TAKEN BY THE DRAGON KING

pte

na

my spine, The Dragon Lord would not b

nd for his cruelty and brutality

o be trifled with.

e my home, my kingdom and go to his castle

ed, he will burn m

feeling the anxiety f

to be s

e and I stared into the distance

terrifying creatur

extinct by now, fighti

ed this long were not on

they possessed everything they needed to surv

extremely wealthy, strong,

one who crossed him or refused his req

om had crumbled beneath

ated the kingdom until

e didn't deserve this fury. My father had pleaded

ow could I abandon them

etween his duty as a

that my dut

incess and a

yone that I loved Catherine, my fat

d to keep telling myself if

eup and I sat in sil

ared he

he asked her voice was no

htfall,

, and then we would leave traveling to the Drag

him. The thought alone was a terrifying one

s that bridge when I got t

atherine said. Her voice wa

afford to cry right now, if I cried, I would never

goodbye would be very hard and I nee

pportunities for hesitation or missteps, not anymore.

idn't know what he wanted with me, but

would h

t my kingdom should surrender their

ould he have f

thoughts aside and fo

king a deep breath. I wanted to keep my

herine was staring at me

, pushing the thou

er alright?" I said feeling

lsewhere, but please

't know we'll he wou

s, so he would be left on his own. The reality tug

a lot of tha

emotions take over, I might make the wrong choice. And

one b

ine into a hug, I didn't want to look at her face any lo

ew strength from her support.

uld b

repare to leave," I s

ll was fast

pleasant. The dusk was dark and unforgiven ton

s I would have more of a stomach for food in an hou

nger too much. I touched my mother's pendant necklace

the final time, making

muffle and sob, I knew she was trying to be strong for me, and I

eart leap into my throat. My father was ther

I felt a sickening lurch in my s

ate," I said as I a

oached. "I will ask one of the maids to

eaving, it hurt me to see the pain in his eyes, but I knew th

e Drago

is. I hated feeling like this like there's

you,"

ed between us,

day like this?" I questi

hen the road ahead seemed s

the impossible, and m

ast moments with my Father to be uncomfortable. I stepped forward and wrappe

amiliar scent, the smell of home, an

d was to hold onto him and h

didn't bear the true weight of the crown? But I wasn't a child anymore, I had duties and responsibilities to at

ges, I pulled away an

aid. My Father's voice was soft and low, just like Catherine's ha

ed at th

ther." I murmu

descended, a heavy blanket

hing from behind and my h

at was co

his throat and sai

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