Chapter 10

VALKYRIE

“Harder!” Damian’s voice rings out as the dragons spar.

I’m perched near the fence, my head tilted back, eyes wide with fascination as I watch the dragons train.

I’ve been coming to watch their training sessions for the past few days. It’s captivating to see how nimble and skilled they are in combat. It’s the first time I’ve felt a spark of motivation.

A soft smile plays on my lips as I watch Damian. He’s one of the leaders in charge of training. He looks so intense and authoritative as he barks out orders. I can’t help but wonder how Dimitri would look doing the same.

But I’ve yet to see Dimitri among his people.

For the past three days, Dimitri has been giving me the cold shoulder. It seems my move to the queen’s chambers has unsettled him. And after our brief encounter near the lake, he’s been acting indifferent.

But it doesn’t bother me. In fact, I feel more at ease. Having Mia around makes me feel more comfortable.

Mia has been a wealth of information about the workings of this place, and her knowledge of dragon history is fascinating.

I haven’t asked her about the role of the queen yet. But one thing I’m certain of is that I’m going to show Dimitri that I can be strong.

His last words stung. I know I’ve always let others walk all over me, never standing up for myself. But I never had the means or the support to do so.

Being around these strangers has shown me that I can change, that I can become better. I have a long way to go, of course. I was a slave, after all, and things can’t change overnight. But I can at least try.

“Hey gorgeous, everything okay?” Damian asks, jogging up to the fence.

“Hi,” I reply, giving him a small wave.

Damian grins, his body slick with sweat. My eyes wander over his chest and I swallow hard. It’s odd for me to be ogling him, but Damian is undeniably attractive.

Especially his eyes. They’re a deep crimson that draws you in.

“You did well in training,” I say, offering him a smile.

“Are you going to do some exercises later?” Damian asks, settling down next to me.

“Maybe. Mia wants me to try on some dresses,” I sigh.

Ever since yesterday, Mia has been in a frenzy because Dimitri apparently ordered some dresses for me. Some are simple, others are far too extravagant for my taste.

I’ve never had many dresses, so I don’t really care for them, but Mia is ecstatic about trying them on.

“It seems you and Mia are getting along,” Damian observes, chuckling.

“Yes…,” I reply, taking a deep breath. “Actually, I wanted to ask you something.”

“What’s that?” Damian leans in closer.

“Well, um, would you… could you take me out tonight?” I mumble.

Ever since I visited the mountain with the lake, I’ve been longing to return. It’s such a beautiful place, and I find myself wishing I could spend more time there.

“Tonight? Where to?” Damian asks, his brow furrowing.

“To the lake,” I reply, fiddling with my fingers nervously. It’s a bit of a gamble asking him. I should be asking Dimitri for permission, not Damian. But I know Dimitri would say no.

“You want to go back to the lake?” Damian sounds amused. “Well, that’s perfect!”

“What? Why?” I ask, my curiosity piqued.

“Tonight, there’s a campfire. It’s a tradition we have every month, especially when there’s a full moon,” Damian explains. “You can come along. There’ll be food, stories, and dancing.”

I clap my hands in excitement. This will be my first time participating in a celebration like this.

“Oh, thank you!” I exclaim, throwing my arms around Damian.

“No need,” Damian chuckles. “Just make sure to wear something nice and warm. It’s going to be chilly tonight.”

I nod quickly, say goodbye to Damian, and head back inside. As I bound up the stairs, I collide with someone.

“Ouch!” I groan, falling backward and landing on my elbow.

“Watch it,” a voice grumbles.

I look up to see an older man. Who is he?

“Oh, if it isn’t the so-called queen…,” the elder sneers.

“Sorry,” I reply, getting to my feet. I decide it’s best not to argue. “My apologies.”

With that, I bow and leave. I don’t want to start a fight. This isn’t my territory, and it’s clear he doesn’t like me. Once I reach my chambers, I push open the door.

“Oh, you’re back?” Mia asks, busy cleaning the floor.

“Yes, I need to get ready for tonight,” I reply cheerfully, pushing the earlier incident to the back of my mind.

“Tonight? Wait, are you going to the campfire?” Mia looks shocked.

“Yes? Is that a problem?” I ask, puzzled by her reaction.

“No, not at all, but I thought you didn’t feel welcome here,” Mia mumbles, looking down. “That’s why I didn’t mention it.”

“You knew?” I ask, surprised.

“Yes, everyone was invited, except a few assistants. And humans. Mostly dragons go,” Mia explains. “But if you’re going, we need to get you ready.”

Mia’s smile returns, and it’s infectious. So I return her smile and we get to work.

