Married To The Cruel Duke

3

Elena’s POV

I didn't dare move.

I couldn't even blink nor make a single sound.

There was a huge, mythical creature before me, staring down at me with red, glowing eyes and a rumbling sound coming from the beast. My heart was pounding so fast and loud that I was certain that the beast could hear it. Just when I thought I was safe from a rabid wolf chasing me, I put myself in a more dangerous situation. How was I supposed to get out of this one?

I flinched and started to shake when I felt a movement behind me. I pressed my lips tightly together as the dragon moved its body. My spine straightened when I felt it leaned its head forward, while growling.

It stopped before me, leaving a small space between our faces. The darkness of the cave made this beast the scariest thing I have ever seen. The large, glowing eyes narrowed on me left me shaking and sweating bullets.

I was going to die. I needed to do something. Anything.

“Please,” I whispered. “Please, don't hurt me… I…I k-know you might not understand what I am saying but… please, don't hurt me. Please, let me go.”

I gulped when the dragon's eyes narrowed and blinked when it titled its head. Did the dragon understand what I had said? Did this creature understand human language?

The dragon moved its head toward my left hand side then narrowed its eyes on me. The dragon exhaled, wafting hot air onto my body. Hot air that smelt like burnt wood and charcoal. That made me realize then and there that this was a fire breathing dragon. Any wrong move, I could be burnt to ashes.

I parted my mouth to speak but screamed when something huge, and thick wrapped itself around me. When I looked down, and with the little light from the mouth of the cave, I saw that its tail was wrapped around my body. I hesitantly shifted my gaze upward and made eye contact with the dragon's fierce eyes.

Fear consumed me when an orange glow filled its mouth, followed by the sight of fire flowing out of its mouth— I was going to get burned. When the dragon opened its mouth, my heart stopped beating, and darkness took over my vision.

☆☆☆

I moaned as a cold chill ran through me from my head to my toes. I shuddered and curled on the soft mattress, then sleepily felt the bed for my blanket. My brows furrowed when I wasn't able to find my blanket, which was odd because I always slept with it and if I didn't, I always had it folded by me.

I opened my eyes and shut it back when a bright light flashed against my face. I covered my eyes with the back of my hand, wondering why my room was so bright.

Then it clicked. The beast. I never went home last night. The mountain. The wolf.

In fear, I gasped and sat up. I looked around me with wide eyes. Around me were rocky walls, with a cupboard on the other side of the place. I looked down at my body and saw I was laying on what looked like a small cot. Quickly, I got out of the bed and staggered backward.

I looked around and above me. This place did not look like a house, it was a cave. I took another look around and noticed the bright light toward the other end of the place. I ran to it and almost tripped over myself when I saw the back of a person wearing a long coat with the hood over their head.

I eyed the person and swallowed. Was the person the owner of the room I had woken up in?

“H-hello?”

They stiffened but they did not turn to look at me. I blinked and glanced at their side, thinking if it was a good idea to walk past them.

“Um… wh-who are you?” I asked and slowly walked up to them.

Once I was close, I quietly moved to the side, far away from the person and stood at a safe distance.

“I… Can I leave?” I asked. “I don't know how I ended up there but…”

I wanted to ask if they saw a dragon but I knew the person would think I was crazy. Who would believe me if I told them that I saw a dragon in that cave.

“I'm sorry,” I said. “I don't know if that is your home but I had to… Uh, stay overnight when some wolves chased me up the mountain. I can repay you and–”

A hand was raised. A masculine looking hand. Now, I knew it was a man but I also wanted to know their name.

“Can I know your name, please? That way I can come back and thank you for letting me sleep here.”

The man huffed and turned away then marched into the cave. I blinked at his behavior then scoffed.

“What a rude mother fucker.” I scoffed and turned around.

It was time to head home. I already knew that trouble was waiting for me at home.

☆☆☆

Valen’s POV



Who was this woman and why did I suddenly crave for her now that she was gone?

Something unusual happened to me last night and it was something I never wanted to experience ever again.

How dare a human walk into my sanctuary and cause a dissonance. This human woman crept into my sanctuary like the pathetic human that she was. Her presence made me sick in my gut.

Ever since I smelled her, ever since her scent filled the entirety of my cave, it has left me feeling nauseous and irritated. A place I once called my peace has now turned to some sickness ridden place.

That small, human woman ran into my cave, disturbing my slumber and filling my head and body with things I did not understand.

I wanted to kill her, to burn her body to a crisp but something held me back because it was against everything we stood for to let a human know of our existence. The same thing that made me stop my driver when I met the same human woman earlier that day along the road.

Never in my hundred years of living did my dragon and I ever feel this strong feeling toward a mere mortal.

My mind, body and soul craved for her soul, and body. Something about her made me mad with a hot sensation even my fire could not emit. Of all the fires my mouth has breathed, the heat I felt from her and the heat she set inside me was unlike any other.

That heat, that warmth. I craved it and I was going to have it, no matter what.

I wanted her and I was going to have her so I can quench this sudden thirst for her.

I, Valen Draconhart was going to have her and once I got my fill, she would die from the embers of my mouth.