The Dragon's Precious Gem

A single tear cascaded through the thick white powder that covered Caelia’s cheeks, its path ending as it stained the pristine fabric of her off-white wedding dress. She flinched as the cruel maid struck her knuckles with a wooden stick, the sharp sting briefly drowning out the dread that gnawed at her soul. A part of her longed for the pain to grow, to consume her entirely, or a fatal wound that would save her from her fate that evening.Her hollow gaze drifted to the window. The shimmering heat haze rising from the desert momentarily caught her attention, offering a brief escape from her mounting fears. But the illusion was fleeting, and the weight of her reality soon pressed down on her once more. The haze was weakening, the heat subsiding. The evening was fast approaching, and with it, her wedding—an event that loomed over her like a death sentence. The memory of the man she had met that morning, her future husband, churned in her mind. His rancid breath that had brushed her skin,

Caelia whirled around, glaring at him, the sensation of a cage closing in around her tightening with every second. She searched frantically for another escape, but his next words cut through the air like a blade."They’ll catch you no matter which way you go." His smirk widened, cruel and confident, and with it, the last sliver of her resolve crumbled. She slumped, shattered, her body too heavy with despair to hold itself up any longer.Long silvery eyelashes fluttered briefly shut, but when she looked up again, she startled to see him in front of her, his footsteps evidently silent. The man crouched before her, his presence overwhelming, his golden eyes still fixed on her like a predator sizing up its prey. Tears blurred her vision as she blinked, her gaze inadvertently dropping to the space between his legs, where his white cotton pants pulled taut between his thighs. Flustered and conflicted, she quickly tucked her head down, confusion and shame crashing over her in waves."They wo

“Stay where you are!” The taller of the two men barked, his voice sharp as they strode over with hardened expressions. Intimidating was an understatement.Caelia gave up her struggle against the shifting sands, halting as the men closed in. Dressed in attire resembling that of the stranger she’d encountered earlier, she noticed intricate details woven into their clothing—embroidered patterns of teeth and scales, each stitch adding an air of fierce symbolism. Both men bore muscular arms and a certain rugged strength, but unlike the stranger, there was no warmth in their eyes. Her pale lashes fluttered as they stopped before her, assessing her as if she were a threat.“Where did you come from?” the slightly shorter man demanded, his tone dripping with suspicion. Caelia met his gaze, swallowing her nerves as she tried to respond.“I—I don’t want that man to touch me.” The words came out in a whisper. The men exchanged a look, some of their initial tension easing as they took in her dishe

She’d expected to find him here; the anticipation had kept her from panicking. Still, her body responded instinctively, a flutter stirring in her chest and an ache gathering low in her belly. Her skin prickled with the memory of his touch, the way his warm finger had pressed to her lips, his large hand cradling her face with a possessive tenderness.As if he sensed her thoughts, his lips curled into a devious smirk, and Caelia ducked back, a flush heating her cheeks. Hidden beneath the hood, she had wondered if he could truly see her, though she was now certain he could.From this new angle, she glimpsed the man who had met them at the door. But he wasn’t approaching the stranger as she’d assumed; instead, he was speaking with an older woman seated across the room. The woman’s stern expression turned expectant as she gestured toward the door.“Things can be arranged any time,” the woman said curtly, her gaze sharp as a blade. The room fell silent as she added, “The opportunity is rare

“What—what did you just say?!” Caelia stammered, scrambling back as she fell, her face a blazing red. He moved swiftly, his torso lifting upright to catch her, but she slipped from his grip, wide-eyed and retreating.“What is this ceremony? Are you talking about doing… that… in front of people? I-I can’t do that!” she hissed, her voice a frantic whisper as she backed away, her cheeks and ears burning.He leaned closer, reaching to brush a lock of her hair with that familiar gentleness she remembered from their first encounter. His voice softened to a near whisper. “It is what you would call a ‘marriage,’” he said, his words low and smooth, meant only for her ears. “...though it holds a deeper meaning.”She stared, stunned by the words coming from this striking, powerful man, before hastily regaining her composure. “But people don’t… do that in the middle of a wedding,” she managed, mortified.He raised an eyebrow, genuinely curious. “You would not have mated with Dunsmore?”Caelia gri