-Liam-
I am dead. What the hell was I thinking? I wasn't thinking! How could I let my dragon take control like that?
I chastised myself all the way to the backside of the garden. I hid myself behind a large row of shrubs. A second later I felt a hand on my arm. But I knew immediately it wasn't Elizabeth. I would already have her pushed up against the garden wall.
Good night! Where is my head? The power that female holds over me is terrifying!
"Where have you been? I have been waiting for you by the back gate forever." Georgie chided me with an annoyed huff. Clearly still upset with me.
I shook my head not wanting to get into it right now. I just wanted to focus on my best friend's ceremony, that I already felt bad that I couldn't be fully present for.
She stiffened and leaned into me. I could feel her eyes on me. Even though mine were locked on Charles and Jane.
I felt her thumb swipe at the corner of my mouth and then she held it out in front of my face so I couldn't miss it. Her thumb was now covered in deep red lipstick. The same lipstick that just moments ago, I had wiped from Elizabeth's tempting mouth.
"Gotta say brother, don't really feel like this is your color." Georgie said barely containing a giggle.
I don't embarrass easily, but I could feel my cheeks redden as she put together what I had been doing.
"It was that girl from the forest wasn't it?" Georgie's eyes went wide. "I saw her run in late. She must be close friends or family with Jane. Oh this just keeps getting better and better!" She said with a menacing grin gracing her lips.
I let out a grunt of frustration and ignored her. Trying to focus on the ceremony.
"You know I see everything, Fitzwilliam!" She drew out my given name slowly, knowing how much it annoyed me. "You might as well just tell me everything now. Or I'll find out on my own…" she said with a conspiratory look on her face.
"Please drop it for now Georgie. I'd rather enjoy the ceremony. I promise to tell you all later." I gave her a final nod hoping she will take the olive branch and leave me alone for now.
She crossed her arms. "Ok, later. But if you don't explain all before the competition, I will take things into my own hands. Got it?" She pointed a finger at my chest. I suppressed the laughter that wanted to bubble out. That she thought her weak glare would make me want to submit. But my poor baby sister didn't get those genes.
I gave her another nod of acceptance and we finished watching the ceremony. But I struggled to keep my eyes on the happy couple. Instead my eyes continually went to Elizabeth, who sat with her right side to me. I could see her slender neck that was exposed where she had pulled her long curly hair to the other side. I fought my dragon and everything in me not to go to her side and nip at her neck letting every Dragon Shifter know that she was mine.
Stop! You have got to get a hold of yourself! She is not yours!
Later after all the family and friends left, I searched out the newly Mated pair. I wanted to officially meet Jane before Charles and her became wrapped up in only each other. I had a feeling we wouldn't be seeing them till the day we would be leaving for Dragon Island.
I found them coming through the large wooden doorway from where they had seen the last of their guests off. Charles had an arm wrapped around Jane's waist and had pulled her tightly to his side. As they were leisurely walking into the hallway, Charles leaned down and whispered something in her ear. Whatever Charles said made Jane let out a soft giggle and made her turn a few shades red. I don't really have to imagine what kinds of things were being said. The sooner I let them be, the better for all of us.
Charles caught sight of me coming his way and smiled brightly. "Liam! There you are! We were just coming to find you."
Sure you were. I thought. I'm going to guess that was the last thing on their mind.
We stopped in the middle of the hallway and I felt completely uncomfortable. I was a damn king for goodness sake, but meeting Elizabeth's sister had me and my dragon completely out of sorts. Knowing she had the power to help me or turn Elizabeth against me.
If that's even what's best for me! I have to stop thinking about the pixie!
From now on I need to think of her as just another woman in the competition. There are 9 other women that were chosen as well to compete. Who knows what kind of connection they could have with me?
No more thinking of her as Mine. No more thinking about her perfect green eyes. No more kissing her in the library. She was just another woman selected to possibly be Queen. Nothing else.
A roar so fierce and loud erupted in my head from my dragon. So loud I was scared everyone else could hear it.
You frippen idiot! Elizabeth is your True Mate! Stop ignoring the truth! I am not sure how I can make it any clearer!
My dragon yelled in my head. I took a deep breath and ignored him.
