The Alpha's Drakonian Mate

CHAPTER 2: HE IS COMING...

Savannah’s POV

I rolled around slowly and tried to hug my mate’s warm body, only for my hand to drop flat on the bed. Now half awake, I patted beside me, searching for him in vain. I opened my eyes groggily and stared at the empty space beside me in confusion. Where has Tristan gone? Did I sleep in late again?

I looked around to see the room still bathed in a dark purplish tint, showing that it was still early in the morning. Confused, I sat up straight and wondered why he left this early. Did he have some work that he didn’t mention to me? But what would be so urgent that he had to leave this early?

The room was silent, free of maids, unlike the time I had first come. It was creepy enough to wake up and find them scurrying around my room when it was just me. But once Tristan was back, I decided enough was enough. I forbade anyone from entering the room until after we both were up and though the concept seemed foreign to them; they had learned to accept it. 

I let out a yawn before getting out of the bed carefully. After freshening up, I changed into a sky blue casual dress that flowed loosely around my frame. Deciding to investigate what was up, I padded out of the room to find everyone scurrying here and there like headless chickens. The scene felt entirely familiar to me and I frowned and tried to recall the last time I had seen them all nervous like this. Was it during Tristan’s coronation? No. That time they were all excited and there was no nervousness like this. But now, the surrounding tension was so thick that I felt as if I could reach out and cut it with a knife. What the hell had caught them all in a frenzy like this?

And then I remembered it. Once the thought hit me, I couldn’t think of anything else. The last time I had seen them like this was when the Dragon King had visited. Did this mean another monarch was visiting? If so, I hoped it was anyone but the Dragon King again, even though it was highly unlikely. He won’t be visiting again this soon, right? 

Not that he had done anything that should warrant such an averse attitude to him, but his very presence had given me the creeps. Not to mention his parting words of seeing me soon, which seemed more like a threat than a friendly farewell. Maybe it was just me, but I would be grateful if I never had to go through the turmoil of meeting him again. 

I suppressed a shudder as I remembered how the King’s eyes had flashed red when he stared at me. Then I walked over to the fluttering maids. Just as I was about to call and alert them to my presence, which was still unnoticed by them, I heard the footsteps of someone rushing towards me.

I turned to see my trusty lady-in-waiting, running over to me before looking me over from head to toe as if to make sure I was still in one piece. And her eyes paused on my bump as if to check if it was there still. That’s right. I haven’t given birth in between the few hours that I had been away from your sight, my dear friend. Such a worry wart!

After making sure everything was fine and dandy, she looked up. Seeing me look at her with raised eyebrows, she turned beet red. How cute!

“Did I pass your evaluation?” I teased her.

“I am just worried for you, Your Highness,” she pouted.

I smiled and patted her hand lightly. 

“I know Bea. And I appreciate it. You know I do. It feels great to be cared for, and I know you aren’t just doing it out of duty, my friend. That makes it all even better,” I said, appreciating her. I often tease her for always worrying, but I really appreciate how she cares for me.

“Y-Your Highness, it is my honor to serve you,” she stuttered out awkwardly, not knowing how to deal with my compliment. I put her out of her misery and changed the topic. Yeah, right? I was on the way to investigate where my mate went off this early.

“Care to tell me what is going on here? What caused all this excitement?” I asked, pointing to a maid who was running with a plant pot in her hand. What was she doing with that inside the corridor, anyway? I winced as she slammed into another maid, who was rushing off from the other side. Inevitably, she dropped the pot, and I watched it fall on the floor as if in slow motion with a loud crash before spilling mud all over. That mess would be awful to get cleaned! 

I turned to Beatrice before looking back again at the two maids who were now standing still in front of the mess they made, like someone had pressed a pause button. Then they both snapped into action at the same time and rushed away in opposite directions, leaving the mess on the floor behind as it was. Seriously? 

I looked at Beatrice, who was looking at me with a nervous expression.

“And yes, where is Tristan?” I asked her.

“Your Highness, just last night we received the information that the long-awaited visit from Prince Xavier would happen today. We have to get everything perfect for his visit, since building a strong relationship with him is really important,” she said. “It is happening sooner than we expected and we have little time left since he will arrive by noon today. His majesty was notified about it after midnight and, with the shortage of time, he had to go to his study to finish the paperwork.”

“Oh. How could a prince just arrive that suddenly? Aren’t there a lot of formalities for visits from royalties?” I asked, confused.

“Yes, Your Highness. But prince Xavier was invited to visit by the King's father months ago. The prince hadn’t accepted the invite then but didn’t refute either. He had replied he would visit later at a more convenient time. And now he informed he would visit if granted the permission today or if not, he would have to decline the invitation since he wouldn’t be free in the coming months as he is planning to take over as the king soon.”

