The Dragon Bride | ✔️

Chapter Twenty

Xander's POV

I see Kora still wrapped in Synn's embrace. The first time I saw Kora, I thought she was strange. I did think she was a nice person, but I couldn't unwrap this idea of history repeating itself in my head.

One of my brothers, falling for a human.

I thought the image would subside. But it didn't fade. I sigh in frustration. Am I a terrible person?

She's so full of life and personality, it's hard not to notice her. The first time I saw her, I brushed her off as nothing, something Synn would get over in a day. But then I kept seeing her, kept noticing her. I kept admiring how she stood up for Azura Valus, kept smiling whenever she passed me in a corridor, kept hoping that somehow, she would reveal her true, evil, horrid self.

I knew that could wreck everything. Especially for Synn, and that's the last thing I want. But even so, a part of me didn't care; I didn't want her here. I didn't want to be her friend.

It's a good thing, I tell myself, Synn is worth it anyway. He's my brother.

I take in a shaky breath, still feeling suffocated from what I just witnessed. But... Is the pain he'll experience afterwards worth it?

"Well, would you look at that," I hear a voice say from behind me mockingly.

I roll my eyes and turn around. "Not in the mood right now."

Dahlia laughs. "I can see that, Xander,"

"What're you here for, anyway?"

I had told Dahlia about... Well, my doubtful view of the dragon bride. Dahlia, Synn and I have been friends forever, ever since Lucien saved her life. We all knew and cherished him.

She's always been overly-protective of the people she loves since Lucien died, since he was like an older brother to her. But of course, understanding and empathy bloomed into something more between her and Synn. Even so, Dahlia and I remained good friends.

She sighs. "I don't understand. What is it about her that you're all so taken by? I get that she's really good-looking and all, but so are the empresses, so are the maid twins, so is..."

Her voice simply trails off, but the emotion in it remains. Her tone has no snark – it sounds almost like a genuine question.

I frown. I know what this is about. "Dahlia, I'm sure Synn still adores you-"

"As a friend," Dahlia corrects me, "As a friend, Xander. I'm nothing compared to that Moons girl. You'd have to be either blind or downright stupid not to see how Synn looks at her!"

I raise an eyebrow, "I might be stupid then. How?"

There is a silence for a few moments as Dahlia's eyes look out of the window, misty and almost teary-looking. "Like... As if she's a shining star in an otherwise empty sky," she finally whispers. "That's how I'd look at him, Xander. But he never knew, did he?"

"He was never very good at picking up on subtlety,"

She gives a half chuckle, "I wished it could be different. How I'd wish to the stars that I could have some kind of fairytale happily ever after. Because that's what my father would have wanted for me."

I listen, letting her express some buried worries in her that I know she wouldn't say to anyone else.

"The black pearl never would've chosen me, I know that of course, but... Lord, I don't know. My father told me all he ever wanted was for me to have a happily ever after. I hoped I could find one in Synn, but..."

"Is that what you wanted, Dahlia?" I question her.

She blinks at me, taken aback for a second, unsure of what to make of my question. "Of... Of course! I want nothing more. I love him, Xander, you know I do."

"It always just seems that you love him because you feel you should."

"Don't be ridiculous," Dahlia huffs, "My love is– it's legitimate."

I nod, and look down to the floor. Sometimes I wonder if it's some kind of helpless compulsion. Like he's the only choice she has, and if she doesn't love him, she merely defies her own destiny.

I want to laugh. What a rotten destiny it must be, to love my brother.

Another silence passes, and all that can be heard are the howls of the wind, the snow gently landing noiselessly on the window.

"You know," Dahlia pipes up, "We could do something."

"What?"

"You heard me. It'll be easy. You get to expose Kora as the fraud she is, I get Synn as mine. We drive them apart. Happily ever after, am I right?"

Shocked, for a moment or two I'm clueless on how to reply to that. I don't even know if she's serious or not. When I do find the words though, they don't come out how I expected.

"N- No! Never, I'd never do that to Synn. He loves her, Dahlia, and you know it! How selfish can you be?" I spit at her, partly disgusted but also partly offended.

She grits her teeth at me, hissing, "He doesn't love her, he's just infatuated, can't you see? If you won't help me, I can very easily do things myself,"

"No. Don't you dare," I say, but she's already halfway through my chamber door.

She turns around at the last minute. "Don't be surprised when I'm Synn's Queen and I decide to banish you," she jokes, and then walks briskly away. I shake my head. That girl's all talk and no bite.

But still, it wouldn't hurt to check up on her. The last thing I want is for Synn to lose Kora. I sigh, slumping down in my armchair, letting myself soak in the sadness I feel so surrounded by.

I don't know what's worse – him being with Dahlia, or him being with Kora. Either way, it will not end well for any three of them.