The Dragon and His Prince{ManxMan}

*Chapter 11

Present day

Zavian

I felt the buzz fill my stream as shouts of laughter and glee echoed. The music played and I laughed despite myself as Marius pulled me from my seat.

"If I fall, I'll have hour head." I jokingly threatened.

"If you can manage to hold a sword, I'll gladly bow." He returned and I snickered throwing my head back as he spun me according to the dancing.

We laughed and danced and I lost track of time and at one point my own name. I watched him in the glow of the fire which burned lowly, the wine taking over my brain and leaving me a dopey smiling fool as I pulled Marius closer and I made him bend down to hear me.

"Thank you." I stroked his cheek softly. "I am glad to have known you." He laughed.

"Sentimental Zav has joined us." I widened my eyes and glared at him.

"Let me appreciate you!" I stomped my foot then and jumped up onto his body. "It's not fair how big you are," I gave him a pout as his arms circled my waist. "I'm older, I should be taller, beefy." I pinched his large bicep and he grinned up at me. I shook my head.

"Life isn't meant to be easy, Zav." He wiggled his nose and on instinct I let my nose flutter over his, we allowed them to brush and I beamed before a hiccough caught me and he threw his head back. His large muscled throat was veined from the force of his laughter, in my drunken stupor I threw caution to the wind and allowed my face to bend to kiss his Adams apple. It bobbed and I opened my mouth, my arms around the back of his neck.

"Zav," he groaned as my teeth then grazed the pulsing vein on the side. We moved and I was seated then. "You are not within reason." He smiled pulling me off him, I stuck out my bottom lip in a pout and grabbed onto his shoulder.

"Let me just this once, before the hour passes and my actions are dictated!" I declared dramatically and his eyes widened.

"You are quoting Mastof."

"Your favourite play." I chuckled and pulled him close, wrapping my arms around his neck and bringing our faces close enough to kiss.

He looked so beautiful, so handsome in the dimly lit tavern of this unknown village. His ring of red expanded, threatening to consume the hazel of his eye and I grinned rubbing my nose into his cheek.

"It is time we head back." My legs wrapped around his waist then.

"No!" I huffed and tightened my grip on him only for him to let out his handsome laughter.

"Your Highness." I frowned.

"We are not in the palace and I have not done anything wrong...yet." I held my finger to his face, "so you are not permitted to just call me that." I buried my face in his neck, deeply inhaling his scent of man and wine and bread. I wanted to stay like this, him holding me, me wrapped around him. It always felt safe to be just near him, now, almost skin to skin if it were not for our clothing, I couldn't help feeling content.

"Yes, however, I need you to focus."

"The happy couple cannot wait for their alone time can they!" I chuckled looking over at the crowd cheering us on. It brought me security, and hope to know that not everyone was as backwards as the noble class of my kingdom and that in my drunken stupor I could not fear my actions in this public who did not know my name more my face.

"We shall leave now." Marius proclaimed and I pouted, while they whistled and encouraged a happy mating.

"Who told them we are to marry?" I asked as Marius carried me, I had not untangled myself.

"You did. The moment you had your fifth glass. I told you not to." I giggled despite myself and hung off him, the night air nipping my akin deliciously.

"Then, what do you say my fiancé? Will you ravage me tonight? Or shall we wait for the merriment of our vows which will not be legally binding but shall be our light in this dark destitute?" He paused and looked down at me. I recognized a feeling flicker through him as his eyes flashed and his brows furrowed.

"If you shall have me, I am yours," he murmured lowly and bent to rub his nose against mine and my eyes were large and he continued, depositing me into the carriage my sister soon joined. I forgot she came with us to begin with.

I signed and inched towards her, cuddling into her side and she groaned.

"Nu-uh, drunk Zav is not my cup of tea." She pushed my face away with her palm and I laughed before Marius pulled me.

"But I'm your brother." I declared as Marius tucked me into his side..

"Yeah, but no, your affection knows no bounds and I cannot deal." I hummed as Marius laughed, my face burrowed into his warm side and soon sleep found me.

There were times where dreams plagued me, both good and bad they captivated me, held me hostages they played before me scenes familiar and those unknown. I was never a believer of omens, as much as I was a believer of magic, so even when nightmares found me, panic was momentary but always the same.

This time however, the night made left it's mark, it's claws dug into the darkest cavern of my heart and held fast, tearing into me and seeing my secrets, it peeled away my honor and pride and left me bare.

I gasped sitting up in my bed, not recalling how I even got there. I gripped my chest as the harsh pattering alarmed my senses and filled my ears with the rush of blood and an unnerving ringing in my left ear.

"No!" The gruff moan had me snapping my head, panting as my sweat creased forehead furrowed. Marius was pouting, his face half covered by the pillow he laid on. "I'm still sleeping. You can't start waking me now."

I swallowed deeply. "My apologies." I said with a hint of a smile, my hand instinctively reached out to confirm that he wasn't a dream, that he indeed lay beside me, our fingers thread through, intertwining as our souls have and I smiled lying back down.

"You alright?" His eye was wide and fixed on me as I turned my head to offer an assuring smile.

"Yeah, all good." He sighed and closed his eye, yawning before his face moved closer to mine.

"Let's sleep, you don't have to be up until about 5." I chuckled shaking my head and slowly as I starred the ceiling, dress crept into my soul and made it's home as my nightmare flashed. The eyes of gold, simmering in darkness and covered in black scales haunted me, it's clawed hand reaching for me once more.

I stared down at Marius, his sleeping face was so peaceful and innocent. I rolled onto my side and continued to gaze at him, his back exposed, muscles bulging even in slumber. Pressure on my fingers made me look down and albeit awkward our fingers gripped for dear life.

I was safe, he was safe, together we would always be safe. I inched my face closer and our foreheads gently collided and I closed my eyes, welcoming only bright thoughts of winter wonderlands, smiling Marius and playful Zyandra.