Treasure Of Dragons, Royal Dragons Book 1 Chapter 34

Drago:

What the fucking hell just happened? I would not have predicted the outcome of tonight in a million years. It honestly never would have crossed my mind.

Royal families have had arranged bondings before. Yeah, they haven't been around for a while but we haven't had a situation where it was even a possibility for over 100 years, since before my mother was born. So, this situation is completely unique.

I guess, if I thought about it, there's been controversy surrounding the practice. It just never even entered the scope of my thinking, she would object, let alone the whole thing of what happened.

Then the conversation upstairs in her room went horribly. Now, whatever progress we had made with her has been completely obliterated. She went so far as to flat out say, if it wasn't for the bracelet, she'd kill herself and the girls to keep them "safe" from the plans we've made.

My dragon is upset and irritated. For the first time, her dragon pushed back, against me especially. She broke my command in a moment and left me reeling. The power she displayed was impressive, but since it was to damage our bond, and break my command, neither my dragon nor I liked it.

I felt a tear in my chest. When the bond got damaged, something I wasn't even aware could happen, it was painful, like something literally being torn inside my chest.

I am literally at a total loss as to what to do. The agreement is already signed, we can't undo it now. I am wracking my brain to figure something out.

"It seems that we may have a problem." I heard from a few feet in front of me.

I had been so preoccupied that I hadn't even seen Anthony standing there.

"You could say that. The agreement is signed Escarra, so it can't be undone, so don't worry, this isn't going to mess with your plans."

"If you think that, you are stupid. You think your bonded won't tell her daughters what she thinks and feels? She will influence the outcome of everything. So, yes, this very much affects my family and me."

"What do you expect me to do about it?"

"Talk to her and try to convince her to keep her opinions to herself?"

I laughed at that, "spoken like a man who's not bonded. I will continue to try to influence everything positively, but Ria can be very stubborn, and she has very strong opinions and beliefs."

He shook his head, "god save us from the wrath of women. My family is leaving in the morning at first light. It seems to me you will have your hands full without a house full of observers adding to the turmoil."

I nodded, "I will be contacting everyone next week so we can get all of the tech up and running, and coordinate the data transfers."

He nodded, "Then I will be expecting your call, and I will make sure our people have things in place on our end. This should be interesting. We'll see how it goes."

With that, he shook my hand and walked away. So, I decided I should find my brothers and see how they were faring. I knew they had felt the damage in the bond the same as I.

Ash:

I am standing in the sunroom dining room. Earlier today I had the distinct pleasure of watching my mate shock the shit out of Anthony Escarra with a steak knife.

I am not finding amusement in being shocked by her myself, because that's what she's done. She's shocked the shit out of every single one of us.

First, there was the shock of her reaction to an arranged bonding between our daughters and the other Royal families. Since our species doesn't do weddings and "marriage", ours are bonding and mating, it's the equivalent of arranged marriage in the human context. She objected in a very vocal way.

Then, she not only broke Drago's command as the leader and most dominant male of our family, but she also damaged our bonding. I had no idea either was even possible.

So, I am standing here contemplating everything and wondering what the fuck to do. I know Drago went to talk to her, but I'm not sure how successful he'll be.

When I hear noise behind me I turn and see Drago enter the room. The look on his face tells me everything I need to know.

"That bad, huh?" Is all I say.

He shakes his head and plops down into one of the chairs around the table.

"It's bad Ash. She flat out told me that if she wasn't constrained by the bracelet she would kill herself and the girls to save them from us. She thinks that what we're doing is so bad, that she thinks death for the girls is the better option."

I throw the glass I was sipping bourbon in, and listen to the glass shattering. What do we do with that? My mate thinks death is a better option for her and our girls than the future we planned. That's fucked up on a whole other level.

"What do we do Drago? We had just made huge progress with her. What do we do?"

He just shakes his head and lets it drop into his hands. He looks as defeated as I feel.

"Anthony talked to me on the way here. They are leaving at dawn. He said we already had our hands full and didn't need drama anymore with so many people here."

"Well, at least there's that. Personally, I think he's just worried Ria will actually stab him." I tried for levity but it fell rather flat.

Drago snorted a chuckle at that, but didn't comment.

"Do you know what she did with the bond or if it's even fixable? I wasn't even aware she could do that."

"Yeah, me neither. Nor, break a command once I issued it, so I'm at as much of a loss as you are. The only thing I think we can do at this point is wait and see, and try to get things back on track with her somehow."

I just nod and go back to watching outside. I see an owl swoop low and wonder if that is one of Ria's friends who come to visit her. That, then, reminds me we never did tell her, that her extraordinary affinity with animals, is actually her dragon power shining through. It is an extremely rare gift, but I am discovering Ria has a great many extraordinary gifts.

Ria:

I didn't actually manage to sleep last night. The owls came to see me, which I very much loved. I was scolded thoroughly about my absence though. I spent quite a bit of time giving lots of love to try to soothe over their ire.

After they had gone I tried to sleep, but my mind just wouldn't shut off. So, this morning I am tired, sore, and in a foul mood.

I am sitting in one of my chaise lounges in the solarium. I have the heaters on and am tucked into a fuzzy blanket. I brought a book thinking I'd distract myself by reading. That hasn't been very successful either.

Mary brought me tea earlier, but I don't feel like eating, so I'm not planning on joining them for breakfast. I'm not sure I wouldn't start throwing the dishes at people's heads, so it's probably better if I stay away.

I hear footsteps behind me. I know it's not the guys, I'm familiar with the sound of theirs, and this one is strange to me. I still don't turn around, but I don't need to. Soon, I see Nicholas Diamani walking carefully up to the glass walls of the solarium, looking out, but not speaking.

I just wait, if he wishes to say something, I'm sure he will.

He turns to me with a soft smile."I could have sworn last night I saw very large owls flying very close to the castle."

That is the oddest start to a conversation, but I'll play along, "Yes, there's a bonded pair of Ural Owls that I'm friends with, and they often come to my balcony to see me."

He startles and looks at me more calculatedly," You know that's very unusual don't you?"

"The guys have told me as much, but it's not unusual for me."

He seems to clue into something as he gets a sudden ah ha look on his face.

"That must be your dragon power then, a very rare power."

That actually kind of startles me, I hadn't even remotely thought of that. I think over that and contemplate the possibility.

He speaks again, "You were very upset last night, and it seems your feelings have not changed. I am distressed you not only have such a low opinion of me and my kin, but that you are so distressed."

I look at him and say bluntly, "Then destroy the agreement and do something about it."

He nods, but I don't think it's in agreement. "I am afraid I can't do that. It has been almost 200 years since my family had a Royal Dragon Female. My whole clan is on the brink of extinction, so it is vital to our survival."

"I'm not suggesting you go without. I am suggesting you go about it the right way. Take the time to get to know my daughters. Find out if you are even compatible. Who knows, perhaps you would sweep one of them off their feet. Then it would be consensual, and not a situation in which you could very well be forcing an unwilling woman to bond with you."

"Would it make you feel better if I swear she will be treated well and cared for, she will want for nothing?"

I look him in the eye, "No, because that would be a lie. She would want her freedom and right to choose, not be sold. She would want not perhaps, for material things, but for the most important things, money can not buy, she most definitely would."

He stands looking at me for a moment, shakes his head sadly, sighs deeply, and walks out of the room. I'm glad he doesn't see the rogue tear I can't stop as it slides down my face.