*Kyra*
The person in the mirror is unrecognizable. A woman dawned with jewels and a gown made of golden
embellishments, weaved with skilled hands to highlight every curve. Every t| turn, | reflect every sliver of
light, igniting the room in soft yellow hues. My hand glides over my nervous stomach, trying to soothe myself. |
look stunning; | feel stunning and yet...
I hate it.
| hate how this gown wasn't one | got to choose, or how the colors make my face look pale and my freckles have
been covered with makeup to makeappear, in their words, 'Blemish free'. This dress is every bit dragon and
zero bit me. Hell, even little Tiago who sits on the bed behindis scrunching his nose in distaste. "It's awful." |
mutter, and he falls backwards, laughing. "Oh, really?"
I spin and rush toward the little chubby beast, grabbing his ankle gently and tugging him towardas | tickle
his tummy.
"Is that funny, huh? You think it's so funny that | don't like it, huh?" | giggle along with him, the only bright spot in
this dark cave of a mountain | am now coerced into calling home.
"Mama," he squeals and | stop, my hands shaking and my mouth dry. He blinks, grabbing my hand with his tiny
fingers, grinning wide. "Mama,"
"Oh, no, no, sweetie. It's Ky not Mama." | croak, clearing my throat as | drop to my knees with difficulty, the dress
squeezing on my thighs tight, but at least it's distracting from the grip on my chest.
"Is that the first the has called you that?" Teiran asks, strolling out of the bathroom. He looks smart in this
ashen gray suit with gold asymmetrical button crossing from his left hip up to his right shoulder, where the lapel
lays down over his chest in the sgolden embroidery that matches my gown.
"Yeah, it's just what all kiddos say first when they learn to talk. You know, dada and mama." | smile at the little
baby, still weirded out by the random growth spurts that age him anywhere from days to weeks just over night.
"To him you are his mother," Teiran reminds me, Reach out a hand to helpup.
"I am aware of that," | mutter, feeling uneasy at the title. "It's just...strange, to be called that when | know who
his real mother is, and his father is the dragon who led to so much suffering."
"We are going to try to fix that," he says, his eyes meeting mine as he smiles and then he lifts my hand and
spins me.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Well, what do you think?" | ask him. He drinksin, his eyes raking over my dress before he lands on my hair
and then my face, a smirk coming over his lips.
"I dare say you have never looked finer, Kyra." He says, offeringa bow before he presses his lips to my hand.
| scoff and roll my eyes.
"We don't have to pretend to like each other when there is no one here to see." | remind him and he shrugs.
"Who says | don't like you?" He asks and I roll my eyes.
"Teiran," | groan, and he chuckles, nodding his head.
"Yes, | know, | know. It is all for show for now." He says, "But if, for sreason, it didn't have to be for show, if it
was real, would it really be that bad?"
He steps close, closing the gap between us as | gaze up at him, his long hair slicked back in a bun and his eyes
tellinghe is developing feelings. Teiran is a dark and foreboding prince, but he is kind and yes, he is very
much a sexy man. Any woman would be lucky to accept him once they get past his mode of operations.
But this isn'tbeing lucky, this isbeing held here on the promise of safety for my entire kind. This is me
missing out on the only chance of having another mate, one that truly completes me. Teiran is giving up nothing
and gaining everything. | am giving up everything and gaining peace for my kind. That doesn't entirely inspire
love from me.
The door creaks open and a servant enters the room, eyes growing wide before averting away.
"I-I didn't mean to interrupt, Prince Teiran, but the King is ready to leave." She stutters out.
"Ah, yes, we should head out now." then he turns to me, "Get Tiago dressed and meetat the front gate."
"Sure," | mutter, glad to put distance between us as | reach for the chubby little guy and move him to the couch,
placing him in a matching outfit to mine and Tieran's. | stand him up, my lips mashing together to keep from
laughing at his pout as he tugs at the pants. "Stop that, Tiago. You look adorable, | promise." | giggle, leaning in,
rubbing my nose to his, which always makes him happy. "Now let's go get a treaty signed."
We amble into the massive carriage that once we enter looks a lot more like a fancy living room than an object
about to be carried into the sky by a dragon. The couches are red and plush, a soft-looking blanket over the arms
in a vibrant orange and yellow marbling. To the left there is a bar and | roll my eyes, seeing Teiran already over
there with his father.
The resident dickhead who has very clearly lost his mind. Out of the entire t| have been here, he has been
the one thing | will never get comfortable with. His eyes burn throughhalf the tand the other half they
are vacant, as if he is brain dead. | suppose that happens when a dragon loses two mates.
"How is my son, dog?" He calls out to me, sipping on a drink that has a blue flflickering over the rim.
"Father, she is not a dog." Teiran sighs, bored with the nickn| have been given.
"| still can't believe you chose a dog to mate with," He grumbles to himself.
"Both your sons chose me, One as a mother, the other as a mate." | say sweetly to him, plastering on the best
fake smile | can. "It would seem this dog is worth something." He scoffs and turns away, shaking his head.
"Lay Tiago down and csit with us," Teiran says. | try to protest, but as | look down, | see a sleeping little
baby and exhale in disappointment. So | do as | am told, laying the little guy on the blanket after I place it on the
ground and | hesitantly move toward Teiran.
"Does she not look stunning, Father?" Teiran asks, putting his hand out forto take. He then drawsinto his
body, my back pressed to his chest as he wraps his arms around my waist. His chins rests on my exposed
shoulder as he hums, and pressed a soft kiss to my neck. | chuckle nervously as his dad watches with a
judgemental eye.
"Don't be disgusting," He mutters. "You will get to mate after the ceremony,"
| grip Teiran's hand in worry and he chuckles low, his chest rumbling behind me.
"We are aware of how it works, father." He says light hearted. "We have chosen each other willingly."
"lI asshe has told you about the dragon's way of mating?" The king asks, smirking atthen looking at
Teiran as his muscles go still behind me.
"That has not been done in hundreds of years, Father." He says, but | hear the panic in his voice.
"What better tthan now to reignite the old ways?"
"No." He says plainly.
"Really? Without even consulting her for her thoughts?" He teases.
"What is it?" | ask, my brows pulling together in confusion. Last | knew, we were faking our mating night,
pretending to have sex in order to convince everyone.
"It doesn't matter, because it is not happening." Teiran grits out.
"I am still the king until you are mated. | want proof you mated her, so | will determine how it is done."
I look back and forth between the two of them, confused, but a knot grows antsy in my gut.
"I don't follow. What is the problem?" | ask, squeezing Teiran's hand to get his full attention.
"He wants us to fuck with an audience." Teiran says, his voice unamused and is eyes trained on his father.
My cheeks instantly heat and my stomach churns at the thought.
"W-what?" | squeak out and the King roars in laughter.
"It's not an audience, but just a few of us. Your Alpha and Luna,and your little lycan mate."
My face falls, all the blood draining when his words hit me. "Do you both think | am stupid?"
"Father, she was rejected," Teiran says, but his father rolls his eyes.
"I do not care who rejected who. | will play along with your little gbecause | get both of my sons back. But, |
will not back down. | want to see the pain on his face when you take what is his. | want them to know what it
feels like to lose something, like when I lost Tiago's mother." He grins, lifting his glass up in a salute before
draining it and walking over to the couch.
"Terian...l can't, | won't." | breathe the words, spinning around to face him fully. "Please, don't makedo this."
He reaches up, stroking my cheek, a look of loss on his face.
"I will do my best to cup with another solution." He whispers before he steps away, leavingstanding
there.
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