“Why don’t you shift often if it feels so good?” I asked and started scrubbing my body with the bar of soap.
“My form scares people,” she admitted, “So I don’t take it often.”
Scares people? What could she be? A bear? A lion?
“Milady,” a soft female voice called.
“Yes?”
“Prince Hadyn is requesting to speak with you.”
“Me or Lady Serra?” she asked.
“You, mum.”
“Are you alright to finish yourself?” she asked me.
“Yes, thank you.”
She walked out of the room and I heard two doors shut and then Hadyn yell, “You were what!”
I giggled and could just see the look on his face when she told him that she was helping me wash.
“I’ve brought your new clothes, milady,” the maid said behind me.
“Wonderful. Can you get me a towel?” I stood and wrung out my hair in the tub.
The maid was an older woman with streaks of grey that looked like lightning in her otherwise black hair. She was plump and round and had a warm smile. “Here.” She helped me dry off and then helped me dress.
“Thank you,” I told her and then put the necklace back on quickly.
Someone knocked on the door and the maid rushed to see who it was. She cracked it open and Father rushed inside looking frantic. “Serra?”
“Here, Father.”
He rushed to me and hugged me against him. “Are you alright? The King told me…child are you okay?”
“Yes, Father. The King’s healer took care of the damage.”
“You seem to attract all kinds of trouble lately,” he said. I dropped my head and he laughed softly. “I was teasing, Daughter.”
“You’re right though. Prince Hadyn has had to save me on at least four occasions and then that person last night…”
“I won’t be able to leave for another day, but the King has offered for you to stay another night if…”
“I would rather go home today,” I whispered.
“I thought you might. First, let us get you some food. It’s almost lunch time and you have yet to eat anything today.”
He led me from the room on his arm and after two pitied looks from people walking down the halls I kept my gaze on the floor.
“I sent word to your mother. I am sure that she will want to check you over again when you return.”
“Very well.”
“She and I will review the requests for your hand and we will let you know in three days who we have chosen.”
“Okay.”
“But I’m pretty certain I know who I’ll be picking.”
I looked at him in shock. “You don’t even know who the men are yet.”
He smiled and patted my hand. “I know one of them.”
“Who?” I begged. I had to know!
“Child, you must learn patience.”
I bowed my head. “Yes, Father.”
We entered the dining room and I was glad to find it empty. A servant brought out some food for me and Father stayed while I ate. We did not talk, but then again we never really did. My Father was not a man of many words, which was fine with me.
I had just finished eating when Hadyn walked in. Father stood and bowed to him and I jumped up to curtsy.
“Please, sit,” he ordered us.
I sat down and picked my cup up with shaking hands. I willed them to be still, but they didn’t listen. Somehow I didn’t spill water on myself while I drank though.
“How do you feel, Serra?” he asked.
“Much better, thank you, Your Highness,” I replied without looking at him.
“I must be off. There are still a few meetings to attend before I leave,” Father said.
He walked away and I sat in silence with Hadyn across from me. He didn’t speak for a few minutes. “Would you like to go on a walk?”
I nodded and stood.
He lifted my hand to his arm and I followed along as he led me outside into a beautiful garden and then into some strange tall stalk-like plants that were green. He weaved his way among them and I followed. A few more feet and then we could not see anything but the stalks. Suddenly I was nervous. Why had he brought me here where no one would see us?
“Serra,” he whispered, “Look at me.”
I obeyed. His masculine beauty stole my breath and his eyes held me captive again. How could one man be so handsome? It was as though a God had carved him and breathed life into him for the sole purpose of being perfect.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked me.
I looked away without responding.
“Serra, come on. Answer me.”
I did not want to, but that nagging voice, that one that promised pain told me that I had to. “I was thinking that you are handsome and perfect.” He did not respond and it seemed like he had stopped breathing. I looked up at him and he was just staring at me. “I didn’t want to tell you, but you made me. Friends don’t usually tell each other things like this, but what do I know? I have not had a male friend before. And I’m sorry if I upset you, but you…”
He hugged me and pressed a gentle kiss on my lips. “You babble when you’re nervous,” he commented and stepped back.
I blushed. “Mother hates that I do that.”
“We found your attacker,” he whispered.
The world tilted and I stumbled against the green stalks. “How? Who?”
“He’s a known fanatic of the elites. We do not know how he got in the castle, but we will find out. He will not be bothering you again. I promise.”
“Are you sure? Maybe there are more. Maybe there’s a whole group who punish us when we step out of line and…”
“Stop!” he yelled at me. I cringed back from him and fell on my butt on the ground. He squatted down in front of me and stared into my eyes angrily. “You did nothing wrong. That man said terrible, untrue things. You do not need to do as any Elite wishes. You do not listen to a single word he said. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Prince Hadyn,” I replied as tears pricked my eyes.
He sighed and cupped my face with his hands. “You promised you wouldn’t treat me differently when we were alone, remember?”
