Chapter 9

-Ellie-

Oh that man! Once again his mere presence made me forget all normal thoughts. Somehow I mustered up enough clarity to stop things before they got too hot and heavy.

Holy Hot Dragon King!

That was the hardest thing ever to stop. I wanted his lips on mine, more than I wanted anything in my life. I needed his touch, his warmth and that scent that drove me wild.

But I could not live with myself if we let another opportunity to speak slip away because we couldn't take our hands off each other. As much as I wanted him, I also needed some answers.

Then the stinking She-Devil appeared. Goodnight that woman was as fake as could be. And her ridiculous southern drawl. Guh! I wanted to smack it right out of her. And the way she looked at Liam made my insides boil. I had never thought about ripping someone's head off before, but that strange voice in my head kept telling me in way too graphic detail how she wanted to decapitate the woman. It was pretty disturbing actually.

I tried my best to ignore the strange voice, but it continued to get louder and louder. It felt like it was clawing me from the inside as I walked away from Liam. But I had to, I had to get some space from that woman. I went back into the dining room to search for Jane, but she was nowhere to be seen.

Anne was relaxing at a table near the musicians and I joined her for a bit. But soon excused myself back to my room. I needed some time to think by myself. This whole thing was just one strange emotion after the other.

After getting out of my tight dress and finally releasing my hair from the thousands of pins that were piercing my brain, I put on my old college debate t-shirt and my favorite Star Wars sleep shorts. I was in full out relax mode.

I didn't have a chance to really check out my room earlier and since I was finally alone, it was time for some serious snooping. I can't be held up in a mystical castle and not fully check it all out.

I looked through every drawer and cabinet hoping to find something to help me learn more about this strange world. But the room had either never been used or cleaned to perfection. Bummer.

My eyes darted to the wall of thick gold curtains that filled the whole wall opposite the wall my bed was up against. I pulled back the thick curtains and saw huge glass windows looking out onto the back side of the castle. I was surprised to see a glass door that led out to a small private balcony. So private, when I stepped out onto it I could see a perfect view of Dragon Island but the sides of the balcony had tall brick walls blocking the view of other balconies.

On the balcony there was a small round table and a few chairs around it. Then a small fire pit to the other side. I figured out how to light it and pulled a lounge chair that was off to the side close to the fire. I grabbed a blanket from my bed and wrapped up in it as I laid back onto the chair.

I stared up at the gorgeous sky full of stars, as they glistened in the moonlight. I slowly breathed in the mixture of the slight chill in the air and the campfire smell that always reminded me of happy memories as a kid. When dad would take us camping and we would stay up all night around the fire telling ghost stories.

Another memory popped in my head. That dream I had last night and how my mystery man had smelled like a campfire under the stars. So very strange! Oh and in the dream he had called me Queen. My dream world was already aware that my mystery man was the Dragon King! I always thought dreams were just random, but maybe I need to really start remembering them from now on.

As I stared out deep into the stars, suddenly a huge golden flash of fire started coming towards me. As it got closer, I could see it was a dragon. We had seen quite a few back home from a far, but the one zoning in on me was massive. I started to flinch as the dragon flew closer to me without seeming to slow down at all. It looked like the Dragon was planning to land on the balcony, but how? My heartbeat picked up as I watched the Dragon come only a few feet away from the balcony. His massive golden wings flapped slowly as he hovered close to the railing.

Large deep brown chocolate eyes with fire that danced within them stared me down. I knew immediately it was My Dragon, it was Liam.

Just like when he stared me down in person I could feel the pull to be near him. I walked to the railing slowly, taking a minute to steady my shaking hands.

But as I drew closer to the golden beast, the strange voice inside me yipped in excitement.

Shouting loudly in my head.

Mine! Mine! Mine!

The Dragon extended its head, lowering it so it could rest on the railing. It almost seemed like a puppy whining to be scratched. As terrified as I was to actually do that, I was surprised when my hand rested on the Dragon's forehead.

The Dragon's scales were warm but not burning hot like I would have assumed. The Dragon nuzzled his head into my hand and I got the hint of what he truly wanted.

