The Dragon Crown Princes' Mate

3-Malachi

"Bro, you should have seen her face when he told her to stop being such a bitch." Micah laughed loudly, making me wince. I knew drinking so much was not a good idea, but after that stupid meeting with my parents, I just needed a way to forget. 

"What did the rentals say?"Murdoch said, eying me suspiciously. He may be Micah's twin, but he knew me the best. Not that Micah didn't; he was just the biggest i***t of life, looking at the world as if it was an oyster for his entertainment. 

I grunted lowly, clutching my head, taking in a deep breath, trying to will this headache away. I was a f*****g dragon. Why did we have to get hangovers anyway? 

You drank Vampire's Blood, you moron. Do you have any idea how much you have weakened me? 

Onyx's snarl echoed through my head. The pain was so intense I thought I would pass out. And he says he's weak.

"Malachi," Murdoch's voice was worried. "How much did you drink." The palms of my hands pushing into my eyes, trying to relieve some pressure. 

"That is the wrong question," I could hear Micah whisper, "the question is WHAT did he drink." I looked up at my younger brother, surprised. There was a knowing look on his face, and was that disappointment. It couldn't be. My goofball of a brother did not do seriousness. 

Taking a deep breath, trying to push back the pain, I opened my eyes. A pair of light blue eyes so similar to my own stared back. "They said I had until graduation to either find my Mate, or they would pick one for me. Then dad is stepping down." 

"What the hell. They can't do that." Murdoch's anger was palpable. I knew he barely had a handle on Noir, his dragon. "Mate's are sacred, and he knows this. s**t, even those rabid animals, the werewolves, treasured and protect their mates. 

Micah's face was stoic, and I couldn't help but feel bad that my issues are what caused it. He was the younger twin his entire life, and he never took anything seriously. Always a smile on his face and not a care in the world. Somehow, I was beginning to think it was all an act, but how could he hide so well even from Murdoch and me. "Just wait until the very last second, then just pick someone they won't approve us as our Queen, that will give you some time to search some more." His voice was quiet, and I just wasn't so sure it was to help with my headache anymore.

Don't worry about it, guys," I told my brothers and mustered a small smile for them. "I have some time still, and worst-case ill pick someone I can tolerate. What I will not do, however, is let them pick for me."

I stood up and went to my room, throwing myself on the bed. Some sleep would do me good. God, I wish I hadn't drunk that damned poison, but vampires' blood is the only thing that can intoxicate a dragon. And last night, I needed to forget. 

I had always done the things they asked of me. I took up more responsibility than any Crowned Prince before, and it was never enough. I was never enough. I knew my father was a cruel man, and he thrived on the fear of others, even his sons. Mom, however, was kind, a gentlewoman, even when dealing with the monster that was her husband. I thought she would try to help me, be on my side. Try and make dad understand how this was the worst f*****g idea he's ever had in his life. 

A bitter laugh left my lips, "she was the f*****g mastermind behind this plan." Even I could hear the tiredness in my voice. I grabbed the pillow beneath my head and placed it over my face. 

I needed to find a way out of this. I had a year to find either my true Mate or how to blackmail my parents into leaving me the f**k alone.

With a deep sigh, my last thought before darkness took over was if my mother had always been so cruel, and I just never noticed. Just like I never saw, Micah had a deep seriousness to him he didn't show. What type of King would I be if I couldn't even see my family for what they were.