Their Fiery Love: A Holiday Special

Chapter 4: Viktor

“Excuse me?” Victoria says to my father and the members of the advisory council. 

We are all in the grand hall of my family’s castle. My father is sitting on his throne made of black dragon stone. The five members of his advisory council sit in small thrones on both sides of him. Victoria, Jaxtyn, and I stand at the bottom of the stairs, directly in front of them.

My father sighs loudly and uses his chastising voice when he says, “Just like you heard, daughter. We have decided to betroth you to one of the warrior sons of Typhon, leader of the Draco Clan. They are a strong clan, with excellent bloodlines. Seeing as how you have not found a mate yet, we believe that he is an excellent candidate for you. The Draco Clan have always been close allies and we need a connection between the royal family and the strongest clan in our territory. The Draco Clan is it.” 

You have got to be kidding me. I turn to look at Jax and his mouth was hanging open, just like mine. He mouths, “Oh, s**t” to me. I nod in response. I then turn to look at Victoria and her whole body is shaking.

“Father, please tell me this is a sick joke?” Vikki says, outraged.

I wince at her tone. She is absolutely seething with anger. 

“Do I look like I am joking with you, Victoria?” My father says, angrily.

“But father. I can’t believe you are wanting to do this to me. After everything, I have done for our family and species. After everything, I have done for you.  You wish to force me to marry someone that is not my mate, just for a damn connection. I mean, do you hear what you are saying? You must see how ridiculous this sounds.” Victoria screams and climbs the stairs to stand in front of our father. 

Our father stands and roughly grabs Victoria by the shoulders. “Stop! Stop with this fit you are throwing, Victoria! I am your father! I am your king! You will do what I say! Come the Winter Solstice Festival, you will marry the Draco Clan warrior. That is my final say on this matter!” Father yells and shakes her.

“That is two weeks away, have you lost your mind!” she yells at him.

I run up the stairs and grab Victoria before she does something stupid, like take a swing at our father. I push her behind me and stay in the middle of them.

“Victoria calm down. Let us talk this through calmly. Father, may I suggest we discuss this as a family. You must realize what a shock this must be for all of us. Let us talk in our private quarters and then reconvene with the advisory council.” I whisper to my father.

He begrudgingly agrees and dismisses the members of the advisory council. I look at Jax and he nods at me. He walks out of the hall, although he will not be too far away, in case we need him.

Father leaves the hall through the back doors and without a word is expecting us to follow. 

“Come, Vikki,” I say, pulling her with me.

“You know, he is out of his f*****g mind, Vik! There is no f*****g way I will agree to this.” She hisses and pulls her arm out of my grasp. She then stomps out of the hall, in the direction our father went.

I sigh and send a silent plea to our Fire God, that I can straighten this mess out. I follow Victoria to father’s chambers. I close the doors behind me. 

Father takes off his crown and sets it on the small pillow, on the nightstand, next to his bed. He walks over to the small bar, in the corner of his chambers and serves himself a glass of dragon wine. I walk over and pour myself a glass, too. 

In my mind, I am running through different arguments, trying to find the one that will change our father’s mind. While at the same time, I deal with my feelings that my father does not think I am good enough to run our kingdom and wants to bring in an outsider.

“Why now, father? What has happened, that is causing you to make such a rash decision about the fate of my sister and our kingdom. Why her and not me?” I ask after I down my glass.

“I know what you are thinking, Viktor. No one is challenging your place as the next in line for my throne. You will rule after me. However, we have never had a female dragon as a ruler. The advisory council has brought the fact up more than once, that Victoria has yet to be mated. If you or I would ever go onto the fade, then who will rule.” Father starts saying to me.

That’s it? This makes even less sense now. Father has never listened to that damn council of his.

Father walks to Victoria. “Daughter. You are one of the best warriors we have. Each one of us in this room knows that you are more than capable of being able to run this kingdom. I know you would make Viktor and I proud if we were ever to perish. But, tradition is important to our species. You know this just as much as I do. If we do not nourish and stand by our culture and traditions, we will lose who we are. That is why you need a mate.” he says to her, as he holds her hands.

“Father. That is a bunch of bullshit and you know it. What is really going on here?” Victoria calls him out, on his lies.

Father releases Victoria and sinks into one of the chairs in his room. His posture makes him look ancient. Something is not right.

“Father, tell us what is the matter. You know you could never keep secrets from us.” I say as I walk over to him. I take a seat next to him. Victoria kneels before him. 

“Ever since my father left me his kingdom to rule, this has been one of my biggest fears,” he says, with a c***k in his voice.

“Father you are scaring me. What is the matter?” Victoria pleads.

“My biggest fear has always been, not being able to protect you, two. After I failed to protect your mother, I knew that I had to do better by both of you. I made a solemn promise to never let anything happen to our two most beautiful gifts from the Fire God. That is one of the reasons I have always been hard on you guys. I want both of you to be strong and independent,” he says, in a low voice. 

“We are currently facing danger to our family. With the major rogue problem in our lands, many of the clans are talking. They think that we are unable to keep order and there have been rumors of a revolt against the crown. Some clans are said to be binding together to overthrow us. We need allies, my children. After a lot of strategic planning and discussion with the Advisory Council, this is a solution they have come up with. By using the excuse that we are securing the succession to the throne, by finding you a mate, Victoria, we are able to bring in a strong clan to back us up in case a revolution happens.” he confesses to us.

“f**k!” I scrub my face with my hand roughly. Victoria sits in silent shock.

This is impossible. Could this truly be happening to us? Our family has sat on the throne for centuries. 

“Victoria. I see no other way to do this. I am so sorry. I never wanted to choose your mate for you. I always wanted you to be able to have your destined mate.” Our father says as he takes her into his arms, and hugs her tightly. 

She bursts into tears and pulls out of his embrace. Father looks at her with a distraught look. 

“Vikki! What is wrong? I know this isn’t ideal, but I have never seen you like this. You have never backed down from a challenge. Tell us. Please!” I say to her when I pull her to face me.

She looks up at me, agony in her eyes. “I...I... I’m sorry Viktor. I just can’t do it,” she says in between sobs.

She goes over to our father and holds his hands in hers. “Father. You know I love you and our family. You know I would do anything for our kingdom. But I can’t do this, that you ask of me. Maybe before, I would have. But I can’t now.” she says to him, with tears streaming down her face.

“Why?” I say, angrily. 

“Because brother, I have found, who I believe, is my true mate. I will not sacrifice my destined mate for our family or our kingdom.” She says to us, then runs out of father’s chambers. 

Leaving us standing there, dumbfounded.