I slowly rubbed his head, admiring his shiny golden scales. The scales were bright gold on the edges, but turned to a deeper yellow towards the center. The effect caused the scales to shine in the moonlight.

"You know you are pretty calm for a fire breathing beast." The Dragon let out a small snarl and I immediately knew he didn't like that I called him a beast.

"Oh I do apologize my King. For you are not a beast, just a shiny fire breathing bird." I said with a mocking bow of respect.

The dragon snarled louder this time, but quickly nuzzled back under my palm.

"Ok. Ok. Point taken my Dragon King. But I can't lie, you are truly magnificent. I would love to create a graphic of you. I can see it now the powerful golden Dragon King encased in flames."

The Dragon nuzzled my palm affectionately. Then surprised me by moving his great large body closer to me and slowly moved his head inches from mine.

I could feel warm steam coming from his nostrils. His massive form so striking this close to me. But the voice inside me urged me to push my forehead to his.

Which was crazy! I am literally facing down a freaking dragon!

But the strange inner voice was relentless.

When I finally conceded and touched my forehead to the center of the Dragons head, flashes of moments passed by in my thoughts. They all seemed to be in the future. They were coming so quickly it was hard to decipher exactly what I was looking at. But one moment caught my attention was the moment from my dream. Where Liam stood behind me, kissed me passionately and then called me Queen.

Seeing that moment again surprised me so much that I pulled back from the dragon swiftly causing me to trip on a chair leg. Before I could fall to the floor, strong hands wrapped around my arms and pulled me up to his warm chest.

I looked up into Liam's wicked hot face and couldn't control the delicious shutter that ran through me. My heart hammered in my chest as we locked eyes with each other. His intense stare that always made me want to melt into a puddle at his feet. I forced myself to look away, but when I did my brows furrowed in confusion.

"Wait, aren't you supposed to be naked? I thought shifters always lost their clothes when they shifted." I asked curiously. Not thinking exactly how that would sound until I saw his amused expression. Whoops!

"I am a Blessed Shifter, I have a few extra magical gifts along with becoming a Dragon. Only a handful of shifters are blessed with these kinds of special gifts. As soon as I shift whatever clothes I had on before magically disappear and appear again when I shift back to my human form." My eyes went wide.

Could this guy get any more intriguing?

"Well now I have like 100 more questions." I said with a laugh. I walked back over to the railing and leaned over it. Trying to put a little more distance between us.

The distance did not last long because I soon felt Liam beside me, mimicking my stance.

He turned towards me, away from the view and put a hand on top of mine that rested on the railing.

"Elizabeth, I know you have lots of questions and I promise to answer them all in due time. But I can not answer your questions right now."

I couldn't help the steely gaze that took over my face as I stared out onto Dragon Island. My back stiffened and I could feel the anger rising within me.

I removed my hand from under his. Through clenched teeth I choked out. "And why the hell not?"

Oh how this man infuriates me! How I can be so drawn to him, but want to smack him all at the same time.

"Please, Elizabeth. I want to tell you everything right now, but I just can't. I know you have no reason to trust me. You're right, we have caused great upheaval in your life and caused pain to many families. I have forced you to come here, when it's the last place you want to be. You have every right to hate me. But you were not wrong when you spoke of our strong connection earlier. My pull to you, is like nothing I have ever experienced. I need you to know, no other woman here or anywhere makes me feel like you do. I need you to win this competition, I am worried because of being forced to do this you won't want to try and I need you to try. More than try, I need you to win!"

My head was spinning from his declaration. I was elated that he seemed to understand my struggle and also to hear from his lips that he felt our connection as strongly as I did. His stares and kisses made me think so, but he also could just be a horny bastard.

But I knew deep in my heart that wasn't true. He felt the connection too but for some reason wasn't willing to declare his feelings fully.

Because of this darn competition! Why the heck is it so important?

But at the same time, do I want him to declare his feelings? Do I want the Dragon King that I barely know to make me his True Mate and Queen?

I felt like I was going to be dizzy from my differing emotions. I could still feel Liam's eyes were on me as I continued to stare out into the night sky.

