The Selection: Bride Of The Dark Dragon
Chapter 67

MIRA

We stay like this for longer than it is appropriate. He is holding me around my waist and I am too afraid to move away. Because if I do – it will all be over. And I need this closeness now, even if it’s just for a few seconds.

Soon enough, he takes his hands off me and I suddenly feel much colder and much more empty. I turn to look at him but only see his back as he is looking out of the window.

He doesn’t say anything and I simply come closer and stand next to him, trying to see what he is looking at. But the night is dark and, however much I try, I see nothing in the darkness.

“Do you believe she is guilty?” I ask finally, “Isidore Vierne?”

“Do you?” he still doesn’t look at me.

“I don’t know. If our conversation down there was all fake then she should be acknowledged as the best actress of the century.”

“You are very easily convinced, little mage.”

“Am I, though? I mean, that necklace is the only artifact we found in her chest, right?”

“Yes.”

“So, where is the rest? And where is the worst one out of them all – the ruby hairpin which is actually a magical amplifier? One can make a lot of damage with that thing!” I insist.

“One can make a lot of damage even without it,” he interjects, “Enjoying your new ring, Mira?”

For a second there I don’t even know what to answer, but then the anger rises inside of me, “It wasn’t a choice and you know it!”

“It looked like a hell of a choice when you put it on in front of me!” he snorts, almost bitterly.

“You know what, He would make me wear it sooner or later anyway! So, no, it wasn’t a choice!” I roll my eyes, “Not telling me that you are NOT a part of the Selection and making me fall for you and use me WAS a choice!”

His lips part and he looks at me, startled, “You fell for me?”

I trip on my own words… Did I just admit that out loud to him?

“Just forget about it!” I turn to the door and start walking away when he suddenly appears before me in the dark flames, eyes full of those beautiful sparks. He still has sparks for me…

“Mira,” he says in a hoarse voice, “I need to know. I need to know it more than anything!”

“And what would it change?” I almost yell at him and feel a tear falling down my cheek, “I still have this damn mark! I am one of the brides! And you are not a part of the Dark Selection! And even if you were, if Dargen wants me then…”

“Do you want him?” he suddenly asks.

“Of course not!” I feel so insulted by his words.

“Then what do you want? Do you want to become the Empress? Is that why you are wearing that demon’s ring?!”

I slap him before I even realize it. Again. And right now there is so much magic in his eyes that I feel that I am going to say hello to his dragon any time now. But I don’t care anymore!

“How dare you!” I shout at him and hit him again, this time on his chest, and then again and again, “How dare you say those disgusting things?! How dare you insinuate something like this? How dare you trick me?! How dare you… you…”

I don’t get to finish as his lips cover mine in the most possessive k**s he has ever given me. He is holding me in place tight, tugging on my hair from the back with one hand, and pressing me into his firm chest with another. I don’t even notice how my hands slide around his shoulders and neck. This is madness! Pure madness!

“I need to hear you say it, Mira!” he growls at me in between k****s.

“Dream on!” I try to avoid his lips, but I have to admit that I am not trying too hard.

“Stubborn,” he mumbles, piercing my mouth with his tongue, “Stupid!”

“Say it to yourself,” I bit him on his l*p and feel a metallic taste. I gasp, realizing what I have just done. The smirk that appeared on his face doesn’t promise me anything good.

“Silly mage did it again”, he chuckles and I slip out of his grasp and run away a few good steps. If I remember it right, we need to exchange b***d for him to be able to send me those dreams. I haven’t seen them for the last few days and I guess the effect wore off.

“Derrien Derwood, don’t you come closer!” I warn him stretching my hands before me.

“Or you’ll do what exactly? Bite me again?” he is clearly enjoying that chase. I pick up my dress and run deeper into his room, jumping over a chair and try to use it as a barrier between us. He moves slowly, like a lazy lion who knows he already trapped the gazelle. We stand like this for a while, before he jerks in my direction and I run for my life. Only to bump into his rock-hard chest again as he appears before me out of flames of dark magic.

He traps me in his hands.

“My little mage loves to bite”, he smirks breathing into my lips, “So do I…”

The k**s is long and gentle. I know how it would end, but I don’t mind the pain when he bites the inner side of my l*p. It’s almost sweet if he is the one who does it! He licks this place again and I gain, but I suspect that he only makes sure that our b***d mixes properly this time.

“Would you finally tell me what I need to know?” he is leaving a trail of hot and wet k****s down my neck.

“Is there a point to? Nothing changed!”, I exhale loudly, almost moaning in his arms.

“You answer me and I’ll decide if there is a point! “he insists almost at my bosom.

“You tell me there is a point and I’ll think about answering!” I try to push him away, but he subdues my resistance quickly, pinning my hands at both sides of me.

“You know, Mira, you would give me your answer!” he smirks wickedly, “At the portal ball this weekend.”

“Don’t be so sure!” I snort, secretly wondering if he is going to continue.

“Oh, you are a terrible student after all,” he chuckles, “You absolutely don’t know, do you?”

“Don’t know what?” I raise my brow.

“The main point of the portal ball,” he tries to explain, but seeing my blank face starts laughing, “You seriously don’t know why it is called the Ball of Portals in the first place?”

“I’ve been preoccupied to pay attention to any of that!” I roll my eyes once again, “Enlighten me, lord Derwood.”

“Oh, I would!” he leans lower to me, breathing into my lips and looking into my eyes, “At the very end of the Ball of Portals, ladies and lords enter two specially created for the occasion portals. Inside, they would meet each other, if that’s what their heart desires. They would only see each other if this is what they both want. So…”

“So?” I bite my lips, trying to hold back a smile. Is he telling me that we would see each other there? Does it mean that he wants to?

“We’ll see,” he whispers, almost covering my lips with his when we hear a loud knock on the door.

“Derwood! Open immediately! I know she is there!” the Crown Prince’s voice sounds like thunder on a calm day…