Dragonkin 4 You're my Mate? No thanks.

Part 26 Confrontation

After Karalianus left the alcove, Elaia soon followed suit. Her flowing gown flouncing after her. Leaving me and Valerius in the uncomfortable dark.

Taking her cue, I stomp out of the stuffy alcove and march straight to the edge of the ballroom which seems quite deserted at the moment.

How dare he just leave the conversation like that! Wait till I corner him, I make Karalianus confess that he does have feelings for me.

Fuming, I totally ignore the silent Valerius standing awkwardly beside me. While I was stalking over to my quiet spot, he has been muttering something to me, but I resolutely tune his ramblings out.

Annoyed at being brushed off, Valerius sidles closer beside me and assertively whisks me into a waltz without asking for my permission.

"What are you doing, Valerius? Let go of me this instant!" I commanded in a low voice.

He blithely continues to proceed, paying no heed to my request.

Not wanting to embarrass him, I gave up yanking my wrist and gracefully allowed him to guide me to the dancefloor. It would be unseemly to disgrace the Crown Prince and there would be more than enough talk of me tomorrow in the castle. I need to mitigate the disastrous rumours.

Pasting a plastic smile so as not to offend Valerius' delicate sensibilities, I endure the dance.

Throughout the ordeal, he keeps harping on, "I remember our agreement. You found him, but he's unappreciative of your advances. It's time to let him go. Your relationship with him won't work out if he's uninterested. However, don't forget your status. Besides being my potential consort, you're also a royal. The townsfolk don't know any better, but you know that the union between him and you will result in warfare".

His droning unceasingly persists, "What's good about Karalianus? He makes you unhappy. I'll make you happy. Marry me, won't you?"

Not replying, I merely shoot him a dark glare. And his persuasion continues unwaveringly...

Nearing the end of the dance, "How many times must you nag? You're more annoying than my parents combined!" I lash out at him. My voice in a harsh whisper, letting him know without any mistake the extent of my temper.

Immediately after the song ends, I push away his arms, "You had your dance. I have something to do. Find another dance partner to kill time with," and hastily slip out of Valerius' embrace to stride away from him.

When he tries to come after me, I warn menacingly in a guttural tone, "Don't follow me".

Why is everyone warning me off him?

Back in the ballroom, before the altercation, I had been searching for Karalianus. When I spotted him, a group of revellers walks between my line of vision and him, blocking my sight and making me lose track of him. Later, I saw him enter one of the alcoves.

I instantly went after him.

Nearing the location, I heard female voices and a familiar male voice. Without thinking, I barged into the alcove.

To my horror, I see my beloved hugging another female and can't seem to wait to have her. I nearly gag in disgust. I was furious and wanted to gouge his and her eyes. Break all their bones and make them beg for mercy.

But it won't do to damage my True Mate. I need to persuade and convince him that I'm the only one he needs.

As I remember, the rest is history.