LOVING MY NEMESIS, THE DRAGON KING

Zemora's POV

"This war has to come to an end, Alpha Zavier!" My mate roared before the council. 

The Dragonites had relaunched another attack, and this time, one thousand warriors were killed from the Umerk clan, their houses burned down to flames, their survivors taken hostage, and children turned into slaves.

Everyone roared in unison, demanding that my father, the Alpha king, make a decision that would change our lives for good.

"Those cellous beasts are raiding our homes, killing our people and coverting our lands. We cannot take it anymore, Alpha," Aaron fumed, igniting more uproar.

My father sat on his throne, his elbow lazily resting on the armchair, his eyes void of interest. Ever since my mother died from one of the dragonite's attacks, he lost the purpose of living.

Even now that he was before the council, there was no telling that he wanted to leave.

"Alpha, the dragon king's diplomat has arrived," One of the elders announced.

Seconds later, A troop of dragonites, huge with scale-like skin, eyes fiery as gold, strode in, their upper bodies barely covered with the spiky armor they wore across their chests and shoulders.

Their presence darkened the meeting corner with dread, the atmosphere intensified with contempt and desire to draw blood.

But then, their coming was for peace, and no one in their right mind dared to unsheathe their sword or shift into their wolf form. The once noisy hall was now as dead as a graveyard.

My younger sister, Zenita, who was seated beside me, grabbed my hand, her body trembling with fear from the sight of the dragonites.

I held her hand tight, glaring at the monsters that burned down our kingdom, raining chaos upon it. 

"Greetings, Alpha Zavier. We have come on behalf of our king. As agreed, we are here to take the bride you promised to our king in exchange for the Goldville," One of the Dragonites declared, causing everyone to mumble amongst themselves.

A bride? Goldville?

How come I never knew of it? I looked at my father, expecting a silent explanation from him. We had a way of communicating with our eyes, aside from mind linking. 

Only the Alpha clan possessed this ability to speak through the eyes.

My father avoided my gaze and continued with the Dragonite.

“A bride shall be sent down to your king two weeks from now," my father responded.

Two weeks?! He was going to send someone's daughter off to a land filled with monsters to marry the dragon king?!

“It was agreed that we take the bride with us as we leave," the Dragonite said, his voice darkened with threat as his other companions poised to attack.

“Our Alpha has decided upon two weeks. You beasts cannot go against that!" Aaron growled, inciting another wave of animosity.

The deafening silence filled with dread became suffocating. One wrong move and the hall would turn into a bloodbath.

I needed to get my sister and me out of there before the brooding fire escalated.

"Take her. Zenita, step forward." My father's voice echoed through the hall, breaking the ice with an unexpected command. My heart dropped into my stomach as shock engulfed my senses.

Zenita fell on her knee, breaking down instantly from my father's declaration.

“Father," I called out instinctively, holding on to my sister with every strength I had. 

So this was why he summoned us, to sacrifice one of his daughters to satisfy his greed!

I narrowed my eyes at him, disgusted by his cowardly behavior.

"Please, Sister, don't let them take me," Zenita cried, her voice hinged with desperation to be saved. Her cry tore my heart into shreds. Ever since our mother died, I have been the one taking care of her. My father never for once looked at us or ever cared to know if we were alive. To him, we had died along with our mother.

He directed one of the pack's guards to drag Zenita over to the dragonites, despite all her cries and protests. My chest constricted with pain as I watched them take her away, vulnerability shaming me for being weak. 

If my sister were to marry the dragon king, she would die the very moment she stepped into their rumoured blazing kingdom. But if I go in place of her, I might be able to survive or...die. 

Knowing how gentle she was, frail like a harmless feather, I took a step forward. My fists clenched to my sides as I battled myself for what I was about to do.

'You don't have to do this. She is not worthy of being saved,’ Azura, my wolf, spoke up after ghosting me throughout the night.

'Shut up, Azura. Remain silent as you have been!' I whispered coldly.

Once I was at the center of the hall, everyone's eyes were drawn to me, especially Aaron's gaze. His eyes were full of questions, his face contoured with confusion.

"Take me instead," I blurted out, shocking everyone. This was stupid of me, but then, I was killing two birds with one stone.

I glanced at my mate with a glare as last night's episode flooded into my mind:

“Aaron, when are you going to reject my sister? You are taking longer than expected. Don't you love me anymore?”

“Of course I do. Zemora is a clever woman. I need to take things carefully, or else I will lose my chase as the next Alpha.” Zenita giggled as Aaron kissed her on top of my bed, continuing their lovemaking.

The image made me feel sick. 

My sweet little sister was not so innocent. However, I had a goal in mind, a plan my father and I had bargained on:

‘Bring the heart of the Dragon King, and you shall become Queen.’

"What do you think you are doing?" Aaron grumbled through gritted teeth.

"Saving your lover from the hands of dragons," I mumbled with a snicker in my voice.

"I am certain the dragon king will want a virgin for a bride," I said, watching my sister's face turn red with embarrassment.

Striding over to her, I leaned closer to her ear and whispered, "Stabbing me at the back was your greatest mistake, little sister. I will be back." I planted a kiss on her cheek once I was done.

With that done, I followed the dragonites out with the quest to kill my beloved husband-to-be, the dragon king.