DrixNar Saga - Dragon Kings Mate Book 1

A Nightmare

Anna

As we dashed through the dense forest, a quick glance backward revealed an unsettling gleam in Giana's eyes, her skin taking on an otherworldly scale-like appearance. Dismissing it as a mere figment of my imagination, I struggled to focus on the uneven terrain beneath my feet, nearly stumbling. Suddenly, a shadow materialized ahead.

"Jennifer!" I screamed as her body was abruptly lifted into the air.

Frozen and terrified, we went from a warm, safe home to a chilling nightmare. The moon casts an eerie glow, surrounding us with vampires whose predatory gazes fixated on our trembling forms. Giana, seemingly composed, reassured us in hushed tones while scanning our surroundings. My heart pounded to the distant howls of werewolves, a chilling symphony signaling an impending threat.

A vampire with deathly cold eyes stepped forward, his voice a low, sibilant murmur. "Where do you pretty things think you're going?"

Desperation in my gaze, I turned to Giana, hoping for guidance amidst the chaos. Giana, unwavering, responded, "Leave us alone.We just want to go home."

The vampire's menacing grin sent shivers down my spine. Home?" he scoffed. "You've entered a realm where your home is where we say it is."

Sinister laughter surrounded us. This was going nowhere good.

As the vampire circled us, his companions closed in, forming an impenetrable circle. Panic clawed at my chest, and I glanced at Giana, who maintained a facade of calm. The howls drew nearer, and the tension in the air thickened.

The wolves would be here soon, and then we would all die. No... I won't think that way. God show us mercy. I silently plead.

Giana's eyes flickered with unwavering determination as she whispered urgently, "We need a distraction." In a sudden burst of speed, she lunged at the nearest vampire, catching him off guard. Chaos ensued as Jennifer, with a swift and calculated move, kicked the vampire in a vulnerable area, causing him to drop her with a hiss of pain. I swiftly followed suit, creating a fleeting window for escape. Amidst the pandemonium, the werewolves arrived.

The moonlit forest transformed into a battleground as we fought for our lives. In the midst of the struggle, I found myself offering a silent prayer, desperately hoping that God was listening.

A low growl resonated, and the ground quaked, causing both vampires and werewolves to look around in confusion. Suddenly, a tall and intimidating man with a ferocious aura appeared.

"Michael," Giana greeted with a smile as she acknowledged the newcomer. Despite his menacing and dark aura, there was a hint of what might have been handsomeness if not for the circumstances.

As Michael moved to stand beside Giana, I couldn't help but wonder what one man could achieve in the face of such supernatural chaos. Was he an inexplicable beacon of hope in this surreal nightmare?

"Why attack defenseless women?" Michael demanded, his gaze fixed on the vampires, his presence commanding attention.

The vampires, momentarily taken aback by Michael's sudden appearance, exchanged uneasy glances. Giana, still maintaining her composed demeanor, seized the opportunity. "We didn't ask for this, Michael. They attacked us first," she explained, her words cutting through the tense air.

Michael's stern expression softened slightly as he regarded Giana. "You should've known better than to wander into their territory," he remarked, a mix of reproach and concern in his voice. His attention then shifted back to the vampires, his gaze piercing and authoritative.

The leader of the vampire pack, recovering from the initial shock, sneered at Michael. "Interfering in our affairs, Michael? You've always been too soft," he spat, his fangs visible as he spoke. The werewolves growled in response, sensing the escalating tension.

Giana stepped forward, a subtle air of confidence surrounding her. "We didn't come here seeking trouble. They kidnapped my friends, and I rescued them. Now these insects want to make a profit off them," she asserted, her eyes meeting Michael's briefly before returning to the vampires.

Michael, his gaze unwavering, addressed the vampires with a commanding tone. "k********g, I thought I told you what would happen if I catch wind of human trafficking in my realm."

"I....," the leader stammered and slowly stepped back.

"Leave them be. This is your final warning. If you want to continue living, take up a different job. Otherwise, tonight is your last." The atmosphere grew taut as the supernatural beings faced off, uncertainty hanging in the air like a thick fog.

