I thought you'd appreciate seeing Primus' point of view before we get deeper into the story. I'm sorry it is so dreary, but suffering just makes the joy that much sweeter.
[Carnelia] I am up to my waist in layers of silk and taffeta, exhausted, hungry, and heartsick. “Can you remind me why we need to endure this?” I ask Ona as a maid tears through my curls. Wincing, I try not to flinch as she abuses my scalp. I have never liked being forced into the courtly ideas of royal beauty, and yet here I am being trussed up to be presented at a ball I do not even want to attend. Except, maybe to see him. “Because we must follow her rules of propriety,” Ona grimaces as her corset is laced. Just as the maid is about to cinch it tighter, Ona stops her with an upraised hand. “But Mi’lady, you are expected to have a fashionably tight waist. The dress that the Queen sent over needs you to…” The scalding look Ona gives Eleanora’s human pet pins the poor girl in her place. With wide eyes the girl, barely more than a child, bends her body in half until only the top of her bald, tattooed head is visible, before falling to her knees in shame. “My apologies, Your
[Carnelia] Everything in my body clenches. I feel my nails elongating into talons as I gaze at the pair. “Breathe, Little Sister, Breathe.” I force myself to tear my eyes away from Primus and the Queen. Twisting my head around to face Ona, I see that her internal fire matches the strength of mine. She raises my hand to her chest and takes deep breaths until I do the same. “Don’t give in. She wants you to be angry. If you are angry you will make a mistake, and if you make a mistake, we will lose everything--the treaty, the cure, everything. If you attack her now it will mean another war only this time our gates are open and the royal family is on the surface.” She is right. Damn it, she is right. I retract my talons, taking on a more human appearance as is polite during a royal function. It is considered rude to appear too dragonish--it’s akin to showing up at a banquet with weapons. At the very least you might be considered a rude guest. At worst--treasonous. I am dazzled by
[Carnelia] One thing that Ona forgot to tell me about Moon Glow Dragons: Staring into the eyes of the Elf King is akin to madness. I forget how to hear, how to see, how to move--all that remains is the swirling sapphire glow of his eyes, bright like the flowers that entwine to create his diadem. ‘Queen Carnelia,” his voice is like warm honey that melts its way down my spine to pool low in my groin. "Would you do me the pleasure?" The word "pleasure," sends tingles that radiate out from my core. It takes all of my willpower to close my eyes and turn my body away. I’m afraid to know what touching him would do to me. “I don’t think that would be a good idea, Your Majesty,” I can barely speak, my voice coming out as the barest breath. "We have not been properly introduced and I fear your intentions." He chuckles, and I feel it shaking my core. I feel an overwhelming desire to roll around in his scent, a mixture of his musk and the star-flower jasmine adorning his body. I can imagine th
[Carnelia] I feel all the blood rush from my face into my toes in terror. After feeling the force of his power over others, I know that he can easily deliver on anything he implies. I remember what Ona says about him, about how if he wants me he can have me and there would be nothing I could do about it. Could he steal a queen without anyone stopping him? Feeling the power of his gaze, I think he could do whatever he wanted. The Elf King’s laughter rings throughout the hall, turning heads and lighting the mood of everyone around. Others start to laugh as well, infected by his mirth, as if his amusement is a drug. “Don’t worry, My Queen,” he assures me as he places a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “I know you do not mean it that way. My current queen is in Elfholm managing affairs while I attend this summit and she wouldn't appreciate it if I brought home any unexpected souvenirs. Myela isn’t the jealous sort, but I do ask her opinion before selecting new concubines. We share th
[Carnelia] The room goes still as I look into his eyes, dark as night, devoid of all emotions except for one. Anger. “Primus.” As I say his name I see a flicker of life return to the dark orbs, a flicker of green swirling with the smallest measure of brown and gold. “Primus,” I say again, hoping that my words are breaking through, that he can hear me, “Please come back to me. “Mine,” he growls, his hand clasping my arm tightly. “Mine.” “Yes, Primus,” I ignore the pain as he pulls me into him with more force than he has ever used with me, even when I was his captive. I could fight back, but I feel so much joy being near him again that I don’t care how it happens. I just need him to keep on touching me. I feel the barest trace of a tingle. It isn’t the unquenchable flame I am used to feeling when he touches me, but it is enough. In this strange impossible moment, it is more than enough. Then as quickly as it starts, he releases me. His spine goes stiff, and his entire expression
[Carnelia] One thing to remember about drakes is that they cannot resist a good chase. Especially if the drakaina they are chasing is their fated mate. The pull to chase, catch, mark, and mate is so overwhelmingly strong that a drake denied this instinctual right will find themselves falling into a heat so terrible they will tear down the world to complete their union. It is such a part of dragon society, especially among royal dragons, that unions are not considered properly sealed until the chase has occurred. Primus is not immune to these urges. Everything about our relationship, from the first time we met to the first time we kissed, has been a chase of sorts. On our wedding night, he said he wanted to chase me for the rest of our lives. Well, I'm holding him to his promise. My skirt flares around me as I weave through the crowd, racing towards the exit leading to the main hall, not caring who I push through to reach it. I don’t know what I plan to do when I get there other
[Primus] I can still taste her on my tongue. My beautiful, powerful, willful mate. She is so clever, far more clever than anyone ever gives her credit for. They found me, the guards, shortly after I left her alone in that room. The lost look on her face will haunt me in my rest tonight. Not that it matters. At least the memory of her will provide me with a small comfort--dreams have become impossible since they began their nightly torture routine to keep me docile and compliant. Every night, when the time comes, I burrow my heart and mind deep inside myself, watching from a distance as my body moves and speaks against my will, acting in the way it has been programmed to act, performing the necessary tasks demanded of it. Some of these tasks I wish were less necessary. Some of these tasks I wish I could forget. “The Queen needs you in her chambers, My Prince,” the guard demands in a way that sounds like a request--all soft and kind but with a hard cold edge. I know not to fight
By some miracle, I managed to avoid everyone as I stumbled back to my room, avoided Ona and Daax, dropped my dress to the ground in a tattered heap, and cried myself to sleep. It wasn't a deep sleep, nor a dreamless one, but rather the type of rest that leaves you anything but rested, the visions of which haunt you for the rest of the day.At one point, I woke with a start, an overwhelming surge of love rushing through my body. I'm not sure if it was Primus, in reality, calling to me through our rings, or the remainder of the dream I had of us lying together curled within a nest of blankets and passion. Having him last night, even in such a small way, did nothing to quench my desire. If anything, I am even more desperate for his touch.The cruel sun filtering sideways through the open windows scorches my eyes that refuse to open more than slits.Today is going to be impossible to bear.Unfortunately, today is the official start of the All Kingdom Faire, and as the only representatives