Chapter 4: The Hunt for the Bride
“I am fine,” Kane managed to choke out, tearing himself away from her touch. His mind was in a chaotic whirlwind.
“Are you sure?” Elena asked, looking at him with genuine concern. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“Go home,” he commanded, his voice cracking with an emotion he couldn’t name. Before she could ask any more questions, Kane turned and bolted into the thicket, disappearing into the shadows before shifting back into his dragon form and launching into the sky.
He flew back to the Obsidian Palace like a madman. The moment he landed, he summoned his Grand Minister.
“Find her,” Kane ordered, his chest heaving. “I want a bride search conducted immediately. But do not take just anyone. I want a woman with dark hair, deep brown eyes, a fierce spirit, and a height that reaches just past my shoulder.”
He gave every specific detail he could recall from those brief, earth-shattering moments. He needed to make absolutely sure she was the one.
Meanwhile, miles away in a bustling human city, Elena was returning to her normal, quiet life. She lived a simple existence, working in the local markets. She had a boyfriend, a handsome merchant named Julien. They had been together for two years and were planning to marry the following spring. Elena dreamed of a quiet, peaceful life far away from the terrifying lore of dragons.
But those dreams were shattered three days later.
The royal guards marched into the city square, unfurling a golden scroll. A royal decree from the human king was announced to the weeping crowds.
“By order of the Dragon King, the annual bride selection is altered. Any maiden possessing dark hair, brown eyes, and the specific proportions outlined by the palace must be brought forward immediately to be sent as the Dragon’s bride.”
Panic erupted. Everyone knew what the dragon’s bride meant. It was a life sentence. A death march.
“Elena, you match that description perfectly,” Julien whispered, his face pale as they stood in the crowd. “You have to hide.”
Elena’s heart hammered against her ribs. Fear clutched her throat. That evening, she packed a small bag and hid in the root cellar beneath Julien’s house, praying the guards would pass over their sector.
The next morning, the stakes grew higher. The king announced a massive bounty. A reward of one hundred lumen—a life-changing fortune for any commoner—would be given to anyone who provided a tip-off leading to a matching maiden.
Sitting in the dark cellar, Elena heard heavy footsteps vibrating above her head. The cellar door creaked open, letting in a harsh shaft of sunlight. She looked up, expecting to see Julien’s reassuring face. Instead, she saw the iron boots of royal soldiers. Behind them stood Julien.
Her boyfriend avoids her gaze… Then soldiers arrive at her door.