The Knight of Her Dreams (Dragons and Dreamphasers)

by Jen Robyn

  “Finally!” Riff whispered noticeably, earning a rap on the shoulder from Kiri.

  While the others looked on curiously, Dominick clasped Julianna’s hand, gazing at her warmly just before he continued. “As you all know, I haven’t been easy to reach lately, but I had good reason. You see, several weeks ago, I met this special lady, whom I’d first met months before, and when we least expected it, love crept up on us both. So to cut to the chase, my bachelor days will soon be over, since Julianna and I are engaged to be married.”

  The group’s loud and simultaneous, “What?” echoed through the whole room, successfully halting conversations and prompting a lowering of the music’s volume. A wave of curious silence remained, except for a few quiet murmurs, causing Dominick to sigh and Julianna to blush again.

  Riff gave the couple a smile. “I’ll handle this,” he assured them, turning to the crowd. “Sorry, folks, didn’t mean to disturb you!” he proclaimed. Seeing as they were reluctant to let it go at that, he stood up to add louder, “I said, go back to your entertainment! My brother’s just getting married, that’s all!”

  Even days later, Julianna would never forget the wave of literal chaos that swept about her and Dominick like an opened floodgate, as countless people rushed up to surround them. Suddenly feeling like a famous star facing a persistent mob, she hastily clung to Dominick, burying her head against his chest while her wide-eyed gaze viewed the spectacle, a bit afraid that he too would be overwhelmed by this unusual reaction.

  To her continued surprise though, Dominick took it all in stride, shaking hands among well-wishers while confirming the news with several sad-eyed females. Too many females for her own liking, Julianna thought privately, holding her fiancé tighter, but for a different reason this time.

  She’d had absolutely no idea that Dominick was so popular with so many people. But then again, of course he was surely well known for his status on the island, she reminded herself. Not that the crowd was willing to let her get off easily either, upon finding out she was Dominick’s intended bride. They swiftly bombarded her with endless questions, the leading one being when the marriage was to take place.

  “We haven’t been able to set a date just yet,” she replied absently, earning more questions as to what the story was behind this. “We are engaged in the meantime. We’re just... separated by a long distance.” Too long! she thought inwardly. “It has yet to be resolved, but as soon as we can reach each other, we’ll be married then.”

  Several of the older women congratulated her like mother figures, wishing both her and Dominick a wonderful future. However, some of the younger ones—obviously jealous—began sharpening their claws. One of whom inquired how she planned to grant Dominick an heir or two via long distance. This truth was pounced on by several others, proclaiming her an unsuitable bride, and leaving Julianna at a loss.

  Feeling her tense, having overheard enough of their venom to know why, Dominick shot the pack of females a meaningful glare as he held her closer.

  “Just so we’re clear!” he shouted to them, “We’ve also decided that my brother can provide those future heirs just as easily if we choose not to!” This quieted the lot. “So if you’re so interested in casting out your cat claws,” he continued evenly, “you’ll have to go elsewhere. I have no intention of marrying anyone except Julianna, children or no children. Clear enough, ladies?”

  Several of the men, as well as the mother figures, cheered him on this, while his words brought grateful tears from Julianna’s eyes as he kissed her forehead lovingly.

  Immediately after though, the swarm of endless questions continued.

  Julianna became so overwhelmed by it all that her vision became bleary towards the endless faces, feeling her strength drain away with the non-stop noise. Throughout the tumult, she vaguely felt Dominick’s arm lock firmly about her waist, as if he was afraid she should be lost to him amidst the seemingly endless crowd.

  Moments later, a loud booming voice suddenly rang out, “In the name of Chaos, will you all please shut-up?”

  Julianna didn’t know the one who’d spoken, but to her disbelief, his authoritative words silenced everyone.

  Looking towards the stares of the rest, but not releasing her hold on Dominick, Julianna saw the speaker. A well-dressed man in a formal suit gradually approached them. She softly asked Dominick who he was, but her future husband merely shushed her gently.

