The First Sacrifice

Legends and Lies

I sunk into Max's side as we stepped forward. His words though sweet did not calm my frayed nerves. The flash of heat that spread through my body as he threaded his fingers in mine and my body was flush and cold as our feet padded up the black marble to the regal people staring at us from above.

The leaders stepped forward up as we made it to the top. Up close they were even more impress the woman had long black hair in one large crown twist interwoven with gold cords. Her clothes were made of black leather a pant and a midriff top that exposed elaborate waist beads the color of blood and gold.  She smiled brightly her face was youthful but wise it was obvious this was my betrothed's mother.

"Maddox, you've brought home a jewel." She whispered prancing towards him her gait graceful like the wind. She kissed his forehead and brought her chilled lips to mine as well. Her fingers tapped my chin and made sure my eyes met her brown ones. She smiles and her eyes twinkled. "What are you called?," she breathed softly. I released Max's hands much to his dislike made aware by the low trill of his dragon.

" Eurydice." I answered. " I am Queen Aurora, your mother in law, you may call me aurora or mother," she said with a soft laugh in her voice.  She walked softly to the man who stood stoically by her side she caressed his hand and introduced him to me."

He was a brick of a man solid and aged well with silver hair streaked only in the front with a dark black, his face was clean shaven and his face youth full. He too was dressed in black leather pants and an open vest that exposed his still impressive musculature. His arms adorned cuffs of gold and red. His face was marred with faint old scars and his torso lined with ragged harsh looking scars causing me to fold back into my betrothed who purred as I tucked myself into him.

"Arthur you are scaring the girl, come meet you sons wife." Aurora scolded. The man grunted and gently reached for my hands. I gave them to him trembling his mere prescience was intimidating. His palms were rough after they enclosed over mine and power surged forth through his touch. I gasped and Maddox growled as his fathers grip tightened.

It was a weird unfamiliar sensation but my body was supercharged and it wasn't violent it didn't hurt it felt right. A voice permeated my mind then and my mouth went slack as I heard the dragon king connect to me telepathically. Around me I heard Maddox becoming restless and I heard the queen order him restrained.

"Welcome daughter. You must be confused as to why you hear me so so clearly in your mind. It is merely the gift I was given upon my coronation as king of the Redwing Clan. I reached out to you like this to bond myself to you as apart of this clan, you will never shift as a dragon but you belong here and you will bear my son dragons, this is how we communicate in foreign lands this is how we keep our secrets. Welcome daughter I'll return you to Maddox he is... Agitated." He finished. I felt a physical pull as the dragon King released his hold on my mind.  I turned and was faced with a growling Maddox held back by guards his eyes were yellow and canines elongated.

The feral look in his eyes made me step back into the queen. She held me gingerly before whispering in my ear.
"Impressive isn't it, the nature of our men. Half man half beast they live precariously on the edge of  savagery and humanity. They radiate power and strength. With us though their mates there is nothing that will allow them to hurt us. Do not be afraid of his beast and love his human because they are one, like the sand and the ash of the volcanoes once mind they cannot be separated. Can you love his beast?" She asked nudging me toward my even more agitated betrothed.

The marvel at my feet was cold but my body was hot with fear as I pushed closer. I turned to the queen quickly with a single question. "Why?" She smirked.