The Dragon Mate

Prince Chrono

Sandalphon’s POV

I didn’t look back to see if my sister was following me, I knew she was. She was stronger than me, this was a fact proven by her coloring alone. She would be stronger than our brother but if she was willing to fight full force was another matter. I had hoped that in some way this path could be avoided. She had a life in the land far below dragon territory. She was happy and had mates she loved. I didn’t want to risk her turning back now but if she continued this way, she may very well lose the life she’d once had.

Between my anger over the loss of my friend and my desire to protect my homeland from the corruption of my brother, I said nothing to deter her from this path. The guilt would likely eat away at me for the remainder of my days but that was something I couldn’t afford to think about right now.

I couldn’t fight our brother alone; he was stronger and his ruthlessness made him even more dangerous. Dragons are raised with honor, with respect for life, and do not kill unless absolutely necessary. Our brother has forsaken these ideals, forsaken what makes our people what we are. He has shamed our family with his actions. When I left home, I had not thought to be away this long and it’s only now I consider if my family is still alive. Would he have slaughtered our parents to gain the power he sought? If he did surely, he would have already struck down upon the lower kingdoms to slay our sister.

When we broke through the clouds, I hear a sharp intake of air and know that my dear sister is shocked by the sight of what lay far beyond the gaze of those bound to the land below. Others assumed my kind lived in the mountains but dragons have always been born with magic in every fiber of our being. Since the birth of our people we have used this birthright in making our home. Our kingdom lay upon a land that is forever held in the sky by the ancient magic of our ancestors.

I turn to my sister seeing the awe in her eyes, taking in the beauty of our homeland. This was the place our parents had birthed her, though only in her unhatched egg stage of life, they had loved her as dearly as they had myself and our brother. They had looked upon her with whispered words of love and promises of how they looked forward to the day she’d take the throne. These same affectionate words had been the curse upon her life though. Our brother would not allow any to take away what he had already decided was his.

I motion for her to follow me and she does. As we draw closer some of our people were flying around the kingdom, many froze as they spotted us. No doubt shocked to not only see their prince but a dragon clearly of far stronger abilities than me. They say nothing, they do not stop our descent upon the kingdom grounds.

Shifting as we land people stop and stare, they had never seen Mana before and this confused them. There was no other land of dragons, our people were born here, lived here, and died here. To see a stranger was not possible. Placing my arm around Mana I lead her through the city and passed the onlookers silently questioning her presence and identity.

“They’re staring.” She whispers to me.

“Our kingdom’s people are familiar with each other so they do not understand how there is one of our own they do not know.”

She gives me a wide-eyed look but I cannot waste time answering her many questions. She wisely does not seek answers at this time, she had the sense to know the urgency is facing our brother. Approaching the palace though fills my heart with pain and my mind becomes clouded in fears and anger. I loved my family, even my brother whom had always made me uncomfortable. If we are to fight him to the death, I have no doubt a part of me would die with him. No matter the corruption of his soul he is of my blood and I would mourn him regardless of the actions that brought him to such an end.

Ascending the stairs to the palace entrance our path is finally blocked. The guards stood in our way as they eyed Mana with suspicion.

“My prince,” the elder guard bowed respectfully. “I’m afraid we cannot allow this stranger to pass without prior permission from the king.”

I do not have patience for this as I tower before the guard with a stern look.

“Than you would deny your princess her right to finally come home.”

The two guards froze in shock at this and quickly looked at Mana before parting to let us through. I continue to lead Mana into the palace while she looks at the guards in confusion before looking around at the walls of our home.

“This place is beautiful.” She whispered as she looks at the status that line the halls of the crystal palace.

The status were of honored dragons that had passed on, warriors of superior strength and abilities, mages of power far beyond the average dragon, kings and queens that were above and beyond those of previous generations. These halls held part of our history. The crystal that made up the structure of the palace was purple in color, the magic that flowed through every ounce of it both protected and empowered those within. Though it empowered the rightful king or queen that sat upon the throne. When it was passed down that power shifted to the new ruler.

I take Mana straight to the throne room where our parents resided to speak with those who sought council with them. The guards don’t hesitate to open the massive double doors to allow us entrance. My power surged along the floor and walls upon our entrance which was normal but it’s Mana’s power that drew everyone’s attention and silenced the entire room. All the royal family caused this upon entrance, like the very walls of our home welcomed the royal bloodline. None had ever felt the power of the royal family’s youngest.

Father and mother stood with wide eyes as they stared at Mana. I felt her tense and grow uncomfortable but I lean toward to whisper to her.

