Chapter six

A cold shiver ran through Viola's body upon hearing his name. Her eyes widened, and she took two steps back.

"Can I refuse this arrangement. I'm not ready for marriage" she exclaimed softly, feeling cornered.

Lucian let out a soft, almost mocking laugh.

"I don't care about that," he said, approaching her with a malicious smile. "What would you do? Run back to your daddy?"

Viola shook her head.

"That would be pointless," she replied. "I want nothing to do with you either. All my brothers died in your hands. Even if my father had forgotten, I wouldn't forget the letters the Lycans sent my mother and how you made her weep at night."

He raised an eyebrow without giving her a response. As he observed the flow of water and the energy it carried with it, Viola thought it was a good time to try escaping.

He was distracted and she could give her luck a chance.

Without a second thought, Viola spun around and started running toward the ship's rail, determined to jump if necessary. But on her way, a figure emerged from the darkness. A deep roar echoed across the deck, stopping her in her tracks.

A terrifying creature appeared. Seeing it, she remembered the lessons Rina gave her about the creatures of the Nightmore.

Yellow eyes locked onto Viola with hungry intensity. As the beast prowled forward, the scrape of its claws against the floor was deafening. Its ash-gray scales shifted over its massive muscles. Viola froze, paralyzed under its gaze.

It was said that the Lycans are hybrids—hybrids of wolves and dragon spirit. But the history book she read also said that dragons have gone extinct, the last of them dying in the last war among the supernaturals.

How come he has one full-grown beast under his control?

Just behind it, a woman appeared, her long, platinum hair shimmering in the moonlight. Her wine-colored eyes were intense, and her bearing suggested she was a person of high standing.

"Who ...who are you?" Viola stepped back, frightened.

"Welcome, friend. You can call me Rosie," the woman introduced herself, cautiously observing Viola.

"Hi Rosie. It's good you are a woman. Help me. I want to be free from all this... Please," she said, backing away, feeling the situation becoming increasingly desperate.

Rosie smiled, stroking the dragon's head with a confidence that unsettled her even more.

"You don't belong to your father anymore. You belong to Lucian now, and he's taking you with us," she stated, still looking at Viola. "You'd better accept it, Princess."

Viola, terrified, shook her head and took another step back, but Lucian behind her stopped her, gently placing his hands on her shoulders.

"You belong to me now," he whispered in her ear, his voice low and husky.

The touch on her skin sent a shiver through her body. Viola trembled with fear.

"No," she replied, shaking her head vigorously.

Rosie moved closer to Viola, her face serious as she examined her.

"You won't be able to escape," she said firmly, and looked at the dragon. "Zika will guard you; it's best if you don't try anything."

The creature moved, displaying its formidable size and strength, which made her feel completely trapped.

There was no way to escape, no way out. Despair loomed over her like a relentless shadow, and despite her attempt to resist, she knew she had no other choice.

With tears in her eyes and cold sweat running down her back, Viola felt like the world was crumbling around her.

"I don't want this!" she shouted, but her voice was lost in the air.

Rosie watched Viola's internal struggle with a satisfied smile, while the dragon stayed close, like a guardian, waiting for any sign from its owner.

Viola felt anger rising within her, but it was clear that her resistance was becoming increasingly futile. At that moment, the image of her father and his coldness assailed her. She remembered the last time they had seen each other, the words full of contempt he had spoken to her.

She remembered her sister and wondered if she would ever see her again. She didn't even get the chance to say goodbye to anyone.

As the ship sailed away from the dock, taking Viola to an unknown destination, she simply crashed to the ground. Her eyes were fixed on Lucian, wondering if she would be able to reach the dragon in a split second and kill the Lycan king.

But she knew that was amusing thought for a powerless wolf less girl. Still she pondered on the possibility.

It would definitely be worth it. Watching him bleed to death on his own ship. The disappointment it would bring to her father to see that she did prove to be a monster after all.

"Like I would just simply sit and watch you slit my throat? Get that thought off your head," Lucian took a step forward, stopping in front of Viola.

With a surprisingly gentle gesture, he wiped away the tears streaming down her face, his other hand holding her face steady.

"I'm your king now. You must obey me," he said with a firm tone, but with an odd calm in his voice. "That's all I ask, and my pet won't harm you."

Viola looked at him through tears, but did not answer.

Lucian extended his hand towards her.

"Come with me," he asked, looking at her.

Viola looked at the dragon, then fixed her gaze on Lucian's blue eyes and swallowed hard, trying to think of a way to escape, but at that moment, reality became clear: in front of her was the man who had chosen her as his wife; behind him was Rosie, and surrounding them was the ferocious beast. It was impossible to even get the chance to jump into the river.

With a sense of defeat, Viola looked at Lucian's outstretched hand and finally took it.

As she did, Lucian smiled at her with a chilling mixture of satisfaction.

"You're doing well, Viola," he said gently. He led her towards the edge of the ship.

"Where are we going?" Viola asked.

"Home," Lucian replied, his voice brimming with confidence.

He raised his hand, and with a gesture, began to trace an invisible circle in the air. Viola watched, wide-eyed, as the circle grew bigger and bigger, becoming large enough that a person could walk through it.

The magic left her stunned. At that moment, stories about the Lycans and how they acquired their magic flooded her mind. The idea of being in the hands of beings like them terrified her, since Lycans were said to be no good creatures.

"Get in," Lucian ordered.