Chapter 3

-Ellie-

"Hey Jane, all ok?" My heart continued to thunder in my chest as I walked further and further away from the Shifter. Praying Jane couldn't hear my heavy breathing over the phone.

"Ellie! You will never guess what just happened!" Jane said in an excited rush. Her happiness seeping out into the phone as I took a big breath to calm myself down.

"What's up? Did they decide you were the perfect Queen? They said screw the competition we found her!" I said with a laugh. Joking, but knowing it was highly possible. Why would they not come across my sister and see perfection?

She chuckled "Absolutely not! But this is too big for me to explain on the phone. Did you go on a walk?"

"Yep, on my way back now. Be home in about 5 minutes. Where I hope to hear every detail." She squealed in delight. Must be pretty good news to get my normally calm and reserved sister sounding like Lydia and Kitty.

I made it home in no time. But before I opened the back door, I took a moment and calmed myself as much as I could. My loud and boisterous family was never the place to find peace and center yourself.

I took in a big breath and released it slowly. The man's dark brown eyes flashed before me once again. Golden flames dancing within them. Immediately my heartbeat picked up once again. The pang in my chest tightening even more.

What the heck was that? Who was that?

Clearly he was a Dragon Shifter, but something was different about him. Maybe he was a Fae or a Warlock?Maybe a cross species and he put some kind of spell on me. The pull that he had over me, urging me towards him. It was insane. No one, not even my father commanded me in that way. It should have infuriated me, but for some insane reason it intrigued me. I wanted to see him again. I wanted to feel his gaze on me again. Feel those strong looking arms around me…

Seriously???? What is wrong with me????

"Soak up the quiet sis. You won't find any in there." I looked over at Mary who was sitting on the porch swing. A heavy blanket wrapped around her. A book resting on her lap. Her short brown tight curls that went to her chin curled out everywhere. It was quirky and cute just like her. If I cut my hair that short I would look like a poodle, but with her it always looked shiny and fun. Like she spent tons of time taming it and making sure it was perfect. Which I know for a fact she didn't. She has never really cared about her looks. She has always preferred to stay in the background. She's an introvert to the core and is happy to stay there. She is crazy smart and at only 20 years old, Mary has taken over all the tech stuff of dad's company that none of us have a clue about. I love the art and design side of things, but go past that and I have no clue what all goes into computers and tablets.

She had a smirk on her face. Knowing we both shared that bond of being overwhelmed by our ridiculous younger sisters and hysterical mom. I had zero patience for them and can only take their antics for so long. I gave her a knowing smirk back and gave her a final nod. Now ready to face the madness.

"Ellie! Did you hear? Oh I can't believe it!" Lydia and Kitty almost tackled me as I walked in the back door.

Mom is once again speaking loudly to someone on the phone. All I can make out is shrieking and shrill laughter.

"Calm down you two. Can you go watch tv for a bit? Ellie and I need to go get something from our room." Jane calmly ushered them back into the living room.

We headed up the stairs to our room. The room we have shared all growing up. While I had been living in the city, able to work from my apartment. Jane stayed at home once she finished college. She took over all the business side of dad's company. She also took care of the house and keeping Lydia and Kitty alive.

Sometimes when we stop and think about all that Jane, Mary and I do for the family and business we really start to wonder how our parents survived before we started taking over. They were both happy to hand over the reigns. Dad pretty much just reads and messes around on his computer. I wonder if he just plays solitaire all day. Then mom's mission in life has always been to be the most talked about family in our small town of Meryton. Positive or negative, she doesn't care. As long as the Bennets are the talk of the town she is happy. Other than talking to friends on the phone and making appearances at different parties, I'm not really sure what she does.

Jane led me over to her bed and we sat down. She was barely containing the joy that was bubbling out of her.

"What's going on Jane?" I impatiently waited for her to finally tell me.

She smiled brightly. "You will never guess what happened Ellie! When Charles was interviewing me, I finally got the courage to look him fully in the eyes and when I did something crazy happened. It was like the rest of the world faded away. Like it was just him and I. There was this crazy pull toward him, like I needed to be right next to him. This strange feeling in my chest. But the craziest thing was, Charles felt it too. He told me I was his True Mate!" Jane said, rushing the words out in excitement. I handed her a bottle of water. Helping her to take a breath. While also giving myself a second to process all of this.

Was that what I just experienced? Was that man my True Mate? Whatever that is! My mind filled with hundreds of questions.

"What does that mean Jane? What is a True Mate? Is it like a Soulmate?" I asked beyond curious of what all of this means.

"Kinda, Charles said it was more than that. You are the only person meant for eachother. No one else can fill that place. But you know it as soon as you lock eyes with that person. He also mentioned once you find your True Mate, the longer the Dragon Shifter goes without finalizing the mating bond it becomes very painful for the Shifter. If they never complete the mating ceremony it could kill them." Jane said with a grimace.

