ADELE’s POV.
The loud bang of the bell makes me yawn lightly before pulling my body to a sitting position. After choosing a group yesterday, we were assigned to our rooms which consist of five other ladies. Three of them came here two years ago while the rest of us are just getting in. I don’t even know how Bastian and the others are faring because I haven’t seen or heard from them since. My attention shifts to the door that has just opened and two soldiers file into the room, coming towards my bed. For the love of Odin, what have I done now? “Cadet MacAlister” one of them call my name, “come with us” I can’t help but be more confused than I already am. “Why, sir?” “You do not have the right to ask questions, come with us” Letting out a heavy sigh, I pull my body out of bed. Luckily I am still in my leather pants and shirt. I just grab my shoes from underneath the bed before slipping into them. “At least let me wash my face” None of them say anything and I hastily grab a pail of water from under the bed before making my way towards the restroom. Only one person can pull a stunt such as this..the general. I wonder what he wants now. Did I get myself in his bad books? After I am done, they lead me out of the room and towards his own wing of the barracks. I still can’t understand how a general has this kind of structure built for him? Doesn’t he have a house in Drakesworth? Doesn’t he have a family? Does he always stay here, always ready to go to the frontlines? Shoving his thoughts to the back of my head, I focus on the task ahead. It is actually none of my business whatever he chooses to do with his time and life. “General” one of the soldiers say as soon as we come to a halt in front of the door, “she has arrived” Immediately the iron doors open up and they gesture at me to enter. I look around, not a single soul in sight except the patrolling soldiers. That general could choose to kill me if I enter his fort and no one would be able to find out. My skin crawl at the thought of that, maybe I should make a run for it right? “Help me gods” I mutter under my breath before stepping into the door and it closes behind me immediately. This is grandeur in its finest form. From outside the fort looks a bit small but seeing how spacious and beautiful it looks, my jaw drops. A huge staircase leads to the top of the house with paintings on the wall. This could be his house? How would someone build a house at the barracks? “Come this way” a voice says and I turn to my right, two female soldiers are standing there. Not being able to enjoy the magnificence of the house, I walk towards them and they lead me towards the right wing of the house. We walk for a while until we enter another large hall and there I see the general seated on a throne like chair, his gaze on me. I suddenly feel inferior to be in this kind of place, why did he call me here? “She is here, general” one of them says and he nods, gesturing for them to leave. As soon as the huge door closes behind me, he stands up and starts walking towards me, each stride more heavy and more pronounced than the last. He looks like a hunter about to pounce on his prey. “You called for me” I can feel my own voice quivering and it makes me hate him the more, how dare he make me feel so scared in front of him? “Yes, I did” He comes to a halt in front of me, his eyes scrutinizing me like I have done something. “I am here now.. He doesn’t say anything as he starts to circle me until he stops behind me. Before I can understand what’s happening, he pulls my hair away revealing my bare back. I immediately jump away from him, worry etched on my face. What the heck is he thinking of doing? Is this his character? He acted like I was Hades and now…. “What…. A whistling sound reaches my ears and I raise my eyes to the roof which makes me gasp. There, the biggest dragon I have ever seen is circling around and I can see it because the glass roof somewhat opens up to let me see it. “A dragon” I mutter under my breath. I heard that he owned and bonded a dragon but I didn’t expect it to be this big nor did I expect to see it as soon as I got here. “That mark on your neck” the general starts to speak, “how did you get it?” “I have had it since I was a child, I was born with it” For a brief moment, his gaze continues to linger on me but he doesn’t say anything. The huge doors open up again and two soldiers walk in. “Everything has been prepared, general” “Good” He walks up to me again but before I can say anything, he grabs a hold of my hand and pulls me out of the room. I have never been more surprised in my entire life, he didn’t even say anything until he brings me to a totally different hall. Much smaller than the last but also sophisticated. There is a fire in the middle and an old priest is seated beside it. I didn’t know we had priests at the barracks. “Sit” he orders and I find myself doing as he has said, he also lowers himself beside me before turning to the old man. “Get this over with” “Wait! What?” But instead of answering, he glares at me and I clamp my mouth shut. “Unto you, a bride is given” the old man starts to speak, “unto you a bride is born” What the heck is happening? What’s the priest muttering? “In the name of Ra, the gods of all gods, the ruler of the earth, I hereby declare that this alliance is one that has been formed since the beginning of time and has been approved by all the gods presiding over Drakesworth” “What?” I immediately spring up from the chair, what does he mean by marriage? When did I agree to this alliance? What is even going on? “Sit down” Cahir orders, his tone curt