The Dragon Crown Princes' Mate

10- Annabelle

"Today, we will be talking about Mates." Mr. Goldberg said as he stood from his desk to stand in front of the whiteboard. 

Mates, how sad was it that I didn't even know we had those. I knew werewolves did, though all my knowledge of that comes from whatever stories I have read. 

"Does anyone know what age you have to be to find one?" Looking around the room, noticing no one was about to volunteer themselves, he gave a disappointed sigh and began with the lecture. 

Quietly I began to take notes. This was actually a topic I was interested in. Not because I thought I had a mate, but just the idea of having someone specifically destined for just you seemed so romantic. 

"As many of you know," Mr. Goldberg went on. "You not only need to be eighteen years old to find your mate, but both parties need to have a dragon. Therefore, anyone who has a fully dormant dragon will sadly not be able to find their Mates. The way we know our mates is through touch. Unlike the wolves who can scent them out, it is not that simple for us. Only one half needs to be eighteen for two mates to find each other. Once one turns eighteen, if they touch, a burning heat will be felt at the contact point."

While I found all of it pretty interesting, I couldn't help but grumble to myself. The way he was talking about Mates, so bored and in a monotone voice, had me wanting to nod off. 

Thankfully just as I was about to doze off, the bell rang, signaling the start of first lunch. Quickly I shoved everything into my backpack and hauled it out of the room. 

"Whoa." a deep voice said as a pair of solid arms wrapped around my shoulders to keep me from falling backward. 

Looking up to see who I had assaulted in my mad dash out of the classroom, I was shocked to see a pair of sapphire blue eyes staring down at me, humor evident. 

I groaned loudly as I straightened myself, hating how I could feel heat spread from my neck to my cheeks, letting me know I was a deep shade of red right now. 

"So," he said, laughter in his eyes, "do you only run around when you sense me around?" He asked, failing to keep the smirk off his face.

"Do you always put yourself in my path when I am running?" I deadpanned. His eyes widening before he let out a roar of laughter, causing every student in the hall to stop on their tracks and look over at Malachi in shock and wonder. 

"Brother, you are laughing." A voice said from behind me. Instantly stopping the musical sound coming from Malachi, making his face turn serious and glare over my head. 

Curious as I was, I turned and saw Prince Micah and Prince Murdoch, their face still showing their surprise. Quickly they masked it, giving me smiles. Well, Murdock gave a grin. 

"Are you the cause of that Quill?" Micah jutted his chin out towards Malachi, his smile growing as my blush rose. 

"You know each other?" Malachi asked from behind me. I could feel his body's warmth against my back. He must have moved closer to me. 

"Yeah," I nodded, turning my head slightly sideways to look at Malachi. "I have them in first," I answered.

I could see him nod his head, but before anyone else could speak a word, he grabbed my hand and pulled. "Let us go get you lunch." He said, turning and dragging me along behind him.

I looked back at the Twins and saw the humor in Micah's eyes and the question and confusion in Murdoch's.

We walked in silence, his hand still holding on to mine. I could see the curious glances from some and the envious glares from others. Before I knew it, we had reached the cafeteria, and he pushed opened the doors, never stoping making his way to the lunch line. 

"Malachi, everyone is staring," I whisper shouted at him, not that he paid me any mind. He seemed to be on a mission. He grabbed a tray with his free hand, never letting go of mine no matter how much I tugged.

"Stop that." He said, glancing down at me then at our hands, letting me know what he was talking about.

I huffed in annoyance, watching as he made his way down the line, grabbing sets of different foods. 

"Your highness." The lady at the end of the line said, bowing slightly to Malachi as he punched in a number on the keypad beside the register. Then holding on to the tray and my hand, he walked to the table in the middle of the lunchroom where his brothers already sat, looking at us amusement evident on their faces. 

As we reached the table, he placed the tray down. "Sit," he said, finally letting my hand go. 

"Woof, woof," I said loud enough for him to hear. Any sweet and tender feelings I could have possibly developed last night were instantly turned into pure annoyance. I didn't do well with people telling me what to do, especially single-word commands. 

Micah began hooting in laughter, and I could see Murdoch's lips twitching as he tried to hold back his laugh. 

He looked at me, a smirk on his face as I stared at him with a brow raised. "Funny. Now, please sit and have lunch with me." He said, softening his voice slightly. 

Rolling my eyes, I sat beside him and stabbed the plate of mashed potatoes and roast beef he placed in front of me. 

"I like you, Quill," Murdoch said, and I gave him a small smile. 

I could hear the whispers throughout the lunchroom. Words like slut, desperate, and halfling standing out over others. After ten minutes of picking at my food, not letting my eyes stray away from the table, I gave up trying to eat. Who could eat under these circumstances? 

"You know, you just broadened that bull's eye from just Tabitha to the entire female population, and some select males too," I said slowly, looking over to Malachi, who was already looking at me. 

He sighed deeply. "Sorry." He said a little too loud for my comfort since some heard him, and I could hear gasps from the surrounding tables. "But, they'll need to get over it because I have no intentions of leaving you alone." He stated blankly, causing my eyes to widen. 

What does he mean he won't leave me alone. Surely he has to realize that while that kiss last night may have been amazing, we could not be. He was the future King, for crying out loud. And who was I? A nobody who was not even entirely a dragon.