The now familiar pang in my chest ached with fear, knowing my mysterious Shifter could possibly die if I never found him again.

But why the hell do I even care? He's just some random man! I shouldn't give a flip if he becomes in pain! He's a Shifter! The people who have taken over our lives, taken our men and now forcing us to compete to be some crazy man's Queen!

I looked at Jane's serene hopeful face. Her concern and interest in the Dragon Shifters. Or at least one specific Shifter. I make myself calm down and respond properly.

"Wow. That is super intense. Does that mean you two will be mating soon?" My face scrunched up before I could stop it. Just having to say the word 'Mating'. I am completely disturbed about how this whole thing is the "norm" now. I tried to quickly mask my unease, since this is so important to Jane.

"Stop trying to hide your revulsion that is clearly written all over your face. You know you can't hide anything from me." She raised her eyebrow at me and crossed her arms. "Listen, I know it's crazy strange. But until you have that connection with someone, I just don't think it will fully make sense. All I know is he is sweet, kind, adores me and I know he will protect me to his last breath. In this new world that we are faced with, it's the best I can ask for." She shrugged her shoulders and started to fiddle with her bracelet. Her tale since she was tiny that she was anxious. I put my hand on top of her fidgeting hands and gave them a loving squeeze. She gave me a slight smile and looked up at me.

"I'm sorry Jane. I can tell you care for him and Charles seems like a good guy. I'm still just processing it all. So what is the plan? Will you live with him now? Will you be his wife? Do they even get married?" I pummeled her with questions and in true Jane style, she took it all calmly and in strides.

"They have a mating ceremony, which is pretty much like a wedding. You commit your lives to each other. Then I'll live at his home with him. He is living at Netherfield actually, it has been in his family for decades." Jane said with a modest smile.

I choked on my water.

"Netherfield! The huge horse farm that is more like a mansion in Nashville? That is his families place? How is that possible?" My eyes were huge with shock.

"Part of his family left Dragon Island a few decades ago to start a new life here. He said that was one reason it was so easy to take over the government was that there were already supernaturals living among us and in high government jobs. It didn't take much at all for them to use their power and connections."

We had all heard that their had been supernaturals among us. But we had no idea the amount. I have yet to meet someone I knew before who had now come out as a supernatural. But I'm wondering if it's a lot more than we had thought.

"Wow." That's all I can say at the moment. I feel like the invasion has shocked me so much it took half my vocabulary with it. Half the time I have spoken in the last week has been in incoherent sentences.

"Charles family had turned Netherfield into a museum. But they were happy for him to use it when they became aware of the plans. Liam, the Dragon King is staying there as well and all the other members of the Dragon Court." Jane said casually, because that is our lives now. Talking about Dragon Kings and his Court, like this is medieval times.

"Well ok then. A tad jealous that you get to live there. I will be visiting you all the time and spending hours going through it all. Beware."

Jane laughed and nodded in agreement. "Of course! It will be a totally different life, but I'm pretty excited about it."

"So have you talked about when you will have the mating ceremony?" I asked while putting my hair in a messy bun on top of my head. In need to free my face from my heavy locks.

Jane gulped nervously. I narrowed my eyes in concern knowing something else shocking was coming.

"This Saturday." Jane pulled back, flinching ready for my uncontrollable surprise.

"This Saturday? For real?" My eyes were so wide, I am pretty sure they were trying to pop out of my skull.

Why on earth are they rushing this? They don't even know each other! I can't help but feel like there are darker motives here that we are not aware of yet.

"Yes, this Saturday. The reason is legit, but I need you to calm down and let me tell you the whole thing. I know you are freaking out and thinking I've lost my damn mind. But Ellie, I need you to trust me." Jane locked eyes with me. Her calm blue ones to my intense green. Her calmness crashing into me like waves. I breathed it in and remembered that there is no one in this world that I trust more than Jane. If she needs me to listen, that's what I need to do. I take a big breath and give her a nod. Letting her know I was ready to listen.

Jane gave me a small smile and nodded back. "Charles thinks it is best to be mated before the Dragon Queen competition. Because.. and this is top secret- no one can know-" Jane gave me another deep look and I nodded again understanding the secrecy. She knows I would never break her trust. "The competition will be held on Dragon Island. Their homeland. So we will be eventually living at Netherfield, but during the competition we will be staying in Charles rooms at the castle."

Again my eyes widened, but the insanity of it all became too much and I can't help the laugh that bubbled out of me.

"A castle? Like an actual castle on some fairytale island? What has happened to our world Jane? This is absolutely nuts!"