I manage to convince Mia to come to the campfire. She’s hesitant at first, but eventually agrees. Glancing at the time, I grab a fur coat and slip it on.

Mia has me wear a long black cotton dress. It’s a bit long for me, but she insists I look fine.

The dress has long sleeves and beautiful embroidery around the neck. The back of the dress is open, hence the coat.

“Valkyrie?” Mia calls from the door.

“On my way!” I call out, gathering my things and swinging the door open. “All set?” I ask.

“Yep, let’s hit the road,” Mia replies.

We make our way down to the cave. It’s buzzing with dragons, all engaged in lively conversation. My nerves kick in and I find myself hiding behind Mia. This is so embarrassing. I hear Damian’s voice and I can’t help but peek out from behind Mia.

“Why are you hiding?” Damian questions, his eyes glowing as they meet mine.

“I… um, no reason,” I mumble, feeling shy.

Damian chuckles softly and takes hold of my wrist, leading me away. Mia just grins at us.

“Hope you’re ready. And don’t stress, no one here is uncomfortable with you, so there’s no need for you to feel shy.

“Also, Dimitri probably won’t show up, so you can relax,” Damian adds, whistling to get everyone’s attention.

From a distance, I spot Leo and Mia. They’re heading towards Michael.

“Alright, everyone, you know the drill. Humans, find a dragon to take you. Once you’re set, you can take off,” Damian announces.

A chorus of ~yes~ echoes throughout the cave.

“Ready, my queen?” Damian suddenly asks, turning to me.

“Yes,” I nod.

I step back, waiting as Damian undresses. I avert my eyes, clearing my throat and pretending to be oblivious. Once he’s transformed, I gather his clothes.

As Damian lowers himself, I climb up. His rough silver skin feels strange beneath my touch. Despite being reptilian, it’s rugged and cool.

~“Okay, ready?”~ Damian mind-links me.

“Yep, let’s go,” I reply, grinning.

Damian spreads his wings and dives down into the cave. For a moment, fear grips me and I brace myself. Then, I hear a soft growl as he glances back at me. Is he messing with me?

The flight from the palace to the lake usually takes about ten minutes, but we seem to get there faster than I anticipated. Hovering over the campfire, I can’t help but smile.

A massive bonfire illuminates the lake. I can see a crowd of people below, music playing, and some cheering joyfully. It looks like a blast, and I can’t wait to join in.

Landing with a thud, Damian signals that it’s safe. I don’t wait for assistance, I just hop off him. The night is perfect.

Stars twinkle brightly, and the full moon casts a reflection on the lake. There must be at least sixty dragons and humans mingling together.

“Could you hand me my clothes please,” Damian whispers in my ear, startling me.

Without thinking, I turn around, but freeze at the sight of his bare chest. I can feel my face heating up, and I let out a yelp, covering my eyes and tossing the bag with his clothes at him.

“Hey!” Damian exclaims, cursing.

“J-just get dressed!” I stammer, moving further away. A few minutes later, Damian is ready. He takes my wrist and leads me towards a pile of rugs and pillows. The place is surprisingly well set up for a campfire.

There are wooden tables and logs arranged in circles. They’ve even laid out some rugs with pillows near the lake, and food is being prepared.

“You can sit here,” Damian suggests, pointing to a fur rug and some pillows.

“Here?” I ask, looking around. “Why?”

It’s different from the others.

“The guys set it up. They decided on this, okay? Also, Michael, Mia, and Leo will be joining you,” Damian explains, adjusting some pillows so I can sit.

“What about you?” I ask.

“Me too,” Damian replies, smiling, “Now sit back and enjoy.”

“Oh, this is nice,” Mia comments as Leo and Michael greet me.

Settling down, Mia expresses how thrilled she is to be here. It’s her second time attending, and she’s missed it.

“Looks like the king won’t be joining us again,” Leo remarks, sipping wine from a golden goblet.

That piques my interest.

“Has he never come?” I ask, frowning.

Leo turns to me, looking puzzled.

“Your king has never attended. He doesn’t care for it,” Leo replies, sounding annoyed.

It’s clear this bothers Leo. Michael just nods in agreement and continues his conversation. I watch as some dragons dance and others laugh. A few more dragons come over to join us.

“So, Valkyrie, how about a scary story?” a man named Jordan suggests, smirking.

“Don’t start, Jordan,” Damian interjects, slapping his head and sitting next to me.

I giggle and nod at him.

“I’ve seen enough to not be scared of a story,” I retort.

“Oh, no, my dear Valkyrie, this one will frighten you,” Jordan whispers, smirking. “So, shall we begin?”

