Draco
1107 Words
The figure stopped but did not turn to face the King.
“Are you leaving already?” he asked, his voice surprised and a little confused. The king didn’t wait for an answer as he continued. “The party just started, you should stay a while longer. Aren't you looking forward to dining with your king?” he offered with a slight, haughty tilt to his head.
The figure finally turned around and the king’s eyes opened wide with astonishment. The man’s mere presence was awe-inspiring, his male beauty something from beyond the mortal realm. Never one to be easily awed by a man’s physical appearance, the king found himself stunned to silence. He had never seen a man look so breathtaking and yet so dangerous.
The younger man tucked his hands casually into his pockets, a slow, subtle smile touching his lips. The expression was gentle on the surface, yet something powerful behind it gave the King pause. “Yes, of course. I’d like to dine with the King,” he announced before walking towards Talia's father.
The King snapped out of his daze and reached out for a quick handshake. "Your name, young man?"
The man seemed to hesitate, almost as if deciding whether or not to speak. Then, in a deep, smooth voice, he spoke.
“I am Draco,” he said, as he shook the king’s hand.
“Draco? Which royal line are you from?” the king asked, his curiosity piqued. He had never heard of the name Draco before, not in the vampire houses or the wolves.
“Oh no, I'm not royalty,” Draco replied with a sharp smirk.
The king was startled by his reply. This man was not royalty? Yet, the stranger's features were so regal, so striking that it was impossible to believe that he wasn’t the heir to some far-off kingdom. King Moroi gave the man a sharp once over, intrigued and confused at the same time.
Something intrigued him about the man, something he couldn't place--almost a compulsion to know more. He decided to invite Draco to a more private area of the hall, where they could dine together alone, away from the endless crowd of guests.
“Today is my daughter’s birthday.” he announced proudly, "Do you see her? She's over there,” The king gestured towards his daughter, his voice filled with pride.
Draco's gaze turned toward Talia where she was mingling effortlessly in the crowd despite her sheltered upbringing, everyone drawn to her effervescent nature. Draco didn't blink. It appeared as though he was mesmerized, and yet at the same time, this expression was something dark, deep, and intense. In that moment, he saw, not Talia, but a new treasure to be possessed.
“She just turned 20. Ripe for marriage.” the king laughed, looking over to Draco who had not taken his eyes off of his daughter.
Draco turned a sharp gaze to the king, his face unreadable. The king's laughter trailed off as it dawned on him what he had just said before the vampire had arrived. He couldn't allow a non-royal man to have his only daughter. It was unheard of. Besides, 20 was not ripe for marriage. What was he saying?
"So what brings you here?” King Moroi cleared his throat trying to recover his wits, his voice sharp and suspicious, his eyes narrowed with distrust of the stranger.
“Why for your daughters’ party of course!” Draco replied casually, his tone unwavering.
"You must have come with someone else, yes. I don't know you, and you weren't on the guest list." The king challenged.
"Well, I was just on my way out, but you stopped me," Draco replied with a hint of humor as his gaze went back to Talia again.
“That doesn't answer my question,” the king snapped back. His unease was steadily growing with each passing moment.
“My kingdom doesn’t belong here. It's mightier than yours, trust me, you wouldn’t even want to know what it is.” Draco stood and took the last gulp of his drink.
The King looked to him with annoyance in his gaze, “So, you are from a royal line then? Is that what you’re trying to say?” The king’s voice held a mix of skepticism and intrigue, the truth of this mysterious man lost somewhere between his words, but the king was intrigued and wanted to know more.
“You could say that,” Draco smirked, his eyes glinting with unknown meaning.
“You think you're quite clever, don't you,” the king chuckled, relishing the back and forth they were now engaging in.
Draco was enjoying how easily the conversation was moving forward. It was so easy to get to the heart of his prey. The plan was going more smoothly than he had hoped.
“I knew you'd ask that,” Draco replied, a smirk playing to the corner of his lips.
The king gave an easy laugh, relishing in the moment, "Hmmm, could you possibly have heard about my beautiful daughter, Talia then?"
Draco laughed again, even louder, pleased at the ease in which the King was falling into his trap. He had his fish, and the net was about to close.
Draco always got what he wanted.
*****
Thalia's Wedding Morning
The door swung open again, and Molly appeared in the doorway. Her presence was a stark contrast to the elegant formality of the previous occupants.
“Your Majesty, Princess, The King says the groom has arrived, and the wedding preparations are almost completed!” she announced.
“He’s here already? Damn!” the Queen exclaimed, her voice betraying the worry she had been trying desperately to conceal.
“Talia, we don’t have time to talk about this any longer! You need to get dressed!” the Queen said, quickly pushing her daughter to the edge of the bed.
“But Mom, I-I-,” Talia tried to protest but her mother quickly cut her off.
“You’ll be fine, my darling,” the queen interrupted, reassuring her daughter. She then turned to the man in the corner of the room. “Don’t just stand there staring, take out the damn dress!”
The man jumped and quickly moved to obey the Queen opening the large box, gasps filled the entire room as every one of the women stared in disbelief.
“A black wedding dress!?” Talia cried, her voice a mix of confusion, shock, and horror. Who was this man she was supposed to marry? And what was her life going to be like now?
- Writer
