Betrothed to a Dragon Warrior

3rd Month, Year 2240 No one left in this world is 100% native blood. We are of mixed cultures spreading throughout vast regions. However, only royal blood possesses the ability to connect with dragons. The stronger the royal blood, the more powerful a dragon they attract. Until the thread of life breaks, the bond will last a lifetime. Four powerful clans rule the world. The first is Marquis, Clan of the Island of Pastures. The second is Van Heerden, Clan of the Snowy Mountains. The third, is Kikuyu, Clan of the Wild Plains. And lastly, where I was born, Ali, Clan of the Desert Oasis. I had a wonderful childhood and no regrets. My mother and father made sure to instill in us the principles and responsibilities of being a royal. But they also allowed us to still be children and enjoy ourselves. They knew that one day we would have to rule this kingdom and that our innocence would be lost forever. I knew the part I had to play. Out of the 3 children that my parents had, I, Kiko, and my brother, Akimitsu, were one in a millennium. We are royal twins, a rarity in this world. And it was time for our Awakening. When the sun sets on the 2nd day of the 6th month, we will release our energy into the world. The dragon, which matches our energy, shall return the call, and after we meet, if they accept us, we shall bond for life. Aki and I will be 21 that day, a year of maturity for all Peoples. I paced back and forth in my room, nervous about what lay ahead. Today is the day that I pick out the cloths for my ceremonial outfit. It makes it more real than ever. I will soon be a woman. No more running in the halls, screaming like a banshee as Aki and I played Goblins and Warriors. No more sneaking off in the middle of the night with Nashmi, my little sister, to raid the kitchen bakery. No more sitting on the high balconies at dinner parties, gossiping with my best friend Salwah, and watching the poor ladies make a fool of themselves for the attention of the knights. We are to learn our duties as Aki will be the next King of the Desert Oasis, and I will be Queen of one of the distant lands through marriage. I wanted something that stood out in the sand but would make me one with the water. I chose sapphire blue and gold as my color. My brother chose wintergreen and gold for his garments. Although the robes were for sure going to be beautiful, I still had an insecurity that they would outshine my dull features. I had long raven curly locks reaching the curve of my buttocks. It contained natural streaks of dark blue. My eyes were hazel and my skin the color of milky coffee that the Clan of Van Heerden were fond of drinking. Bless the Heavens for bestowing me this beauty. Too bad, it was hidden behind my round face and hips. What suitor will look past fat thighs and a kangaroo pouch? My stretch marks covered my hips, and my breasts were full yet slightly uneven. My waist was a bit narrow, making me resemble a pear. However, I could not escape the mini rolls that formed when I sat down. If I were competing in any beauty contests here in Ali, I wouldn’t even make the top 50. The beauty that my mother hailed had eluded me. Mother was tall and practically glided when she moved. Everything about her was majestic. Her neck, her slender arms, her long legs, and her mocha skin made the other women envious. Baba was a lucky man to have her as his life mate. Baba wasn’t an ugly man either. Aki inherited his genes. It was unfair. We trained together, yet I remained chubby while he was chiseled, as if carved from stone. All I have to show for my work is toned legs. The thighs just won’t go down. I stared at the birthmark on my left wrist. It was the insignia of Ali. It was the sun, in the colors blue, yellow, and red. All royals have a birthmark. Lately, it has been itching and burning with no relief. No amount of cream would cool it down. I heard wings flap at my balcony window. A messenger bird. Looks like it’s from Salwah. I unwrapped the parchment paper from the bird’s feet and read the letter. “Before you go to your ceremonial dance lessons, meet me by the gates. I have something for you.” I searched for some parchment paper on my wooden desk. “Sure, I will be there in one hour.” I sealed my letter with my royal seal and tied my response to the bird’s legs. It was time to get ready. The dance was part of the Awakening ceremony. First came the dance, then the dive in the Sacred Water Fountain to retrieve our jewelstone which will aid in determining which dragon will partner with us. I quickly put my dress on. It was white, with 2 slits on the