Kidnapped by the Dragon King

Choices

Marcus POV

Another letter from the Dragon King? Another demand that I force Corrine to marry Arias? Who did this man think he was, speaking to me like I was a servant in his castle? I paced the room, trying to figure out how to reply to this ignorant king. I had a fantastic army but didn't want to antagonize him. I couldn't foresee how that would play out if I angered him. In a land war, I was sure we would win, especially on our turf, but there was a reason they called him the Dragon King. He had dragons! Antioch was the only Kingdom that had figured out how to trap, tame, and train dragons to use in their military. That was how they had leveled dozens of kingdoms in the past two decades. I couldn't allow my daughter to go to Antioch! I knew nothing about the Mongomery family and especially nothing about Arias. He had only become King two years ago. If Corrine went there, who is to say they wouldn't keep her? How would I get her back if she was held against her will? There were too many unknowns, and I wouldn't be pressured. I wouldn't have to deal with this if she would choose a husband! I could reply that Corrine had made a decision but he could easily find out that was untrue. She was as stubborn as a mule! I know she could be happy with any of the young men who have come to court her. She would be safe and comfortable, and, in time, she could come to love them. I rubbed my hand over my face and sighed. I walked back to my chair and sat down at my desk. I had to respond to this Dragon King and deny him once again. I wasn't sure how many times he would ask. I wasn't sure the next time he would ask.

My only saving grace was that Antioch was far to the south. I had not personally ever visited the kingdom. I had never had the opportunity or need to meet with him or his father when he was king. Why did he want her? This had to do with the talents she expressed when she was younger, but she didn't know anything. We handled it years ago! How could Arias have any knowledge of her? I held my head in my hands and prayed he would accept my refusal.

Katherine POV

Needing to speak to Corrine, I walked quickly to her bedroom. I knew that Corrine and Brayden had been spending significant time together. I saw the looks she would give him and those he would give her in response. They were close as children, but it was just a friendship. This was more. The evidence that allowed me to see the truth was the night I went to her room, wanting to speak with her. I heard noises, like moans, coming from that direction and followed the sounds to her door. I cracked it open and peeked inside. Brayden had his muscle-toned body stretched over my daughter on the bed and I knew I had seen enough. I hoped Corrine was honest enough to know this would never last and that they could never be together. My eyes teared up at the thought of the heartbreak my beautiful girl would have to endure when the day came she accepted a husband. This life was unfair, but I had been forced to make the same decision. Marcus was good to me. He made sure I was safe and warm. I had almost everything I ever wanted. I even loved him to a point. We were best friends, and he occasionally visited my room at night. We would share our bodies and my bed, and then he would leave. It was a better life than I expected, and Corrine would find it wasn't so bad.

We both wanted more children; however, that wasn't meant to be. My pregnancy with Corrine was difficult. More than once, the doctors believed I could not carry her to term. I spent most of my time in bed hoping that bedrest would allow her to survive. The day she arrived, I was sure it would be her last. Her skin had a blue tint; she was cold and clammy. She didn't cry. Marcus and I held her, talked with her, and wanted her to know how much she was loved. After laying her in her bassinet, Marcus and I fell asleep. A short time later, I was awoken by a baby screaming. She was alive! The blue tint to her skin was gone; she had a pink glow instead. She was loud and knew exactly what she wanted. She ate like a horse, always wanting to nurse. There was no explanation for the complete turnaround, but I would not argue. I had a happy, healthy baby!

I wanted to speak with Corrine about the suitors that had already come to see her. I was sure she could choose one of them. Marcus had mentioned that the Dragon King had sent several messages already asking for Corrine's hand in marriage. Each time, Marcus had replied that this was Corrine's decision and she had refused to marry him. This last message sounded like a demand, not an inquiry, and Marcus was becoming concerned. He hoped I could get Corrine to see it from his point of view.

I knocked on Corrine's door and heard a quiet "Come in" from behind it.

As I entered the room and saw my child lying on her bed, waking from sleep, I gave her a small smile. She looked at me and sat up. "Did you need something, mother?" she inquired. I sat down on the edge of her bed and sighed.

"I need to speak with you. Your father received another message from Arias Montgomery. He is insistent that you marry him. Your father denied him again, but I believe we will receive another message soon. This would all be settled if you could pick one of the young men who have already expressed interest in making you their Queen. There must have been one you could be happy with?" I reached over to brush her hair out of her face.

Corrine gasped and exclaimed, "Mother, no! They were awful. Conceit poured out of them and they wouldn't care who I was as long as I brought my land and army with me! I am not going to marry any of them. Never!"

This would be more difficult than I thought. "Corrine! Would you think about your people? If Arias decides, he could bring our kingdom to the ground!" I didn't want to scold her, but she needed to know the possible outcomes of her actions. "This man has destroyed several kingdoms, and I'm sure he wouldn't think twice about doing that again."

The tears began to flow from Corrine's eyes, and guilt began to seep from my heart. This was not her lot to bear, and I needed to speak to Marcus immediately. She deserved to know the truth and make her decision accordingly.

"I would rather die than live the rest of my life with any of those men. I'm sorry, mother. I know I am disappointing you," Corrine whispered as she fled from her room.

"Corrine! Wait!" I yelled as I ran after her, but she was gone by the time I got to the staircase leading to the main floor, and I had no idea where to look for her. I hurried to Marcus's office and knocked on the door before entering.

When Marcus saw the look on my face, he sprang from his chair and came to me. "What's wrong?" he asked, wiping the tears from my eyes.

"She has run off, and I don't know where she might go. Corrine is upset, and we need to tell her the truth. She shouldn't have to choose just because we did." The tears continued down my face, and I fell to my knees.

Marcus knelt and embraced me in his arms. He kissed my forehead and replied, "She might turn away from us completely. She might blame us, and that scares me. If she leaves and is so angry that she can't stay here, she could be in horrible danger and completely defenseless."

My tears subsided, and I wiped my eyes with my hand. Marcus assisted me in standing, and I gazed at my husband. The man in front of me was a good man. He had always done what he felt was best for me and our daughter. "Then we make her listen. We explain everything. We convince her to stay."

Marcus nodded and touched my cheek. "We convince her to stay," he repeated, and I prayed that Corrine could forgive us for not telling her the truth years ago.