and he sounds upset but I won’t let him walk over me like I do not have a say in this matter. How can he wake me up in the middle of the night and want to marry me? “What is going on here?” “The mark on your neck legally binds you to him” the priest says, “it isn’t something we can change” First of all, no one told me anything about the mark meaning something and even if it did, am I supposed to find out like this? “I don’t…. “What are you doing?” He angrily stands up, his huge frame towering above me. “You can not just…. He grabs a hold of my hand and pulls me closer, his face only a few inches from me. I feel intimidated, it feels like he is peering deep into my soul. The hair at the back of my neck stands on edge, why? “You have your whole life to figure out why you have been bonded to me, Adele Macalister but right now I do not have the time to explain anything to you” “How can you just…. “Get this over with” he ignores and turns to the priest. “I am not going to marry you” The general grits his teeth together and angrily grabs my hand, making me fall into his embrace. “Do not flatter yourself, MacAlister” he whispers over my ear, “I am not joyful about getting married to you either but just so you know, the life of your family and your friends depend on this. If you want them to die, you are free to walk out through that door but if you cherish them, you will sit down and we will get this over with” My friends, my family? What is even going on? A lump forms in my throat. Is he going to kill them if I refuse to get married to him? At this point, I wish Bastian was here. “Yes or no?” He asks impatiently. “Can you at least tell me why you are doing this?” He glares at me before turning away,“Because it is part of the prophecy” “What…. “Continue priest” he cuts me off as the priest continues with the ceremony, never have I been so torn in my life. I sit there in a daze as the ceremony continues. I never expected to get married in such a way and to the man I hate the most in the world. How could he even…. My thoughts are interrupted when he grabs my hand and I swerve my head to him. He is holding a little dagger and before I can ask what he is doing, he nicks me a little and blood spurt out of the small wound. He gently brings my finger to his lips and has a taste of my blood, my whole body heats up at that moment. “With your blood, I make you mine” he says, letting go of me. Using the same dagger, he nicks his finger before pushing it towards me. Tears sting my eyes as I take it and gently suck on it. “With your blood, I make you mine” The ceremony is now complete” the priest announces and he immediately stands up, pulling me with him. Where is he taking me to? What is he going to do to me? As soon as we get to the door, Cahir halts before turning his full attention to me. “You are free to go back” he says, “not a word of this to anyone. To the world, you are just a cadet but you are my wife now” “You don’t…. “Like I said, not a word of this to anyone, MacAlister” With that, he disappears behind the door and I just stand there, transfixed by what has just happened. Like I am married to the ruthless general Cahir without my permission and I am not allowed to say a word to anyone? I start to laugh as tears sip out of my eyes, this must be a fucking dream right?ADELE’s POV.Even after reporting for the morning assembly, I still can’t shake what happened earlier out of my head. I am married, I got married to General Cahir and I can’t even say anything about it. I am still clearly shaken and it feels like I am going to collapse with each step I take towards the courtyard.This is too overwhelming for me, I don't even know how to go about it. I just stand in a daze as the soldiers tell us our assignments for today.“Hey you” a voice says beside me and I raise my head to see Bastian. Gods, how I want to hug him and tell him everything but how can I do that? Cahir threatened me with the lives of everything and everyone I love.“Hey” I flash him a weak smile.“I have been looking for you all morning, are you okay?”“No” I scream in my head but instead I nod, “yes. I went to bed pretty late last night so that’s why I look a bit dull”“Hey you!!” One of the soldiers call out to us, “keep shut or I make you”Luckily Bastain agrees, he doesn’t say anyt
ADELE’s POV.I wave Zara and the others goodbye before making my way towards the lady. As soon as I get to her, she starts walking towards the other side of the courtyard away from the others, not bothering to say anything to me. Everyone who sees her bows to her lightly. It can only mean one thing is a high ranking officer.I use this opportunity to study her and she looks really formidable. Tall and slim with her brown hair tied neatly. She has several daggers strapped to her body with two swords in her scabbard trapped to her back. I can’t help but wonder who she is, I haven’t seen her since we got here and it's been three days.We didn’t stop until we get to a secluded part of the barracks. There is no one around, no one in sight and she looks scary. What are the odds that she would kill me? Well, it’s not my fault that I always think like that when I am near people like hr.“MacAlister?” She calls my name and I nod, “I never expected it to be you” she further adds and a look of c