After a second of silence as I battled my dragon in my head. I noticed Charles and Jane's concerned faces. I tried to shake it off and give them a polite smile. One I knew Charles would see through immediately. But I went with it anyway.
"Jane, it is so nice to finally meet you. I apologize for not greeting you sooner during the week. It's been a busy time around here." I took her hand and bowed over it.
The gesture surprised her and I am reminded that custom is not common here in the states.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Jane said with a graceful curtsy. Not looking me in the eyes.
"Oh please don't feel you need to call me Majesty or curtsy. Charles is like a brother to me, you are now part of the family. Please call me Liam, as my closest friends and family do." I waved her off. It was a kind gesture, but I hoped she would feel like she could be comfortable and be herself around me.
Yes! We want her to be nice and comfortable so she can tell us all about Elizabeth!
I gave my dragon a dirty look in my mind. His thoughts were getting louder and louder.
"I congratulate you on your Mating. There is no one better and more deserving than Charles." I gave Charles back a good thump to prove my point. Jane blushed and nodded her head in agreement. Still barely able to look up at me.
How is this woman related to my pixie? It's like they are night and day!
I could feel my dragon nodding its head in agreement. I quickly scolded myself for thinking of her once again.
We went our separate ways. Charles and Jane headed to their room and I to my own.
When I entered my room I felt an ache deep inside me. Different than the pang I felt when Elizabeth was near. This ache felt more like a loss, like something was missing. Something that only felt whole and right when Elizabeth was in my arms. Man, did she feel amazing in my arms. My mind flashed to the memory of my hand as it found all of her luscious and perfect curves.
How the Hades am I supposed to control my dragon around Elizabeth during the competition, I clearly lose all normal thought around her?
You wouldn't have to, if you just claimed her now as your True Mate and stopped being a frippen ass.
I glared at my dragon and tried my best to tune him out.
If I just could know for sure that she was my True Mate.
Charles had yet to find Gammear, the Wizard. He had been too busy with finalizing everything for the competition and his Mating ceremony.
But as the weariness of my inner battle dragged on I could no longer wait.
I quickly made a call to Sabastian, the Warlock King in California. He informed me that Gammear was currently in NYC with the Vampires. Sabastian said that Gammear had been helping the blood suckers with some magical barriers. They were having trouble stopping the human women from getting into the Vampires complex. Apparently the humans liked the Vampires and their ecstasy inducing bites too much and they were coming in droves.
I let out a groan of frustration. I couldn't stand the Vampire King. At one time we were good friends, but the cocky bastard always had some trick up his sleeve. I tried my best to not have to deal with him. But George Wickham continually found ways to piss me off.
I texted Wickham for clearance into Vampire lands. He quickly agreed and sent me some filthy text back about all the 'fun' we could have while I was there. I ignored it and got ready to go.
Just as I was about to slip out of my room, I heard my phone ring. When I glanced down to see who it was I let out a curse under my breath. I completely blanked on the debriefing I had set up with Richard for this evening.
"Hello Colonel. Is all well?" I said while taking a seat by my desk. Trying hard to mask my annoyance. This was one of the farthest things on my mind right now. But I knew I needed to be informed on preparation for re-entering Dragon Island this coming week.
"Darcy. All is set up. We have all the rooms prepared and ready. The guards are all set." The Colonel stated directly. He was in full out soldier mode.
"Are you sure we can trust them? Have you had any issues from the spell the Wizard put on them?" I asked concern slipping into my voice.
"We have had a 100% cooperation. No problems at all sir. I believe they will be able to do their job perfectly and guard the women without any issue. Even if they were to wake out of the spell, they will not remember who they are. We will keep a tight eye on them, but at this point I do not see them being an issue." Colonel Fitzwilliam was the best at his job and if he believed there would be no problems, I knew I could take his word for it.
"Now tell me, are you well Richard? I am eager to see you. We have missed you here in the States." My cousin and I had a unique relationship. As the head of my guards, we needed to keep a straightforward serious relationship. But when that was through we could relax and be ourselves. It was always like that with us: business first, cousins second.
