The Selection: Bride Of The Dark Dragon

MIRA

“I think the lady was clear about her desires! Step. Away.” The Crown Prince materializes out of the dark smoke. There is an ugly smirk on his handsome face, the one that lets me know that he is not a knight in shiny armour who wants to help me. He is just another gerdian that tries to use me. Gods, I hate them. I hate them all! But right now I would prefer the Prince over the one who broke my heart.

“This is a personal matter, Ryden!” Derrien snaps.

“Your Highness”, the cousin corrects him, clearly enjoying the moment, “Don’t forget your place, Derwood.”

“This is a personal matter, your Highness”, Derrien grits through his teeth, “Please, let me and lady Mira finish our conversation without witnesses.”

He doesn’t even look at me when he says that. I am still nothing to him – a thing, a property. How could I be so wrong?! I relaxed and started trusting him and this was my mistake…

“Lady Mira doesn’t seem to want to have any conversations with you”, Dargen smirks again and comes closer to me, “Mira, just tell me what you want and I’ll give it to you.”

“I just want to be left alone”, I say without looking at any of them. Both of them are the same anyway…

“Mira, don’t do this! You are already mine, it’s too late…”, Derrien starts speaking again, furious.

“Do you even have the right to still say that?”, I snap and turn to him, “You are not a part of the Dark Selection, but I am!”

“She is right, you know”, Ryden intervenes, “You played your games while your title was allowing it. But no more of this. Leave lady Freyn alone.”

Dark magic makes a wild dance in Derrien’s eyes, but I just do not care anymore.

“Besides,” I say calmly, “Haven’t you got work to do?”

“True”, the Crown Prince grins at his cousin, “The Emperor is waiting for your report about the last death. And he is not happy with your performance here at all. Instead of entertaining yourself and abusing innocent girls…”

But he doesn’t finish the sentence as Derrien’s fist lands on his face. Hard. Making Dargen fall to the ground.

I gasp in shock while the prince stands up quickly rubbing his jaw.

“You are going to regret this!”, he snarls, “This is treason! You could get killed for this!”

“Hardly!”, Derwood smirks, “You and I both know it!”

“You…”, Ryden grits through his teeth and I see a pulsar of dark magic appearing in his hand.

I quickly step in front of him and curtsy slightly, “Your highness, please, don’t. Lord Derwood is already leaving anyway.”

He extinguishes the pulsar and steps closer to me, “Only because you ask, Mira. I guess it would be wrong to make a mess in your rooms”.

“Thank you, your Highness,” I raise and force a smile. It’s fake, but it works.

“Mira”, I hear Rien’s voice but choose not to turn to him.

“You need to leave, lord Derwood”, I say coldly and take a step to the prince, “Your Highness, you are bleeding. Let me help you.”

“Of course”, Ryden smiles, placing his hand on mine as soon as I touch him.

I feel flames of dark magic behind me and know that Derrien has left already. Finally, I can breathe! Or at least I thought so… My chest hurts so much…

I apply my water element to Dargen’s jawline to cool it down and take away the pain when his hands slide to my waist, bringing me closer. It’s uncomfortable, to say the least.

“Have you thought about the ring I gave you?”, he asks in a husky voice and I realize that I am trapped.

“I am sorry, Your Highness,” I almost stutter, “I didn’t have time… Too much has happened, and…”

“I understand”, he sighs and takes hands away from me, “I was serious about not forcing you and not pushing you to make that decision. But I want to spend more time with you from now on, Mira. Have rest today and tomorrow I would like for you to join me for a walk in the garden.”

I really do not want to. But who am I kidding? He can force me any moment he likes. And it’s best not to get to the bad side of him. Not to mention that as long as I am here, I’ll have to marry one of the gerdians. And if he still wants me then it most definitely would be him… considering his new title…

“Of course, your highness,” I say quietly, continuing my work, “And… thank you.”

“Ryden”, he takes the hand I used to heal him into his and k****s it gently, looking into my eyes, “Just call me Ryden. And drop the formalities. I want you to feel at ease when you are with me, Mira…”

Yeah, like that is going to happen! But out loud I say, “I will try… Ryden…”

“I will leave you for today, Mira,” he says after a pause, “Get some rest. And I guess I will see you at dinner.”

I skip dinner and work instead. Getting out my equipment, I carefully test Fawn’s b***d only to find out that no spells were used on her. No, that can’t be right. Fawn couldn’t do it herself. Something definitely happened and someone either forced her or…

The idea strikes my head unexpectedly and I run to get another potion from my collection. Just one drop and I see a pale green substance separate from the rest.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Sideria! That’s what the killer used it for! The drug that can make you do what others tell you! The drug that the one who killed Bella had been dealing with! That explains a lot!

So, I wasn’t mistaken and the murderer does have Sideria in his or her possession. As well as the second part of a tracking device and the ruby hairpin Aspen told us about… Now, if I just find who has those things in the possession, I would know for sure who the murder is!

A knock on the door breaks my trail of thoughts and I hurry to hide everything I have just been working with. This information is way too delicate to share with anybody…

Morgan and Xia are on my doorstep, smiling reassuringly.

“We thought you might need company, ”Morgan says and I notice a basket in her hands, “You didn’t come to dinner and we decided to ring you some!”

“Oh, you shouldn’t have”, I sigh, “I am way too tired to do anything. And I don’t really not in the mood to talk or share…”

“That’s why we’ve brought help!”, Xia giggles, getting a whole bottle of wine!

Alright. That changes things!