Chapter 5 - Draco

Even though I know little about the woman chosen as my mate, there’s one thing I’m sure of.

Behind this faded pink organza is the room she’s going to rest in. Perhaps it’s from following her around for three days, witnessing her rather flamboyant way of dressing, her eccentric ways when she engages with patrons in the tavern.

Nonetheless, I stay hidden in the backyard of her parents’ house in Redmond. Having followed her here, I’ve decided to execute my own plan.

Unlike Mother’s plan, mine is pretty straightforward. As the night rolls in and a pleasant spring breeze fills the air, I peek through the tiny slit on the side of the window.

The pink bedroom houses only a single bed and a dressing table against one wall. The waiting game ends when the door squeaks open, and Lily enters the room.

Her cheeks are almost as pink as her bedroom walls. She shuts the door behind her, then capsizes onto the bed, breathing deeply.

I seize the moment when her chest steadies and I’m sure she’s asleep. Using the powers of the Alpha dragon, I part the wall with one flick of my wrist. There’s no need for doors as I walk through and stand at the fore of the woman’s bed.

She’s sound asleep, muttering unintelligibly in the darkness. Groaning with irritation, I grab her by the thighs and pull her to the edge of the bed. She stirs only slightly, so I lift her into my arms and extend an arm out.

Bright white light emits from my palm, extending to the ceiling and opening up a clearing large enough for my dragon. Invoking my dragon form, sharp claws, and scaled arms hold Lily now. I carry her out through the pathway of light, when she gasps.

Realizing that she’d woken up, I quickly shielded her eyes with a webbed wing. But I know I have to act fast when she begins thrashing about, nails biting at my skin.

“Let me go!” she yells, and a nail scrapes the inside of my wing. My reaction is to remove the veil—not from the pain she tries inflicting on me, but as a scare tactic.

It works when her eyes widen in horror at my face.

“Wh-what are you?” she gasps.

I use the moment of silence following her fear to lift us higher into the air with a flap of my wings. Though I’m wielding invisibility, Lily can only see me because of the physical contact.

‘What I am doesn’t matter,’ I speak mentally, staring into her fearful eyes. Her face pales when she hears my voice in her head. There’s no way we can make this journey with her awake. All I say is, ‘This is for your own good,’ before breathing into her face.

She doesn’t know what hit her when she falls asleep. The breath that elicits a state of trance is what allows me to make the rest of the journey to Aurora Island without a tussle.

Entering the island through the protective layer of the silver dome, I’m thankful for the quiet. With the clan resting in their respective homes, I can head over to the castle without being detected.

However, the heavy security systems pick my arrival up, and Father sends instructions through my mind.

“You are back, Son,” he says through the mind-link. “The Council will meet you in the boardroom.”

I’ve just arrived, and the Dragon Council already wishes to see me. Blowing out a breath of fire at the pinnacle of the castle, I glide down through the sliding door on the skylight.

“I will meet with the Council tomorrow,” I reply to Father’s instruction.

Luckily, Lily is still asleep when I enter the west wing of the bedroom quarters. The room prepared for her is next to mine, so I dump her on her bed and lock the door before going to my bedroom.

A quick shower to wash off any traces of Lily’s scent is exactly what I needed. And a good night’s sleep is what’s called for.

***

“It’s done,” I announce as I enter the boardroom on the fifth floor of the castle the next morning. The Council members are gathered there, appearing weary. Almost as if they’ve spent the past few nights awaiting my return.

“I’ve brought your human to Aurora Island,” I say matter-of-factly as I round the oval table and plop onto a chair. Leaning back, I casually fold my arms and raise my brows at the elders.

Father clears his throat, leaning forward and steepling his fingers on the edge of the desk. “Have you begun the process of mating with the human?”

Sniffing, I shake my head. “I don’t plan on mating with her. Perhaps Felix might be—”

Just then, someone bursts through the doors of the boardroom. “Brother!” Speak of the devil. “You’re back!”

Barely sparing a glance over my shoulder, I toss a half-hearted wave behind me. “Felix… We were just discussing how you might like to entertain our human guest.”

The tension in the room becomes palpable as the Council members exchange weary looks. Felix stops behind me, placing his hands on my shoulders.

“The much-anticipated arrival of Lily Turner, huh?” he chuckles. “She’s your chosen mate, Brother. She’s all yours.”

I lift my head and glower at Felix, who casually winks at me before taking the seat beside mine. “She’s nothing of mine. I refuse to plant seeds in something so…” I shrug. “... Imperfect.”

Felix snorts. “If it’s perfection you seek, Brother, then that’s what you’ll get once she becomes immortal.”

“If she becomes immortal,” I correct him as I wince. “I highly doubt she’ll handle my DNA.”

“According to the Cube of Knowledge, she’s the only human female who can,” Zark reminds me.

Grunting, I get out of the chair and turn to the elders. “I’m not mating with her. Not yet, anyway.”

“Draco—” Father begins, but I shake my head to stop him.

“I know that this is the only way, Father. But I have to be sure about this myself. I did as instructed and brought her here.” I take a deep breath. “What happens next is up to me.”

The commanding tone in my voice silences the Council, allowing me to leave in peace. After all, I am the Alpha of this clan. I won’t be subdued simply because they make up the Dragon Council.

Just as I exit the boardroom, Kairo appears in front of me. She lifts a brown bag and dangles it in front of my face.

“Breakfast!” she announces proudly, her green eyes glowing warmly.

“I’m not hungry,” I grouch, attempting to step passed her. She’s adamant and stands in my way.

“Not for you, silly!” she bleats. “It’s for the human.”

Rolling my eyes, I make a nimble escape and head down the hallway. Kairo is persistent and follows me all the way to the lifts. As I step inside, she pushes the bag at me.

“Please, Brother,” she pleads with a pout.

“I can’t believe you prepared breakfast for her,” I scoff.

Kairo giggles. “She needs to eat, doesn’t she?” My sister leans against the lift frame, gesturing for me to take the bag. “Don’t be so insensitive, Draco. I know you don’t like this whole thing, but she’s here now. Deal with it.”

When I grab the brown bag adversely, she throws the widest grin my way. “Take good care of her,” Kairo adds.

“Yeah… Whatever,” I sneer as the lift doors slide to a close. Sighing, I relax my shoulders when I’m finally alone. As the lift takes me up to the bedroom quarters, I try not to think too much about what my sister said.

Take good care of her? I can barely stand the human…

Lily’s bedroom is on the way to mine, but I pass it without a second thought. I need the sanctity of my own room, carrying the brown bag with me.

Only when I’m in the confines of the four navy walls of my bedroom, the weight of these past few days finally sets in. Even after a good night’s rest, this morning’s meeting serves as a brutal reminder of my fate.

Blowing a breath through my lips, I’m about to head to the bed when I remember the brown bag.

There’s no point in keeping her breakfast here. It’s not like I have an appetite. Grunting, I exit my room again and stop at the door beside mine.

Unlocking the door, I step quietly inside to find the woman sleeping.

Perhaps I’d been too harsh, I realize as I glance at the brown bag in my hand. Being abducted and flown off to an island inhabited by dragons is a tough pill to swallow. It’s evident in the tears crusted on her cheek.

Tentatively walking up to the bed, I’m about to kneel beside her when her eyelids spring open.

She gasps, in what sounds like recognition. There’s hope that flashes in her large, brown eyes as she quickly scrambles to her feet.

The woman is frantic as she grabs fistfuls of my sweater, catching me off-guard.

“Help me!” she begs, her voice a desperate cry. “Please! You have to help me!”