The Princess And Her Dragon Mate

Potential husbands and Lies and deceit

*Astrid’s POV*

My mother called me to her chambers, so I get up from the lake and go there right away. I knock on the door and wait for my mother to let me in. She looks me up and down and screws up her face. Astrid, must you dress like the help? I look down at my leggings and sports singlet and back at my mother. Well, if you must know, mum, this is comfortable, and I don't see why I have to dress in uncomfortable frilly clothing when we have no guests I have to greet. Don't stress, mum, I will stay hidden the way you like me since I embarrass you so much. My mother slaps me across the face, and I look to my father, who looks like he couldn't care less. I hold my face and fight back the tears. Is that all you wanted me here for, mother? She looks me up and down. You will get changed into something decent I have potential husbands waiting to meet you; I look her in the eyes. I don't want to get married, mother, I am only 17. I will be 18 soon. You have never let me have a life. You have kept me hidden why can't I live before I'm married? My mum looks at me in anger. You will do as you are told you are responsible for this kingdom in the future, yet I find you lacking with some luck. One of the men inside will see something I don't now go. You have twenty minutes and cover your eyes; I don't want them thinking you are a freak with those violet eyes. She hands me the contact lenses she always insists I ware I turn on my heel and walk away. I hold my hand up over my head and flip her the bird. She yells out after me, don't push your luck, young lady! I storm back to my room and bump into a young man in the corridor near the hall I have to be. He looks down at me and smiles, oh, I'm sorry, miss, I smile. Oh, it's ok. I should have been watching where I'm going. He smiles; well, I'm Jake, pleased to meet you? Oh, I'm Astrid, the princess of lady moody pants down the hall Jake chuckles oh so your the princess and I’m taking it lady moody pants is the Queen I laugh you guessed correct I guess I should go get all dressed up to meet potential husbands as I roll my eyes Jake laughs I’ll see you in there because that’s why I’m here he also rolls his eyes I step around him I’ll see you there and I hurry off to my room I get dressed and quickly straighten my hair I look at the contact lenses and put them in Ingred scoffs in my head you shouldn’t hid your eyes they are pretty your mother is stupid for wanting you to hide them I sigh soon ingred I will leave and we will find out why we long to be with the dragons ingred chuckles only 6 days to go then you will know why she goes quiet in my head leaving me with questions I want the answers to ingred comes back in I will answer them soon I nod and look at myself in the mirror I see a hand mark on my face I quickly cover them up and head to the hall and go sit with my mother and father he frowns at me must you always be tarty? I chuckle. Must you be so cranky all the time? My mother clears her throat let twenty men enter the room, and I yawn; they don’t catch my attention, then I see Jake, who winks at me. I discreetly smile. I sit and listen to the men prattle on and why they are suitable to be my husband, and why they are a perfect match for me. I almost catch myself sleeping, then Jake clears his throat. I believe I will be the perfect husband to the princess because I am the prince of the dark lands. I can keep her safe, and our kingdoms have always had good relationships my mother nods at jake but don’t associate with the dragons? My ears prick up at that Jake smiles yes on occasion we play nice with the dragons the have eaten a lot of our men but we need to pass through there lands so we do as we must to keep the peace my mum nods we are done Astrid will have an answer in an hour I look to my mother I will do no such thing mother I can not choose a husband in an hour I will choose who I want to know more that’s all I can promise my mother scoffs fine my daughter will choose a man who she will get to know more in one hour I stand and clear my throat I will choose now and all of you can leave I point to all the group except for Jake I then point to Jake and you can stay the men look at me in shock I stare them down I have made my decision now leave I walk to Jake and grab his hand let’s get out of here Jake follows and I lead him to the lake I sit on the ground and pull my knees to my chest Jake sits close to me so what do you want to know I look at him and he frowns why have you covered your beautiful violet eyes I sigh my mother thinks my eyes are horrible and always demand I put these silly contacts in Jake frowns I don’t like them like this may I see your real eyes again? I take out the contact lenses and look at Jake smile; that’s much better, so how will we negotiate this path, Astrid? I sigh. Can you tell me about the dragons? My mother says they will eat us if we go near their lands, but there is something they're calling me! And I have so many questions, but I can’t ask them here. I look over to the guards. Jake nods. Maybe we could go somewhere more private I nod, we can go to my room. Jake smiles. I promise to be a gentleman and keep to the boundaries. I smile; thank you, Jake; for some reason, I feel safe with you! Jake smiles and stands up; he holds out his hand and helps me to my feet; we head to my room, and when we enter, I excuse myself to get changed. I come out in a pair of sweat pants and a special top I had made so I could spread my wings. I look to Jake. Please don’t freak out; no one knows about this, so it has to stay In this room. Jake nods. Astrid, I promise I won’t say a word. I smile and let my wings spread out. Jake smiles and lightly brushes them; they are beautiful, Astrid, just like you, he ran his hand over them again, and I got a shiver. I giggled. The smiles, you are full of surprises, so what do you want to know about dragons? We sit and talk for a long time, and when it was getting dark, Jake had to leave Jake is taking me to meet his Dragon best friend Maximus on my birthday. The six days drag on I do my duties as required and have the meetings I’m requested at, and the day before my birthday, I tell my mother Jake is taking me out; she smiles, that’s good dear, remember to keep the eyes and wings hidden we don’t want to frighten the poor boy off!

*Maximus POV*

Jake contacted me about Astrid; he said she is a puzzle; he doesn’t see her as wife material for him, but they have made friends; he told me about her violet eyes and wings. I smile at him; thank you, Jake. Is there anything else I need to know? Jake smiles; she wants to meet a dragon; she has been getting called to come here, so on the 18th birthday, I am bringing her here to meet you; she is very excited and scared. I frown, scared; why? Jake frowns; well, her mother has told her all her life the dragons will eat her. I frown; that’s insane; we don’t eat fae; my father would be furious if he knew this.

Jake nods. I understand, and I have told Astrid her mother has been living with her for many years. I smile and say to Jake, how about all her life! Can I ask you a question tho? Jake nods, sure! What was her father like towards her? Jake frowns; well, he didn’t seem to care for her, and she didn’t look like any part of him! I nod; oh ok, well, I guess you will find out more when you bring her here. Jake nods, then look at the time max. I have to go. I smile. That's fine. I have some business to attend. We part ways, head straight to Dekkers room and knock on his door. When he opens it, he looks me up and down and smiles, what can I help you with? Max, I smile. May I come in? You may need a stiff drink and a seat after hearing what I have to tell you. Dekker pushes the door open and lets me inside. He pours himself a glass and offers me one. I shake my head no, thank you. He looks up to me and says, so what is so essential you have to tell me?

I smile. Well, Astrid is your daughter, and she will be here in six days. Dekker looks shocked. Are you sure I smile? I am positive she has violet eyes and violet wings. As you said, Dekker smiled, and how did Jake see her eyes? I smile. She bumped into him in the hallway of the castle, and then after she sent all the men away, she showed him her wings and asked to be brought here because something is calling to her Dekker smiles, I know what's calling; they say when a goddess dragon gets a mate her soul is called to where they are so her mate must be here I look at Dekker how we will know who her mate is? And is it possible since she is half-fae Dekker grins she will go to him so watch her closely and indeed she can have a mate her dragon side is strong if she has both violet eyes and wings! I smile; well, we shall see in six days. I will bring her to you once I get her to trust me. Dekker smiles; thank you, Maximus that would mean the world to me