  Turning to face the stranger again, Julianna noted that despite his white hair, this man definitely exuded an air of strength, power, and authority. No feeble elderly man, this one! Her mind raced back to her earlier brief conversation with Dominick before they came here. Was this the person he wished to introduce her to? she wondered.

  Her question was soon answered as Dominick gestured to him. “Julianna, this is my grandfather Chaos,” he said softly, smiling at the surprise he saw on her face, just before he turned back to Chaos. “Grandfather, this is the woman I wish to marry.”

  Chaos’s green eyes, more similar to Riff’s, were now unreadable as Julianna slowly disengaged from Dominick to step forward. His expression unnerved her, but after swallowing once, she managed shakily, “I-I’m happy to meet you, sir. I’m...”

  “My grandson has already introduced us, remember?” he said, almost gruffly. Before she could reply, he turned to the waiting crowd with a glare. “Back to your own lives!” he growled, immediately sparking their former chattering state, along with louder music again. “Eavesdropping puppies,” he murmured, “can’t keep their minds on their own business.”

  “I’m sure they’re just curious,” Julianna said tentatively.

  “Curious!” Chaos sneered loudly, causing her to retreat a step as he eyed her sternly. “They’re trying to get on my good side through my family. A side—I might add—that doesn’t exist, although those idiots don’t know it.” Upon seeing the hint of a smile from her, Chaos raised one eyebrow and folded his arms, standing taller to appear more formidable. “What?” he barked. “Don’t believe me, girl?”

  After a slight pause, Julianna’s smile grew and she shook her head. “No,” she said softly. “But I believe that you want everyone else to think that’s true.”

  His eyes boring into hers, he growled once, and moved to sit at an empty table nearby, slamming his fist upon it. “Can’t the tired head of an island get any service in this infernal dream-state?” he demanded, his iron gaze drawing several nervous waiters and waitresses to him. “That’s better,” he replied, fairly pulling a menu from one before flinging it back moments later. “A moon tonic, no ice, and I want it within five seconds or there’ll be chaos to pay.”

  “Five seconds?” murmured Julianna. “How do you expect...”

  Chaos’s steel eyes met hers again, like an angry parent might regard an outspoken child, silencing her just as one waiter materialized a drink on the table. Glancing up at the nervous man, he said evenly, “That was six.”

  The man bit his lip. “I’m sorry, sir. I...”

  “But considering I’m in a slightly less than abominable mood, I’ll let it go this time,” he replied, warding him away with his hand. The waiter and his companions nodded and then hurried off, apparently hasty to depart before Chaos could order anything else, leaving Julianna gaping in their wake. Dominick’s grandfather certainly wasn’t at all what she’d expected, she thought inwardly.

  “And just what did you expect?” demanded Chaos.

  Julianna gasped sharply upon facing him again, having forgotten Dominick’s mention of his grandfather’s multiple supernatural abilities, not the least of which included a dreamphaser’s extra perception in the dream-state.

  However, she didn’t have to turn to feel Dominick stiffen beside her. Apparently, he wasn’t too thrilled at the way this meeting was going either, thus far remaining a silent observer. He wouldn’t have remained so, but when she squeezed his hand, he realized that she wanted to try and work this out herself and thus let her continue.

 
“I guess I was thinking of what my own grandfathers were like when they were still alive and I knew them as a child,” she replied softly. “They were very...”

  “Different?” he broke in, giving a sarcastic laugh that soon changed to a tight-lipped frown. “No doubt they would be,” he said disdainfully. “But then again, I’d wager they weren’t in charge of governing a whole island as I do.”

  Her chin set proudly. “Maybe not, but at least they could provide a civil conversation.”

  “Ah, and no doubt you’re about to add that you’re as perfect as your illustrious ancestors.”

  Julianna bit her lip and forced her next words to remain quiet. “I am not perfect, have no wish to be, and never claimed I was,” she replied.

  “That’s just as well, for I wouldn’t have believed otherwise,” Chaos stated curtly, folding his arms.

  “Dominick never told me you believed yourself perfect,” she retorted.

