The Dragon King’s Substitute Bride
Chapter 88

HERA

I knew it was an insane, possibly stupid idea.

But I did not realize how stupid until I was in that clearing and face to face with the most beautiful, most frightening being I have ever seen.

A dark elf, with bone white skin and the shiny colored markings that came alive beneath their skin.

Exactly like the ones from that night in the Elder forest.

Exactly like the one from my dreams.

The one I had seen kill Adarin's son.

I know it is not the same one.

Midas said that one is dead.

But they all look startlingly alike and I am unable to help but scamper backwards, unable to stop myself from glancing behind me, my hair flipping this way and that. Come on Midas ..where are you, replace me goddamit.

I attempt to run in the other direction only to see another one step out from behind the group of trees to my right.

A quick glance to my left and right tells me that it is too late to run anymore and that I am now completely surrounded.

Their gossamer thin brown cloaks flapping in the wind, the hoods covering their faces well so that most of their face is hid in shadow and all I can see is the lower half of their jaws. And the expressionless grimness of their small mouths.

But I do not really begin to panic.

Until she arrives.

Appearing seemingly out of no where, cutting me off in the middle of the clearing so suddenly that I almost ram my nose right into her.

This time she is dressed in a long dress the colour of sea foam when it washes against the shore.

An attire so impossibly beautiful and alluring, even I am almost attracted to her.

But then she smiles.

Wide and red and scary.

And all that beauty disappears in the wake of it.

She steps towards me.

"Well...well...well...what do we have here?"

I try not to show my fear on my face.

It does not work and she sees right through me.

All the way to my pounding heart and racing pulse.

The one who I assume must be the dark elven queen called Hermani walks around me.

The tip of her finger in her mouth, a permanent smirk on her face.

Then she stops suddenly, looks me up and down again, then glances at her guards with what one would interpret as confusion.

"I do not see it."

I swallow and fold my hands in fists.

Gods above please do not let me die before he gets here.

I swallow and tilt my chin up to stare at her.

"I do not believe we have been formerly introduced."

"Ah would you look at that. It speaks."

She giggles and claps her hand excitedly like one would do for a dog who has performed a new trick and I replace myself fuming even beneath the haze of my fear. "I am not an it. My name is Hera"

"And audacious too. I can almost see why the dragon king is so fascinated with you. You would make a fun pet."

"I am not a pet either ..."

But she is talking over me, ignoring my protests.

"What I cannot see however is how a tiny, meaningless human such as yourself was able to spoil our plans so spectacularly."

"Well maybe you are not as bright as you think and your plans were just not well thought out."

She raises one brow then sneers.

"Our plans were flawless. To be honest I do not believe some stupid human would have been able to stop anything but he told us..."

I frown. Suddenly my heart is pounding at a rate that makes my chest begin to hurt.

"He...who is he...Is that the person you are working with?"

I see in the way her eyes flash that she seems to realize that she has said too much.

But I also note something else.

Whoever this he is, the queen of the dark elves is afraid of him.

"Hermani..."

She whirls on me, teeth bared. "Don't you dare call my name like that you inspid little rat. Your insolence has ceased to amuse me and I grow tired of demeaning myself by speaking to you." I take a step back she takes one forward.

"What do you want from me?"

"He asked that we bring you to him but no one orders me around and besides, I can see no use for that. Now, before I slit you throat and leave you to bleed out on this forest floor you are going to tell me exactly....what...you...are..." She is standing so close to me now, bent over and breathing directly into my face so that I can smell the rotten flesh on her breath.

But before I can say anything or begin the almost pointless act of running away, the gaurds surrounding us start to twitch.

Hermani herself looks up, glances around.

They seem to be able to hear something I cannot.

Hermani smiles and nods and then the guards turn around as one and take off into the trees.

But before I can take advantage of their distraction she turns around and grips my arm.

Hard enough that her razor sharp talons sink into my skin.

"Not so fast. You queen...are coming with me. You are going to be quiet and We are going to lie in wait for your darling husband to join us."

"And why in all the realms would I do that?"

"Because if you don't, not only would I break every bone in your body but I will kill your precious dragon king as well"

I laugh, harsh and bitter to hide the bile in my throat. "He is immortal you dumb..."

But the beautiful, cruel smile on her face freezes the words on my tongue.

"Maybe but trust me human. I can hurt him in so many ways that he would wish he were dead. Now come with me." She means it. Every word

And so when she drags me with her into the thickness of the trees surrounding the clearing, I do not try to fight.

She clamps her mouth over my mouth anyway and pulls me roughly against her, my hand bent between our bodies. She is mch taller than me and has to bed her head to whisper her words into my ear.

"I will admit you are quite fascinating. It is almost a shame to have to kill you...and him. Ah here he comes now."

In one spilt second she lets go of my hand and instead wraps her hand around my neck, so tight that I actually begin to choke and then she drags me out, back into the open "Midas!!"

"Hera!"

I had intended to be calm, to not give him a reason to panic but the moment I saw him I wanted to scream at him to run...to go away before something happened to him.

