The Dragon’s Throne 1

“Like you didn’t traumatize me by kidnapping me?”

He laughed.

“Are you ever going to let that go?  You have to admit that you enjoyed my company on the dance floor, and I felt you shiver beneath my touch when I gave you that pendant.”

Her hand went to her throat, the beautiful necklace still there, though it no longer felt as heavy as it had.

“It was fear,” she claimed, but she was lying and they both knew it. 

His touch had set her soul on fire, and no matter how much she denied that to herself, she couldn’t make the words sound genuine on her lips.  Because she wasn’t afraid of him, at least she hadn’t been in that moment.

“Anna, like I said before, if you give me a chance, I can show you that you’ll be happy here.”  His hand cupped her chin and his thumb caressed her soft skin.  “There’s something between us, and you don’t have to be a dragon to feel it.  Just trust me when I say that this moment and this place was meant to be.  We’re meant to be.  Give me a chance and I promise, if you’re not happy come Spring, I’ll send you back to the village in time for Festival.”

“I can’t ever go back there,” she said miserably.

“If not there, then somewhere else.  Say the word and I’ll make it happen.”

She turned away, not wanting him to see the pain in her eyes, but he moved so that he was looking into her eyes, his face etched with concern.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing I care to talk about,” she said.

He nodded, lips pursed together.

“I get it.  We’re not there yet.  When you feel like talking about it, let me know and I’m all ears.”

She shook her head.

“It’s nothing important.  I just can’t believe the entire town was against me like that.  I wasn’t well-liked because my aunt kept us out of town and because of who I am, but I thought that someone besides Eleanor would stand up for me.”

“Because of who you are?”

“An orphan.”

“That seems like an archaic thing to judge someone by,” he scoffed.  “It isn’t like you can help it.”

“As you pointed out, the village is trapped in time; more so than any of us knew, apparently.”  She motioned to the room in a grand, sweeping gesture.  “I don’t even know what all those switches do over there, or where you got enough carpet to cover a room the size of my house.  Everything is so strange here.”

“Those switches turn on the lights,” he said simply.

“There are more lights?”

He laughed.

“You’re making fun of me.”

“No, I’m not.  I’m just so overwhelmed by how innocent and pure you are.  There’s so much that you haven’t experienced yet, and I’m glad that I get the pleasure of being the one you’ll share those new experiences with.”

“I can’t wait,” she said sarcastically.

“Good.  Let me help you fix your shirt and I’ll show you around.  But first, let’s eat.”