Rise of the Dragon Princess

CHAPTER 5

~WREN~

I can't believe I just had my first kiss without thinking it over. I know. Most girls don't wait that long to get their first kiss but what can I say? I'm not most girls and Roman is different. The moment however turns awkward because I don't know what to do next.

He looks at me like I'm a representation of his whole world. His smile makes my insides shimmer but at the same time nervous. My mind is not so still because I have hundreds of questions running wildly inside. Is he really as bad as they say? I haven't been told much but I have witnessed his effect on the others. What if his intentions toward me are not as pure as he makes them to be?

With that thought in mind, I break our contact quickly and tuck my hands away into the safety of my jacket's pockets. I sigh heavily and shift my gaze.

"So, how does this work?" I ask carefully. "This... Mate thing?"

Roman chuckles softly before responding. I feel like a twelve-year-old who just discovered their body's anatomy.

"You seriously have no idea, do you?"

"I wouldn't be asking if I knew," I respond with a shrug.

"It's basically a bond shared between soulmates. Only that we have to accept each other to activate it." He continues. "It's activated through a process called mating which simply means... having s*x. And a bite to mark you as mine."

I turn around sharply and stare at him doe-eyed. Does he really mean that? My heart misses several beats and I exhale involuntarily. He isn't laughing which means it's not some kind of joke. I can feel blood draining from my face and my attempts to hide it fail miserably.

"Well, it's not just s*x. It's more like making love." I know he thinks he is easing this for me but I can't help feeling the hardness in my chest growing. I fold my hands into fists inside my pockets to calm myself. Roman reaches for my face and lifts my chin. I'm forced to look at him. "Hey, don't look so green. It's not as horrifying as it sounds, I promise."

"It's not that..." I shake my head quickly and realign my statement. "I don't even know you, Roman. We just met."

"That's okay, Wren," he smiles. "I am here to teach you all about it."

I smile. I'm about to speak again when I feel someone at the door. I'm not sure how but I'm sure someone is standing there probably spying on us. I flick my gaze towards the door and then get up quickly. Roman stands up and follows me from a few steps away. I indicate for him to remain quiet as I grab the handle.

Upon opening the door, Sage staggers inside and almost falls at Roman's feet.

"Sage!" I utter in surprise as she regains her balance. Her right arm is draped in a sling. "What were you doing at the door?"

Her eyes flick toward Roman briefly then back at me.

"I was coming to check on you."

"By standing outside the door? That sounds more like spying," Roman states bluntly.

"I'm sorry, did I come too early before you mauled her apart, Grayson?" Sage shoots back.

The two exchanged intense glances for several seconds which makes me uncomfortable. It is clear that there is a history between them. Maybe something I don't want to know about. I'm not sure what to do at that point but I shake that thought off and turn to Sage.

"Did I do that to you?" I ask looking at her arm.

Sage shrugs it off easily, "Just a couple of broken bones but I will survive. Can we talk?" She looks at Roman again with a slight hint of contempt and then adds, "Alone."

Roman turns to me. I can see the hatred he has for Sage in his eyes but it disappears the moment our gazes hold. Maybe I do need to know what he is all about and something tells me he isn't the one to ask. I nod slowly.

"Sure." Roman scoffs but doesn't say anything more to Sage. He stops in front of me briefly.

"See you tomorrow?" he asks.

"Yeah." I lock the door after him and lean against the door. Sage walks over to my bed and sits down. "Is everything okay?"

"We saw what happened out there, Wren. Everyone saw it."

"Okay?" I walk towards her slowly. "Which part?"

"Roman provoking you, you exploding..." she goes on. "Did he hurt you in any way?"

I shake my head not sure of what she is asking. I know what she is asking but her voice sounds like there's more to it. Something deeper than her question.

"No, he was protecting me." The look in her eyes isn't really convinced. "I know he grabbed me and said some words that are still haunting me even now but he apologized just a few minutes ago about the whole thing and —"

"Roman Grayson apologized to you?" she asks in disbelief. "And... What else?"

"He said that I'm his mate and then we kissed," I respond naturally with a smile.

Sage's mouth drops open. She sits up and stares at me like I am bearing two heads. Did I miss something? Isn't this the point where we start giggling and jumping up and down because the hottest guy in school is into me? Well, maybe in a different life.

I join her on the bed and sigh heavily. Several minutes pass in the silence to the point I start wondering just how much weight that confession carried. Did I break her?

"Sage?" I can't deal with the suspense much longer. She shakes herself out of the shock and turns to me. "Is there something I should know? Am I in danger or something?"

"No love," she shakes her head quickly and stands up. Alarm bells start clanging in my head. Something is definitely wrong. "It might be a good thing I guess."

"What?" I stand up abruptly. "Whatever it is you know about him, I need to know. Please."

Sage swallows, "Well, apart from the fact that he is irritable, aggressive, and sometimes manipulative," she shrugs and goes on. "Roman is—"

"Did I hear someone just say, Roman?" A voice interrupts.

We both turn around. A blonde girl with sparkling blue eyes stands at the door leaning against the door frame. She isn't wearing any uniform so I can't tell what she is as easily. Sage however has a familiar look in her eye, one I have seen multiple times before.

"Brooke," she utters flatly.

"Hm," the girl mumbles and wipes the end of her lips with a finger before stepping in fully.

I'm sure I had locked that door. How she enters is beyond my comprehension. I stare at her as she makes herself comfortable in my room.

"What did my boyfriend do this time?" she asks.

"Boyfriend?" I ask in surprise.

"I was getting to it when I got interrupted," Sage responds but her menacing gaze is still on Brooke.

"Roman has a girlfriend?"

"Sorry love. I should have warned you earlier but then I had no idea things would turn out this way."

"And who might this halfwit be?" Brooke asks scaling my five foot five height with disinterest. It is as if she just noticed me and right away, my guts hate her.

I'm not sure how to react but I exhale deeply. Sage's subtle touch on my hand brings me back before the whispers in my head take over fully. I heave and release my breath slowly.

"Wren," I state confidently. "And I suggest you get off my bed right now."