sides, reaching my upper thigh. The top part of the dress had off-the-shoulder short sleeves. And attached to my hip was a belt with my double daggers. I never went anywhere without them. I hurried along the palace and down the main stairwell towards the gates. There Salwah waited for me like she promised. She was beautiful as ever, her golden hair flying in the wind and of course, a pomelo in her hand. “I’m assuming you paid for that?” “Of course,” Salwah laughed. “Ever since I turned 21, the old man refused to give me free fruits unless I wed his son.” I laughed at such an idea. “Father would have a heart attack. Besides, the old man is only interested in being in proximity to the Knights. That’ll for sure boost his business." “How dare you crush the old man’s dreams,” I smirked. “Please,” Salwah huffed. “His son can barely shoot an arrow, even if all the mages combined their powers and helped him. A blind rat has a better chance of hitting a target. And we all know, if can’t aim straight, there would be no hope for our honeymoon.” I gasped, hoping none of the guards heard us. Leave it to Salwah to say it like it is. That girl has no filter. “Anyway, what do you have for me?” It was then that I noticed that she was carrying a satchel over her shoulder. She reached inside and pulled out a small gold necklace with the yin half of the yin and yang symbol. It was gorgeous. Tears welled up in my eyes. I don’t know why I got so emotional. It wasn’t like I was leaving to get married anytime soon. We’ll still be able to see each other, maybe not as much now that I must take my duties as Princess seriously. “It connects with mine so that you’ll never forget me.” There on Salwah’s neck, was the yang half. I hugged her so tight that I might’ve cracked a rib. “You don’t know how much this means to me. Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you.” “And one more thing.” “Wait, there's more?” My eyes widened. “Yes madame. This one was a little difficult sneak out, and it might be a bit older, but it works nonetheless.” Before I could ask any more questions, a shiny round object caught eye. It can’t be. “Salwah! No way, how did you-.” “Father may have left the lab unattended once. Anyways, he won’t even notice it’s gone. I was going to wait until your Awakening to give it to you, but we both have work to do in the upcoming months. I don’t know when I’ll have another chance.” I looked at the Communication orb. They took so much skill to make and run on jewelstones. Only the higher-ups like the Knights and the King and Queen keep one for communication from afar. Salwah’s father was the right-hand Knight of my father and was in charge of creating them. What am I going to do with this girl? “Here, take it before anyone else sees. We’ll test it out later tonight after your practice," she gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and headed through the gates. I hurried back up the main staircase, through the gardens, and towards the dance room to practice. It was such a difficult session. I was nervous at the thought of performing this in front of hundreds of people, my potential mate included. But I got through it. Later that night, Salwah and I tested out the Communication Orb. It was a success. 8,000 Miles Away A man sat under the tree. The sun was setting over the horizon. The last of its rays warmed his golden skin. A gentle breeze was in the air, carrying the scent of fresh herbs and baked bread from nearby homes. The sound of the river was a soothing lullaby. Then suddenly, he felt it. His right wrist was stinging and his birthmark, the setting sun over the waves, became warm. He rubbed his birthmark, wondering what it could mean. Is his mate close by? His heart raced, and the face of Valeria flashed in his mind. He thought of her porcelain skin, those rosy lips, and piercing blue eyes that lit up the world when she smiled. He was not ready to give her up. Ever. The thought of those lips frowning with disappointment made his stomach hurt. “MY KING”, The man was startled from his thoughts. His head banged against a tree root. “f**k”, he muddled a curse word. “What is it?” “We’ve received an invitation for the Prince and Princess of Ali’s Awakening, sir.” He opened the letter. We invite you to our daughter, Princess Kiko Azina Ali, and our son, Prince Akimitsu Amir Ali’s Awakening. It will be held on the 20th day of the 6th month, a festival lasting three days. It would be pleasing to have you here to celebrate this special occasion. Details will be sent a month in advance. He had a gnawing feeling in his chest, that this would be no ordinary ceremony.