With arms locked together, they crossed one street to another. Chezzal leaned down to whisper, “It seems that you are the center of attraction.”
“Yes, a mortal amongst them, I guess,” she said in a low voice. “I am definitely the odd one out!”
“That’s just a part of it. The fact that you are with me also makes a difference. The king and I are the two of the wealthiest and most sought-after bachelors in this city. You wouldn’t know how many unmarried dragon females and females from other kingdoms have been competing for our attention,” he boasted.
She shook her head. “Gods, you are such a braggadocio!”
“I am not bragging, but you can’t imagine the number of debutant
Meryl was dressed in a lovely white dress with pale blue accents and golden beading and flowing sleeves. A two plated gold choker covered much of her neck. Bangles of gold glimmered around her wrists. The maids made her wear matching anklets and her sandals were soft, padded and golden. They left her auburn hair open and wove tiny gold beads in them. A thin circlet of gold leaves crowned her head.When Hesalth finished, she stepped back to admire her handiwork. Her eyes were moist with emotions and she said with a sigh, “Oh, Lady Meryl, you look so beautiful that not a single woman in this kingdom or the other can compare. You look much more gorgeous than Queen Penny, and that is saying something.”Meryl chuckled. “You just like me too much, Hesalth.” She really would have loved to meet Penny if the circumstances were right,
Jealousy spiked in her chest and she felt like pulling Brishor from there. But comprehension struck. Why should she be jealous when— She turned her gaze away to look at the couples dancing in the center of the hall. They looked so graceful and beautiful together. The dragon females were exquisitely dressed. They had such pronounced features and were taller than her. She was perhaps the shortest in the entire crowd and perhaps the most petite. Inadvertently, her eyes went back to Brishor. She saw that he was accosted by more courtiers and Tere and her friends had stepped away. All of a sudden, she noticed that Angus pointed in her direction and spoke in low whisper to Tere. She smiled and dipped her head slightly in acknowledgement. Angus went to Brishor while Tere walked in Meryl’s direction, and Meryl was totally flabbergasted. Dread grew in her like cold waves. She watched the confident gait with
“Oh, wait!” Morana intervened. “Once he breaches your virginity you will have more rocky nights. He loves to have sex with bound and gagged females. He will tie you up in ropes and all,” she said waving her hands in the air, “and then hang you up in the ceiling and have sex with you.” She fanned her face. “Gods, it is so hot!” She swiveled her head to Meryl. “I have heard that Chezzal also loves all that and more.” She smacked her head. “I am sorry to have revealed all that to you and not leave as a surprise.”“Royal slut!” Rene tittered. “That sounds like a nice name for a woman like you. Meryl, the royal slut,” she said, writing the words with her fingers in the air. And as she wrote the words appeared in golden dust that disintegrated the moment the words completed. She leaned forward and curled her fin
Why was she hearing her father’s voice or was it just an illusion? The fingers gestured to her to follow them. And so, Meryl followed. Mesmerized, hoping for a miracle, she followed for a long time till she was deep in the forest. The fingers pointed to her left, and an icy burst of surprise surged in her when she found herself looking at the blue sizzling ring of the portal. She stifled an excited squeal. When she looked back to thank the shadows, there was nothing present. She pressed her hand to her mouth and realized that the shadows guided her. She giggled and then without another delay, she rushed towards the portal. As and as she inched towards it, it started to sizzle all the more and grow in size. Meryl came to stand right in front of it and the portal was as tall as her. The blue lights of the portal shimmered on the snow and the forest around her shone dimly. The effect was riveting. She
Meryl peeked from her place around the edge of the stairs. When she looked straight up, she saw her stepmother, Lady Judith. Her hair was a mess. She loomed over the railing so steeply and dangerously that with one push she could topple down. It seemed that she had too much to drink, but she never acted like this before. This was more than just drinking. She seemed to be on a high. Her face was looking haggard even from her distance. Judith swayed and danced away from the railing with her hands up in the air, humming a song with her nasal voice that sounded like a crow’s call. Once again she came to the railing and bent over it dangerously, the decanter in her hand turning parallel to the ground and spilling its content. She stood straight all of a sudden and took the decanter to her mouth and chugged at its contents. Judith threw it down the railing and wiped her mouth with her sleeve.
“This is absolutely ridiculous! I think you have heard wrong, Patsy!” Meryl said a bit loudly. “I will never accept to become Lord Alex’s wife.” Her stomach dropped. What about Brishor and Chezzal? She couldn’t betray them. But what was she even thinking? She had run away from Galdere, from the two dragons only for her people. And now that she had a chance to salvage their situation, she was balking? “No!” Patsy stared at Meryl with eyes full of gloom and dashed hopes. “M’lady, I don’t know about your mother, but no one is going to force you into marrying Lord Alex. However, this is the only way you can save us and you know it. People in Windley would not see how much you will benefit; they will only see their benefit. If you won't accept Lord Alex’s proposal, you will deprive us of the only chance we have ever had in so many years.” Patsy was kneeling in front of her. She held Meryl’s hands and her
“Shut up Morana!” Tere snapped. “You weren’t at fault.” She looked at Brishor and said, “I already told you that Meryl was a bitch. She is not worth you. She is too rustic and uncouth and doesn’t know what to talk with others. You should throw her in dungeons for speaking to Morana like this. Morana is the nobility and she is the one who suits you better.” A roar sounded and the next instant a slap landed on her cheek. Tere went flying, crashing into the stone railing which splintered on impact. Shocked as hell, she yelped in pain as others gasped. The crowd behind them started dispersing. “Brishor!” Angus yelled. “How dare you?” He lunged at Brishor but Chezzal came to stand in the way and Angus collided with the General. He flung his hand at Chezzal, trying to punch him on his head, but Chezzal held his fist midair and punched him in his belly.
The midnight hour chimed through the castle, the ringing echoing through the dark and silent halls of the castle. Marriage with Lord Alex? The thought unsettled her so much that she needed something to do. Something to take her mind off the deal her mother had brokered with Lord Alex. Meryl found herself in the center of a storm that seemed to be sucking her at a rapid rate.Not able to sleep, she swept her feet off to the ground, tossing the blankets away. Grabbing a shawl from the foot of the bed, she wrapped it tightly around her. She walked to the window and glared at the gusty cold winds that whipped more rain outside. She missed the presence of two muscular bodies around her and her toasty bed. Her gaze went to the hearth that was burning, giving the room a soft glow, but even all that fire couldn’t make her feel good and warm. It had been two days and she missed the way she hugged Chezza