Alright. That explained why Tristan was up this early. He had to get all the paperwork done for the visit of the prince and with the time pressing on him; he had to work the entire night, too. I didn’t even know it when he left the room…

This prince sounded like a character. How could he just pop ultimatums like that and expect others to run around so that everything would go smoothly for him when he makes unreasonable demands like sudden visits to another realm? I already didn’t like the dude since he was the reason my mate couldn’t even sleep at night. But from Bea’s explanation, he seemed like an ally that we can’t afford to lose and I would have to take that into mind. I guess I won’t judge the prince even before I meet him. Wait! prince Xavier. Who was this guy again? What realm did he belong to?

“Which realm is prince Xavier from?”

Beatrice blinked at me in surprise and looked at me with wide eyes, as if in disbelief that I didn’t know such an important thing. Then realization dawned on her that I was literally from another world and all these little things that they see as common knowledge would be mysteries for good old me. 

“Prince Xavier is the son of King Leonard, and he is the crown prince of the Dragon realm.”

As I heard the Dragon King’s name, my mind went blank and there was a sudden ringing in my ears. His ruby red eyes flashed in my mind, and terror gripped my veins. Soon… His voice rang ominously in my head, making me feel faint and stars appeared in my vision. Oh God, no…

“Your Highness! Your Highness!” I blinked, and the room appeared into my focus again. It was then that I realised that I was no longer standing but sitting down on the floor in a rather awkward position. I guess when I felt faint and was about to fall off, Beatrice must have helped me sit. And all the maids that were running around till now were now standing still and staring at me with wide eyes. Talk about awkwardness…

“I am alright. Carry on with your work,” I said, trying to project a regal aura, but considering I was plopped on my ass on the floor, I didn’t think it had the effect I was going for. Oh well…

“What happened to you, Your Highness? Should I call the physician?” Beatrice hovered around me, panicking.

“Oh no. I am fine. You were all stressed up, and it just got into me. You should all relax rather than make a mess in your panic and I would feel calm too,” I said, trying to blame my sudden dizziness on the tension rather than mention I was afraid of the Dragon King when I had no reason to.

Beatrice held her hand out to me and I took it before pushing myself off the floor, while trying not to grunt. By now, the maids had all started working again, but I noticed that they took my words to heart and were acting a lot more calmly than before. At least something good came out of my sudden episode of kissing the floor…

Again, my thought went back to the Dragon King, and I wondered if I would feel the same way with his son or if it was just the king. I could only hope it was the latter, but I had a feeling it wasn’t. Well, there was no use worrying about it now. I guess I will know soon.

I walked over to Tristan’s study and found him sitting at his table full of papers, waiting for his attention. His aide, Henry, a sweet guy in his late thirties, was beside him, with his nose stuck in a file. His blonde hair was stuck in all directions and his brown eyes looked almost black with tiredness. His dress was all wrinkled, and he looked as if he was dragged out of the bed before getting stuck into an electric socket for good measure. I guess at least the dragging out of bed part was true.

Tristan, on the other hand, looked calm and composed, with not a hair out of place. But I knew the calmness was a deception, and he was nervous beneath the facade. The tightening around his blue eyes and the barely perceptible downward tilt to his lips signaled how worried he was. 

This Dragon prince hadn’t even arrived, and he was already wreaking havoc. I wonder how it will be when he arrives. He can’t be any worse than his father, right? As soon as the thought flashed in my mind, I hoped I hadn’t jinxed it.

I cleared my throat when the men remained unaware of our presence. Henry just about jumped out of his skin before making an awkward curtsey, while Bea did the same to Tristan. Meanwhile, Tristan just looked up at me with a gorgeous smile that eased the tension from his face.

“Good morning princess. Did you have a good sleep?” He asked pleasantly.

“I slept like a log and didn’t even know when you left. When are you going to get some shuteye?” I asked worriedly.

“Don’t worry about me, princess. We wolves can go a day or two without sleep,” he said with a wolfish smirk, pun intended. But from the way Henry was practically nodding off next to him, he didn’t seem so fine with the not sleeping part.

Tristan sighed as he took in his aide’s pathetic condition.

“We shall have a break now. Come back after breakfast,” he said to Henry, who looked all too grateful for the reprieve and he hastily made a retreat after making another curtsey.

After Bea left the room promising to arrange our breakfast to be served in the study, I turned to Tristan.

“So tell me, what should I know about this Xavier dude before I have to meet him,” I asked curiously. Hopefully, it is just my paranoia that he was bad news. Hopefully…

As if on cue, I felt an itching sensation in my palm and my heart started beating crazily. Xavier, the name reverberated in my mind and I looked down to see the odd star shaped birthmark in my hand glowing as if in response to his name. Now what the hell did this mean?!