2

Hi Ryan…” she said awkwardly, stretching her hands, “I'm Lunelle.. Lunelle Silverstar.”

She introduced herself shyly, Ryan smiled softly and shook her hand, “Silverstar huh..” Touching his skin made her heartbeat accelerate, she had never had this close contact with a man before.

She didn't notice the calculating glint that passed through Ryan's eyes. “Silverstar..” he muttered before letting out, “I'll see you around then.” He released her and said his goodbyes.

Mila looked at the strange man's back before snickering and changing her expression, holding Myra's shoulders, “Your cheeks are red, as if you were blushing.

“Who’s blushing? I’m not,” Lunelle defended quickly, turning her face away.

Mila wasn’t buying it for a second. She grinned and reached out to ruffle Lunelle’s hair.

“Don’t worry, honey. You’re gonna find your mate tomorrow… Hopefully. And you’ll finally experience how it feels.”

Lunelle peeked at her from under her lashes. “What about you? Aren’t you keen on finding your mate?”

“Nope.” Mila shook her head without hesitation. “Not interested. Probably some omega anyway. I’d rather live my single life in peace.” She waved a hand dismissively. “Anyway, stop talking about me. Everything should be about you. Tomorrow you’re officially an adult. We’re gonna pick out some badass clothes for the after-party.”

Lunelle’s eyes widened. “An after-party? Seriously? I don’t even have time to organize something like that. And I’m not just anybody. My parents—”

“Won’t allow it because you’re their precious princess and heir. Yeah, yeah, I get it.” Mila rolled her eyes and grabbed her friend’s wrist. “But tomorrow you’re going to be an adult. Don’t forget that. For one night, just be eighteen.”

Lunelle sighed, half-resigned, half-excited. “I wish it was that easy, Mila…”

“Come on. Let’s go shopping.”

Mila pulled her along toward the mall before she could protest any further.

……

Dragon Realm

“I don’t care,” Draven barked in a sharp voice making the guards flinch. “Tell them to get out of my compound unless I decide to roast them alive. Pathetic fools!”

The guards bowed hastily and retreated. Outside the palace gates, more than ten carefully chosen dragon brides were outside, beautifully dressed, sent by the council in yet another desperate attempt to force a marriage. They claimed he was “too old” to remain single—as if a few hundred years made him old. He wasn’t even a full millennial yet.

The more he thought about it, the more he became irritated.

Draven strode out onto the high balcony and looked down at the women who refused to leave. His jaw clenched tightly. Without another word he stepped onto the railing and launched himself into the air. Mid-fall his body shifted, scales erupting across his skin as massive wings unfurled. In seconds a dragon soared above the courtyard in his true form.

The ladies looked up, pointing and waving excitedly the moment they heard the powerful beat of his wings.

Draven’s lip curled in disgust.

He opened his jaws and unleashed a stream of royal fire.

Screams filled the air as the flames washed over them. Being dragons themselves, the fire wouldn’t kill them—but royal fire burns hotter and deeper than ordinary dragon flame, it will surely leave a mark and a reminder.

He kept the blaze going for several long seconds before cutting it off with a low, dangerous growl. The women scrambled into a corner of the courtyard, whimpering and clutching one another.

Draven landed heavily, already shifting back into his human form. He walked past them as if they were nothing more than an annoying inconvenience.

“Bunch of ingrates,” he muttered under his breath.

Those fucking elders still hadn’t learned their lesson and they keep on testing his limit.

“Tell the people that sent you, this is the last time I will tolerate such actions, the next time I will make sure that your burnt bodies will be used to pass the message.” He warned coldly before transforming and flying away.

In another room, Elder Magnus slammed his hand down on the table hard. The report of what Draven had done to the brides had reached him, making him furious. That boy had always been impossible. Unlike his meek and obedient parents, he was determined to spit on every tradition and every carefully laid plan the council had ever made.

Thinking about this his face darkened as he looked at the servant standing stiffly in front of him. “Inform all the elders that there will be an emergency meeting,” he ordered in a cold voice “His Majesty’s impudence can no longer be tolerated.” The servant bowed deeply and hurried out, leaving Magnus alone with his anger. He pulled a cigarette from the silver case on his desk, and lit it, taking a long drag before exhaling Draven was… difficult. Far too difficult.

