Chapter 8. Interesting

She quickly stopped hugging him and walked back several steps.

"Where... where are we?"

She looked around with fear and anxiousness. They were hundreds of meters from above the ground and that was not something good for witches, not at all. Never good to witches who relied on their senses to create illusions but a place with only empty space on the sides was of no use. Even less for a powerless luriem like her.

"Do you like it?"

Liam took her to a huge but elegant chamber adorned marvelously with red and golden curtains, beautiful but simple furniture, and some relaxing paintings hanging on the walls. Elegant, simple, and giving out the aura of power. The same as him.

There was also a big library and a study room on one side of the panel, even a small comforting pool in the back.

Emma could see it with ease, as the panels were opened. However, something important was missing.

She turned around to look for the entrance door, her only escape, but the only thing she could see were the many wide windows and empty space, but no doors, no stairs.

"This, what is this place?"

Her heart pounded in her chest as if alerting warnings in her body. She inspected the whole place again while opening all the panels and curtains, however, she couldn't find it.

Liam, on the other hand, let her do as she wished while he followed her closely behind with amused eyes. She didn't know but the veil had already left her face, and her naked back was the brazen dragon favorite view.

"Let..." she said after her feet had traveled the whole chamber, "let me out of here, where are the damn stairs?"

"Darling, this is a dragon's residence, don't expect me to use those lowly doors and useless stairs," he smirked while reaching her with slow steps. His voice lowered and deep as if trying to make her fall into a spell.

She gulped, "then... then take me down this instant! I don't like this place."

He continued moving towards her and ignoring her little pleads.

"What... what are you doing?" She walked step by step back as he was approaching her. "Take me out of here!"

"No, this is the place where you will live from now on," he smirked at her frightened face, "You are my wife after all, and... we shall stay together."

"No!" she pushed him when he was already three steps from her. "This was an arranged marriage and I didn't even agree to it!"

She spat out when the chest of the man was already everything she could see, however, she didn't dare to look up. She waited for the retort, but after some seconds passed, the man didn't say anything but stopped.

His hand reached her little chin and made her look directly at his red eyes. Those deep and dangerous eyes she has seen before in the carriage.

"Doesn't matter," he said approaching her ear letting the soft breath of his voice blush her ears, "now you are my wife. You belong to me."

Emma almost lost the chance to breathe when the man took her waist to pull her to his chest. Then she woke up from the daze.

"Stop... stop..." she pushed as the warm body of that dragon was making her lose her senses. 'No... I can't lose like this... I must escape!'

"Wait... what about my deal? Don't you wish for the pearl?" She asked waiting for his approval, that was her only hope now. "I can give it to you if you agree to set me free."

"Mm…"

He looked up as if he was interested, and Emma smiled and her eyes sparkled with a glint of victory.

However, for Liam, he cannot say he wasn't intrigued by the map and the pearl, but, right now, he has something more interesting and more precious than any other pearl.

He moved his gaze to her cute face that was showing an evident joy, so bright and cute.

"I will think about it," he said and almost chuckled when her face darkened.

"That… I…"

Emma didn't know what to say, that was her best card.

"What?" he pushed his forehead to her forehead, and her little face suddenly changed color to the top red.

"Then... then..." she gasped for air, "Until you give me an answer, we shall stay in separated chambers, I... I believe you will agree with my request," she could feel his face moving again and his nose was breathing her hair and lowering to her neck. "We... we... don't need to stay together... we... we are only a nominal couple. No... we are not even a couple, only two strangers without..."

The dragon stopped his brazen inspection and a sudden dangerous aura grew in the room. He was looking as if he were repressing a furious outburst.

"What did you say, wife?" he slowly whispered while his eyes, red with a hint of warning took her golden sight.

"I... we are not a couple," she retorted but with every word, she felt the dangerous aura increase, "it was an arranged marriage, you... you hate me, don't you? I am your enemy," she blinked.

Liam returned to his blue eyes and chuckled. "No, you are not, don't you remember? Now we are allies, and... you belong to me."

"Wait... what?!"

Saying that he carried her into his arms and pushed her onto the big bed adorned in white and red blankets.

"Don't!" She screamed when he pulled her hands on top of her head.

"Darling, you were the one proactively hugging me before, don't you remember?"

"I… I didn't, you were… wait, who is your darling? Get off me!"

He took a good look at his charming but angry face, the veil and the adornments on her head before were just a little extra to exalt her natural beauty. His eyes couldn't stop looking at her with deep interest, and he couldn't still believe how can he be so mesmerized by a strange woman.

This sudden turn of events was something he will marvel at and feel grateful for for the rest of his life. Even after thousands of years passed.

He wondered if his brother knew about it. The disdain and apprehension he felt the moment he learned about the wedding now changed into an interesting feeling, a good one.

'I should thank brother later,' he thought, 'He just gave me the most incredible war prize.'

The delicate face, the sweet and innocent golden eyes, her long silver hair, and even her strong and shameless personality. All of it, he found it adorable.

His hands were itching to touch her, to play with his reward. Just a look at her fiery golden eyes and cherry lips were enough to send an overwhelming sensation to his body. The heat inside was about to explode.

"What are you going to do?"

Emma's heart was about to explode from the thundering beating, his passionate eyes were sending shivers to her skin, they were not giving out his cold and indifferent gazes from before, but they were filled with a strange glint, a desire, a fiery and burning desire. It was overwhelming.

She was about to leap off the bed and escape, but he started untying his robe bit by bit. The mighty bronze and hard chest distracted from any intention she had. Her eyes could only be fixed at his fingers patiently while he carefully showed out his trained body.

It was too late to deny she felt some attraction to this man, so different from any other she had met before.

Then again, the last button was out, and she could see his hard chest and muscles, making her unconsciously bit her lips while watching him take off the shirt to impress her with his strong arms.

"Do you like what you see?"

She nodded absentmindedly, Liam could only chuckle at her brazenness.

"Now you."

"Mm?"

She inclined her head to one side, not understanding.

He pressed her and whispered to her ear. "It is your turn, darling..."