The Selection: Bride Of The Dark Dragon
Chapter 33

MIRA

Did he just say the next door on the left? As in the only other door in this part of the hallway? Did he bring me to live right next to him? Can this be a coincidence?

However, my tummy rumbles again and I hurry to take shower and change. I dry my hair quickly with magic and go to the wardrobe room to choose a gown for today. First, my hand goes to one of my usual dresses, but then I look at the pendant that Derrien gave me yesterday. This is my safety net here. As long as I wear it no other gerdian would dare to touch me. So, I’d better wear it at all times. Even if that would mean that I “belong” to Derwood. Judging by my yesterday’s interactions, he is definitely not the worst choice here.

And speaking of yesterday, hopefully, at least some of the empty boxes would arrive today… After all, I risked my life for those!

I decide on one of the dresses that Derrien sent me – A cream elegant piece with black thread embroidery at the sleeves, skirt, and neckline. The round pendant matches it beautifully.

When I walk into the dining hall I feel everyone staring at me once again. Oh gods, what now?!

I sit at my usual table and look at my friends, who have all already gathered here.

“You’re late”, Xia smiles coquettishly, “Long night?”

“Don’t even start”, I roll my eyes, “Definitely not in a way you imagine. Why is everybody staring?”

“Well,” Morgan starts, “When you left yesterday, it wasn’t the end of the show!”

“Or really?”, I ask politely, while putting food to y plate from the dishes served to our table. Eggs and bacon! My favourites!

“Yes, the duke came back!”, Fawn whispers, “And he was furious when he realized that you were already gone!”

“Another gerdian tried to approach him and was hit by his dark magic! It was almost as horrible as when he killed the man who touched you…”, Desirae continues.

“After that, he just grabbed a girl and disappeared together with her!”, Morgan shrugs her shoulders.

W-who did he take?“, I shrug, knowing what could happen to the poor girl all too well!

“Alexandra!”, Fawn whispers.

I look back at Isidore’s table and see Alexandra alive and well. She is giggling happily and holding her head high… Maybe she was lucky and escaped after all…

But the next thing I notice on her are bruisers… All over her neck… I would have had the same if Derrien hadn’t saved me and given me the ointment! However, Alexandra seems happy and touches her neck all the time, blushing.

“Well, she seems alright”, I say slowly.

“That’s because she is not that bright”, Morgan snorts, “She thinks that now he is going to marry her. A duke!”

“Maybe he will?”, Fawn suggests.

“Hardly”, Desirae smiles sadly, “He didn’t care whom he was grabbing. He just needed a release… and she provided him with it.”

“That’s her problems,” Xia changes the topic of our conversation, “Our Morgie had been lucky as well yesterday!”

“Not in that way!”, my friend blushes, and everyone chuckles.

“But that lord who asked you for a dance has spent the rest of the night with you”, Xia smiles, “And I’ve heard he is a marquess!”

“Really?”, Morgan smiles to herself, “I didn’t know that. His name is Brandon Sevill and … he seems nice.”

“Not psychotic for sure”, I add, “I’ve seen him a few times as well. For a gerdian he behaves… like a normal person.”

“True”, the brunette agrees, “Xia, but what about you? You danced with several lords yesterday. I’d even say that you were the most popular lady at the ball!”

“I had a few admirers yesterday,” the southerner giggles, flapping her beautifully long lashes, “But we’ll wait and see. It was just an introduction, who knows where everything goes.”

“And what about you, girls?”, I ask the last two ladies.

“I dance with a few people as well, everybody did,” Desirae says, “But I wouldn’t say that there was anything special about the experience. They are all so handsome, tall and well-dressed… But most of them are not talkative. Some even looked like they were bored…”

“That’s normal for them. Their ego and their attitude are the two worst things about them”, I say and take a few grapes for dessert.

“I guess I hoped for something… magical, you know?”, Desirae looks sadly at her plate, “Every one of us is going to marry one of them. I just hoped that it would be more special…”

After that none of us say anything for a while. We all hoped for something like that… Well, not me. I hope to escape. But I know that that’s how every girl at the Selection feels.

“We need to hurry”, Fawn says, “Today lady Cecilia will be telling us about the talent show! We’d better not be late!”

“Well, actually I have to go”, I say, wiping my lips carefully, “Lord Derwood asked me to see him straight after breakfast. Tell lady Cecilia that I had no choice over the matter.”

“As this would help you”, Morgan snorts again.

“Thanks, friend!”, I roll my eyes and stand up from the table.

“You know”, Desirae looks at me, “I am glad that at least one of us has something special here…”

I don’t replace what to say to that. It would be cruel to disappoint her even more… She needs hope to survive all this!

So, I just smile and leave, “See you later, ladies!”

I hesitate before knocking on the door. Funny how I never realized that just one wall separates his chambers from mine.

I raise my hand to knock, but the door opens itself and I hear a familiar voice, “Come in, Mira!”

Derrien is sitting on his sofa. The one I saw in my dreams. The realization makes me blush. He is already fully dressed and freshly shaven. Looking better than ever. And, more importantly, not taking his eyes off me…

“Beautiful dress, Mira”, he says, “I see you get accustomed to our fashion. Do you want a drink?”

“No, thank you, lord Derwood, I think I had enough drinks from you,” I shrug remembering the spiked wine and the Somnium Nox potion.

“It’s understandable!”, he chuckles, “Alright, I asked you to come here for a reason. Remember that tiny spec of the spell you found in the chambers where your roommate was killed?”

“Very well, my lord”, I nod.

“Mira… let’s drop the formalities. After I’ve spent the night in your bed it just seems a bit…fake anyway. Be open with me.”

“Are you sure this is what you want?”, I raise my brow.

“Let’s say no one would buy that you are under my protection if you are this distant with me… So, it’s in your interest…”

“Is that the only reason?”, I suddenly ask. I don’t know why.

He looks at me for a second, without saying anything, and then says, “Do you want there to be another reason, Mira?”

“Does it matter?”, I roll my eyes.

“Do you always answer with a question to a question?”, he steps closer.

“Did you forget why you called me in the first place?”, I step back.

“How do you know this is not why I called you?”, he continues to get closer.

“And what is this exactly?”, I almost whisper, because he is now so close I feel his breath on my face.

“Something unexpected,” he says, bewildered by the situation. But he quickly comes back to his senses and clears his throat, “Well, Mira, I called you here, because I want to ask for your help with the investigation of your friend’s death. I need a human magic expert and you seem to be not so bad. Would you be interested to help me replace the murderer?”

“Hmmm,” I say slowly, even though I am excited on the inside, “Lord Derwood, if you really need my help, then I have a very important condition!”