Eseld

Long Live The King

"What do you think of her?" I asked my friend and military commander, 

Alexander, not bothering to lower my voice. No one would mistake to whom I referred, and I didn't care.

Alexander frowned. Alexander was a recurring topic of conversation between our lands. He was a fugitive, he killed the Alpha’s son of Geidar region years ago and came here in search of help. No one was unaware of Alexander's presence, much less the women in the room and their parents, worried that he was interested in their daughters. Alexander's was, in the eyes of many, a criminal. But in all this time together he has earned my entire trust and respect. 

"She's perfect." Alexander squinted at Berenice Beamount's bright hair shimmering over the crowd of people. "She certainly is perfect" he said.

I grunted in agreement. 

"Do you like her?" Alexander asked.

"I've dreamed of being with her since I was just an infant". He stared at me with a grin. Berenice was always a star, shinning with her own light, she made everyone happy and you couldn't see her without a smile. As I grew up I knew she had to be my queen when the day arrived. “She's beautiful, charming, talented and intelligent, she'll make a great queen”. He nodded moving his head to the side. 

Berenice’s mother had taken uppon herself to let me know that she had taught her daughter to run a house. A life with her would be not just a rewarding one, but a pleasurable one. . 

Berenice was the obvious choice. The best choice. A choice I had persued all my life.

“Are you going to choose an omega this year?” He laughed. 

"I doubt that even one woman will be willing to accept me”. He smiled, his empty eyes looking at nothing.“Although I have to admit that I'm not eager to put a woman to death in childbirth".

"I know". I said. 

Alexander was a Kerkyres. When we talk about pregnancies in dragons, Kerkyres and Treshkes have significantly higher possibilities to get their partner pregnant just for them to end up dying while giving birth. The baby doesn't have a good chance of surviving either. 

"Who is that?" Alexander asked.

It took me a moment to realise what he was pointing to. A 6’10’’ man of about a hundred years was staring at us with a cold look in his eyes. He had a weak and bruised body. He had a cigarette in his hand, the moment he put it over his mouth he started coughing uncontrollably. 

"The Duke of Drenshik, the right hand of the Alpha Alain. He requested to be here to search for an omega, If I could have said not he wouldn't be here today". I said, he nodded. Drenshik was a region in constant conflict with ours. Drenshik's Alpha wanted to expand his territory by killing and annihilating with his army everyone who crossed his path without fighting for the Alpha's position fairly.

We turned eventually, back into the ballroom of the castle. Berenice beamed at me as I arrived back within the fold of the party, her body bowed naturally in my direction. For that matter, so did the other females around me. My effect on omegas was biological, flattering. 

"You’ve come back!" Berenice greeted.

I nodded, offered an automatic half-smile out of respect for her cheer. 

The omegas, even their mothers, looked disappointed, having dashed their hopes that I could choose them at the ceremony of selection. . 

—----------------------------------------------------------

ALMOST TWO DAYS LATER, a month before the selection ceremony, my decision was fixed.

I would bring Adelaide back to the castle at the edge of the cliffs, give her a courteous day to collect herself, and then I would bed her.  would do everything in my power to keep her safe, which was more than she could hope for with most betas.

"You're still here." A familiar voice said. 

“Where should I be?” 

“Courting Bere”. My sister Regina said. She's been friends with her practically since birth. When I made myself clear about my intentions with her Regina almost faint of happiness. 

“Mmhhh, maybe”. I mused smiling, opening the windows of my room, the sudden strike of sea air shocking and sharp. I transformed into my dragon form, my wings spreading as I flew out over the edge of the cliffs, over the crash of the sea as it met the rocks. I twisted, let the wind snap against my wings, and circled back to the isle, following the urgent gust back over land. This was the only moment of freedom I had, flying in my dragon form, electricity around me, storms being created in my surroundings. Being the Alpha was my duty, my ambition and my honor but freeing myself from society could be helpful sometimes. 

When the three moons hovered over the dark sky I knew I had to return. Moving my wings slowly I returned to my castle, landing hard on the terrace of my room. I opened the windows to enter and finally rest a bit but when I put a feet inside I felt a sting in my neck and the world disappeared in front of my eyes, but not before seeing those cold eyes that seemed to laugh at me.