Jordan stands and whistles loudly, causing even the musicians to stop playing.

“Ladies and Gentlemen,” Jordan calls out, “you all know what time it is, right?”

“Right!” several people cheer back.

“How about a story? For some, it may seem mysterious; for others, terrifying. But it all depends on how you envision it and how your heart perceives it,” Jordan proposes, as everyone looks at him skeptically.

“This isn’t just any story. This is about someone who killed for pleasure and used the blood of his victims to prolong his life.

“Hope you don’t turn this into a joke later!” someone shouts from the crowd.

There’s a ripple of laughter.

“No, my friend. Listen closely. It was a night just like this one, by a river, where a beautiful girl encountered a man with eyes as dark as the night.

“At first, she was afraid of him because he just stared at her, as if she was a delicious meal waiting to be devoured. This man’s name was Victor.

“He was once a prince, but he traded his life for immortality when he was dying from a disease. His people grew to despise the once beloved prince.

“Prince Victor decided that the best course of action was to use black magic to exchange his life. But for it to work, he needed to drink the blood of a virgin every full moon.

“As time went on, he slaughtered countless beauties just to drink their blood. But that night, when he met the beauty by the river, something stirred within his heart.

“Jordan told a tale of a man torn between the desire to kill or possess a woman. He was a creature of the night, dependent on blood for survival. Instead of taking her life, he decided to charm her, to make her fall for him.

“But he was unaware that she was a creature of darkness too, a devil in disguise. She was a beautiful woman with pale skin and long black hair, and she played along, drawing him in.

“He fell into her trap, and she stabbed him in the heart. The prince was taken aback. He tried to retaliate, but she was quicker. She reached into his chest and pulled out his heart.

“He watched as she brought his heart to her lips and took a bite. He was dying. She approached him, gripping his shirt.

“She whispered, ‘You’re just as evil as I am. I’m here to avenge the virgins you’ve taken. Your heart tastes like delicious sins. I could devour it forever.’

“The prince was speechless. He laughed bitterly as she began to pull out his organs and eat them. Once she was satisfied, she licked the blood off her fingers.

“‘It’s a pity,’ she whispered, looking at his lifeless body. ‘A sinner like you should be killed over and over.’

“Once she was done, she walked away, disappearing into the river. Her name was Bianca,” Jordan concluded.

Everyone stared at him, their faces saying, ~You can’t be serious~. I couldn’t help but laugh, and soon everyone joined in.

“Really, Jordan!” Damian exclaimed, laughing. “That’s your idea of a scary story?”

I couldn’t stop laughing. Jordan scoffed and crossed his arms, then sat down with a groan.

“Laugh all you want. That story is true,” Jordan grumbled.

“I doubt that shit is real,” Damian said, clutching his stomach with laughter. Everyone was having a good time, but I couldn’t help but wonder why Dimitri wasn’t here. Wasn’t this his kind of thing? I glanced towards the mountain where the palace was, its golden peak visible in the distance.

“Don’t worry, it’s normal for the king not to show up,” Mia reassured me, giving my hand a gentle squeeze.

I smiled and turned back to the group.

Dinner was served—various meats, fruits, and wine.

“Hey,” Damian whispered as I sipped my wine. “Want to dance?”

I looked at him, surprised. He was leaning on one of the large pillows.

“Dance? But I’ve never danced before,” I admitted.

“Don’t worry, come on,” Damian said, standing up and offering me his hand.

I put my goblet down and reached for his hand, but hesitated. I felt embarrassed for some reason.

“Come on!” Damian urged, pulling me up suddenly.

“W-wait, D-Damian,” I stuttered as he dragged me towards the bonfire where everyone was dancing.

“Valkyrie, don’t worry,” Damian said, pulling me close to him.

His body was warm, a welcome contrast to my cold skin.

“Just follow my lead, okay?” Damian said, smiling brightly. “Trust me.”

I took a deep breath and looked into his red eyes. Then, with a nod of confidence, I let Damian lead me. I felt like I was always one step behind as we moved in circles around the fire. I looked down.

“Look at me,” Damian whispered, and I looked up. He was smiling warmly. There was something captivating in his crimson-red eyes that made me gulp. “Valkyrie?”

“Yes,” I said, snapping out of my trance.

“Why don’t you take off your fur coat?” Damian asked.

“Um, no!” I blurted out, embarrassed. “It’s just…um…not appropriate.” It sounded like a lame excuse. Damian stopped dancing, and I looked at him, worried. Was he upset?

He turned me around and removed my coat. The cool breeze on my bare back made me gasp. Mia had tied my hair up in a messy bun.

