The Dragon's Mate

Chapter 11

Emerald soon feels the rising sun peeks through the window as she looks around for the towel before Hunter gently wraps it around her. Emerald stares into Hunter's eyes as he caresses her face gently saying, "Emerald-." However, before he can finish his sentence an unexpected person interrupts them calling, "Hunter?." Annabelle's harsh voice brings back the agony and wounds in Emerald's injury to full force; Hunter steps back as Annabelle comes over saying, "finally, there you I have been searching for you all over the castle." Hunter asks, "what do you want, Annabelle?." Annabelle replies, "is that any way to talk to your future queen?." Emerald was stunned wondering, 'she is his...h-his future queen?!.' Annabelle comes closer saying, "I am your future queen, Hunter show me a little respect." Hunter rolls his eyes asking, "does anyone in this damn place know how to knock?." Annabelle says, "aw come on, the night is over, leave this worthless toy and spend time with a real woman instead." Annabelle shoves Emerald aside and kisses Hunter as Emerald thinks with an annoyed expression, 'why am I botherer if she's engaged to him? he's nothing more than my kidnapper.' Annabelle turns to Emerald as Emerald takes a deep breath saying "uh, master... c-congratulations on your wedding." Hunter rolls his eyes saying, "there is no wedding, we are not engaged." Annabelle says, "not yet, but we will soon be after tonight, come on half the castle staff have been asking for you, it seems you have disregarded some of your arrangements." 

Annabelle kisses him on the cheek as he says looking at Emerald, "come, slave we have business to attend to." Annabelle takes Hunter's hand saying, "leave her here, I will accompany you." Hunter brushes Annabelle off saying, "no." He leaves as Emerald has a small smile on her face before she grabs a shirt and soon heads out to see Hunter waiting for her in the corridor. Emerald asks, "so, are you going to propose to her, Hunter?." Hunter replies, "of course not, she's the last woman I would ever propose to, but she is one of the several dragons competing for my hand, I have to choose one tonight, at a ball." Emerald says, "a ball?." Hunter nods saying, "yes a betrothal ball?." Emerald says, "hm, why does that sound familiar? Is it like the Cinderella type thing? when the King had to help his son choose a bride?."  Hunter rolls his eyes replying, "no but it is something that I have been putting off for far too long." Emerald was confused just as they were about to leave a woman and male bowed in front of Hunter as he says, "ah, you finally found me!." Emerald and Hunter immediately head into a room as Emerald sees the man measuring out Hunter's arm and waist. Hunter turns to Emerald saying, "you stay here, I have... other things to sort out." He turns to the woman who curtsies and says, "Your Highness." Hunter says, "take her measurement and prepare a gown for her." The woman bows as Hunter leaves the room and Emerald stands to be measured wondering, 'he is definitely hiding something from me... what could it be?.' A few moments later the woman and man leave the room locking the door behind them as Emerald looks around before soon noticing a small sharp object on the floor; she smiles thinking, 'well, well, well, what do we have here? it was not clever of them to leave behind this pin....' She picks it up and looks around before trying to open the window lock however it is far too small and thin. Emerald thinks, 'damn this pin... I need something... bigger.' Emerald sees a wooden chair as she picks it up and raises it above her head however before she can do anything someone suddenly grips her wrist stopping her. Emerald thinks, 'uh oh....' Hunter asks, "what are you doing, Emerald?." Emerald drops the chair gently and turns to face Hunter who is scowling down at her answering, "well you see Hunter, I was just... um... admiring the view." Hunter says, "with a heavy, wooden breaking object in your hand? you were trying to escape again, weren't you?." Emerald gives him a cold look replying, "so what if I was?! why should I have listen to you?!." 

Hunter comes closer to Emerald who gently moves back against the wall as he says, "when I leave you alone, I expect you to stay put!." They both look into each other's eyes for a moment until Hunter holds Emerald's wrist startling her as she questions his action. Hunter says, "calm down, it's just as I thought your pulse is very weak, Emerald." Emerald didn't want to give any reaction to Hunter examining her as he says, "you do know that since your arrival you haven't had much food or water?." Emerald stomach growls as she feels a sharp throbbing pain in her head saying, "oh my god... my h-headache....." Hunter holds her saying, "whoa, easy girl." He carries her over and places her on the couch before heading back outside and bringing over a small platter. He places it down in front of her as Emerald looks at him saying, "what's this?." Hunter replies, "food for you." Emerald was stunned asking, "y-you took this for me?."