  Several sharp gasps from the group indicated a sign of warning, causing her to bite her lip again at the words which had tumbled forth. But before she could attempt to retract them, his eyes darkened noticeably.

  “So, Miss Sherborne, it would seem that Dominick’s cast aside his former wifely candidate out of his so-called love for you.” His mouth curled into a sneer over the word, continuing nonchalantly. “She is of course a woman on our world in reality, unlike yourself. Tell me, if things remain as they stand, just how do you propose to provide him a son one day. Through another lover, perhaps?”

  Julianna’s mouth fell open, but Dominick wasn’t about to let her answer this comment. “Chaos, that was totally uncalled for,” he retorted. “It’s by my own choice that I wish to marry Julianna rather than Sionne. As to children, I’ve made it perfectly clear that even without them, I won’t marry anyone else.” His eyes narrowed. “And as to the notion of her taking on another lover, I’m quite confident she won’t find the need for one while she’s engaged to me, nor after we’re married. If you want to discuss this further, you’ll speak with me of it, not her.”

  Chaos gave a low grunt, but didn’t press the issue, shifting his sharp gaze to Julianna again. “You’ve certainly blinded my grandson,” he hissed. “But what deep, dark secrets are you hiding from him? For you’re certainly no model of a guardian angel.”

  “No, of course not.”

  “Absolutely not,” he nearly growled, his eyebrows lowering even more. “You know, Miss Sherborne, I think I’m beginning to see what attracted Dominick to you. I suppose in all fairness, one might easily be fooled by your surface appearance and your simple-seeming innocent attitude.” His expression hardened, his voice becoming a sharp whisper, “But if we’re to believe that, it should be further remembered that a slight shadow mars your pristine soul... a matter involving your fine morals which placed you in his bed after only a handful of days.” At her shock, he sneered again. “And if not for the timing of dreams, you might have joined him there sooner. Surely not the attitude of a fine, honorable woman, as you’d have us believe.”

  Julianna’s face flushed of embarrassment, since his words weren’t really lies, and to an outside observer, it might indeed seem that way.

  “I’ve never been given to those impulses before,” she said, struggling to keep her voice calm. “If things have happened rather quickly in our relationship,” she added, shooting Dominick a quick glance, “I’m afraid you’ll have to chalk it up to the fact that your grandson is a bit more... persistent and persuasive than others I’ve met.”

  Dominick’s eyes glittered knowingly while he flashed her a quick smile, but he still said nothing, only catching a glimpse of Chaos’s mouth tightening after hearing her last words. A growing suspicion formed in his mind—since he hadn’t expected this backlash from Chaos—where he couldn’t help but wonder just how accepting his grandfather would be if he and Julianna decided to live out their lives on her world.

  Before he could question this, Chaos interrupted in a low-toned voice. “Forgive me, Miss Sherborne, if I don’t buy your story that you two are in love as you claim to be, because several weeks of physical attraction hardly condones a rushed engagement, let alone a future marriage.”

  Julianna set her chin sharply. “Others have gotten married after knowing each other for less time than we have, so that’s a moot argument. As far as our relationship is concerned, it happens to be based on more than just physical attraction, and I fully intend to keep true to our commitment to each other.”

  “So you say now,” said Chaos, “but it will remain a case where we have to trust to your... already questionable honor. I’m not as willing as my grandson to blind myself to that.”

  Sighing once, Julianna nearly folded against the man’s stubbornness, but ultimately her love for Dominick won out, and she decided to try once more to reason with him.

  “Mr. Westbrooke...” she began.

  “There’s no need for such formality. I’m simply Chaos.”

  “All right, Chaos then,” she whispered, her calm attitude gradually receding. “Look, I don’t know what I’ve done to make you dislike me, since I’ve never even met you before now, so I’d appreciate it if you’d...”

  “Reserve judgment on you?” he finished cynically. “I don’t think so, Miss Sherborne. I believe the facts speak for themselves already.”

  Before he could continue further, Julianna’s eyes narrowed in sudden anger, her spine stiffening. “You know, sir, for someone who frowns on eavesdropping, you certainly do it often enough.”