"All has been well, just kind of boring. Especially without your ugly face and a giggling little girl. Is Georgie doing ok? Has she gotten into any trouble?" I let out a scoff at that question.
"Ha! Yes to both of your questions. She is well, but she is tired of being cooped up. I know she will he happy to be back at the castle where she has a little more freedom." I said while drawing mindless doodles on my notepad.
Richard let out a laugh. "Oh I have heard all about the fun times she has been having and you too." My head snapped up and I dropped my pen. Georgie!
"Of course she has told you everything. Why am I surprised?" I let out an annoyed sigh and ran a hand through my already ruffled hair.
"Oh yes she has and it all sounds very interesting. As soon as you are back on Dragon Island I want to hear all the details. And I mean all the details! I need to live vicariously through Charles and your activities until I find my True Mate." Richard said longingly. He had always been very open about all the said activities he would be enjoying in when he found his Mate. I shook my head at the thought and reminded myself when the day came that he found his True Mate, I didn't want to be anywhere near him and his activities for a whole month.
We soon finished our call and I headed out of my room. I left a note for Georgiana, transformed into my dragon and headed to NYC. The flight took only a few hours long, but the air had become frigid the closer I got to New York. I was thankful when I arrived and could breathe fire onto my frozen scales. I landed on the edge of the barrier. Our treaty stated we could not use our powers inside other Supernaturals lands. It's our way of trying to keep peace between the lands. So far it's worked out well.
"So the great Liam Darcy is blessing us with his presence. I truly wish you would take me up on my offer to have some fun. These women, my man, they are so wicked hot. We have so many throwing themselves at us we don't even need to compel them. They just flock to us, we decided to say 'screw the prophecy' and enjoy ourselves. You should try it, it's way more fun." Wickham offered with a cocky smile as I transformed back to my human self.
Thankful I was one of the blessed Dragon Shifters that could magically control my clothes to stay on when I transformed. It always made life easier when people snuck up on me when I was changing from dragon form.
"Thanks for the offer Wickham. But I'm just here to find Gammear." I said brusquely. Quickly stepping to the side of him where he was blocking my path.
The Vampire King let off a fake sigh of frustration. "Well you are missing out. Because these women Darcy are so hot they-" I found a taxi and jumped in it before he could finish. I had heard enough from the frippen ass. I rolled my eyes at my dragon, his ridiculous name calling was rubbing off on me.
Gammear wasn't hard to find, he was staying in a hotel not too far from the large apartment complex the Vampires had taken over. I could feel his strong magical power before I even reached his door.
I raised my fist to knock on the door but the door opened before I could even touch my knuckles to the wood.
"Come in, come in! It's about time you came. I have been waiting on you for well… forever!" The older man let out a loud cackle, ending with a smack on his knee.
I shook my head at the unique wizard. He was insanely talented, but he was full out mental. I would have had a very hard time trusting the man's sanity if he had not been helping my family for generations.
"Did you know I would come to you?" I asked him surprised.
"Why do you always look so shocked with me Fitzwilliam? I am a seer, I can see the future! Of course I knew you would come to me asking if the prophecy was still the same." The older man looked at me curiously with an eyebrow raised.
Anger boiled within me. "You knew! Then why did you not tell me this when you told me the original prophecy?"
Gammear walked over to me and lightly knocked on the top of my head. "Anything in there. Yes. Ok, good. Because for a second there I thought you had lost your brains."
I glared openly at the man.
"Stand down dragon, I am just saying I told you everything you needed to know. But you are so cut and dry, you can't read between the lines." The old man said, throwing his hands up in annoyance.
I ran a hand through my hair, letting the action help me not set the Wizard on fire. "You should not need to read into a prophecy. It should be clear exactly what is said." I stated as firmly and calmly as I could muster through clenched teeth.
"Listen my dear boy, for as you know I can not give you too much information about the existing prophecy. For I could tell you something that could change the fates. But listen to me clearly as I tell you the same prophecy I told you a year ago: The Dragon Shifters True Mates can be found in Tennessee and a competition for your Queen will help you find your True Mate who will become your Queen. Together you and your human Queen will help the rest of the Dragon Shifters find their True Mates." Gammear said each word slowly and rose his eyebrows looking at me expectantly. Like he just made everything completely clear. But all he did was speak to me like I was a small child.
