Nikita
“Father, may I have a word with you?” I asked, smiling at him. I led him out into the garden, waving away his guards as they hesitated.
“What is it, Nikita? I have a very busy schedule today. I have no time for nonsense.” he snapped, putting his hands on his hips.
“I am here to warn you of my departure. I will be gone for a few weeks, depending on how fast the horses are. I shall return as soon as possible, though.”
“No you will not. You are the soon queen.” He gave me a worried look, sitting down at one of the tables.
“Exactly. And what kind of queen doesn’t visit her villages? I will be back before the wedding. I will even marry Nathaniel without complaint. But I just want to see the world before I really am stuck in this prison.”
“Give me one reason I should let you go.” he demanded, sighing.
“Because mother would.” There was an awkward silence following my words and I could see him fighting the tears.
“I know you think I am cruel for bringing her into this but you know that she would.” I apologized, sitting next to him and taking his hand.
He immediately pulled it back, glaring at the ground. “If you leave this castle then do not bother coming back.”
...
“I don’t know what I am going to do.” I wiped the tears off my cheeks, leaning against Samuel even more.
“Well if you would just let us bring the woman then you would not have to do anything.” he pointed out, rubbing my shoulder.
“I want to. I do, Samuel. You do not understand. You have not been told enough to fully know why I cannot just send a troop out to find her.” I pulled back, holding my chin high as I blinked away more tears.
“Then tell me.” He took my hand in his, worry in his blue eyes.
I looked down at our intertwined fingers, sighing. “This woman has been around since the first dragon. She is one of the only Dragos left. I am sure there is more out there but for the moment, she is all I have. She knows what to do. She knows every species of dragon and how to care for each one. She has had over a thousand dragons. I need her if I want to keep a treasured tradition.”
“What will you do?”
“If I stay here, my dragons will surely die. If I go, my father will hate me. What would you do if you were in my position?”
“You and I are two different people.” he reminded me, smiling.
“We are not all that different.” I looked back up at him, unable to resist smiling back.
“True.” he murmured, moving closer.
“We are both fair-haired with blue eyes. We are both archers. We-” I broke off when he shushed me, leaning in to brush his lips against mine.
“Princess? Nikita, are you alright? What do you see?” a voice suddenly yelled, echoing.
My vision blurred even as I heard dream Samuel whisper, “I love you.”
I looked up, gasping. Samuel was kneeling in front of me, eyes wide. The dragon was bouncing around us, chirping for attention.
“But it seemed so real.” I muttered, closing my eyes.
“What did?”
“Uh, nothing you need to be worried of, Samuel.”
“Are you sure?”
“I wish to be alone.”
“Of course, princess.” He gave me a weird look but left.
I turned to my dragon, stroking its tiny head. It purred and collapsed onto my lap, closing its eyes.
“Sleep, my sweet dragon, for we have a rough night ahead. I shall awaken your siblings soon enough.”
