Taming The Dragon King

What?

Zelda

No one understood why I suddenly changed my decision, but none of them questioned much when I told them that Raphael wasn't the man I thought he was. Mom and dad asked Travis to stay for dinner before leaving and he agreed.

Knowing that I was spending the last hours in the place I grew up in, I decided to spend every minute of it with the people whom I loved. My friends and family. Raphael called my phone several times, but I didn't answer as I didn't want to deal with his deception. My phone eventually notified me of a message from him. Perhaps he noticed that I was online.

-Hey, I called you.

I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, and we watched it ring."

Mona's comment made me chortle.

Finally, when he texted me about being excited about meeting me during the night, I texted him back. I frankly told him that I no longer desired to be in a relationship with him and that he should forget about me. He instantly started to reply. I saw that he was typing a text, but I blocked his number. Why should I keep up with his facade? I didn't have the energy or the time for that.

Mom helped me pack my clothes. She chose a green top with flared sleeves and a pair of black pants for me to wear that night. I let her comb my hair, staring at her reflection in the mirror the entire time. As usual, her blond locks were neatly combed into a high bun. Her thin lips were curled into a tiny smile. Oh, I was going to miss her ever-smiling face. While she brushed my hair, her fingers brushed against my face. I felt myself getting sad as I realised that this most probably was the last time she would be brushing my hair for me. Tears gathered in my eyes. I was going to miss her warmth, her love, and her affection. I was going to miss my father's guidance and my brother's silly gestures. I would miss Danisha's sweetness and most of all, I would miss my almost two year old niece. I was going to miss my home.

"Mom," I croaked, turning around to wrap my hand around her and bury my face in her warmth. "I am going to miss you so much."

She took me in her embrace and cradled me in her arms. "I will miss you too, honey. But this doesn't mean we are saying goodbye forever. We will always be there for you. Always."

Her whisper gave me little satisfaction. Of course, family is forever. The members of my family tried to make the atmosphere as comfortable as it could be, but the mere presence of Travis was sort of scary. I had no choice except to sit beside him as he insisted that he wanted to sit beside his mate. Mona was ecstatic about it. Well, his scent did magically calm me down. I guess that was the mate bond's effect.

Dinner was somewhat peaceful. There were no interruptions until a guard notified us that Raphael was in the lobby, waiting to see me.

I dropped my fork, as I involuntarily glanced at Travis.

"Who is Raphael?" he asked.

I could feel the air suddenly getting dense. Mona stirred uncomfortably in my mind when Travis looked at me. I gulped and gazed back into his cold, dark eyes that seemed to me like an endless abyss.

"He's…"

"An old friend," my brother cut me in. "Perhaps he wants to say goodbye before she leaves?"

With my heart racing, I looked at him. He gestured for me to go out and meet him. I guess it was my cue to go. Offering a polite smile, I stood up from the seat and left, wondering why he was there, even after I broke things off via text. He apparently wasn't interested in dating me. Was he still trying to trick me into believing his lies? Well, he was mistaken if he thought he could fool me again.

"Fine. But I won't let her meet anyone without her guards," Travis stated, making me glance in his direction.

"Guards?"

"My mate will have special guards who will escort her everywhere."

I pursed my lips. Great. I'll be having a chaperone wherever I go henceforth.

I silently followed two buff men to the lobby. I knew there was no point in arguing with Travis. Perhaps he simply wants his Queen to be safeguarded.

Raphael stood up and flashed the smile that I had foolishly fallen for. He was much more relaxed and approachable when compared to Travis. I guess that was the reason why I wanted to choose him over my mate.

But that was a huge mistake. I was lucky that I overheard his speech with Hailey before he caused real damage. I halted a good distance away and offered a polite smile.

"Yes?" I said, as professionally as I could. Regardless of what he had done, he was still a citizen of this Kingdom, and being the Princess, I couldn't dare be disrespectful. His annoyingly attractive smile faltered a bit, but he stepped forward until the guards beside me took a threatening step forward.

"Zel… What's going on? I just wanted to talk."

"About what? I told you that I no longer…"

"Listen, Zel. I love you. You're the only one for me… please… don't leave me."

"Pathetic liar!" Mona howled, disgusted by him.

Sighing, "Raphael. You don't have to lie. I heard you and Hailey speak and you should be the one you love. Wealth will come to you when you work for it," I told him.

He laughed anxiously. "I didn't mean any of that. I… I don't care about money. I… I was bluffing…"

"Raphael," I interrupted his speech. "Stop lying. Please work hard for what you deserve. You're talented and smart. I know you can do this. Besides, I have met my mate and that's where I belong."

His face darkened and his smile completely faded away.

"Mate?" he whispered, eyeing the guards beside me. "These… these aren't our guards…"

"Yes. My mate isn't a lycan, these guards are his."

"Not a lycan," he scoffed, his demeanour suddenly changing. "Does this mean you can't even have a private conversation with anyone now?"

I glanced over my shoulder. "Can both of you step aside? You can stay over there where you can see me."

Though reluctantly, the two buff men stepped closer to the painting hung on the wall, which was just a few feet away.

