Hunter To Lover (MxM)(Male Dragon Shifter X Male Elf/Reader)

Ch. 4 Imprisoned to Free

My head was throbbing, and a bright light was shining onto my face. I really didn't want to open my eyes.

But then it all came back to me; Ugauc getting attacked, Bracken assaulting me, Eda knocking him out...

Ugauc bleeding out.

Ugauc!

My eyes snapped open. I was in my room, lying in my bed, a sheet and duvet draped over my body. Evening sunlight shone in through the window into my sore eyes and the room, reflecting off the glass of the small terrariums on my writing desk.

I pushed myself up slowly and rubbed my head; Bracken had hit me hard. I winced and edged towards the mirror on my wall. Purple rings surrounded my bloodshot eyes.

I groaned. I felt awful, but I had to know what happened to Ugauc and I would not find answers in my room.

I slowly made my way out of my room. I looked down at my family sat around the table; my father leaning on the solid oak, my mother fiddling with a plaited bracelet, and my brother, Eldrin, was folding a corner of parchment from his spellbook anxiously as he skimmed over the words. Eda was staring at her sword, looking at its dull metal as she bit the inside of her cheek. They all looked so tense.

I gulped and made my way down. All eyes were on me as soon as the wood creaked beneath my feet.

I looked down, focusing on the knots in the wooden boards as I stopped by the table and sat beside Eldrin, as I did for every meal.

Everyone was eerily quiet. I wanted to ask about Ugauc, and how long I'd been out, and what had happened, and where Bracken was, but I held my tongue.

Mama looked at Papa. I watched as the two exchanged looks.

I have never been this nervous.

Mama put her hand on Papa's and gave him a soft look. Papa drew in a breath and sat down at the head of the table.

"(Y/N)," he started in a soft tone.

I glanced aside and drew in a breath. "Yes, Papa?" I breathed.

"Who were you with in the woods?" He never took his eyes off of me.

I looked across at Eda.

"I promised you I wouldn't tell anyone," she replied, her hand stroking the blade of her sword.

"You knew about this?" Mama hissed, whipping her head around to Eda.

Eda inclined her head. "Yes."

Mama gave both of us a look of distrust.

"I was with Ugauc, the dragon Bracken shot," I answered, studying dark knot in the oak table.

Papa looked down at the wood. "That much was obvious." He looked up at the lanterns hanging above the table. "How did you meet this dragon?"

"He-He's my soulmate." I saw my parents exchange worried looks. "Please, believe me! He has done nothing wrong! He's nothing like the others."

Mama looked from me to Papa. "Calm down, (Y/N)" she soothed. "Just—" she cut herself off to glance at Papa. "Just start from the beginning and leave nothing out."

I released a shaky breath and started the thrilling tale of how I met my soulmate.

*-*-*-*

Eda and I peered around the corner of the smithy, looking across at the clan leader's house. It was five storeys tall, with three sublevels below the ground-the biggest house in the village. And in one of those underground rooms was Ugauc. The only light was from the windows of the houses and the torches lit in the streets.