My heart, My love, My dragon

Chapter 8

Anya didn't know how far her lie would have taken her, much less for everyone to fall for it immediately. They believed her because apparently, her looks were parallel to that of Khaleesi's. She regretted her instantly. She knew Arin had a smug face when she left because he knew she'll return. But she refused to succumb. But as countless people of High House Hydra crowded over her, some demanding her to use her powers. Powers she did not have.

Master Hydreich proudly showed her off and the once somber faces of the people of House Hydra turned joyous. Hydreich told Anya, "All of us have not been happy since the death Khaleesi. She was our little princess and everyone adored her. But now, with her replica right beside us, our joy has bounced back to what it once was."

"Haha," Anya plastered a strained smile but Hydreich saw right through it.

"What's wrong Anastasia?"

"Er, I know nothing about the existence of dragons and know nothing about them," Any said shyly.

Hydreich gasped, "Heavens, child! Who has been raising you?"

"I was living in the human world. Raised by my bastard of a brother who sold me to King Arin. Only then did I realize Khaleesi was my mother," Anya smoothly lied but that didn't stop the lump in her throat.

"It's quite simple, really. We, dragons, all belong to a certain house. Whether being a High House or Low House but we are all under the rule of King Arin. This means that High House Vulcan is in court," he explained.

"Hy- I, mean, grandfather, what are beloveds?"

"Ah, beloveds are a dragon's soulmate. Each dragon is granted one soulmate in his/her lifetime but in special cases, they can be granted more if their past soulmate dies. They have an irrevocable bound and have an immense attraction and desire for each other that they cannot ignore. The rejection of a beloved makes the affected feel worthless and cause them to take their life. They will be left heartbroken or soulless and it doesn't matter what race they are. The male dragon will always have the intense desire to mark his mate and that will always bother him until he marks his mate. Later, if they have not completed the last step of the mating process the female will go into heat until they are bound together forever."

Anya swallowed this information awkwardly. Is that what Arin meant when he said that she was his beloved? "Grandfather, what are heat, the mark, and the last step of the mating process?"

Hydreich looked around nervously until a lady joined in abruptly, "Hydreich, I think I'll take it from here."

"Thank the goddesses, Lucia," he kissed her on her forehead and left. Lucia sat down on the couch and patted the seat next to her. Anya sat down beside her.

"I'm assuming you are Anastasia. I am Lucia, your grandmother," she bubbly said. "About your questions. Heat is...when the female becomes horny and demands her mate to give her "attention."

Anya's eyes widened which Lucia noticed, "But you're too young to worry about that now. The mark is when the male bites into the bond spot right on your pulse point and a mark forms. It will be the form of the High House crest your beloved belongs to. And the last step of the mating process is when both mates make love."

Anya scrunched up her nose, "That sounds awful."

Lucia laughed, "Khaleesi was the same. Always screaming for me not to continue to explain."

Lucia stood up and took Anya's hand with her's. "Starting today, your name is Anastasia Draco of High House Hydra."

"But...I think I'm human. That is, I think my father is human," Anya fumbles around with her long shirt cuffs.

"Khaleesi could have never gotten involved with a human when she had Arin as her beloved! How devasted must he be to know that you aren't his daughter," Lucia tucked Anya's lock of hair behind her ear.

"Yeah, how devasted," Anya secretly rolled her eyes.

"Now, let's have you blend in with children your age."

***

Anya truly did like Lucia. Until she fitted her into a corset, tightened beyond measure, put a sundress above and later shove her in a room filled with different people. All in her age range. Apparently, to fit into the social standards.

"Hi! I'm Lia. You must be Anastasia. Khaleesi's daughter?" a girl walked up to her but it was her large stomach that distracted Anya. The 13-year-old girl was pregnant.

"You're pregnant?" Anya blurted.

Lia smiled and waved for a man to come to her. The man looked to be in his early twenties. "I met my beloved when I was eleven and we just couldn't ignore our bond. As you've noticed this is the case with many of us female dragons. Male dragons can be too overbearing."

The man smirked, "You wanted it."

Lia lightly slapped him, "Alicio, this is not the time."

Anya noticed that the girls her age were either pregnant or mateless. Lia began to bombard Anya with questions about whether or not she found her mate so when Lia was distracted, Anya took her leave. She found a door and shut it behind her.

"Hey, what are you doing here?"

"Huh?" Anya whirled around and saw a boy right behind her.

"Khaleesi?" he questions, his eyes narrowing. 

"No, sorry. I'm her daughter, Anastasia," Anya said.

"Of course, I knew it was too good to be true. Your mother was my tutor until she left for the palace," he said quietly.

"I don't suppose you had a crush on Khaleesi, did you?" when he didn't reply Anya said, "We all have our crushes."

He hummed in response but then she noticed the book in his hand. Gone with the Wind. "You have Gone with the Wind?!"

He covered her mouth with his hand instantly, "SHHH, don't yell it out loud."

"Why? I've always wanted to read that book."

"We aren't allowed to read human books. Didn't you know that?"

"I was raised by humans," Anya shrugged and took the book from his hands. "It's awesome."

The boy studied her, "I'm glad we have the same interests."

"Ok, long legs."

"Long legs?"

"Well, you're tall and about my age and haven't even told me your name, so..." her voice trailed off.

"Oh, my name is Luthor of High House Hydra. Age fourteen."

"Oh, and my name is Anastasia of High House Hydra. Age thirteen," Anya mimicked teasingly.

"Oh, come on..." he groaned.

The door swung opened loudly, "Anastasia! It isn't proper for you to be alone in a room with a man!"