ADELE’s POV.Training for the day is done and almost everyone has retired to their dorms. If you ask me the name of the gods that gave me the audacity to sneak out of my room to where Bastian said I should meet him, I would not be able to tell you but here I am sneaking past soldiers towards the big three at the back of the armory. Where the heck did I get the courage from and how did he even know of this place?I flatten my body against the wall when I see a group of soldiers patrolling. I swear I will give Bastian a tight slap if I am caught.Luckily they pass by me in the silent night and I continue to get to the tree but there is no one there.Did he not come after he made me risk my life to be here? What a jerk.“Hey” a voice calls out behind me and I turn around to see him walking towards me, bare to the waist. I swallow hard at the figure in front of me, he looks good, too good if you ask me.Bastian has always been a handsome man but seeing his well sculpted body that has been
ADELE’s POV.All of us are gathered in the main hall, Lance and another blonde boy are both on the sparring mat. Cheers and applause rise from the crowd at intervals. Lance is a strong contender, not a single stain of blood on him but the blonde looks like he bathes in blood. The only rule is not to kill, you are free to do anything else.“Man, that one is strong,” Zara says beside me, her lips into a smirk.“Who is your opponent?” I ask her.“Her” she points to Caroline who is looking my way and I swear I can see hate and anger inside her eyes. Why exactly does she hate me? It’s not like we have any kind of history together.“Seems like she wants to beat me more than you” I whisper to Zara, “she has been glaring at me for a while now”“I will break all of her fucking bones if she dares to act coy with me” Zara threatens and I stifle a smile.I look up and I see Bastian staring at me from where he is seated with some boys. He made friends fast, I give him that. He is saying something
ADELE’s POV.Loosening the lace of my boots, I move them under the bed before falling limply on the bed. The training session yesterday was much more intense than last time. I was paired with a girl who came last year and she beat the shit out of me, snapping my shoulder blade off in the process. Bastian and Zara rushed me to the infirmary where I would say I was stitched together but it still hurts. Xerxes gave me a four day holiday from all activities and I can’t help but be thankful to him.The whole place is chilly and quiet, the others are in class learning about the history of the borders and why the barracks was shifted out of Drakesworth. Luckily I know all that already so I wouldn’t miss much.My mind drifts back to the general and I let out a sigh. It’s been two whole weeks and I haven’t seen him since then. Then why did he marry me? Why did he go through this trouble if he knew he wouldn’t commit? What was the need of getting married to me? It’s not like I have anything t
ADELE’s POV. Loosening the lace of my boots, I move them under the bed before falling limply on the bed. The training session yesterday was much more intense than last time. I was paired with a girl who came last year and she beat the shit out of me, snapping my shoulder blade off in the process. Bastian and Zara rushed me to the infirmary where I would say I was stitched together but it still hurts. Xerxes gave me a four day holiday from all activities and I can’t help but be thankful to him. The whole place is chilly and quiet, the others are in class learning about the history of the borders and why the barracks was shifted out of Drakesworth. Luckily I know all that already so I wouldn’t miss much. My mind drifts back to the general and I let out a sigh. It’s been two whole weeks and I haven’t seen him since then. Then why did he marry me? Why did he go through this trouble if he knew he wouldn’t commit? What was the need of getting married to me? It’s not like I have anythin
As soon as he walks into the room, I immediately jump off the bed. I didn’t know he would come, no one made mention of it. It's been quite some days since that wedding shenanigans and I have a lot to ask him. I need to know why he chose me when he can readily choose anyone else. My eyes travel over him and I gulp. I can’t lie, he looks scary, very scary and from the way he looks, it seems like he has been on the battlefield for a while. His hair is pulled into a messy bun and his mouth is pressed into a thin line. He has a new scar running through his left eye up to his brows but that doesn’t reduce his beauty, rather he looks more beautiful and more ruthless. I shake my head to remove such thoughts. I shouldn’t be thinking about him in that way, he almost killed me the day I stepped into the barracks. Swallowing hard, I keep looking at him waiting for him to say something. We both clearly hate each other and I am not going to give him that satisfaction to think he has any effect
CAHIR’s POV. The very moment she stepped into the barracks, I knew she was the one. The daughter of the treacherous MacAlister who almost put the whole country into turmoil and danger, she had guts, she didn’t have a filter over her mouth and mumbled whatever she wanted and that red hair of hers would make her prone to the enemy's attack. But then despite the instant hate I developed for her the moment I saw her, I had to marry her, she had to become my wed bride and I am still very much upset about it. I didn’t spend years and years of my life cultivating immense power to get wed to someone who can’t even use a sword. The more I think about it, the more upset I become. I remember that night when ivar, my dragon, spoke to me about her and I almost went berserk. “You must be joking” I tell him, “and you know it” “Well, we both know you have to do it” he snickers, “take her as your bride and build her through the journey. General, you clearly do not have a choice now, do you?”