I consider distracting her, giving him an opening

But when he glances briefly at me, I see the words in his eyes.

Even as he speaks to her.

He wants me to trust him.

So I do.

Even when she raises her finger and it grows into an impossible long dagger.

Even when she aims it at my neck.

I close my eyes and wait for white blinding pain but it does not come.

Instead she stops, the tip of her extended claw just shy of digging into my neck.

"You know what dragon king. I am in a generous mood. As a result, I will not kill your precious human.... if you tell what she is."

I can feel a trickle of blood dripping down from the point where her finger broke the skin.

Midas sees it too and even across this distance, I see his eyes start to go red.

He tilts his head slightly to the side.

"You forget something Hermani..."

"Oh, and pray tell what is that dragon king?"

She is enjoying this. The distress she is causing both of us.

Enjoying it, feeding on it.

And then to my surprise, Midas smiles.

But it is not the beautiful warm smile he gives me.

This one reminds me of exactly why the dragon king should be feared.

"You forget...that dark magic or not...

....I will always be faster than you."

I do not even see it happen.

My mind is completely incapable of following the movements.

Suddenly I am pushed to the ground and the weight around my neck is gone and when I look back, Hermani is pressed up against a tree, the dragon king holding her up by her neck.

"Do not even try to change. Those iron cuffs I just placed on your wrists, make it impossible for you to use your foul magic."

Her skin is still as white as ever but the magic runes on have faded to become ugly, colourless markings.

Still smiling, she slaps and claws at the hand holding her up.

"Impressive Midas... everytime we meet you always manage to impress."

Midas barely even flinches.

"Forgive me if I do not care for your compliments. Now tell me what in hades is going on. What silly plan have you connived to take my throne and who are you working with?" She tsks.

Even while choking she still manages to keep that gods awful smile on her face.

"So many questions and all the wrong ones. What you should be asking dragon king, is what have we done with the wolfsbane we brought into your realm"

Wolfsbane...the poison that drove dragons and dragon Ryders insane before it killed them.

Midas freezes, the tension in his back and shoulders showing how hard he is struggling to retain control, to hide what he is feeling.

"What have you done Hermani?"

She merely laughs.

"Well in three days dragon king, prepare to begin watching your dragons and dragon Ryders die one by one. Let us see how strong you really are then "

Midas roars but he does not strike her.

Instead he snatches back control from Er'gan and sneers at her. "Tell me where to get the antidote to wolfsbane."

"And why in all the realms dragon king would I be do that?"

His grips around her neck tightens until she begins to cough.

"You betrayed your kind and joined forces with Azarath the fallen to worship the shadows and use forbidden magic..."

She coughs, chocking and laughing at the same time. "Are you going to read me my life's story now Midas...?"

"When he was cast down, you and your traitors were banished from your realm. My father let you stay here and you betrayed his trust by luring me here and tricking him into the bond that gave you land and food and a place to call your own. Even after his death, I let you stay here but now, the bond no longer stands."

"So what dragon king, you will kick us out, slaughter us...get on with it already Kill me!!!"

"I will make a new blood bond with you"

"Midas No!"

But it is like neither one of then can hear me.

Hermani's eyes narrow. "A new blood bond...."

"I will not kill you and you and your band of vagabonds can have the Elder forest back for a hundred years more. I shall even extend your region of control."

"In exchange for what?"

"In exchange you will tell me where and how to get the antidote to wolfsbane."

"Dragon king..."

But Midas is done listening.

His grip tightens till I see the veins in her neck start to swell.

"It is that or death Hermani. And we both know you are too much of a coward to die. So chose now, before I come to my senses and simply kill you."

The longest minutes of my life pass by as I watch them.

But then Hermani nods.

Faint and imperceptible because she is nearly unconscious.

Midas relaxes his grip but does not let go. "Now start talking."

She splutters and coughs. "The antidote for wolfsbane exists on only one place in all the 7 realms."

"I

grow impatient Hermani..."

"It exists on the 4th realm."

"The fae and elves have it?"

"They do...but good luck getting that selfish bastard sister of mine to give you anything."

"Why are you playing the victim? You tried to kill her and take her throne."

Hermani smiles and shrugs. "The frigid b***h should have learned to take a joke."

But Midas is done and he lets her go.

"I shall travel to the fourth realm and upon my return. The bond will be made."

"How do I know you will do as you have said?"

"You do not. So you better pray to all the gods Hermani that not one single dragon or dragon Ryder dies before my return or you and your kind will be sorry you ever existed. In the mean time, you will be locked up in a magic cancelling cellar." "Never..." She sneers and tries to attack him again.

But without her magic she is weak and Midas merely slides out of the way.

"Stop it Hermani"

But she refuses to listen.

Until he has no choice but to catch her in the crook of his elbow and hold her neck in his grip until she slumps against him.

Cold as ice.

That is when he finally looks at me.

"Hera..."

I do not think I have ever covered a distance so fast in my life.

He catches me and lifts me in the air.

Pressing me firmly to his chest.

"You dragon king as the most amazing..."

But then his lips are on mine and the words are lost in the feelings of finally being safe in his arms again.