"What is the meaning of this, Zelda? I am trying to talk to you but you keep avoiding me!"

"Let's say that I realised that we aren't suitable for each other. We should both go our own ways," I shrugged my shoulders.

"Why? Is it because you caught me with Hailey? It's nothing! She is just a friend…"

"Raphael…" I shook my head in disbelief. It was alarming that he was still trying to cover everything up. "Stop lying, will you? You have Hailey and I have my mate. It's better this way."

"We are over?" He raised a brow.

I sighed. "Whatever we had was a facade, Raphael. You were never mine."

The words I uttered hurt a little. Yet with Mona's encouragement, I was able to face the truth.

His nose flared in anger. I noticed that he clenched and unclenched his fists, apparently discontented by what I had said. "So now what? Have you told everyone what I said to Hailey? Is that what you are trying to do? Ruin my entire life."

There was a recognisable smell in the air. Danisha, who was a few feet away from him, caught my attention. It was surprising that Raphael, who was looking away from her, failed to detect her fragrance in the air. My nose soon picked up the scents of my brother and dad, and I knew they were close by. Raphael carried on speaking. Perhaps his ego had been so badly bruised by my rejection that he was too enraged to notice anything else.

"Well, you have your mate. So why would you care what happens to us? I'm sure that you will ruin my life and Hailey's. If you reveal to them that I was trying to use you to get rich and then elope with her, I'll be astounded!"

His words were laced with hatred and bitterness. I shook my head. This wasn't the Raphael I knew. "I don't have to," I said as my brother stepped forward from behind a large pillar along with our parents. "You just did."

The members of my family advised him and warned him of the consequences of living a dishonest life, but then let him go. He hadn't broken any laws… yet…

I wondered what he meant by that he'd be astounded if I told them what I had heard. Whatever it was, I decided not to ponder over it anymore. My future was with Travis. Though my future with him seemed questionable to me, he was my fate and I, as the Princess of the Lycanthropes, would no longer oppose destiny.

I bade goodbye to my family. Tears continued to stream down my cheeks yet I didn't look back. Travis shifted to his dragon and crouched so that I could climb on his back. My hand trembled and my heart raced as I reached out to touch his scales. A sudden electrifying jolt flared as soon as I touched his shoulder, making me gasp and jerk my hand away. The sparks took me by surprise.

"Is it the sparks?" I heard my mother utter from behind. I nodded in response, but I couldn't take my eyes off the majestic creature silently reclining in front of me. His menacing reptile-like eyes seem to pierce through my soul, but surprisingly, I didn't feel troubled by his gaze. Once again, I reached out, this time fully expecting the eruption of the invisible fireworks as our skin brushed against each other. It did, and I had to suck in a breath because the wonderful sparks pulled me into an amazing trance.

Travis' dragon grunted as I swung my leg over his back and straddled him while clutching onto his scaly shoulders with all my might.

"Hold on tight," my brother instructed. I was barely able to nod my head when Travis' beast flapped his massive wings and soared into the air.

"Remember to call us!" I heard my mother scream at the top of her lungs as we soared into the air. I squealed, squeezed my eyes shut, and grabbed his body as tightly as I could. My hair was blowing in the air as the cool wind brushed across my body and soon I found myself enjoying the feeling. My nerves were soon soothed by his seductive aroma and magnificent sparks. My lips curved into a smile. Perhaps being with Travis wasn't such an awful idea.

"Come on, open your eyes," Mona urged. "The view will be spectacular. We don't get to ride a dragon every day, you know."

I smirked as I opened my eyes. "Perhaps since we're mated to one we will get to ride one every day."

"Hell, yeah. Now we're talking!" Mona cheered, making me chuckle to myself.

I was too scared to peer down but even from my peripheral vision, I could fathom the beauty of nature. The moon adorned the sky while studded stars were dispersed all over like scattered diamonds. The treetops were illuminated with the silvery light of the moon. It was a breathtaking sight.

I wasn't expecting to reach the Kingdom of the Dragons so quickly. As soon as Travis returned to his human form, his attendants hurried to take care of us. I shyly accepted the refreshments and drinks that they offered us. Travis was approached by a man who was wearing a long, peculiar-looking robe. His facial lines revealed years of experience in whatever it was he was doing. As he talked, his long, white beard twitched. The fact that people were still dressing that way at this age struck me as shocking. Such an outfit was not even worn by magicians.

Nonetheless, I exhibited a neutral attitude since he seemed to be someone important in this realm. The strange man glanced at me and nodded his head at Travis before approaching me.

"Hello, Your Grace. I am Elder Adam. My council and I will meet you later in a more appropriate way. First things first. You shall be taken to the temple and cleansed before you're taken to your chambers."

I froze. What? Temple? Cleansed? My chambers?

"What?" I whispered.

He nodded his head. "Our king has allowed the continuation of our rituals. So all the King's women will be cleansed and taken to their chambers."

My jaw dropped. All the king's women?

"But… I am his mate!" I objected while staring at the elderly man, bewildered from what I had heard.