Chapter 1

Avalon

"I don't want to marry anyone!" I immediately protest, frustrated with Mom and Dad to the point that I wonder if they even care what they are doing to their daughter when they know this is not what I want, "I understand that the dragon race is dying out but that doesn't mean that I need to just jump into bed with the first dragon that I see. I want to marry for love, not just because I'm expected to."

Dad shrugs his shoulders and obviously doesn't care what I have to say at this point, "I'm sorry, Avalon, but it has already been decided that you will be marrying Ryu. He is a capable warrior and suitable enough to become the next King. He is the Guardian, one of the protectors of our kingdom. Many have faced him but were quickly killed. I have a feeling that you two will get along just enough."

"Mom!" I yell at her, hoping that she will see reason, "This isn't fair! You and Dad got married for love, not because you were expected to. This is not right to be pushing this onto me when I don't deserve it. Wouldn't it be right enough to leave it alone and not try to force this on me?"

"I'm sorry, honey, but things have changed since we got married." Mom tells me, a look of sadness on her face, "I know you want to meet your true love but I'm afraid it's not going to be that easy. I think you will like Ryu; he is very handsome and capable. Maybe he might be the kind of person that you would end up falling for."

I highly doubt that but by the look on Mom's face, I know there is no point in pissing her off right now. If that happened, I know it is highly possible that she might end up getting really upset with me and there's no way that I can live with it like that. If I had known this to even be possible, I would have run away and found someone that I wished to marry but I know there's no point in fighting this.

"Are you sure he isn't against this, and you haven't forced him into this as well?" I ask them, knowing sometimes people have a hard time saying no to my parents because of their higher status, "I know that you must think that everyone wants to marry a Princess, but he might not actually want me but feels obligated to. Did you think about that?"

Dad and Mom exchange looks before Dad speaks up, "Let him in."

The guards open the doors, and someone walks through, making me look over. He is really handsome, that is what I note first. He is really tall and muscular, his exposed skin full of scars. Most of the dragon warriors only wear trousers because it is easier to shift that way. His long, straight black hair falls down to his waist in an almost perfect way, making me feel a bit jealous because I wish my hair was like that. When our eyes meet, I see how they are an odd silvery color, kind of reminding me of the moon. He has sharp features, ones that make him seem even more beautiful. Wow, he is like an Adonis.

"Avalon, this is Ryu." Mom introduces us, snapping me out of my daze because this is the enemy, "I want you two to get to know each other and get a feel for one another before the wedding day. I know that you both don't want this but it's the good of the kingdom."

My eyes narrow slightly because there is no damn way that this man doesn't want me. When I see how his eyes scan me up and down, there's an indifference there that makes me want to smack him. I don't know precisely what is going through his head but it kind of feels like he is judging me in a way. I'm not going to just back down, but it is very clear to me that he might end up snapping on me or something.

I guess we will find out.

"So, you're the lucky dragon my parents have decided to pick." I murmur coldly, seeing how his eyes turn to meet mine, "I hope you know this, but I don't want to be with you. I don't want this marriage. I want someone who loves me, not just because he is doing this for the ‘duty of the kingdom'. Don't act fake around me, I can't stand it."

"Don't worry, Princess, I didn't really want you either." He grumbles, folding his arms across his chest, "I don't like spoiled brats."

I immediately want to lunge at him and show him precisely how he is making me feel but I hold myself back. Something is telling me that he wants me to attack him, but I don't know for what. Licking my bottom lip, I just stare him down and maybe hope that I don't end up making a big fool out of myself by how he is doing this.

"Great, I guess we're in agreement then." I murmur, motioning him to follow me, "Let's go and get this over with. I don't want to have to be around you more than I need to."

He follows me without question, knowing there's no way he can back down or tell me off. I am the Princess after all, and he is technically nothing until he marries me. I want to cringe at that word, but I guess there are worse things that could happen.

He better not disappoint me, that's all that I have to say to it.