The Selection: Bride Of The Dark Dragon

MIRA

Derrien looks at me questioningly and I feel so guilty in the heat of the moment. How could I have forgotten?!

“Lady Callista,” I smile, “Would you forgive us for just a moment?”Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Of course!” she giggles, not taking her eyes off my gerdian, “I’ll be right here! Waiting!”

“Great!” I squeak and pull Derrien away for a quick private chat.

“What was all that about?” he raises his brow at me.

“Well,” my voice is too pitchy all of a sudden, “You see… Remember how you asked me to take one for the team and go into all those rooms to pretend I am looking for some jewellery?”

“Yes,” he says darkly, feeling that something is coming.

“Well, now it is YOUR time to take one for the team! You see, I kind of promised that you would dance with that girl as she wouldn’t let me see her box otherwise.”

“Mira,” his fingers press harder into my flesh, “This is not for you to promise.”

“Well, Derrien, it is too late for that now. Because I already did and she is already here to collect. So, off you go!”

I bite my l*p and he leans lower and whispers to my ear, “This is so not over, little mage! Wait for me right here! If you make just one step to your right or left, I’ll consider it as an attempt to run away! If you jump on the spot – I’ll consider that as an attempt to fly away. Got it?”

“Yes,” I straighten my back as if I am in the army, “Consider me frozen!”

“Oh, I’ll warm you up alright when I am back!” he grits through her teeth and walks away to Callista, inviting her for a dance right away.

Little does he know that Callista is not the only one I sold him to. When he comes back to me, I see his eye twitch nervously when he notices a queue of women behind me.

“Miradora Freyn!” he snaps at me, “What do you think you are doing?!”

“I am so sorry!” I whisper and softly touch his hand, “They all wanted the same deal, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to enter any rooms!”

“You couldn’t sell Dargen?” sparks of magic dance in his eyes.

“Nobody wanted him! He is psychotic and everybody knows it! They all wanted you and I can understand them completely!” I say and see a small smile in the corner of his lips which he suppresses immediately.

“Still not over,” he mutters to me and walks to the next girl, offering her his hand. They both pass me and I see how the blonde smiles at him delicately and looks away just as if she was shy. Which she is not! I acknowledge that she is gorgeous – just a picture of noble perfection: elegant, beautiful, moving gracefully. I notice how Derrien says something and she giggles and blushes. And when they are done dancing, he bows and k****s her hand.

Damn it! I don’t like what I am seeing. He doesn’t even make another step when a brunette curtsies before him. He throws an angry glance at me and leads her to the dance floor, smiling at her the whole time. That piece of a …gerdian never smiles! And of all the times he chooses now?!

“What the chaos is all that about?” Brandon and Morgan come up to me, her hand trapped in his.

“I sold him,” I sigh and my friend gives out a laugh.

“Gods, Mira, why would you do that?” she snorts.

“Well, it was a necessary sacrifice back in the day,” I admit bitterly.

“And a very stupid decision,” Sevill interjects, “You know, send him to all those beautiful girls right before you have to cross the arc and enter the portal. What if now it’s not you that he would be thinking about when the time comes. Maybe he would understand that it’s not worth to be so obsessed with just one girl.”

“Interesting point of view, my dear lord!” Morgan says sarcastically, “And good to know. Maybe I shouldn’t obsess with just one gerdian as well?”

“Morgie!” he suddenly changes in the face, “That’s not…”

“You might be right, Morgan”, I decide to add some salt to his wound, “Gerdian men are so handsome! Why waste your time on just one?!”

“True!” Xia comes in, chuckling with a gerdian following her and not taking his eyes off her. She is wearing a beautiful red dress with a deep cut at the front and long sleeves. While Morgan is in dark green with open back and hands. Now both men look a bit pale. I guess my friends found gerdians who truly care about them.

I turn to see Derrien dance with another girl and gulp. I hope I found one like that too.

Suddenly music stops and the herald announces: “His Royal Highness The Crown Prince of Gerdian Empire Ryden Dargen!”

The royalty marches into the room and all men bow to him, while women curtsy. However, he ignores everyone and doesn’t dismiss them, coming straight to me, raising me by my chin.

“Lady Miradora,” he smirks, “You look beyond beautiful tonight. Thank you for your effort.”

He still doesn’t give a signal for people to stand up and, judging by his look, that’s on purpose.

“Good evening, Your Highness,” I say calmly and look at him.

“Would you be so kind as to honour me with the next dance?” he glares, offering me his hand and I look around.

“I am afraid, your Highness, musicians would have trouble playing from this kind of position,” I gesture at the people around us. It’s about time to let them raise.

“Of course,” Dargen chuckles and waves his hand, allowing everyone to stand straight again. A wave of quiet m***s from the girls erupts around the hall. But in a few seconds, music starts and the prince brings me to the center of the dancefloor. We pass Derrien and yet another girl and I can swear I hear a growl of some sort.

We start moving in circles first and only after we’ve made ten steps everyone else is allowed to join in. I see Rien and the girl, I think her name is Scarlett, from time to time. Everything moves so fast.

“Did you missed me?” Ryden smirks, pulling me closer.

“Everyone missed you,” I avoid giving him clear answers.

“Are you ready for tonight?” he asks, piercing me with his dark eyes. Gods, I hope he is talking about the arc and the portal. And not about anything gross.

The large arc made of pure black gold is standing in the middle of the ballroom. One gets the feeling that there are thousands of dark tree branches intertwining and ascending into the sky. A true masterpiece. It is not working, but soon it would be charged with dark magic and the challenge would begin.

“So, Mira, are you?” the prince sounds impatient.

“Pardon me, Your Highness?” I almost jump on the spot, “I am afraid the music is too loud and it’s hard to hear you.”

“I asked if you are ready? I hope you do understand what I expect from this evening?” he raises his brow and adds, “To see you at the other end of the portal.”

“Well, let’s see if your heart leads you to me,” I smile nervously trying to put an idea in his head that if (or I’d better say when) we don’t meet, it could actually be his fault and not mine.

“Don’t play with me, Mira,” he squeezes my hand so hard I know there’s going to be a trace later, “I know who I want to see! And if you are not there… let’s just say I will have to teach you to love me in a different way.”

“I understand,” is all I say as I try not to look at him anymore. Gods, that’s scary. How is this evening going to end?

I feel that someone is watching me and, unfortunately, it’s not Derrien this time. It’s Tristan and he looks concerned, probably guessing what is going on.

Suddenly, I notice a small flame on the Crown Prince’s shoulder. It gets bigger and bigger and I gasp, “Your Highness, you are on fire!”

“Of course I am,” he smirks proudly not even realizing that I meant that literally.