Rise of the Dragon Princess

CHAPTER 4

~WREN~

Against my better judgment, I fight against him hitting his chest with my free hand. He tightens his hold on me and pulls me closer to him. I crash into his chest.

"You do not fight against me! You do not try to hit me and you do not challenge me!" he growls, his nose flaring and jaw twitching in anger. His tone changes suddenly. "You do as I say without question, you hear me!"

"You can't do anything because I own you. You are mine!" he hisses next to my ear.

I freeze but my eyes pop open. Did I hear him right? A sudden gasp escapes from my mouth. Own me? I'm his property or some kind of toy to push around? I can't wrap the words around my head. My mind is racing and my entire core shivers in fear.

I can feel my heart racing in my chest. I can't control my breathing as suddenly a feeling of deja Vu hits me. I feel like I have lived through this again. My body feels alarmingly hot and my chest hardens. I feel light-headed for a second as he goes on, squeezing my hands in his firm grip.

"You are hurting me," I manage between heavy sighs but he doesn't seem to hear me.

His face is too close to me, I can feel his hot breath spraying my face. I'm sure a series of words follow but I can't focus on them. It is too much. My blood is boiling through me. The space between us is too tight making me feel like I'm being pressed beneath tonnes of weights. I'm scared but somehow I can't scream.

In desperation, I close my eyes and with as much force as I can muster, I push him hard off me. I don't know how but somehow, new strength kicks in and flows through me. I manage to throw him off my body and scream. I feel light. So light as if I'm floating in the air. My arms are outstretched but I can't feel them. The body I am in doesn't feel like mine yet the power of my voice feels right at home.

The echo of my screams spreads across the air. Time passes quickly. Or so it seems. The moment I open my eyes, I'm standing on the field, several bodies lying around me. A section of the field is charred. I look around me. Several yards from me, a guy struggles to get up. I recognize him quickly and gulp. It's Roman. A short distance away, Sage stares back at me in shock. There is another woman. She is new to me but somehow strangely, she seems familiar. I feel like I have seen her before but I can't remember where.

I feel faint. My knees buckle and the ground underneath my feet shifts. My sight blurs and my heartbeat slows down. I can feel my body giving in to gravity but all I can manage is a sigh. The woman rushes towards me.

"Maia!" Her voice sounds too far and I can barely feel her hands on me. "Just breathe. You are okay," she smiles at me and I let go. Everything goes dark.

★★★

I wake up later to loud voices around me. I'm not sure how long I've been out. The light around me is blinding and I blink severally to adjust to it. He is the first person I see the moment I manage to focus. His back is towards me but I know it's him.

"What were you thinking?" I hear someone's voice reprimand.

"I was just trying to protect her and I lost control. I'm sorry!"

"Roman," I manage barely above a whisper but he hears it and turns.

"Wren," he calls and rushes to my side with a worry stricken face. "Are you okay?"

"I'm okay," I nod slowly. "Are you?"

Instead of responding, he raises his hand towards my face. I look at him apprehensively but let him touch me. He cups my face gently and remains there for several seconds. I remember every bit and piece of what happened. I don't know how it happened but I remember everything. Roman stares into my eyes guiltily.

"I'm so sorry for what I said to you. I should have handled it in a better way."

"Why did you say all that?" I ask curiously.

Roman averts his gaze and his cheeks flush for brief seconds. When he looks up again, his golden eyes are blazing brilliantly. He smiles. My heart gladdens with a warmth I can't describe. I don't want to stop looking at him. The feeling is unexplainable but somehow I feel connected with him.

"Because you are my mate, Wren."

"Mate?"

"Yes," he nods. "You and I are meant to be together. For life."

I'm not sure I understand what he means. A part of me knows that this is not some kind of manipulation but I'm confused. First, it is the fact that I can do things that I never would have dreamed of. And now even before I can process that, I learn that I belong to some stranger who dared to manhandle me in the process igniting my powers. I sigh exasperatedly and try to blink the information in.

"It's all confusing and a lot to take in all at once," a woman's voice interrupts us.

I look up to meet her eyes. She is the one who caught me right before I fell. The same familiar feeling like I know her settles inside me as our gazes hold. She sits down on the other side of the bed.

"What's wrong with me?" I ask searching her eyes intently.

"Nothing is wrong with you. You have a power stronger than any of us in the academy, Maia."

"You have called me that twice. Who is Maia?"

"You, dear one. I'll tell you everything once you are strong enough. For now, you need to rest." She stands up. "Roman will see you off to your room. We are not going to have another problem, are we?" she asks looking at Roman.

"No, Commander," he responds and turns to me. "Can you stand?"

"I think so."

Despite the response, he helps me up and guides me out of the house. We make our way to the hostels in silence until we get to my room. He hovers around even as I walk to my bed and sit down. I can tell he wants to say something but he hesitates at the door. I haven't seen him as nervous as he is right now. It's exciting. He looks at me intently and I smile in amusement.

"Are you coming in or what?" I ask boldly.

Roman steps in, his hands resting in the safety of his pockets and an anxious look spreads across his face.

"You must really hate me for how we were first introduced."

I know he means it as a question but it comes out as a statement. I go ahead to respond anyway.

"On the contrary, I'm intrigued."

"Most people hate me."

"I know that."

"But you don't?"

"I don't have any reason to." He smiles and sits next to me. "If anything, you should hate me because I almost hurt you when you were only trying to protect me."

We both chuckle. Our gazes meet and hold. His features lay out perfectly on his face. His smile dazzles me and a dimple forms on his cheek catching me by surprise. He really is gorgeous! He takes my hand and the contact makes my heart throb. Our fingers interlock and I can swear I feel his heartbeat through the skin contact matching mine.

"You are the last person I'll ever hate, Wren," he declares. My name roll out of his mouth so smoothly. His eyes turn a shade darker as he stares at me. "My bond to you will never allow me to do that."

I swallow nervously. My gaze drops from his eyes to his lips then back. Maybe it's the bond he is talking about or maybe it's my attraction to him but whatever it is pushes me towards him. He leans closer. His warm breath tickles my skin as our noses make contact. He places a hand on my cheek and leans in brushing his lips on mine in a tease.

My lips ache for more. I press my hand into his and ease into the kiss. I part my lips and he takes the lead right away. Deep, sensual, unrushed and perfect. He breaks it off after several seconds but doesn't pull away completely.

"Now that's feels like a proper introduction," he whispers against my face.

I chuckle and bite my bottom lip. My mind screams inwardly in agreement.