“Ah, I see,” Damian murmured, his chest pressing against my back. I tensed up at his touch and started to pant. What was happening to me?

“Valkyrie?” Damian whispered seductively.

“Yes?” I responded, looking over my shoulder.

Damian was close, his breath lightly brushing my skin. I could feel my body heating up.

“Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are?” Damian whispered.

“N-no…,” I mumbled.

“Well, let me be the first,” Damian said, kissing my cheek and making me blush.

I lowered my face, hiding my flushed cheeks in the shadows cast by the flames.

I turned around and put my hands on his chest, trying to put some distance between us. But Damian wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer.

“You know… If you weren’t my brother’s mate, I would have claimed you by now,” Damian whispered, making me look at him. His face was just inches from mine. His handsome features made me admire him even more.

There was a soft, but sad expression on his face.

“Damian,” I whispered.

He shook his head and rested it on my shoulder.

“Don’t worry. I respect you and my brother,” Damian said with a sigh. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t flirt with you.”

“What?” I asked, trying to see his expression.

Damian laughed softly, peeking through his messy hair.

“You should see your face. You look adorable,” Damian said, lifting his head and hugging me tightly, squeezing the breath out of me.

“D-Damian!” I protested.

“Alright!” Damian said, still smiling. “Shall we continue?” With that, he kissed my cheek.

I smiled, admitting defeat.

Suddenly, a loud growl echoed through the area. I turned towards the sound and gasped when I saw who it was.

~“Damian, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”~ Dimitri’s voice is a low, dangerous growl. The room freezes, everyone picking up on my fear of Dimitri.

Damian steps in front of me, acting as a barrier between Dimitri’s threatening glare and me.

“Chill out, Dimitri!” Damian’s voice is just as low and threatening.

~“Get your damn hands off my mate!”~ Dimitri’s growl sends a shiver down my spine. I clutch at Damian’s shirt, my fingers digging into the fabric.

“Easy, Dimitri, don’t blow this,” Leo steps in, trying to defuse the situation.

~“Back off! That’s an order!”~ Dimitri’s roar is deafening.

Leo retreats, bowing his head in submission.

~“Valkyrie, come here!”~ Dimitri’s command sends tremors through my body.

I’m terrified he’s going to hurt me.

~“I SAID COME HERE!”~ Dimitri’s voice is louder, more insistent.

“NO!” Damian’s arm shoots out, blocking my path. “She’s not going anywhere!”

~“Are you defying me?”~ Dimitri’s voice is a warning. The room falls silent. I can hear my own heartbeat. I wait for someone to intervene, for Dimitri to cool down.

“Yes, I am!” Damian’s words are a slap in the face. I gasp, stepping back as Dimitri lets out another growl. Michael grabs me, pulling me away from the escalating situation.

I glance back to see Dimitri and Damian transforming into their beast forms. They clash, a whirlwind of scales and fury. The sound of snapping and growling fills the air.

Something inside me snaps. I have to stop them.

“Are you insane?” Michael’s grip tightens on my arm. “You’ll get hurt!”

I glance back at the chaos. They’re tearing the place apart.

“I-I can’t let them fight. This is m-my fault,” I stutter, tears welling up in my eyes. “I have to stop them!”

Michael’s grip on me is a warning. He’s not letting me go.

“Please!” I plead.

Michael looks torn. He shakes his head, pulling me further away. Everyone else is retreating, hiding behind trees.

“Damn it!” Leo curses. “We need to stop them!”

“Let me!” I insist, frustration bubbling up inside me. I can’t stand by and watch Dimitri and Damian hurt each other because of me.

I glance down at my hands. A reckless idea forms in my mind, but it’s the only one I have.

“Sorry,” I whisper, turning to Michael. I wrap my arms around his waist, summoning small flames in my hands. They lick at Michael’s skin, causing him to hiss and release me. That’s my chance. I break free and run.

I hear Michael curse and Mia call out my name. I ignore them, stopping only when I reach the battling dragons. I have no idea what to do next, but my powers are all I have—

I decide to create a wall of fire to separate them. I close my eyes, focusing my energy. A burning sensation spreads through my body. I release it, pushing my hands forward.

Flames burst from my hands, catching the dragons off guard. I pour more energy into the fire, watching it grow. But it’s not enough; Dimitri lunges at Damian again.

“STOP IT!” I scream.

Damian has Dimitri by the throat. I’m so focused on the blood that I don’t notice Mia calling my name until it’s too late. Something hits me, knocking the wind out of me.

A loud ~crack!~ echoes in my ears as I hit the cold water.

My vision fades as I lose consciousness. The last image in my mind before I let go is Dimitri.