Mira!” Tristan shouts and I turn to look at him without any realization of doing so. He runs to me, shock and terror on his face. One second – and a huge wave of dark magic knocks him down. He doesn’t move and I can’t tell whether he is dead or alive.

“Enough!” Derrien growls and comes closer to me, grabbing me by my wrist and pulling me all the way up into his hands. I feel a cold metal sensation where he touches me and want to check what is this exactly. But his eyes are full of dark magic and he looks furious. Without saying even a word to me, he throws me over his shoulder and starts walking away.

“Rien, what is going on?!” I shout! “Rien! Talk to me! Put me down!”

But nothing… From the corner of my eye, I see Dereck helping Colton out of the battlefield. They both look at me with worry on their faces and I give them a weak smile. Gods, at least help my family to stay alive!

Because I am not so sure anymore that I will…

DERRIEN

Seeing and touching Mira, even if just in a dream, was unbelievable. I open my eyes and a smile plays on my lips. She remembers me. Everything is going to be fine. I am going to take her home tonight and this whole nightmare will be over.

She is mine and she knows it. And this is all that matters.

It is still too dark and I have a few good hours before the planned attack. The wound on my side heals nicely but still aches a bit. Akyrians used some kind of new poison. I see that they have been planning this war for a while.

But today is just for Mira. Over my dead body she is going to marry this piece of s**t. And all the Akyrians will see how easily we can defeat them and that their Crown Princess is actually in love with me, a gerdian. Everyone will know that she is mine… and there will be no more disputes about it.

To lose her was the most painful experience in my life. I should have never left her back at the Selection Castle! Before going to the Emperor, before dealing with Dargen, I should have brought her to my castle where she would be safe. But I didn’t. And I paid a heavy price for it by almost losing her.

My dragon was raging all those days. He has some kind of connection to her and I can’t quite understand why. Why is he so obsessed with her? I am crazy about her as well but he was quiet for so many years, not caring about anyone or anything. And now, unless she is in our arms, he is furious. What does she have that has this kind of influence over him? I guess we will have all our lives to find out…

Everything is ready for today’s attack. I am taking just one of my squads. It should be enough for what we plan. Three other squads will be on standby. But we will hardly need them. Fighting akyrians is like taking candy from a child. I am surprised to think they would even risk plotting against us! But I guess we need to give them another lesson. And send the message loud and clear!

A knock on the door and a trembling servant enters my chambers. My dragon’s mood swings did not go unnoticed and now everyone is extra careful approaching me. Good. The less they all annoy me the better.

“My lord,” the boy bows, “The Emperor summons you to the throne room.”

“Why?” is all I ask and his knees start shaking. Pathetic.

“They did not inform me, my lord. But this is urgent. The Crown Prince is also there,” he says in a shaky voice.

“You may go,” I wave at him and he disappears quickly.

And now I am worried. The Emperor knows that I am about to set off. Why the chaos would he summon me now? And if Dargen is there that doesn’t promise me anything good!

I transport myself to the throne room and kneel.

“Greetings to my uncle, the dark Emperor of the Gerdian Empire”, I say the formal greeting.

“Raise, Derrien. No need for formalities, we have something to discuss,” Uncle says and I stand up to my feet. Dargen is right next to the throne, an ugly smirk on his face. Something is wrong. I know that now!

“What is it?” is all I ask. The sooner they get to the point, the better.

“You need to see something, Rien,” Uncle says with an unhappy face, “You are going to get your woman today. But you need to know that everything is not so simple anymore. She is with the Akyrian Crown Prince now…”

“I told you before, he is drugging her. When Mira is here she would…”

“Watch this first!” he interjects me shows me a visual crystal.

A few seconds and I see a huge projection of Tristan Ragnard’s face.

“People of Akyria! It is with sadness in my heart that I need to inform you about a war on our doorstep! Recently we discovered that the Gerdian Empire plans to attack us in the nearest future. They betrayed us and plot to turn us all into slaves. And, of course, we cannot let this happen. Luckily, I have a plan. My better half, your Crown Princess will help me to do it. But we will need your support as well!”

And then I see her, Mira!

“Our great Kingdom is in danger!” she says and my heart sinks, “In fact, we have been in danger for a while without even knowing it.”

She speaks and she speaks… About how terrible we gerdians are and how it was us killing off girls at the Selection. About what a hero Tristan is and then she gets to the worst part. She discovers information about why only specific girls were selected by us and why. She says that they found a way to share the dark magic with the help of the girls…

And then it’s back to Tristan. He says that his princess will share her magic with him and together they will lead us to victory.

Oh, Mira… You didn’t mention any of it to me… Were you just playing with me? Did you betray me?

There is only one way to pass the dark magic from a man to a woman and vice versa. And it’s when two bodies unite physically and in spirit. I already passed her my magic. And to pass it to Tristan she needs to…

I ball my fists but try not to show any emotions. I’ll find her and find out the truth. And she’ll be mine whatever the truth is!

But deep down I know one thing. It’s not enough for me to just possess her. I tried her love and affection and now anything less would never be enough for me. Oh, Chaos!

“You see?” Dargen smirks, “So much for your great love!”

“It doesn’t mean anything”, I say emotionlessly, “I have already told you that she is drugged there. As soon as I get her back, she will get better. And if anything, it’s good that they are using her for propaganda! When she is here, she can help us break all those lies!”

“Hmm,” the emperor rubs his chin, “All right, Derrien. I trust your judgment. But since the situation changed, bring her here, to the palace. Not to your castle. I need to see her before you take her away.”

“Good, uncle, I’ll obey your orders as always,” I say although I don’t like where this is going.

On my way to Akyrian palace, all I think is whether she betrayed me or not. I want to believe that she loves me! She remembered me now and should just be waiting for me to get her. Everything will be fixed and soon we’ll be together again. Soon I’ll claim her and make her my wife. And there will be no going back from that!

I break their barrier easily and summon my warriors. The battle starts fast, I don’t even need to participate. So, I just fly above their heads and wait patiently for my squad to deal with their knights.

And that’s when I see her. Her ginger hair shining among all that mess! What the chaos is she even doing there?

I see her sending a fire pulsar, I see her forming a shield… She is fighting against my men!

The pain in my heart is enough to kill my soul! Why is she doing that? Is she really with that scumbag Tristan? Did she lie to me? Did she play with me? Did she betray me?

Rage overwhelms me! I fly to her and shift on the go. She notices me almost immediately. And looking into her eyes I want so much to believe in her. But she is here and she is fighting against us. She said all those words…

I send a wave of dark magic her way. Not a strong one, but enough to knock her off her feet. I am next to her in seconds, some knight on my way. I break his neck and throw him away. She looks at me, shocked.

“Mira!” someone shouts and I see Ragnard trying to reach her. She is looking at him as well. No! This cannot be happening!

“Enough!” I snap and get her up, clicking the engagement bracelet around her wrist. And before she can say anything, I throw her over my shoulder and transport back to the castle…