Wow. I can't believe I have left this story for so long! My life's been so hectic lately with graduating and everything, so I am so happy to be back. Thanks everybody :)
Agitated, the Dragon Queen landed roughly on the mountaintop and transformed quickly back to her human form. Ignoring Serena's surprised face at her arrival, Miranda brushed by her and entered the cavern through the secret passageway. She strode to her quarters, stealthily evading any kind of contact with her people. Her nostrils flared as she caught the faint sweet scent of Andrea still lingering on her bedsheets. Almost without a second thought, she opened her mouth and set the bed on fire, extinguishing any trace of her mate. Crystal eyes glared at the smoking remains, her lungs heaving.
"How impressive," Nigel's voice commented behind her, "setting something on fire when not in your dragon form."
Miranda closed her eyes. The brave man approached his distraught queen, hesitantly reaching his hand out to gently rest it upon her shoulder. Unsurprisingly, Miranda shrugged it off.
"What happened, my friend?" Nigel asked quietly.
The only sound was the gentle crackle of the fire. Miranda's hands clenched. The bald-headed man watched the bed burn as he waited patiently for his queen to talk. When all that remained of the bed were ashes and the Queen had yet to utter a word, Nigel gave a small nod before turning to go.
"I mated with her," Miranda's quiet voice cut through the air, causing him to pause in his departure. "I am eternally bound to her."
Nigel opened his mouth, and then closed it. It surprised him—after hundreds of years of loneliness, his queen had finally found a mate, yet she seemed desolate. Having never had bond-mated before, Nigel didn't fully understand the sensation of being bound to somebody, but he knew that surely it would bring unimaginable joy when the two souls were connected for life.
"Why so melancholy?" Nigel asked, and flinched when Miranda finally turned to look at him. The sadness in his Queen's eyes were greater than he had ever seen them. She looked lost.
"I practically...raped her," Miranda's voice trailed off before she found the strength to continue. "I woke up to discover the bruises and scratches imprinted on her vulnerable skin. These wounds...I caused them. I hurt my beloved."
"But you two mated for life. Ancient magic would have prevented you from hurting her t—"
"It didn't," Miranda hissed. "It was my claws that scratched upon her flesh, it was my fire that scorched her neck. She is in pain now because of me."
"Where exactly is she?" Nigel asked, his hand coming up to rub his bald head. He had a sinking feeling that Miranda had abandoned her. His fear was confirmed when she responded.
"I left her under the willow tree," Miranda let out a disapproving noise. "I couldn't bear to see her face when she realized I had caused her the pain she felt."
Nigel raised an eyebrow, his protectiveness flaring up for the young princess. "So you left her all alone in that place? With no means of transportation?"
"I-" Realization dawned upon the Queen's face.
"Miranda, that poor girl is probably frightened and confused. You departed without an explanation, leaving her to imagine the worst," Nigel grew increasingly frustrated. "You are her mate, her protector." He held up a hand to cut his Queen off, a feat he only dared to do when he was this angry. "I understand that you were frightened, but running off does nothing except cause unnecessary confusion and heartache. If she consented to mating with you for life, then she consented to everything that came with it. She understood what would happen. What she didn't expect from this was you leaving her the morning after. She is a human, Miranda. A young human who is still very innocent and unknowing of the world around her. You left her in quite the predicament."
Miranda look as though she was struck, partly due the fact that Nigel had the guts to talk to her like that, and partly because she saw the truth in his words. Pinching her nose, she let out a shaky breath.
"What have I done?"
"Go back there," Nigel said, his temper calming. "Explain why you left."
Wordlessly, Miranda placed her hand on her most faithful man's shoulder, and gave him a small smile.
Thank you.
She exited her chambers, leaving Nigel alone with the smell of ashes.
The world spun around her, making the princess almost sick. Sharp fingernails were digging into the soft flesh of her arm, but Andrea was too focused on not passing out from the sensation of traveling with magic. When her surroundings finally stopped spinning, the brunette found herself standing in front of a grand staircase. The floor was white marble and the walls were a deep red color. Blazing torches mounted on the walls provided the only light in the place.
Andrea pulled back from the woman's possessive grip, wincing slightly at the sharp sting she felt from the older woman's nails.
"Why did you do that? Those were my friends," she said angrily.
"I apologize," the woman said, purposely thickening her French accent. "I didn't realize they were your friends. I thought they were enemies coming to take you away."
Slightly dazzled by the sultry voice, Andrea tried to hold on to the last vestiges of annoyance she felt, but felt them slipping away as the woman gently traced the top of her dress, barely skimming bare flesh.
"You must be terribly uncomfortable in this attire," Jacqueline purred. "Would you care to change?"
"Um, sure," Andrea took a small step back, her mind screaming at her to stop being so easily enamored by the woman's alluring presence. Squaring her shoulders, she said in a stronger voice, "Yes, please."
"Very well," Jacqueline crooked her finger to indicate the princess follow her as she made her way up the staircase. "Bienvenue. Welcome to my humble home."
"It's very beautiful," Andrea said, gazing around.
The place was like its owner—seductive and alluring. The sparse furniture in the halls were tasteful and the overall architecture of the place was beautiful. Andrea followed her host wordlessly, and gasped when she came to the room the French woman had stopped in. It was large, with two huge windows opening to the world outside dominating an entire wall. A giant bed covered by deep-purple bedding sat in the middle of the room. A dark canopy hung from the four posters, obscuring most of its view. A silver vanity sat directly across from the windows, its surface scattered with perfume bottles and makeup.
"My bedroom is très magnifique, non?" Jacqueline smiled at the brunette's awestruck face. "This way, mon chèrie. I shall help you with your outfit."
"I don't want a dress," Andrea said as she was led through another doorway. Dresses led to too much heartache.
"Not to worry," Jacqueline disappeared in the biggest closet Andrea had ever seen, and came back quickly with black leather pants draped over her arm. "Here are some pants for you. They are my favorite—Wait until I get a top." She left again, and reappeared with a fur vest and plain long-sleeved shirt.
"Thank you," Andrea clutched the clothes tightly to her body, suddenly feeling the burden of her fancy party dress.
"I shall take you to the bathroom, where you may wash and dress," Jacqueline smiled, guiding the brunette with her hand on the small of the princess's back. Waving her hand, a long pole with a lamp attached to the end of it appeared in front of the women. "I've enchanted this object so that it will guide you to me when you're done." She snapped her fingers and a pair of knee-high black boots with a small heel appeared. "Have a nice bath," she gave her guest a dazzling smile and turned to go.
"Excuse me," Andrea called after her, and Jacqueline paused with her hand on the door, "but what is your name?"
"You may call me Madame," Jacqueline dipped her head slightly, flashing Andrea a small smile before slipping out of the bathroom.
Miranda flew quickly to the enchanting haven, her mind focused solely on reaching Andrea and apologizing. She reached the willow tree and sighed in relief when she inhaled Andrea's sweet scent. Already before her claws touched the ground, she was back in her human form. Stumbling a bit when she landed, she brushed the drooping branches of the tree back and rushed to hug her mate. Heart soaring, it quickly plummeted when she realized the young woman was not there. She dropped to her knees in defeat. Andrea had left.