The Innocent Mate Of A Dragon

Chapter 1: The Warning

Carissa's POV

I was in our royal garden where one of our gardeners was showing me how to plant different types of flowers and such. She was like a mother to me ever since my own had been murdered when I was only 5 years old. All the gardeners were like mothers to me in a way because they treated me like their daughter whenever I was around. Unfortunately, I don’t have one close mother figure. My father did remarry, and my Stepmother was always kind to me nonetheless, but she treated me as she treated all her subjects and nothing more.

A guard approached me. "Princess Carissa. Your Father, the king would like to have a word with you." I stood up with a nod and walked into the castle.

My father looked at me with his cold light brown eyes. Soon he noticed how my clothes were wrinkle and I was covered in dirt. "You are a lady and almost eighteen so you shouldn't be playing in the dirt." He scolded me as usual.

I curtsied. "Why yes Father, although half our gardeners are female and over twenty years of age, so your point isn’t exactly valid," I smirked.

He glared at me. "They are commoners while you are royalty. It’s their job to tend to the garden while it’s going to be your job to rule one day. You need to act like it." He sighed. “I am only worried for you. You're becoming like your mother, more adventurous each day. I have one request of you, my daughter.”

I tapped my fingers against my side as he spoke. “Yes, father?" And here it goes, he was going to tell me not to go into the dark forest. He was going to tell me of all the dangers as usual.

"The Dark Forest." Knew it. "It's a dangerous place, no one in this kingdom can venture near it. Not even royalty." He warned while waving his hands lightly as he spoke. "Hundreds of years ago there was a war. Dragons attacked the villages and cities of our elven kingdoms. So, we put together armies to fight back. We thought we killed them all but there were survivors. They knew then that we were not weak creatures like they thought, and they went into hiding to repopulate. They reside in the dark forest. Since the war, they've evolved to be stronger, bigger, faster, and they've learned to breathe fire. They have become our greatest threat. If we got into another war our magic will prove to be weak against them. I lost your mother I don't want to lose you too." He placed his hand on my shoulder. "So, stay out the Dark Forest." He spoke with a serious tone.

The thing is he wasn't scaring me. His speech made me more curious. Were these Dragons as bad as the stories behind them? Were they even really in the Dark Forest? It's been a long time so they could have left. With these thoughts... I kept them to myself and nodded to my father. "Yes of course Father I promise." He smiled which was rare then left to his office to do work. He was always so busy being king and all. I walked to the east end of the castle and ran to my best friend to hug her tightly. "Bailey!" She was surprised by my sudden appearance but wrapped her arms around my torso as mine were around her neck.

"Princess." She was my aid who was supposed to keep me out of trouble and make sure I went where I was supposed to be. She was skilled in fighting and in elven magic so basically my personal guard. She was nineteen which was two years older than me.

"Carissa," I corrected. "Call me by my name please." We unwrapped our arms and pulled away from each other.

Bailey nodded. "Yes of course Carissa." She smiled. "Where were you this morning? I called your phone, and you didn’t answer.” I was going to text her, but I forgot. “You can't be out my sight. Do you want me to lose my job?" She chuckled but was still serious.

I shook my head in response. Of course, I saw her like an overprotective big sister if I were being honest, but most best friends were. "You missed my lecture, 'Don't go into the dark forest my daughter for there are many dangers.'" I laugh after imitating my father.

Bailey didn’t find it very funny. "Don't make fun of the king like that. I mean he's right Carissa you're too careless."

It wasn’t my intention to worry anyone. "I wouldn’t go past the border but... Bailey when I am near it, I feel like it is calling for me. I think to myself that maybe something is waiting for me there as if I belong there..." I spoke will a sort of passion in my words. I had to tell her since she was my closest confidant. Well, she was my only confidant.

Bailey's eyes widened. "You're not supposed to be near it!" She yelled then took a breath to calm herself down. "Anyway It's not calling for you. You sound like you have few screws loose or you’ve been watching too much tv. Let's go riding to get your mind off it?" She suggested. “Or we could drive around in my car.”

I smiled big because horse riding was my favorite pastime. "Yes! Horse riding, please. Let's go now!" I grabbed her arm impulsively and start running towards the stables.