The Selection: Bride Of The Dark Dragon

MIRA

“Flicker!” Colton spins me into a hug, “Gods, I’ve missed you! You got thinner!”

“You don’t look too good yourself,” I reciprocate my brother’s embrace, “How is dad?”

He lets go of me and his smile fades, “He is better, Mira. But it’s been so bad before. I think he’ll be very happy to see you. And Tristan too. He started to get better when he found out that Tristan saved you and you are back together. Let’s go.”

He leads me to a spacious room, similar to the one I am staying in and when we enter the bedroom, I see my father lying on a bed. His eyes light up when he notices me.

“Mira! Child!” he stretches his hands to me and I run into my father’s arms, tears in my eyes.

“Count Freyn,” Tristan greets him behind my back.

“Your Highness!” Dad tries to lift himself up but I push him back.

“Please, don’t move! You are still not well!” I say and look back at Tristan.

“There is no need for formalities,” he smiles, “In my mind, we are already family and I want you to just call me by my name as always!”

“You’ve always been the most considerate boy,” Dad smiles weakly and my heart sinks. He looks so weak! My father! The great warrior! One of the strongest men I’ve ever seen!

“Daddy!” tears roll down my face now, “It’s all my fault!”

“Of course not, my dear,” he wipes the tears away and I feel Tristan’s hands on my shoulders.

“Mira, everything is going to be all right,” the Sapphire Knight says, “The best healers are treating your father and they say now that his life is not in danger anymore. And none of this is your fault. It’s the gerdians! They’ve started it and they caused all those troubles for us!”

“Yeah,” I nod, feeling a bit dizzy. I look at my dad and he looks concerned.

“And how are you feeling now?” he asks and I force a smile.

“I feel great, daddy. Never better!” I chuckle.

“We are preparing for our wedding,” Tristan squeezes my shoulders tighter, “The healers promise that by then you would already be able to stand on your feet and join us! Mira and I so happy…”

“I see,” my father starts coughing, “Is that so, Mira? Are you happy?”

I hesitate before answering but when I see how anxious he looks I smile and lean back on Tristan, saying, “Of course! Why wouldn’t I be? I am home!”

“Good, very good,” Dad smiles.

“Maybe it’s enough for today,” Colton says after a while, “You have seen each other and now your hearts can rest. But so should you. Both of you!”

“Of course,” I plant a k**s on my father’s cheek and stand up. Tristan offers me his hand and I accept it and, after waving good-bye, we both leave.

Tristan takes me to the main palace garden for lunch, where a table for us is already prepared. I don’t even notice how he is holding me by my hand, our fingers intertwined until we reach the place. I see some other nobles walking leisurely around as if we are not preparing for the war of our lifetime. And all eyes are on us. If our eyes meet, ladies immediately curtsy, and men bow in respect. And this feels so odd… I was never treated like that.

“Don’t mind them,” Tristan smiles holding my chair, “They all want to see their future king and queen.”

He leans down all the way to my face with a clear desire to k**s me in front of everybody but at the last moment I turn away, “I am sorry… I don’t think I am ready to…”

“No, I am sorry,” he k****s the top of my head instead, “By the way, you are looking pale again. I think it’s about time for you to drink the elixir that the healer has provided for you. It would bring back your strength in no time.”

The maid brings a small glass on a tray and Tristan hands it to me, watching me until I take it all in one gulp.

“That’s better,” he sits in front, giving me one of his perfect smiles, “Soon you will regain your strength and become happy again. With me by your side. We’ll be happy here in Akyria, Mira. Together with our families and our people. Gerdians wouldn’t hurt you anymore. None of them would be able to reach you again. As I am sure, you don’t want that anymore. You want to stay here and be with me. Right?”

“Uhm,” I think about it but suddenly feel a bit dizzy and rub my forehead, “I guess so…”

“Good, Mira,” Tristan smiles again, “Because we are in love, you and I. We always were. And now we can finally be happy together.”

“Uh-huh,” I try to cut a piece of meat in front of me while my fiancé states the obvious.

“So, do you think you would be ready for tonight’s ball?” he says casually.

“There is a ball tonight?” I look at him in surprise as this is the first time I hear it.

“Yes, we called it the Last Day of the Previous Era,” Tristan eats his food quickly, he was probably too busy to eat normally in the last few days.

“That’s one stupid name if you ask me,” I snort and he chuckles at that.

“You may be right!” he says and one of his hands covers mine, “I missed this so much!”

“I bet you did,” I wink at him and he suddenly gets serious.

“Mira, if I don’t k**s you right now I am going to die…”

“Erm.. Well, we wouldn’t want that, would we?” I say, hesitating, “You are a future king after all…”Original from NôvelDrama.Org.

He takes a gulp of his wine, stands up quickly from his place and is right next to me in mere seconds, lifting me up and pulling me closer to him by both his hands. His lips cover mine greedily as his fingers tug on my hair lightly. His tongue explores my mouth and it’s getting hard for me to breathe in his arms. But somehow I only feel dizzy…

Until a certain burning sensation appears in the area on my chest. It hurts so much that I give out a scream and touch the place that hurts, noticing the mark that gerdians gave me. What evil creatures! Now they are even torturing me from a distance.

“What’s wrong?” Tristan exclaims, still holding me by my waist and I distance myself from him a bit, I feel like I need space for some reason.

“It’s the mark, it hurts!” I say and he tells the guards to bring more medicine for me.

Meanwhile, I have this strange feeling and turn around, seeing a man at a distance. He is looking at me intensely. But I do not know why… I don’t think that I have ever met him. But his eyes… there is something familiar in them…

“Mira,” Tristan hands me another glass with medicine, “Drink this. It will take away the pain.”

I take the tiny glass and carefully drink the elixir that my fiancé offered to me. The pain is gone already but it helps me feel better. Although the dizziness does not go away.

I turn again to take another look at the man who caught my attention but he is not there anymore. Did I even see him? And why am I so interested considering I don’t know him. Those eyes… they clearly have made an impression…