"I can't tell what you are thinking. But I want you to win so badly that I am willing to make a deal with you." My head snapped over to his.

"A deal? What kind of deal?" I asked with a cautious gaze.

"If you win the competition, I will release all the single men that were taken from Tennessee and they will be free to go and do whatever they want." My eyes went wide as saucers.

"WHAT???? Are you serious? You would let them go, just like that?" I asked, still in shock.

He picked up my left hand and held it tightly in his own. "For you Elizabeth, I would do anything." He said in a whisper. Emotion making his voice sound rough.

My heart raced uncontrollably.

"Can you promise me they will not be harmed and never be taken again? For that matter that no one would ever be taken again by the Dragon Shifters?" I searched in his dark eyes for any fake emotion. Anything to show me he wouldn't follow through on his end of the deal.

"I promise you Elizabeth Bennet, they will not be harmed and no one will ever be taken by us ever again. I see now how ruthless and devastating that was for so many families. If I could go back and come up with a different plan, I would. I truly apologize." He lowered his head and I could feel the remorse in his sincere apology.

I nodded my head, ready to accept when he stopped me before I could speak.

"I also want to offer you one more thing.." He hesitated a moment. Like he was still thinking through his words.

I took in a shaky breath. What more could he offer me?

He turned back towards the view for a minute, then back at me. But still clung tightly to my hand. I was surprised to see the unflappable strong Dragon King looking so nervous.

"If you win the competition... It will be your choice if you want to become my Queen. If you decide that you don't want to be with me, I will respect your decision and I will let you go." Liam's voice barely spoke the last word. It was like even the thought of me making that decision was causing him extreme pain.

Did he really just say that? He would let me go?

Mine! Mine! Mine! The inner voice snarled at the thought of me leaving.

A trickle of hope started to peek through the anger and hurt that had been building in me ever since all of this started. He's not going to force me, I just have to get through the competition and then it's my choice.

But with that another thought hit me. "What happens if something bad happens to me in the competition? Like I get so hurt I can't continue or I am physically not strong enough and I truly can not beat the others. What happens then? You have to commit yourself to someone you don't have this connection with." I gestured between us to prove my point farther. "And the men that were taken just never are returned to their families?" I challenged him with a hard stare.

"It's a pointless question. I never doubted that you could do it, I worried that you wouldn't want to do it. Because if your heart is in it, I don't doubt for a second that you won't win. You are the strongest person I have ever met."

I looked at him with my jaw hanging open. His blind faith in me was terrifying and good night it was extremely sexy!

With his knuckle he pushed my open jaw closed, then leaned in and kissed my cheek softly. "If anyone can do this, it's you." He whispered in my ear and warm tingles rippled through me.

I cocked my head to the side. Did he see? Could he see the flash of moments as well?

"Earlier, when you were in your Dragon form and our foreheads touched. Ummm… did you see something?" I asked cautiously. No clue what's normal in this magical world.

Liam's brows knitted together.

Yikes! I guess not! I'm a straight up freak, in a freaking magical world!

"No, I didn't see anything. Did you see something?" He asked in a rush.

"I… I saw moments from my future." His eyes went wide.

"Wow. I've never heard of that happening before. Especially with you being a human. Very interesting." He said dragging a hand through his hair. But he didn't seem weirded out, just intrigued.

A stronger chill filled the air and I moved to pick up the blanket that I had dropped earlier. I moved to wrap it around myself and Liam helped tighten it around my shoulders. Then pushed a stray curl behind my ear.

"I should go. Time for bed. Tomorrow starts the fun." He winked at me, gave me another kiss on the cheek and then ran off the balcony like a mad man. In mid-flight he shifted to his huge golden Dragon.

My world just gets crazier and crazier! Even crazier, because it's possible I might actually like the Dragon King!

*Authors Note*

Next chapter we will finally get to the competition, so get ready for some extra fun and crazy times coming up.

Thanks so much for sticking with me and please continue to let me know all your awesome theories and thoughts in where this story might go! I love them all.

Have fun friends!