I let out a huff of frustration. His clarification did not help at all. It's possible that it might have made my current inner battle even louder.
You frippen ass! SHE IS YOUR MATE! That is all that matters. Why are you wasting your time here, go now! Find Elizabeth and mate the hell out of her.
If I could actually cause my dragon pain I would try really hard right now. He had been unusually crass lately. The name calling and very visual images of what he wanted to do with Elizabeth had been filling my head non-stop.
But my own fierce responsibility as Dragon King had been just as strong and enforcing my responsibilities in my head. Battling it out constantly.
"It's very clear Fitzwilliam, that you still are not getting this. Ok I am going to give you one nugget of knowledge to help." The old man leaned forward, rested his elbows on his knees and rubbed his temples with his pointer fingers. "Listen to your dragon." He said in almost a whisper looking around like he was scared giving me this tip might get him in trouble.
My head snapped up to his and my eyes widened at his proclamation. "Are you serious? If I did that, there would be no competition. Just a mating ceremony."
Gammear nodded his head in agreement. "Yes. Yes you are correct. That would not be good. For you both must be at the competition. That is paramount." He said to himself. Causing me to want to ask him about 500 more questions.
The Wizard was quiet for a long moment. "Ok this really is my final bit of information I can share with you and absolutely no more you can weasel out of me. I just pray it gives you the calm you need and not change the fates." He took a big breath and then carried on. "It is ok if you met her before the competition. That does not mean she is not the one." Gammear looked me straight in the eyes, looking as if trying to push all my fears out of me with that one statement.
I let out a huge sigh of relief. Immediately all my muscles that I had been tensing since that day in the woods began to relax.
Elizabeth could be my True Mate!
Finally! Took you long enough.
I shook my head at my dragon and rubbed the ache in my chest.
I stood and shook the Wizards hand. He gave me a bright smile. "I know you will do the right thing Fitzwilliam. I am not worried for the Dragons. Not at all how I fear for the Vampires. Between you and me, I don't see their kind lasting long at all." He ended the last part in a whisper.
Interesting. Very curious what he has seen.
I nodded my head, thanked him and headed out towards the lobby of the hotel.
As soon as I reached the lobby I wanted to be sick from the scene in front of me. There sat Wickham with a woman on his lap. He was getting his fill from her neck and groping her most inappropriately at the same time. Especially in a public place. I noticed the line of women formed to the side waiting for their chance with the Vampire King. But what really caught my attention was the hotel staff. They were standing behind the check in area just staring straight ahead. Their eyes were glossed over and not blinking. I then noticed the same with all the women lined up.
Didn't need to compel them my ass! What a frippen shitehead!
I quickened my steps trying to get out of the horrid place as quickly as possible.
Before I could get the glass doors open to escape, Wickham had caught up to me. He put his hand over the glass doors, trying to stop me. I let out a growl of frustration.
"What's the big hurry Dragon King? You know you want to come have some fun with us!" He smiled brightly at me, giving me an eye full of his red tented canines. Making me want to vomit all over the hotel floor.
I glared at the disgusting man. "Wickham it should be no surprise to you that our ideas of 'fun' are very different."
"Oh come on Darce! Time to loosen up, what's the rush?" Wickham eyed me over for a second. "Wait a second you have your own hot piece of ass you need to get back to don't you. I can read it all over you. So tell me about her? Has to be something to tempt the great Liam Darcy!" Wickham smiled again, this time ending with a smug wink. My insides blazed at the thought of him knowing about Elizabeth.
I decided to ignore him before I let my dragon loose and gruesomely attack him. I knew better than to start a war on another supernaturals land.
I pushed his weak little hand out of the way and bid him goodnight. I didn't wait for a reply before I exited, ran to the barrier, transformed into my dragon and left this forsaken land.
*Authors Note*
Thank you! Thank you! To all those who have commented, favorited and followed my story! I have loved all the reviews. I am so happy to hear that you guys are enjoying it. Please continue to let me know how you are feeling about it and what you think might happen. I always love to see where you all think the story might go.
Have fun friends and Happy almost New Year!