The Dragon's Bride
Chapter 11

Catori took a shower, thinking that it would be her fault if her parents should ever split up. She thought she was the cause of their argument, since she never listened to her mother.

But what she didn’t know was that Lucian was planning to leave Farrah. With every nagging word, it pushed him to want to leave more and more each day.

He had already fallen out of love with his wife, only to stay because of their children.

After Catori got done, she got dressed in a silky red nightgown and laid down to read more of the book.

But the place spun, and it also became hard for her to breathe.

A small cry escaped her lips, not from pain but from something else she couldn’t explain.

Catori opened her window to get some fresh air, only to notice orange and purple lights dancing in the sky, which held her attention.

She stared at them for a while, feeling drawn to them. It was as if they were calling to her, and so she followed them by climbing out the window.

The harsh, biting weather didn’t seem to bother her, despite not having on no shoes or a coat.

Still transfixed by the lights, she followed them to the center of town and to where the visitors were staying. Until she stopped at the front door of the Grande Desolation, the best twelve room hotel in the village.

She didn’t have to knock because a girl with red hair opened the front door.

“And who might you be?” She asked.

But Catori pushed past her, made her way to the stairs and up to a room with its door closed.

She gave a soft knock, but the occupant inside heard and opened the door.

Rydstorm stared down at Catori, “how did-”

“I followed the lights.” Catori said, cutting him off.

“What lights?” Rydstorm was confused.

“Those,” Catori pushed past him to point out the window.

He looked where she was pointing but saw nothing.

Catori blinked several times, then looked around, seeming to come out of her trance.

“Where am I?” she asked in confusion.

Rydstorm raised a brow, then ran a hand down his face. “I guess that my mate will always replace her way to me.”

He smiled at her after.

“You said your name is Rydstorm. What kind of name is that?” Catori asked.

Rydstorm cocked his head to the side at her bluntness. “What kind of name is Catori?”

“It means spirit.” Catori countered.

Rydstorm chuckled, then brushed her cheek with a thumb.

“An exquisite spirit.” He said.

“Are you ready to answer my questions?” Catori let out.

“Questions? Oh, that. Well, it depends if I can trust you.” Rydstorm made his way over to a chair and sat down.

“Oh, you can. I don’t talk to anyone.” Catori rushed out.

Rydstorm chuckled, “what do you want to know?”

Catori twisted her fingers out of nervousness, which Rydstorm found odd after the way she was just now.

“Well,” she gulped. “I had this dream about you, where you were in a room and us. Well, we.” She paused to scratch at her head. “Did you have that dream as well?”

Rydstorm didn’t respond. Instead, he sat forward to study her, then got up and made his way over to her.

“How old are you?” He asked.

“N-Nineteen.” Catori stuttered, gazing up at his towering body.

Rydstorm let out a laugh and nodded to himself.

“Yes, but for me, it wasn’t a dream. It surprised me at your presence. Then you were gone, but I must know, how did you get to me?”

Catori shrugged, “I don’t know. I went to sleep and had that dream.”

Before Rydstorm could respond, there was a grumbling sound. Causing Catori’s face to go red from embarrassment.

“You’re hungry?” Rydstorm stated.

Catori gave a brief nod. It made no sense hiding it; she was just surprised that she hadn’t passed out from not eating for two days.

“I have food. You can help yourself.” Rydstorm pointed at the table in the corner, then pulled her over to it.

He made a plate for both of them, comprising of mashed potatoes, carrots, green beans, and roast chicken.

Catori’s mouth almost watered at the smell. She looked up at Rydstorm and he motioned for her to take a seat, which she did.

“Thank you. You called me your mate. Why?” she asked.

“Because you are.” Rydstorm disclosed.

“What does that mean?” Catori paused eating.

“I think you know.”

“Are you a dragon? I think my father is, but he is hiding it.” Catori let out, then looked down.

Rydstorm stiffened. “Did you just say that your father is a dragon?”

She nodded slowly, “are you one?” she asked again.

Rydstorm placed his fork down, “maybe, what is your father’s name?”

“Lucian Murdoch, but he gave me a book with the name Nightwing on it.” Catori informed.

Rydstorm opened his mouth, then closed it.

“Sorry, I shouldn’t be saying all this.” Catori apologized.

“No, it’s just that I haven’t heard the name Nightwing in a while. He was one of the most exalted dragons’” Rydstorm said.

“So, you are a dragon.” Catori sounded excited.

Rydstorm rubbed at his chin while watching Catori intently.

“With the possibility of Nightwing being your father, then you are a dragon as well.” He pronounced.

“How would I know if I am?”

“A simple test. I would take you high in the mountain and push you off the highest point. You fly, you’re a dragon, you die, you’re a human.” Rydstorm said simply.

Catori gave him a look of horror.

He let out a rich laugh. “I was only jesting. You are my mate. Hurting you is far from my intentions.”

“Why did you come here, to Desolation?”

“I have a bone to pick with the Stones and mostly because of you.”

“Did you know I was here?”

“Not until I first laid eyes on you.” Rydstorm paused. “I doubt your father is Nightwing. There is just no way he would be here and allow a Stone to still rule the place he discovered.”

“Do you know him, Nightwing I mean?”

“No, but I have heard great things about him. He was always slow to anger and well respected. I looked up to him ever since I was a child.” Rydstorm said genuinely.

“Oh, well. That sounds like my father and there was this rumour that he is the rightful chief of the place.” Catori sat straighter now.

“You know what they say, there is some truth to rumours.”

Catori nodded in agreement with Rydstorm’s words.

“But why does he hide?”

“You have the book. I’m sure that you will replace out why.”

Catori stood suddenly, “we can read it together, because there are some things that I don’t quite understand.”

Rydstorm gave a laugh. “I’m glad that you can trust me so easily, but Catori, don’t mention this book to anyone else. I’m sure your father only gave it to you for a reason.”

“Right, I should go home.” Catori said, not really wanting to leave.

Rydstorm grabbed a hold of her hand, “or you can spend the night.” He suggested.

“I-I, ok.” Catori said.

Rydstorm’s lips were on hers in no time

With this being her first kiss, she didn’t know how to react at first and when Rydstorm pulled back; she fell forward because she was weak in the knees.

Rydstorm gave a chuckle. “First kiss?”

Catori nodded shyly, using her hair to hide her burning face.