I did not respond.
“May I hug you?” he asked.
I nodded, still stunned by his outburst.
He helped me stand up and then hugged me tightly. “I’m sorry for yelling at you. I don’t want to see you changed because of this. I am sorry that you were hurt here, in my home. I take the blame for it entirely.”
“It wasn’t your fault!” I gasped and tried to pull back to look at him.
“You were here under my invitation and I told you that I would protect you and I failed. I should have checked your room before I left or…”
“Hadyn.”
“Maybe I could have…”
“Hadyn!” I yelled, “That is enough! What happened was not your fault and you don’t need to apologize for some crazy man.”
He smiled down at me and I realized that I had just yelled at him.
“There’s the Serra I know.”
“If someone sees us hugging for this long…”
“You’re still wearing my necklace,” he noted.
I reached up and touched it lightly. “Of course I am. I love the necklace. It’s the most beautiful thing that I’ve seen.”
“Are you ready to return home?” he asked.
“Trying to get rid of me already?” I asked with a smirk.
“No, but it is a long ride and I’m looking forward to you talking in your sleep again.”
I gaped at him. “I do not talk in my sleep.”
He nodded. “You do.”
“Oh no,” I moaned, “What did I say?”
“Well a few times you whispered my name…”
“No I didn’t!” I yelled at him and stepped out of his hold.
“You did.”
“Liar!” I accused.
“I don’t believe you,” I told him as I headed out of the green stalks. “What are these things?”
“Bamboo,” he replied.
“They’re odd.”
“They’re from a foreign land.”
“I need to get my dress before we leave,” I told him, “the maid was going to wash it.”
“We need to say goodbye to my godparents before we leave anyway.”
I stopped and looked at him. “I have to keep your title a secret, don’t I?”
He smiled. “Just for a little while longer. I’ll be announced soon.”
“A prince,” I whispered, “It’s still hard to believe.”
“I have another surprise for you too,” he teased, “But you have to wait until we get to your house.”
“You’re impossible,” I groaned and resumed walking back into the castle.
“I’m also incredibly charming,” he said cockily.
“There’s that big head of yours again,” I muttered.
He laughed and my shoulders relaxed. Things almost felt normal.
“Come on, let’s go say goodbye,” he said and laced his fingers through mine.
Servants milled about and several looked at our joined hands with absolute shock.
“Hadyn…wait…Hadyn.”
He stopped and looked at me. “What?”
I tugged on my hand trying to get him to let it go. “You can’t hold my hand like…”
“I’m Prince. I can do what I want,” he told me, wiggled his eyebrows with a wide smile, and then resumed jogging.
I had to run to keep up with him and when we finally reached the room he was taking me to, I had to lean against him and catch my breath. I pressed my head into his chest as I held onto his shoulders.
“You need to run more,” he teased me.
“You try running in a dress,” I gasped between breaths.
“They’re very cumbersome,” the Queen agreed.
I jerked away from Hadyn quickly and felt my cheeks burning when I realized that I was standing in front of the King, Queen, and the Council, including my dad. I tried to move behind Hadyn, but he walked deeper into the room and left me exposed.
“I’m going to escort Lady Serra home,” he told the room.
“You’re leaving so soon?” the Queen asked with a pout, “But we’ve hardly had time to talk.”
“I promise to bring her back soon,” he told her.
“That’s for her to decide. She may not want to come back to see us, old people,” the Queen said with a loud sigh.
“I would love to visit again,” I told her with a wide smile.
“You just want to come back for that secret we discussed,” she teased.
“That is part of it,” I agreed.
She laughed and walked to me. I held still because I was not sure what she was going to do, but I had not expected a hug. She hugged me tightly and whispered, “Do not push him away due to your fear. Do you understand?” I nodded. “I expect you to be the strong woman I see in you and keep Hadyn in line.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
She pulled back, kissed my cheek before walking to Hadyn, and said, “You’re very lucky to have found a woman like her for a friend.” She whispered something into his ear and he smiled bright before he caught me staring and turned somber and nodded to her.
She clapped her hands and floated to the King.
“Thank you for visiting us,” the King said to me. “I hope to see you soon as well.”
I curtsied to him and then turned to my Father, but he just waved at me to leave. Hayden held out his arm and I dutifully placed my hand on it as he escorted me out. We found my clothes and then climbed into the waiting carriage. I waited until we were away from the city before smacking his arm.
“Ouch!” he yelled and rubbed where I had hit him. “What was that for?”
“You made me embarrass myself in front of the entire Council and the King and Queen!” I yelled at him. “I can never show my face there again.” I put my face in my hands and sighed.
He gently took my hands away from my face and smiled at me. “They like you.”
“Who?”
“My godparents.”
“They’re very nice,” I told him.
“My godmother threatened me with torture if I hurt you. So, I must be on my best behavior.” I laughed at him and he said, “I’m being serious.”