“Rest easy sister, these are our parents and are merely curious as they no doubt suspect what your true identity is. Let me speak, trust me.”

She gives me a small nod as I turn my attention to our parents. Once standing before them I give a small nod of greeting.

“Sandalphon…” mother starts but trails off, her eyes locked onto her long lost daughter.

“Explain.” Father demands though it comes out as a hopeful request.

Mother and father are old but not nearly towards the end of their years. The only sign of their aging is the few gray hairs they had. Mother’s once lush red hair was duller now with a few strands of gray. Her once bright and beautiful smile had dimmed and grown smaller as she grew older and matured, there was a clear difference between her younger years and now. She held herself that had lived and learned what it meant to bear the burden of her title, a confidence even myself and my brother still lacked and would not even begin to gain for centuries at least.

Father’s golden blonde locks were more blonde than gold now and the gray hairs more apparent than his younger mate. His face was that of a stern king that took his duties seriously, something that wasn’t so profound in his youngers years even though he did his duty as he was born to. His entire being radiated power and authority, something that seemed to increase in the years of his rule and both brought fear and respect from the kingdom’s people. They knew their king would protect them but that power was so far beyond what they would ever be capable and fear of it was a natural response.

“I know I did not give any explanation for my departure but I have finally brought proof of what I knew to be true. This is Mana Frost Van Helsing, the winter dragon and rightful heir to the throne. I sought out my sister knowing there was a chance she survived the attempt to kill her. I found her and once able I brought her home.”

Both of our parents took a step forward and the shock was obvious in everyone.

“Our daughter…but we thought…” Mother’s words trailed off as she rushed to embrace Mana.

Mana tensed, her eyes expressing how she was obviously unable to decide how to react to this.

“We recently learned of who her would be assassin was and he has been executed.” Father told me causing my gaze to locked to his, knowing he didn’t have the right culprit if he was speaking so calmly.

“I doubt that father, who did you kill for this crime?”

Father gave me a look of both disbelief and disapproval. The king did not kill anyone, he delivered justice.

“I am sorry my son but your friend-”

“My friend is dead, I thought Chrono had killed him but it seems he thought to be even crueler.” My words draw both my parents’ attention.

“You would accuse your brother of such a heinous crime?” My mother demanded both enraged and heartbroken.

“I do not accuse; I state this because I know. He would not allow anyone to take what he wants and he wants the throne. He has attempted to kill his own kin, lied to his own blood, and has had my dearest friend murdered all to try and claim what he believes is his birthright and his alone. I have no doubt in the coming years he would have gone so far as to slay you father as with each passing year you grow weaker and he stronger. Both of you golden dragons but you are honorable and he is corrupt.”

A please chuckle echoed in the room drawing the family’s attention. Chrono stood in the doorway, his golden mane pulled together at the nape of his neck and his purple eyes alight with cruel amusement. Chrono was taller than me, something he prided himself on even though I was better built. He was walking closer looking amused and completely at ease even with my words.

“My dear brother, and here I had hoped you’d go off and stay with that w***e fairy you’ve fallen for. Really, it’s like you’re determined to ruin our bloodline with lesser creatures. But alas, you’ve come to spoil my fun and try to take what’s rightfully mine from me. Now I can’t have that now can I? And here I was ready to spare both of you if you’d simply stayed out of my way.”

I clench my fist, the insult towards my mate an unforgivable offense that for the moment I had to not react to. He was trying to provoke me into action, thinking I’d let my rage cloud my judgement.

“Chrono, it can’t be true. You wouldn’t kill your sister.” Mother had always believed the best of her children, it was just how she was and sadly it had made her blind to what her eldest had become.

“Oh I assure you mother it’s all true. Now sadly I have to kill all of you to ensure I take my place as the rightful king.”

I notice Mana tense and looked at her just as she slammed her palms against the floor summoning a powerful protection barrier. It was just in time to as waves of powerful magic slammed against it. Seeing Chrono’s cold look I knew he had planned to strike quickly hoping to take us off guard.

“I knew you’d be a problem.” He cursed at Mana before he grinned again full of amusement. “But I am smarter than you and I certainly didn’t foolishly come here without proper allies.”

My eyes widened as the witch that created such corrupted monstrosities walked in. She had torn my friend apart to use as materials for her twisted creations. My anger grew and it was getting harder to keep a level head. Along the walls creatures began crawling into the room. She’d brought more of her monsters with her and each one was horrendous and nightmarish in appearance. So many innocent lives taken just to make soulless forms to answer her every twisted command.

“Now my dear family, I believe your funerals are long overdue.” Chrono declared with a mad cackle that signaled the creatures to attack.