CAHIR’s POV.She is seated there when I get there looking so different from the last few hours that I saw her.She isn't wearing her usual pants and corset top but now she is putting on a black dress, one that looks so beautiful on her and it compliments her red hair. From where I am standing, I can see she doesn’t look happy, she has an expressionless look on her face. Did Hearfyre do something to her? Why does she look so lifeless? Why does it look like she has a lot going on in her mind?Letting out a sigh, I massage the back of my head lightly before I start walking towards her.As soon as our eyes meet, a small smirk which doesn’t quite reach her eyes.“Adele” I call out to her gently, lowering myself beside her. Before any of us say anything again, I pull her into my embrace and bury my face in the crook of her neck. Gods!! I miss her, I missed her so much just In a few hours. How can this be? The way she slowly crept into my life and made me become so soft for her is so alarmin
CAHIR’s POV.I have looked for her for as long as I can think of but I have not gotten any glimpse of her yet. It’s been a whole day and yet, I haven’t seen her. I have searched all of Drakesworth and its environs, I have looked for her in places I shouldn’t and still yet.I rake my fingers through my already disheveled hair, I am slowly losing my mind. Where the hell is she? Is she fine? Did heartfyre do something to her? Is she eating? I have a whole lot of questions but no one to ask, no one to even run to. I shouldn’t have let her go, I should have stopped her at all costs. Now who knows where that dragon has taken her.“Cahir?” A familiar voice calls behind me and I turn my head abruptly to see Xena coming towards me, a concerned look on her face. The last thing I want right now is for anyone to pity me. I want them to fucking find her and not pity me. Why the heck won’t anyone fucking listen to me?“Why are you here?”“I have come to check on you, Cahir” she says, “you have been
ODETTE’s POV.I yawn lightly and pull my eyes open. This has to be the most peaceful sleep I have had in months. The bed is so soft, the room smells so nicely and it is well furnished with everything I would ever need.With another sigh, I pull my body to a sitting position and at that moment, a knock resonates on the door.“My lady” her voice filters through, “are you awake?”“Yes, come on in” I tell her and the huge doors pushing open. She steps into the room with a tray.“I made you a herbal drink” she says setting it down beside me, “it is good for the body”“Thank you, Morgana” I tell her, “I will drink it later”“I also made some food. Should I serve it?”“Please do, I am famished”“Thank you”With another bow, she turns around and walks out of the room leaving me to my thoughts again.Part of me misses Cahir, I want to see him and ask him a lot of questions. I need him to tell me everything he knows about the prophecy. I want to know if he was aware of what was supposed to happ
ADELE’s POVThe huge gates open and heatryre flies in. I have never seen a gate so huge and so wide before. It feels like giants can go through it but as she continues to fly through the huge courtyard, I start to see other dragons.After a while, heartfyre ducks for the ground and I slide off her back. As soon as my feet touch the ground, a feeling of familiarity envelopes it. It feels like I have been here before, it feels like I know every nook and cranny of this place but I am sure I have never been here before, I have never even heard of it.“Where are we?” I ask her.“Welcome to your land of dragons, cadet” she responds and a feeling of confusion settles within me. My land of dragons? How is that even possible? I thought the only dragons that existed were the ones in Drakeworth. How come there is a land of dragons which I have never heard about?“How is this even possible?”“Welcome back, my lady” a voice says behind me and I abruptly turn around to see a man. He looks old, very
BASTIAN’s POV.Maybe I shouldn’t have said that out of the blue because now my old man is looking at me in a way I can’t quite fathom. I have never called him father before but calling him father today made the look in his eyes flutter. Was he happy that I called him father? Did he want me to call him that? Did he want me to see him as my father?Even after Cahir had left, the two of us continued to stand there looking at each other. I also want to leave, I also want to go and search for her but for the first time, I want Cahir to take the lead. I know he will find her, he will try to find her no matter what. I have given him the push that he needs and I hope he doesn’t make me regret it.“Leave us” king Taurus orders his guards and they immediately back away giving us more room. At this point, I want to run away and hide. I don’t like the look on his face like we owe each other anything. As far as anything is concerned, I do not have anything to do with this man.“I think i should g
