Chapter 22

I placed a serious face and then snickers covering his face with his palms.

If everyone respects me, not Gray. I want to disown him as a brother.

"I'm going to kill her!" He declared kicking his feet on the sand and a sudden anger surges inside me as he keeps cussing her.

I don't want to hear that.

I hover my palm over his face, using a paralytic venom on him.

"Arghh!" He cried as his bones cracked while takes off his hands.

"Stop Alaric, it hurts!" He orders trying to fight through the venom but he couldn't.

"You lost the fight gray, now stay away from her"

"Alaric!"

"You know what to say" I snapped as tears poured from his eyes and his heart beat faster.

"Yes, yes, I swear, I will stay away!"

I quickly stopped and he coughs, scratching his body and gasping for air.

I looked at him, emotionless as he shape-shifted back to himself.

He pants sitting upright and wiping his tears with the back of his palms. His eyes glared at him as he was fussing like a bomb about to explode.

"I hate you" he cried and I nod, definitely approving that compliment.

"I hate you more" I replied throwing my hands behind me as he let out a silent hiss.

"Don't avoid the healer gray, I see the wolf left a signature on your face" I command and he crashes to the ground, roaring that the dragons howl with him.

He hates the clinic, moreover, he hates scars mostly on that face.

I smirk at him and then walked away,

To find that fox.

***

I have no idea what I'm doing here but watch her from the balcony as she tries to jump over the hedge.

The fact that she believes no one will see her is intriguing. She's so tiny, easily broken and annoying.

However, I got distracted when Maddox, my commander in chief appears with a bow.

I gave no signal as he knew what to do.

"The court has assembled, awaiting your decision your majesty"

Silence.

"There's great news too, the eastern borders have surrendered which means the rebels have been subdued"

"Do you think she'd climb that?" I asked, so unserious with the news he delivered.

Maddox cock his head slightly to the side, taken aback by the question.

"No" he replied politely with charged eyes at the person I was staring at.

I can tell he's now staring at her as he suddenly takes his crossbow to shoot but shifting my gaze to him, made him lower his bow.

"Tell the court lady to get her dressed, make her present before I make an entry" I ordered and with a bow, he left to do the needful.

I moved away from the balcony, after noticing that she had jumped over the hedge.

Not even Maddox can predict her. He's puzzled over how she climbed over that large hedge.

Oddly enough, she'd be in a ditch because outside the hedge has tons of ditches surrounding the area, making it impossible for an escape.

Before setting out for the court, I first spied out on Gray, he did well to sit at the royal clinic's stretcher and pour his heart to the deaf healer.

Leaving that place, I headed for the court and the guards guiding the door gave me a bow before pushing the door.

A proclaimer was on stand by to announce my coming. The bright lights that lit up the room gave room to the cold ignition of blue flames.

It's the same old feeling, the same old court room with a few people who are present to be a part of the assembly.

Only hardened hearts and evil dwell in everyone gathered. I feel their energy.

Paths were cleared for me to march in and I feast on the fear in their eyes, the panic and a thousand heartbeat that feels like rhythm to my ears...except hers.

There she was, at the far end of the court, gazing around like the stranger she is.

Her fingers were struggling to keep her dangling hair in place, then our eyes met and she stopped.

Even though she was swallowed by the crowd gathered here, I can still recognize her.

Or perhaps, it's because she's the only one not bowing and I can see the maid beside her pushing her head rudely to give a bow.

With a cold glance at her, I shoved my face to the throne at the head of this palace.

Once I mounted the throne, I placed my hands on the arms of the throne, and then studied the face present.

"I've assembled you all today to welcome someone who would now become a part of the dragon lair" I announced, traveling my gaze around the corners of the palace.

There was silence as no one dared to make a sound when I spoke except if they didn't want their tongue coming off.

"A bride I have decided to choose just as it always was"

Their curiosity deepens as everyone gathered here, glancing at each other.

It's nothing new to them except the fact that the word this time wasn't mistress but bride.

"And whosoever she'd be, let the respect accorded to me be given to her, she'd be a part of the court"

There's silence again as I swallowed trying to find the one person I made sure of a grand announcement of.

"The girl in sapphire, step forward"

Now there are two ladies in sapphire but then, the wrong one stepped out and the fox who was busy staring only gawked at me.

Not until I said;

"The wolf"

She was still staring and the fact that she always gets lost when looking at me, the fact that she's not breathing only expresses the shock.

"The wolf in sapphire"

I never repeat myself but then for her I just did that and I felt like a fool, controlling myself not to spit out fire on her.

Everyone too were thrilled to know who the wolf was in this room because wolves aren't permitted to be a part of the court.

Oddly, she was also searching for whosoever I was referring to, even more serious than the other.

Do I have to describe everything about her to know she's the one!