4

THE HALL looked magnificent. Like something out of a fairytale, filled with invited guests from all the other kingdoms, except the DragonBorns of course.

For the past six centuries, the other kingdoms in the supernatural realm had remained subservient to the Werewolves.

"Your turn." Om'zaar said to Vaelora.

She was draped in a gold and white dress, fit for a queen. But she was broken. Angry. Bitter.

Draekon just had a way of elevating her from one nightmare to another. And he always managed to look put together while at it.

"I, Vaelora Hugo," Om'zaar led.

"I, Vaelora Hugo," she repeated.

"Take Draekon Noir, my gift of a lifetime from the moon goddess."

"Take Draekon Noir, my gift of a lifetime from the moon goddess."

She doused the urge to scoff at that point.

"To love and to be bound under the grace of the moon goddess."

"To love and to be bound under the grace of the moon goddess."

"Until death do us part."

"Until death do us part," she finished, locking her empty gaze to that of Draekon.

Vaelora meant nothing of the vows she had just taken, but it wasn't like he cared so much.

Moreover, he knew he'd never want or love any other woman the way he loved Amelia. He was only marrying Vaelora to keep things in check within the council.

He wasn't oblivious. His initial decision to take a DragonBorn chosen mate had caused a silent upheaval within the council.

Of course, many were not okay being ruled by a DragonBorn as Luna queen.

With the moon goddess' 'timely intervention' of bringing his second chance werewolf mate along, he was only going to cause more uproar by rejecting their bond.

He was the most feared ruler across the six kingdoms and could do as he pleased, but he still had a duty to serve his people.

As chief Om'zaar took each of their right palms, slicing through with a very sharp blade, Vaelora wondered how her life had gotten to this.

"Place your bleeding palms against each other's," Om'zaar requested.

Placing her bloodied palm against Draekon's, she instantly felt her heart clench in inexplicable excitement. The look in Draekon's eyes conveyed that he also felt the shift.

They had just solidified their first bonding phase, and it definitely felt different.

For Vaelora, she felt infuriatingly closer to him. She hated that she actually had no control over this. She could only pray that overtime, this cursed bond wouldn't drown the one real thing she still felt towards Draekon. Hatred.

"Under the authority of the moon goddess, the witness of the council of chiefs, and in the presence of the werewolf kingdom and other present kingdoms, you're now husband and wife. You may kiss your bride."

Even after the instruction, Draekon remained unmoving, hating the tiny feeling of fear that breezed through his mind.

Vaelora looked like she could slap him in the presence of these people, if he dared.

Almost immediately, he slightly shook his head in disbelief. It had to be that shift in their bond. It just had to be. It was casting a veil over his real feelings. He was never scared of anyone, and he could care less what anybody thought of his actions.

Ignoring the icy stare Vaelora shot him, he stepped closer, leaning down to place the softest kiss against her lips.

"Haa..." An almost inaudible sigh escaped Vaelora's lips, as soon as the tingles began to spread from her lips, all over her face. She had only ever felt that way for one man-- Dione.

But today, her body betrayed her in the most devastating way.

Draekon quickly stepped away, not liking the way his face instantly felt flush after feeling her warm breath against his lips. They locked gazes again, so many conflicting emotions in each their eyes.

Somehow, they both knew they were doomed.

**********************

It had been a very tiring day, and Draekon released a yawn as he strode into his quarters.

The sentinels stationed at the entrance of his chambers gave a bow immediately they saw him approaching, opening the doors of his chambers. Draekon made his way in, the sentinels closing the door behind him.

He stopped in his tracks when he made out Vaelora's sleeping figure on his large bed.

It had probably not registered to him that they would both share his chambers from now on. In that moment, a mild familiar scent filtered through his nostrils.

Vaelora's scent.

He hated how much he actually liked her scent.

She had always smelled that way for as long as he could remember. It was a brilliant combination of grapes and...

Even until now, the second was a lingering mystery. Something elusive, like wild Jasmine.

He proceeded towards the bed, seeing she was quite deeply asleep.

She was still in her ceremonial dress, her thick black tresses sprawled all over the pillows.

His usually dimly lit room was at least, bright enough to make out her face.

Her face was puffy, and the skin around her closed eyes was quite tender from crying.

He released a low sigh.

Even though Vaelora had been able to put up a bold front in the presence of their guests, he knew she had broken down as soon as she got into their chambers.

She had left as soon as the joining ritual was done, not showing her face for the rest of the ceremony.

He wondered if marrying Vaelora was the best decision. He could have easily severed their bond, regardless of the internal chaos it would have caused within the council.

After all, no one dared question him to his face.

Draekon knew he had hurt her enough, but he just couldn't help this wicked and primal urge of wanting to...

He wasn't sure if he wanted to possess her, or completely consume her.

He'd never really understood it, but what he did know was that he was cruel. Wicked.

As he headed to the bathing chamber for a wash, he thought about Om'zaar's words to Vaelora only a week ago.

Om'zaar thought their bond was predestined.

Now that Draekon thought about it, it felt strange.

Draekon and Vaelora had both found their first mates on the same day, nine years ago. It had been a few weeks after her sixteenth birthday.

While he married his mate-- Amelia, Vaelora couldn't marry Dione because she was just sixteen. Too young to have been mated.

Beta Hugo had insisted she turned eighteen, before she could get married.

When Vaelora turned eighteen, plans for her wedding to Dione set in. But then... Draekon killed Beta Hugo.

It was an accident.

That accident left Vaelora completely broken, and ruined the existing plans of her wedding to Dione.

Somehow, Draekon had always played a significant role in ensuring that Vaelora and Dione never got married.

As water from the shower cascaded down Draekon's head, it purged his thoughts.

Draekon didn't know about their bond being predestined, but it sure as hell was catastrophic. And worst of all, he was beginning to crave the wicked things he could do to her now that she was his.