CAHIR’s POV.Watching her leave; my heart shatters into a million pieces. She was supposed to come at me, hold my hand and tell me she wants to stay with me. She shouldn’t have gone with that dragon who would only put her in harm’s way.I rake my hands through my hair as I watch hearfyre fly away, now Adele will be branded a criminal forever and king Taurus wouldn’t hesitate to harm her. He will hunt her down and make sure she pays for even things she has not done.“Fuck!!” I mutter under my breath.“You see that?” Desdemona says behind me, “that is the same person you want to keep by yourself? Did you see that? She left with the dragon, she is a criminal and you father will not let her live even if you try”“Just shut up, Desdemona!!” I half yell, “I do not need you to tell me anything now!”“What happened?” Bastian asks as he rushes into the dungeon, “Adele?”I came the moment his message got to me. I came as fast as I could and now..“She left” Des tells him, “and now your father w
ADELE’s POV.I don’t know for how long I have been in this dungeon because it is completely sealed off from the outside world. I have a feeling that this is the dungeon meant for murderers and the high criminals of Drakesworth. Keeping me here meant one thing, she is going all out. She wants to show me that she is the queen and I can not run from her even if I want to.My thoughts are interrupted when the dungeon door opens up and I look up to see her, a sleazy smile lingering on her face.“My lady” I force myself to bow when the only thing I want to do at this point is stab her hard with one of my daggers and make sure she never survives it.“The hunter has become the hunted” her voice is laced with mockery and sarcasm, “look at you, just one day and you are a shadow of your former select cadet. You really shouldn’t have gone behind me to do what you did, cadet”“And what exactly did I do?” My anger takes over me, “you just asked your soldiers to have me arrested and you kept me here
BASTIAN’s POV.I have been waiting for her but even after a few hours, she still isn’t back yet. Did she get into trouble somewhere? Did something happen? I don’t even know what to think anymore. I know Adele can take care of herself but I just can’t rest assured when she isn’t close to me. A lot of people want her dead and I want to keep her safe, even from myself.Letting out a sigh, I make my way out of the room but I come across Imogene and another cadet. From the look on both faces, it seems something is definitely wrong somewhere.“What’s going on?” I ask them, “why do the two of you look like this?”“Adele was arrested” Imogene blurts out, “the queen took her at the gate”“Why? What happened?”“We do not know, she just took her”I ball my hands into a fist, Desdemona!! How dare she? We talked about this, how dare she still try to harm Adele when I have warned her time without number.Without saying anything, I hasten down the hallway to her room. I don’t bother to knock and jus
ADELE’s POV.I don’t stop walking until we reach a secluded place and this is when I come to an abrupt halt, anger radiating through me. How can Bryer even say something like that? How can she look me in the face and say something so utterly demeaning and disrespectful towards me. Me? I caused our fathers death? How the heck did she even find that out? I never told anyone, I didn’t even tell her so how did she even find out?.I rake my fingers through my hair in frustration, I hate that she gets to me every single time. Since my father died, I have tried to always be there for her and our mother but none of them have ever thought of being there for me. No matter what happens, I am always the unfilial child, the one who has to accept anything anyone tells me.I let out a heavy sigh as a familiar figure comes to stand beside me. He hasn’t said anything since we left the tavern and for the love of the gods, I hope he doesn’t start now. I am genuinely not in the mood to listen to him spea