I
Hours before . . .
“Are we ready now?” The Lycan Princess of the Kingdom of Gold Valley asked Krista, her Personal Assistant, who happened to be her first cousin also. She walked out of her room, well-dressed; an epitome of a true Princess with such grace and beauty. “It’s almost five o’clock in the morning already.” She added.
“Yes, Princess Shelyca; the Palace’s Royal Jet is waiting for us now at the heliport,” Krista answered after vowing her head to the Lycan Princess.
Princess Shelyca smiled at Krista, “That’s good Krista; we need to go then. The Duke of Sussex is waiting for me.”
“Right, my Princess. I am wondering what he looks like in person.” Krista smiled.
Princess Shelyca nodded. “He seems to be a refined and dignified man; no wonder the King and Queen like him for me. I need to see him first though before I accept his marriage proposal that he sent through our King and Queen. I need to know if he is my destined mate.”
“Absolutely my Princess; You need to check if he is your mate and if your personality, will click.” Krista, who truly loved her first cousin Lycan Princess, always wanted the best for her.
“Thank you Krista; I know you always wanted the best for me.” Princess Shelyca held Krista’s right hand and they walked hand and hand going to the waiting Bentley car that would bring them to the Palace’s heliport.
Krista looked at the Princess and suddenly said, “Princess Shelyca, if I need to die to save you, I will. Don’t forget that. That is how much I treasure you because you never made me feel low, even if the rest did, just because I am my father’s child, out of wedlock.”
Princess Shelyca gently tagged Krista’s hand that she was holding. “Don’t you ever say that; no one will die among us. I am a Lycan Princess and no one will dare to hurt us,” she smiled at Krista.
From the Palace’s veranda, Trisha, the Second Princess and the adopted daughter of the King and Queen of the Kingdom of Gold Valley watched as Princess Shelyca and Krista got inside the Bentley. Her eyes followed the Bentley car until it was already nowhere in her sight. A smile crossed her face as she turned around and walked down, going to the throne hall.
Trisha intensely looked at the Princess’ throne with full admiration and intent on taking a seat thereon. She glanced around and saw that no one was nearby. She slowly walked to the Princess's throne and settled herself on it with a fierce desire to make it hers.
The head of the palace guards saw what the Second Princess had done. He shook his head with disapproval on his face. If he informs the King and Queen of what the Second Princess has done, she might be reprimanded. No one should sit on the Princess Throne except the Lycan Princess Shelyca.
After a minute ride in the Bentley car, Princess Shelyca and Krista reached the heliport where the palace jet was waiting. They entered the aircraft and settled on the middle part truly intended for them.
Princess Shelyca closed her eyes as the jet started to rise from the ground. In just a matter of hours, she would know if she had already found her mate and her soon-to-be partner.
As they watched from the window, all they could see now was the clear sky. They have been sitting in this Royal Jet for more than an hour already.
“Can you see what is below us, Princess?” Krista asked.
Princess Shelyca looked out of the glass window. “I can only see seawater beneath Krista. Maybe we are up in the Pacific waters already.”
They were having that conversation when a man in a black suit and a gun in his hand came out from the back part of the jet and aimed to shoot the Princess.
At that instant, as if sensing some danger, Princess Shelyca turned her head and was so shocked to see the man with a gun pointed at her. Even in shock, however, she was able to find her voice and shouted before the man in the black suit touched his gun’s trigger.
Krista automatically grabbed the Princess and made her body the Princess’ shield against the bullet that came rushing in the air and pierced through her back.
“Krista!”
“Princess, save yourself … save yourself…”
II
Five years ago . . .
He was on the training field, showing off his prowess at fighting in his human form. None in Dragon Land, except the Dragon Lord, could beat him. He is magnificent, fearless, gorgeous, and robust but, somehow, cold-hearted. He is more magnificent every time he transforms himself into his reddish Dragon form and flips his big, mighty wings while transcending into the sky.
Each time he visited the human world, in his human form, he would usually gain glances from women, young or old. He would sometimes go to the city and spend his nights with women, who would cling to him and would regret sleeping when they found out the next morning that he had already left without any word; without any promise of returning.
He is next in line to the throne of the Dragon Lord. So, what else could he ask for? Nothing more; but something was still missing in him; he never felt complete all throughout that time.
The Dragon Lord senses this. He then thought of something that would bring fulfillment into his life; something that would bring out kindness from within and selflessness in the end.
“Dareon, you are my youngest yet strongest warrior; I chose you to rule the Thregonad Village in the East. The people there need someone to lead and protect them. They are weak, untrained farmers and fishermen who just live by day fearing the attacks of werewolves, Centaurs, and pirates around them.” Without listening to Dareon’s refusal, the Dragon Lord pointed his open hands to Dareon and the latter automatically shifted into his dragon form.
“Fly to the East and rule the people there Dareon. They will hail, respect, and love you.” With the Dragon Lord’s hand compass, Dareon’s wings flipped and even with his resistance, his wings flew him into the East part.
He was about to land in the nearby mountain when he heard cries, shouts, and running feet of horses. As a dragon, his sense of hearing is too strong compared to an ordinary human.
Dareon’s wings flipped and just for a second he was up there witnessing the Centaurs running around killing men and women, old folks, and children of the Thregonad Village.
Dareon roared and spit his fire on the group of Centaurs, who, because of surprise, were not able to fight back.
When Dareon roared and spit fire once again, Centaurs’ Chief shouted to his team to retreat. All the remaining Centaurs ran without looking back. They were petrified. This is the first time that such a dragon came to help and save the Thregonad people who had been their constant victim of attacks.
When all the Centaurs were gone, the dragon Dareon landed to the amazement and cries of the Thregonad People.
As Dareon transformed into his human form, a ray of fire scattered around him and when it faded, the Thregonad People were all in awe as they watched a God-like creature in his most stunning, spellbinding, and magical appearance.