The Dragon's Bride
Chapter 17

The soft snow falling made everything seem even more surreal.

Catori couldn’t believe that she had finally left Desolation, and that this was where she’d be living from now on.

“I love it here already.” Catori smiled.

“I can imagine. This is a place our kind needs to be. Open, fresh and with those that are of our own.”

″What is it like living in a house full of dragons?”

“Palace.” Rydstorm corrected. “But it can be chaotic, a lot of snapping, growling and going for each other’s neck. But we can’t kill our own.”

“Your people try to fight you?” Catori’s eyes widen in shock.

“No, they are more sensible than that.″

“So, there is no danger to worry about, then?”

“Mostly not. We haven’t had an attack in centuries.” Rydstorm told her truthfully.

“Apart from your sister I met earlier, do you have any more siblings?”

“Four sisters and one brother. I’m the eldest. You will know us differently because our blue hair and height sets us apart from everyone else.”

“Do they live here?”

Normally Rydstorm would get annoyed if it was someone else asking him these questions, but coming from his bride, he didn’t mind answering all her inquiries.

“No, you will only see Winona and Alice. Alice is the youngest. You will also see close to one hundred members of my kingdom floating around. They won’t bother you, so no need to worry.”

“Can I see the place?”

Rydstorm smiled, then took Catori’s hand, then led her out of his room and to a long stone path that was floating in the air.

“Holy hell.” She let out.

“Never heard anyone use those two words together like that before.”

“I’m scared to cross on this thing.”

“Don’t worry, it is very stable.”

Rydstorm jumped on a stone just to prove his point.

Catori’s heart pounded in her chest as she watched with one eye open, waiting for the worst.

A smile played on the corners of his mouth, ″well, are you coming?″

“Can you hold my hand, please?″

He took her delicate hand in his, then gave it a kiss.

“I’ll never let anything happen to you.″

And she believed him, just the way his eyes sparkled when he looked at her, told her what she needed to know.

Catori took a tentative step, then stayed put for a while, thinking that she would be the one unlucky enough for the stones to fall out beneath her.

“It’s alright, I got you.” Rydstorm coaxed.

Catori bravely walked across the rest of the air bridge, then let out a breath.

Rydstrom was still astonished at how quickly the small female before him was accepting this new lifestyle. Any normal person would have laughed or acted out after replaceing out about the existence of dragons. Then again, she wasn’t so normal.

But whatever it was that caused his bride to be so brave, he hoped it all went well. He even sent a silent prayer that nothing comes between them. He already cared for her and would lay his life down on the line for her.

The two walked hand in hand to the first area, which was the meeting room.

″Oh wow,″ Catori said, but really she wasn’t that much interested in the room, just that it was open up and she feared falling over the edge.

When they got to the next room, Catori couldn’t help her mouth from falling open.

The area they now stood in was facing the rocks, with crystal clear water coming out of the mountain. There were several flowers floating in the water and the mist it gave off created a rainbow.

As they walked to another room, two men with spears were coming their way. The men stopped and bowed before continuing on.

″This place is amazing,″ Catori marveled after seeing more of the rooms.

″This is nothing, just wait for spring.″

″Well, I am not going anywhere. So, I’ll be here to see even more wonders.″

The final place Rydstorm showed Catori was the bathroom, which was heavily scented with rosemary, peppermint, sage, and other smells she couldn’t recognize. Catori also had to avert her eyes from the few naked males and females that drifted about.

Seeing this, Rydstorm looked down at her quickly reddening cheeks.

″This is the bathhouse,″ he told her, his voice held a hint of amusement at how innocent she was.

″A bathhouse? As in, we all bathe in the same quarters. And anyone can see me naked?″

That caused the smile Rydstorm was housing to fall. He then realized that everyone would be seeing his bride, and he didn’t want that. It also now had him questioning how his people were comfortable with others seeing their mates.

″I’ll have to work on something for you.″ He grunted.

After leaving there, Rydstorm showed her where they would eat, and then the last place, which was a sky garden.

“Catori, you haven’t said a word since leaving the bathhouse. Is everything ok?″ Rydstorm took her hand in his.

“Yes, no. A little traumatized after seeing so many naked men. But apart from that, everything is like a dream. I honestly didn’t know what to expect, a mountain full of gold maybe, or even a pit of fire and bones.″

Rydstorm chuckled, ″all stereotypes. We live just like any other human would, just simpler. But we are better, with added abilities. Besides, humans often mistake Wyvern with dragons. Those are the ones to be wary of.″

″I can see that the life I had down there will be so much different from the one here.″

Rydstorm cupped her face in his hands. ″And you need not worry, no one will dare to lay a finger on you. I am your protector and provider. Nothing will hurt you.″

Catori stared into his eyes, and she knew she loved the man before her. She knew she could place her life in his hands and need not to worry.

Before Catori could respond to Rydstorm, a cheery blue hair girl came bounding up to them.

“Hi, I’m Alice.” She introduced herself.

At first, Catori just stared at the girl, then smiled after seeing how similar to Rydstorm she looked.

“Alice, what do you want?”

“To meet your bride, unless you are going to tell me I can’t do that either.”

She then turned back to Catori.

“You are beautiful. Tell me your interests, what do you like to eat, what type of dragon are you?″ Alice rushed.

Catori hardly had time to keep up with her questions.

With a husky voice, Rydstorm said.

“Alice, please-”

“It’s not like I’m going to steal her. But whatever, you never let me do anything.” Alice cried, then left.

“Don’t you think you are being hard on her?”

“No, she can be too much at times and she is still young.”

“Ok, but just know that it is something like this that caused me to resent my mother.”

Rydstorm opened his mouth but was lost for words.

Catori got closer to him, ran a hand down his bare chest, then said.

“Give her some freedom, let her explore things for herself. The only way a person can truly replace themself is when given the freedom to do so.”

Rydstorm sighed.

“My father’s dying breath was to take care of her.”

“I get that, but having no freedom isn’t the same as being taken care of.”

Rydstorm let out a sigh. His warm breath caressed Catori’s face.

She stared into his eyes, then smiled.

Before she knew it, their lips locked, moving in sync at a slow pace.

Rydstorm’s hands circled Catori’s small waist so he could pull her closer.

Catori pulled away all too soon.

“Are you going to give your sister the freedom she seeks?”

“I’ll think about it.” Rydstorm told her.