Dragonkin 2: My Persistent Mate

Part 2 Challenge issued

Chills slither down Guinevere's spine the moment Karalian steps into the Great Hall.

Her quick sideways glance catches the elders unconsciously straightening their postures in his commanding presence. All eyes are trained on him even though she is the speaker right now. The man sure knows how to make his presence known. Even without seeing him with her eyes, she can feel his intimidating aura from the foot of the dais where she is currently conversing with the Emperor.

Karalian's oppressive aura floods the hall once he steps over the threshold. It compels her to snap her full attention on him. There is a primitive insistent urge for her to keep her eyes on her dreaded nemesis. But she is made of sterner stuff now; she is not the fearful hatchling she was long ago. He only feels scary; he won't actually be able to touch me. She refuses to acknowledge him right away and resists the compulsion to turn around and face the bane of her childhood life head-on. Instead, she continues to talk normally with the Emperor, as if nothing extraordinary had happened.

When Karalian comes to a stop behind me near to my right, tiny hairs stand on ends and goose bumps erupt on my skin. An image of a fiery silver dragon breathing down my neck and staring at me unblinkingly, conjures unbidden in my mind's eye. It is a scary thought. I would never willingly want to be in his overbearing presence unless absolutely necessary, let alone be the sole target of his wrath. Yet here I am, standing so close to him and deliberately provoking him by ignoring his presence.

But I want to test myself, to see how much better my self-control around him has gotten. If I'm going to be working with him closely in the future, I have to be able to stand up to him. I must not reveal my fear of him. No crying. Stand tall girl, you can outmanoeuvre other courts' formidable and fearsome politicians, what's a mere Crown Prince?

Steeling myself for the inevitable confrontation, I stiffen and pretend to laugh at a joke I made while smoothly turning to face Karalian. The unexpected shock takes my breath away. I wanted to be repulsed by him, but is mesmerised instead. The thin precocious boy with sharp scary eyes who seem to be able to divine your deepest dark secret has grown into a terrifying intimidating adult. This same full-grown man also happens to possess the kind of face that stops women in their tracks. It is so heartbreakingly beautiful that it should be labelled illegal. The bane of my life shouldn't have been so handsome. He should have turned into a repugnant ugly slob. I would have felt vindicated, even sympathetic towards his pitiful plight. But now I'm left aghast, speechless and twice as angry as before. He has no right to be so stunning such that even I would be remotely attracted to him, when his mere presence tortured and frightened me when I was young.

Karalian's stern face has an unreadable expression as he glares at me without blinking. Directly in his line of sight, his aura is now even more commanding. It is an unseen force that subtly bends you to its will. It makes me want to run for the hills. Hide behind the benign-looking Emperor. Make a flimsy excuse to escape. Do anything but face the full brunt of this man's undivided attention. I refuse to let him unsettle me! Pasting a slight smile on my frozen face, I try to mask my discomposure.

Seeming to detect my uneasiness, he switches into his prince mode – a friendly light enters his eyes and a charming smile lifts his bow-shaped lips. Like the prince he is, he lifts my hand with a polished air. His gleaming silver hair reflects the lights of the chandeliers as he executes an award-winning bow and introduced himself suavely before kissing the air above my hand in a gentlemanly manner.

Stumped and unwillingly captivated by his debonair flair, I can only foolishly look on like a silly chit. Words can't even begin to form on my lips and my mind is a jumbled mess of incoherent thoughts. I can only thank the Goddess that I did not start stuttering and yammering like a girl fresh out of schoolroom.

When the Emperor announces me as Karalian's advisor, I see him freeze momentarily when recognition dawns. A derisive look soon takes over as he stares at me with his calculative and cold silver blue eyes. His lips curl in distaste. The notion that I'm to be his advisor for the coming months does not sit well with him and the disdainful glance he gives me makes that blatantly obvious.

His look of contempt snaps me out of the enchantment. Crown Prince, if you think a dismissive glare can make me shrink back from my responsibilities, you have another think coming on. I'm not that scared little girl anymore. I have a job to do, whether you like it or not. I will do it so well that you'll be eating humble pie before long. My claws are unsheathed, ready and raring to take a swipe at the haughty prince. Pasting a bright smile, I said the usual perfunctory words to my future work partner. Refusing to be daunted by his unspoken insult, I warn him not to interfere with my work before making my escape by sauntering over to where a group of council elders are standing.

It gives me a certain measure of satisfaction when I see a flash of annoyance in his eyes...which is swiftly replaced by a glint of amusement. By the time I walk away from him, his lips have curved in excitement at the gauntlet I have just thrown at his feet. Instead of showing anger at my defiance and disrespect to him, my nemesis treats it as a challenge and is relishing at the prospect.

Dread fills me when I realised belatedly what I have just done...I have just stepped on the tail of the proverbial dragon.