The Centenary Dragon Hunt

Dinner

Rayne was surprised to see her closet full of the most beautiful dresses of every color. She had never owned so many clothes before. It was a big contrast from what she was used to this past month.

There was a soft knock at the door. Rayne knew it was Mouse before she opened it and couldn't contain her excitement, she was so excited about the new clothes that she forgot about the dinner. "Oh, my gosh Mouse, the clothes are so beautiful did you pick them out," Rayne asked, as she pulled Mouse in and shut the door.

"Yes, well, most of them anyway. I tried to think about what you would like and what you needed. Most of them have large necklines for you to easily feed your daughter and the King suggested scarves that aren't see-thorough for you." Mouse said, still getting used to Rayne's casual mannerisms. Most people were short and were very formal with her if they even noticed her.

Rayne turned her attention back to Mouse, with her hands on her hips. "Did you know that my blanket was see-through?"

"No" Mouse said with surprise. "I'm just as human as you. I couldn't see through it. It's the king who ordered the scarves. If I would have known I would have told you", Mouse decided to change the subject to something a little less embarrassing for Rayne. "I come to help you get ready for dinner."

"Oh, Mouse, I forgot all about dinner" Rayne started pacing back and forth. "What am I going to do? I don't want to have dinner with the Queen Mother or Lightning's brother."

"You don't have a choice. The King has asked you to go," Mouse said as she started pulling out a bluish-gray dress that she thought would go well with Rayne's eyes. "We should hurry. You don't want to be late. I'll stay and watch the baby for you. Dinner shouldn't be more than an hour long at most."

"Are you sure you don't mind? I can take her. I can eat with one hand or bring the bassinet to set beside me"

"No, no, it wouldn't be proper. I really don't mind. It'll be a break from scrubbing floors." Mouse said with the most sincerity she could muster.

Mouse had just put the last pin in Rayne's hair, when there was a firm knock on the door. Both girls, lost in thought, jumped at the sound. Mouse was fast to open the door so as to not keep the person waiting.

"It's the King. He's going to walk you to dinner", Mouse said, with more excitement than Rayne was feeling.

Rayne looked at herself one last time in the floor-length mirror. She was wearing a full-length strapless dress that showed a little more cleavage than she was comfortable with. With slits on both sides that went all the way up her thigh and matching pants. The material was shiny and light.

Lightning watched patiently as Rayne said goodbye to her daughter. She seemed like a good mother, even if she didn't have a name picked out for her. His mother would have left without a second thought to him.

Lightning couldn't help taking short glances at her cleavage that was on display. He always had a thing for boobs. It was hard for him not to stare and let his mind wander where it shouldn't. He noticed her hands clasped tight in front of her. "Are you nervous it's just my brother, mother, and myself?"

"That's exactly why I'm nervous your mother doesn't like me. She has made that perfectly clear. Your brother tried to kill me. Then there's you." She looked up at him.

"You didn't seem nervous in my office today. Why would dinner be any different," he asked, generally curious.

"In your office, I knew my place and what I was supposed to do. I'm the secretary. What's my place? For dinner."

Lightning stopped them outside of a dragon's earshot from the dining room. Giving her his full attention. "You are my guest, I thought that was clear."

"Yes, but what kind of guest?" When Lightning just gave her a confused look she went on. "You know am I a personal friend or work colleague or is it more of an acquaintance. Or I'm going into the lion's den because you feel obligated because you're a King or something. I mean I know you don’t want me as your mate, so it's not that". She was getting more upset.

"First off, it's not a lion's den, it's a dragon's lair. Second, how do you humans keep up with so many different guests?" he ran his fingers through his hair, not really knowing how to answer the guest thing. He decided to be as honest as he could. It's not my obligation to bring you to dinner because I'm King, but because I'm the one who found you on the Hunt. You are mine to care for until the next hunt and you are also a friend. Dragons don't have as many kinds of guests as you do, so we're friends."

They started walking again. Lightning thought friends was a good choice. More than a work colleague but less than a mate" And don't worry about my family"

Rayne didn't feel like any of her questions were answered and she was still afraid of his family.

Lightning leaned down close to her ear before they walked in. "Just to let you know, Dragons can smell fear and we like it."

That didn't help at all. She was still afraid and now she was wet between her legs from all the naughty thoughts going through her head. As could smell him and he smelled good. She could feel his warm smoky breath on her neck and she could feel his body heat. How could she not be wet at the moment?

He smiled down at her. It was the most beautiful smile she had ever seen. It didn't help the situation between her legs.

"Now... that is a smell that we like most of all."

Now she was embarrassed on top of being aroused and afraid.

The dining room was huge. Everything was white, with sky-blue trimming and gold dragon designs everywhere. She couldn't help to wonder what the view would be like on the balcony she could see through the floor-to-ceiling windows. She was led to a table in the middle of the room that could seat at least 3o people.

Lightning, seated Rayne to his left. His brothers' normal set. He felt she would be more comfortable there. That was his brother's normal seat. He knew Thunder had a lot to make up for and would not protest. His mother was seated to his right where his mate would someday be seated. He didn't think his mother would give up her seat so willingly.

It was time for dessert, Rayne's favorite part of any meal. The first three courses went by in silence. Sure, Kerryn kept staring daggers at her. Thunder didn't move his eyes off his plate and Lightning acted as if it was all perfectly normal. Perhaps it was normal for them to go through an entire meal without a word, but for Rayne, it was very abnormal. She was used to people talking, catching up on everyone's day, asking about the next day, or just passing the potatoes. There was none of that here.

As Rayne was about to sink her fork into the most beautiful golden dessert, she didn't know the name of or did she care.