She shrugged her shoulders, but laughed a little too. "I know it's crazy." She shook her head a little with a smile.

"Ok, so why do you need to be mated then? Can you not just come along with them to the competition?

"Charles thinks I will be at risk of another dragon taking advantage of me. But if we are already mated, no other dragon can touch me."

I nodded slowly, starting to understand why it would be best. "But what about all the women there for the competition? They will be unmated, won't they be at risk as well?"

"No, they will be considered the Dragon Kings' mates. Even if they are not technically. But they will be under his protection. Dragons can not go against their king or they will die."

My eyes bulged out once again.

"Wow. These people man. They are intense."

She sighed "Yes, they are. But one good thing is I won't be going just with only knowing Charles, but you will be there too!" Jane smiled brightly at me. Showing off her adorable dimples. Then Jane leaned over, wrapped her arms around me and gave me a tight, loving squeeze.

"Me? To the Dragon Island? Yeah… no. My interview was a joke. There is no way they will choose me to go." I scoffed at the thought and shook my head.

Jane raised an eyebrow "Charles told me that if he was to choose right now, he would choose you to be Queen."

I scoffed again, but so much so that I made myself cough.

"That is ridiculous! Jane I was my normal feisty self. There is absolutely no way that they thought I was Queen material. I even told them that very thing." I continued shaking my head in disbelief.

Jane smiled sweetly at me. Resting a comforting hand on top of mine. "Well that's what Charles said to me. Unless something crazy happens from now to when they make the decision, I'm pretty sure you are in."

I let out a huff. The last thing I wanted to do is be apart of this madness. But they made it very clear if you are chosen, you have to compete. It is not my choice. Which ticks me off even more, being forced to do this.

At least that means our family would get 10,000 and I could be there for Jane. It also might be pretty amazing to see a real fairytale island and stay in a castle.

I let the thoughts sink in a little more. It might be better than dealing with tweedle dee and tweedle dum downstairs. And a little breathing room from mom wouldn't be bad either.

My thoughts then wandered on my mystery man. My maybe Mate. I would be away from him too, but I might never see him again as it is.

"So did Charles tell you anything about the competition? Is it like a race, a beauty pageant or is it like slit the other girls throat kinda thing? Because I am definitely not down for that. A million dollars would be awesome, but I really don't want to fight for my life through it all."

Even though I'm pretty sure I could take any of the women I know in a heartbeat, that doesn't mean I want to test that theory.

Jane's perfect face didn't give anything away as she answered. "He hasn't told me too much, just that it will challenge you in different ways. Challenge your mind, strength and honor. Maybe more ways but he listed those as a possibility."

I nodded while thinking through each one. The challenges could be anything. "Well that doesn't sound too much like a beauty pageant so hopefully I'm safe from it being that."

We both laughed and she told me all the rest of their plans for the ceremony and what all she learned about Charles. My heart warmed as Jane spoke so lovingly about him. She might not be in love with him yet, but it seemed like they will be on their way before they know it.

That night as I layed in bed thinking through the events of the day. My thoughts bounced around like crazy. My heart raced as the hundreds of new fantastical ideas that filled my brain. From Dragons, mating ceremonies, being a dominant to my mystery man.

His intense stare became frozen in my mind. Almost like he was right in front of me right now. Like I could see every detail of him. Things I didn't even remember noticing when I was in the moment. The pang in my chest began flaring to life. I thought through our whole interaction, every look, every feeling he ignited in my soul. Every word that was spoken between us and his sister.

His sister….his sister! I thought female dragons were no longer in exsistence. That's what we had been told from the beginning. Yet, that man was clearly a dragon and she called him brother. And something else… she said his name. What was it? I replayed the conversation again in my mind. Was it William.. no. Luke… nope. It was L something. Liam! Yes that was it. Liam.

Had Jane not said the Dragon Kings name was Liam? Nah. That would have been crazy. No way did I meet the Dragon King. He seemed strong and capable, but not menacing and cold which I would imagine the Dragon King to be. Well I guess not cold… since dragons were perpetually hot. And Oh was that man crazy HOT!

It had to be just another Liam. It's a fairly popular name in the U.S. maybe it's popular amongst dragon shifters as well. Especially since it's the king's name.

As my eyes finally grew heavy and I fell asleep, one face with fire eyes lingered in my thoughts.

*Authors Note*

Thank you so much to all those who have favorited, followed and commented on my story. They mean the world to me!

Please let me know if you are enjoying this story. I know it's different and not everyone's cup of tea, but l would love to hear your thoughts on it. I am a fantasy/ sci-fi nerd that loves Austen so I am hoping we can mix the two together happily :)

Hopefully you enjoyed this chapter and I hope to have my next one up soon that will be from Darcy's POV.

Have fun friends!