To emphasize his point, Michael's eyes ignited with an otherworldly flame as he spat to the side, conjuring a small ball of fire. The incandescent glow danced in the night, revealing the raw power that lay dormant within him. The air crackled with residual heat as the flame flickered and vanished, leaving an ephemeral trace of magic in its wake.

As the werewolves retreated and the vampires dispersed, Michael's imposing presence waned. The lingering tension dissipated, replaced by an air of calm. Turning towards Giana, his mate, he embraced her in a tight hug, the moonlight casting a gentle glow on the reunion. He pressed a tender kiss on her forehead, whispering words that carried the weight of a shared history.

Giana's friends, still processing the surreal events unfolding before them, watched in awe and disbelief. The subtle scent of burnt leaves lingered, a testament to the supernatural forces at play. Michael's eyes, once ablaze, now held a subtle warmth as he turned his attention back to Giana, the intensity of the fiery display fading into a calm reassurance.

"I've been searching for you for a long time," Michael admitted, his gaze locking with Giana's. The moonlight traced the contours of his features, revealing the weariness of a relentless pursuit. "I couldn't let you face this world alone."

Giana, touched by his unwavering commitment, nodded appreciatively. The forest, now quiet after the supernatural showdown, seemed to hold its breath as if in reverence for the connection between the dragon and his mate. The rustling leaves and distant whispers of the night creatures formed a backdrop to the unspoken understanding that bound Michael and Giana.

As they stood together in the moonlit clearing, the shadows cast by the towering trees played a delicate dance on the forest floor. The air, once charged with tension, now held a gentle stillness, a moment of respite in the midst of the enigmatic realm they found themselves entwined within.

"I thought I lost you in Aslos," Michael confessed, his voice a blend of relief and concern. "I got word from your father that you had left, and I couldn't bear the thought of losing you again."

Giana's eyes held a mixture of pain and gratitude as she looked into Michael's eyes. The pain faded when she turned her attention to us, her human companions. One by one, she introduced us to Michael as her boyfriend, a cover to shield the truth of her dragon identity from us, her friends not yet ready to grasp the depth of her true self.

Michael, understanding the delicate balance she was maintaining, spoke with empathy. "Thank you for keeping them safe," he said, his gaze shifting between us. "It's not easy being caught in the middle of the supernatural."

Giana, a blend of relief and hesitation in her expression, replied, "I had to protect them, Michael. I didn't want them to face the dangers of Aslos unprepared."

As the night settled into an uneasy calm, Michael and Giana shared a moment of silent understanding, their connection transcending the challenges that surrounded them. The moonlit forest bore witness to a complex tapestry of love, secrecy, and the untold mysteries of a world where dragons and other mystical beings roamed hidden from the unsuspecting eyes of humanity.

Suddenly, a scream tore through the night, shattering the post-conflict calm. All eyes turned towards me, the source of the distress. Giana, swift and concerned, rushed to my side, her eyes wide with worry. I clung to her, seeking solace in her reassuring presence, and in a breathless moment, I uttered the names Diana and Lydia.

A loud, pained hiss escaped Giana's lips, her eyes mirroring the anguish that now enveloped the moonlit clearing. Michael, ever vigilant, scanned the surroundings for any immediate danger, his brows furrowed in concern. "What's the matter?" he inquired, his voice edged with urgency. "Who are Diana and Lydia?" he pressed for answers.

Jennifer, her expression etched with pain, stared into the direction we had just escaped from. "They took us from our beds," she began, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and sorrow. "Dragged us here and snatched both Lydia and Diana. Is it too late to find them?" Jennifer pleaded, clutching her middle, tears streaming down her face.

The night air seemed to thicken with despair as the weight of the revelation settled upon us. Giana's eyes reflected a mixture of sorrow and determination. "We have to find them," she declared, her voice carrying the weight of a promise. The moon, witnessing the unfolding drama, cast a melancholic glow on our faces as we grappled with the newfound urgency to rescue our friends from the clutches of an unseen peril.