Thunder spoke up for the first time "Um, Rayne, I would like to formally apologize for my actions the other day. I- was not myself."

Rayne didn't know what to say. She didn't want to accept his apology. She felt as if she accepted his apology. It would mean it was OK, and doing what he did was never okay. So, she simply said "Thanks for your apology."

"Thanks for your apology?" Kerryn said in a hateful, condescending tone. "Do you know who you are talking to? He is the crown prince. Second in line to the throne. What you should have said is No, apology necessary. Really what was Moira thinking; to bring you here? You wouldn't even make a good mate for..."

Kerryn was interrupted, "Mother, that is enough", Lightning growled, hitting his hand on the table and almost splitting it.

Rayne was tired of Kerryn and tired of being bullied by everyone. First the father of her baby and now Kerryn. It was not a good example to set for her child. "I will not say no apology necessary,” Rayne said in a voice that sounded stronger than she felt. "Although I appreciate the apology, I do not accept it. It is never ok to. to. do what he did." She stood and pointed a finger at Thunder. "He could have killed me."

Thunder raised his hands, trying to calm everyone. "It's okay mother, she doesn't have to accept my apology. She..."

Thunder was cut off by his mother, who also stood, ignoring Thunder altogether.

"How dare you talk to me that way," Kerryn said as she pointed her long bony finger at Rayne as if she was nothing more than a bug. "Guards! Guards! Have her put in the dungeon!"

The guards, who she didn't even see before, now started to rush in. Rayne started to panic. She can't go to the dungeon. She did nothing wrong, and she has a child to care for. Before Rayne could panic too much, Lightning stood up. With a simple hand jester. The guard stopped, gave a nod, and went back to his post.

"What are you doing? Did you hear how she spoke to me? I'm the Queen!"

"I heard her and you are not the Queen, you are the Queen mother" Lightning's hair was starting to move around like someone had just rubbed a balloon on it to create static and was hovering the balloon over his head to make it stand up. Except there was no balloon, it was electricity. He was the King of Lightning after all. Lightning ran in his veins.

"Thunder, do you think you can take Rayne back to her room? Without any harm coming to her." Lightning said, with a warning in his voice.

Thunder stood and held out a hand to Rayne. "I will protect her with my life" he said like a promise.

Rayne gave her golden dessert one last longing look before taking Thunder's hand. She didn't want to go with him but she wanted to sit at this table with his mother even less.

Thunder walked Rayne to her room in silence. Rayne didn’t mind the silence and she did feel safe with him. Despite what he did. She wondered if she would ever truly forgive him.

She gave him a small thank you at her door, but before she could turn the doorknob, he put a hand on her shoulder. "I truly am sorry for the other day. I wasn’t trying to kill you. I've never done that before. I just snapped. Not that. That’s an excuse. I'm just really sorry Rayne."

Rayne started to say, I don't care about your apology. She had enough for one night, but before she could say anything, he went on "Please, I don't need you to accept my apology. Just to simply know that I do apologize. I intend to make it up to you. Starting tomorrow. I heard you wanted to get out of the castle tomorrow and explore. If Lightning ends up too busy. I'll take you. How does that sound?"

Rayne could tell he was trying to make amends but she really wasn't ready for it yet but she felt it would be rude to just say no. "I'm sure Lightning will have time. Thank you for your offer though."

Once, Rayne was in her room. She leaned against the closed door and closed her eyes.

“Are you okay” Mouse asked quietly so as not to wake the sleeping baby in her arms. She could tell her new friend had a rough night.

Before Rayne could even open her mouth to tell Mouse of her night there was a quiet knock on the door. Opening the door, she saw a maid she had never seen before. She was in a sky-blue apron with a golden dragon like the maids from the kitchen. She was holding a covered plate. “The King wished for you to have this” she said as she bowed her head slightly and handed Rayne the covered plate.

As soon as the door was closed again, she removed the cover to find not one but two golden desserts. With a smile on her face, Rayne invited Mouse to join her at the table, by the large window, overlooking the night sky. Rayne gave Mouse the other golden cake and told her of her night.

“If you will not put her in the dungeon where she belongs, I demand you have Moria take her back to the human realm.”

Lightning just looked at his mother with exhaustion. He was getting tired of her demands.

“Mother, you cannot demand me to do anything. I am King. A fact you seem to keep forgetting.” Lightning stood and crossed his arms.

“Fine” his mother said with a sour smile. “Will you please call Moira? I'm sure she will see her mistake and take that. That. Woman away.”

Lightning knew Moira would not do anything and would probably be cross with him for calling her again. He just hoped that anger would be directed at his mother and not him. And hopefully his mother would realize she is powerless here.

“Moira! Moira!”

Moira appeared before Lightning in her baby pink, puffy dress. “What is it deary? You know I'm very busy this time of year.”

Lightning simply gestured to his mother who was standing behind Moira as he took a seat.

Moira turned to see Kerryn with her arms crossed with a sour look on her face. Moira has been getting tired of Kerrin's drama for years. She has been hoping, since Lightning became King, he would put his mother in her place. The woman has been trying to run the kingdom for years. But it seems very little has changed.

“You made a mistake; you must take that human back to her realm. She is not.” Kerryn stopped talking when Moira raised her hand and her dress started to turn dark pink. A sign, she was not happy.

“You,” she pointed at Kerryn, “are getting on my last nerve. You do not demand anything from me! I do not make mistakes!” She turned back to Lightning, dismissing his mother altogether.

“She is your mother. You take care of her. Don’t call me in to do your dirty work”.

Before Lightning could say anything, she was gone.