A soft knock sounded at the door. Magnus quickly stubbed the cigarette out and brushed the ash away. “Come in.” The door opened and Thalissa, his daughter stepped inside, her expression immediately sharpening when she saw the tight lines on her father’s face. She crossed the room without hesitation and gently cupped his cheeks. “Dad, what’s the matter? You look worried.” Magnus let out a short breath. “I’m fine, daughter. Just a little pissed off by that Draven. Who does he think he is? After I carefully selected those brides—every one of them from respectable homes with clean bloodlines—he openly defies me and sets them on fire.” He continued ranting, so caught up in his anger that he completely missed the small, smug smile that curved across Thalissa’s lips. When he finally paused for breath, she tilted her head and spoke in a soft innocent tone. “Dad… why don’t I marry him instead?” Magnus blinked, momentarily stunned into silence. “You? Marry him?” Thalissa’s smile widened a little. “Isn’t that what you want? Someone who can keep a close eye on him for you. And who would be a better candidate than your own daughter?” For a moment Magnus stared at her, a little skeptical but the greed that followed was impossible to hide. His eyes darkened with calculation. “Are you sure?” he asked slowly, he didn't want his daughter to be part of his plan, but since she offered, why not? Thalissa nodded. Magnus’s lips slowly stretched into a thin smile. “Alright then.” Thalissa leaned in closer, voice dropping to a whisper. “I already have a plan.”

…..

“Arise and shine, little princess!” Alpha Gabriel’s voice echoed, making her wake from her sleep. She groaned and tried to bury her face deeper into the pillow, but the noise only grew louder. Reluctantly, she forced her eyes open—only to freeze. Mila, who did an ugly makeup in order to scare her, was practically bouncing on the bed. Lunelle jerked upright seeing a ghostly face. Her heart slammed against her ribs slightly. She jerked back a little before actually scanning the room and noticed her parents “Do you want to give me a heart attack? Leaning over me like that and scaring the living daylights out of me?”

“Girl chill, when it was my birthday, you always made sure I would get nightmares and besides, we have been doing this since we were young, are you seriously still frightened, you're more like a cat and less that a wolf.” Mila joked as she stepped down from the bed.

Her mother laughed and stepped closer, her eyes filled with affection, even though she might have come out as harsh and strict, she just wanted her daughter to be disciplined and now seeing her becoming an adult, her joy knew no bounds. “Happy birthday, my love.” Her father’s deep chuckle followed. “You’re finally eighteen, happy birthday my baby.” Lunelle pressed a hand to her chest, still trying to calm her racing heart, but despite the scare a small smile began to tug at her lips. Today was finally here.“Come on, don’t pretend like you’re not excited,” her mother said with a soft laugh, rolling her eyes as she gently patted Lunelle’s shoulders. “You’ve been planning this day for an entire year. Get up and get dressed. The guests will start arriving soon… and maybe…”

“My mate!” Lunelle squealed before her mother could even finish. She shot to her feet immediately as joy lit up her entire face as she rushed forward and pressed quick kisses to both her parents’ cheeks before pulling Mila into a tight hug. “Thank you all for being here!”

Luna Yudi watched her daughter with a mixture of pride and melancholy. This was still her little princess—the same girl she had raised with strict rules and endless love—and now she was grown. Like any mother, she felt a mix of happiness and sadness. She cleared her throat and managed a gentle smile. “Alright, alright. It’s time for us to leave. The makeup artists will be here soon.”

Lunelle suddenly froze mid-bounce. “Mom, the jewelry! And my shoes! I forgot to pick them up. How could I be so stupid and forgetful?” Her voice became worried as she started thinking too much “What if I embarrass myself in front of so many people?”

Alpha Gabriel chuckled and reached out to lightly pinch both of her cheeks. “You look so adorable when you panic.” He grinned at the way she pouted. “Don’t worry. Your mother already has everything sorted out.”

Luna Yudi flashed her a reassuring smile. “Don’t be nervous. No one would dare speak badly of you.” She then took her husband’s hand and began guiding him toward the door. “Come on. Take a shower and calm yourself down, alright?”

Lunelle nodded quickly and waved them off. The moment the door clicked shut behind them, she spun around and jumped in place, unable to contain the happiness bubbling inside her. Today was finally here. After a few more minutes of jumping around, she forced herself to settle down and headed into the bathroom. She turned on the shower, stepped under the warm spray, and began humming softly under her breath. “Lunelle…”

The voice was quiet, almost like a whisper against her ear.

“Oh my goodness—!” Lunelle jolted so hard she lost her footing and slipped, landing on the wet floor of the shower with a startled gasp. Her heart hammered wildly against her ribs as she scrambled backward, searching the empty steam-filled room for any figure.

“Who was that?” she demanded in a shaking voice. “Who’s here? Show your face!”