“Do you know what kind of shifter she is?” I asked him.
His eyes widened and he stared at me without speaking.
“Hadyn?”
“How’d you find out?”
“She told me she was a shifter, but not what form she took. She said I would find out later, which was the secret she teased me about coming back for.”
“Well if she didn’t tell you and that’s one more thing I can use to convince you to come back with me, then I’m not telling you.”
“Hadyn,” I begged.
He smiled a moment and then a somber expression replaced it. “How do you feel about her being a shifter?”
“I think it’s awesome, but I haven’t known many shifters.”
“You’re not scared or…”
“Well she did say her form scared people, but I know shifters think the same in both forms.”
“You really are perfect,” he whispered.
“What?” I asked nervously.
“Now I’m not so nervous about my surprise,” he said with a wide smile.
“Now I am,” I whispered. It was still cold, but the snow was already melting and the dress the queen had given me was very warm.
“I had a lot of fun last night at the Festival,” he told me.
“Me too,” I replied and turned to smile at him. “It was beautiful and amazing.”
“I’m thinking about going back to the castle in three days, would you go with me? I know it’s soon, but…”
“I can’t that day,” I said quickly.
“Why not?” he asked.
“My parents are going to tell me who my new to-be husband is then.”
“They’ve chosen?” he asked in shock.
I shook my head. “Father said he doesn’t know the names of any except one, but he said he is pretty sure that he knows who he is going to choose.”
“He didn’t give you any hints?” he asked.
I sighed loudly. “No.”
“Hm,” he said, but a small smile lifted one corner his mouth.
“You know something,” I accused him.
“Nope.”
“Liar.”
“You looked tired,” he commented and shook out the blanket we had used on the way here.
“I’m mad, not tired.”
“Well I’m cold, so please sit by me.”
I scooted over closer to him and he put his arm around me and covered us up with the blanket. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes and I realized that he was the tired one. “You could have just told me that you were tired,” I told him softly.
“I’m not tired. I’m just resting my eyes.”
“You’re spoiling me with these long moments of touching,” I told him as I cuddled against his side. “I’m going to go through withdrawals when we return to school and once I have a new betrothed.”
“Then enjoy it while it lasts,” he said softly.
That was one order I could get behind. I knew that if anyone caught us, we would be in a ton of trouble, but as I leaned against him with his arm around me, I realized that I did not care.
CHAPTER SEVEN
We walked down to the lake and Hadyn fidgeted nervously. He paced back and forth a few times in front of me and then said, “I’m a shifter.”
I blinked twice and then looked up at his eyes. “Oh. What kind?”
“Draconian,” he answered.
Oh! “Can I see?” I asked excitedly and bounded up to my feet in front of him. “P
lease!”
“You want to see me shift?” he asked.
I nodded emphatically.
“Promise not to run away screaming?”
“As long as you don’t try to eat me.”
“Deal,” he said with a smile.
I took a few steps back and watched in awe as his body shimmered and then a large green dragon stood in his place.
“Holy heifers,” I whispered.
He spread his wings and shook his body like a dog shaking off water. He was really big, much bigger than his normal body, and his scales glowed.
“You’re beautiful,” I whispered and reached out hesitantly to touch his wing.
He moved his wing closer to me and I touched it with my fingertip. It was warm and soft. He slowly turned so that his head was in front of me and lowered it until his eyes were level with mine.
“I don’t want to insult you, but can I…can I pet you?”
He moved forward and I took that for a yes. I ran my hand along his face, which had rougher scales on it, and then down his throat where the scales were as hard as iron. I reached up and touched one of the spikes on top of his neck, but they suddenly disappeared into his neck.
“Whoa.”
He nudged me with his head and I realized that he was trying to get me to climb up onto his back. I backed away shaking my head. “No. No way. I’m not riding you.” He nudged me again, but I continued shaking my head. “No.”
He shifted into his human form and asked, “Why not?”
I held up one finger. “You’re the Prince.” I held up a second finger. “I’m not riding the Prince.” I held up a third finger. “I’m not riding you even if you aren’t the prince.”
“Come on! It is fun! I promise that I won’t drop you.”
“No.”
“You’re scared,” he realized.
“I don’t like heights,” I admitted.
“Serra, I wouldn’t let you fall,” he said softly.
“I can’t ride you. It’s insulting.”
“I’m offering!”
“Hadyn…”
“Fine,” he conceded, “but I will get you to ride on my back one of these days.”
I rolled my eyes, but did not respond.
He looked at me and took a step closer. “You still okay? Not freaking out?”
“Oh, I forgot you’re the Prince,” I said with a smirk and then started screaming and pawing at his chest. “Oh my! It’s the Prince! You are so handsome! Marry me! Can I have your babies! Let me serve you! Pay attention to me! No me, that other girl is hideous!”
Lady Serra and the Draconian Page 7