  Once again, this earned surprised disquiet from the group, and others nearby who began to listen, leading her to believe that they weren’t used to seeing people stand up to the man. Her ears burned from the renewed whisperings of some of the crowd, yet she still managed to interrupt Chaos before he could reply.

  “No, I’ll save you the trouble of speaking my thoughts again. You’ve already made it quite clear that you insist on being a grim, inflexible, disagreeable man, and that I’m a no-good trollop that isn’t worthy of your grandson, so I guess there’s no hope of convincing you otherwise.”

  She stole a quick glance up at Dominick, before stepping back. “I’m only glad that your grandson doesn’t seem to share those traits.” Her initial confidence spent, Julianna quickly strode from the group, disappearing into the crowd despite Dominick’s protests.

  Through the ensuing chatter that spread like wildfire through the crowd, Chaos’s steel-handed grip prevented him from going after her, prompting him to turn to his grandfather angrily. “Satisfied?” he hissed.

  “What?” Chaos asked, with an air of feigned innocence. “That I’ve proven the girl has an attitude problem that you knew nothing of? Or that she’s admitted herself that you’re not meant for one another?” Chaos hadn’t counted on Dominick’s friends loudly protesting against his accusations, their discordant arguments causing him to cover his ears with his hands. “Quiet, all of you!” Slowly, they complied, but Riff stood up to face him.

  “Chaos, I’m sure I speak for all of us in that you didn’t have to grill the girl as you did, subjecting her to that humiliating display in front of everyone. Now why don’t you tell us just where your anger against her is really coming from?”

  “I’m a bit curious to that one myself,” said Dominick, eyeing his grandfather suspiciously. “Just what is the problem between now and our discussion earlier? Is it that Julianna hinted that you have more than a gruff attitude? Is it that you wanted to see if you could control her with your indomitable nature like so many others?” He folded his arms knowingly when his earlier suspicions returned, his tone becoming harshly accusing. “Or is it that you want to make absolutely certain that I remain here on Chavernos, even if that means my losing Julianna altogether?”

  Chaos’s silence was answer enough, as the group loyally continued to protest that surely his grandson was old enough to dictate his own life and that maybe the situation could be further negotiated as to where the couple might choose to live.


  Again, Chaos raised his hands to silence them, but this time there was weariness in his voice as he spoke. “I’ve heard this argument before from Dominick,” he told them, turning to his grandson. “Yes, the aspect that you might leave Chavernos for a girl you just met a few weeks ago bothers me. But if she can’t handle the concerned opinions of a future family member, then best to find out now.”

  Dominick shook his head with a dark expression. “You still don’t understand, do you?” he hissed through clenched teeth. “What Julianna and I decide to do about our future is our decision, not yours! And incidentally, your plan backfired. After tonight, I’m even more convinced that I should live on her world instead. Good night, Grandfather!”

  Before Chaos could reply, he stormed off into the crowd. “Dominick, come back here!” he shouted, gaining no response. Swearing under his breath, he glanced once at the six pairs of angry eyes silently challenging him, deciding that he’d rather deal with his grandson’s anger instead, purposefully going after him.

  *****

  During this time, Julianna had hastily found the building’s exit and left, the tears finally falling now that she could give vent to her churned up emotions. How could she ever marry Dominick while that infuriating grandfather of his plastered ill notions about her at every turn? she thought miserably.

  At first, she found a bench to sit down and think, but as a small group of people noticed her alone and came over to pester her with more inquiries about her engagement to Dominick, she quickly fled, running around the other side of the building to lean against it. Sliding down the brick wall to sit, she curled her knees up to her chest and wished that her fiancé was here to hold her with the strength of his protective embrace, because she certainly needed him now.

  A hand on her shoulder abruptly startled her from her musings, causing her to jerk her head upward. “Dominick?” she asked softly, just before her tear-filled eyes cleared to reveal a stranger she’d never seen before. “Oh, I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I thought you were my fiancé.”