LOGINShare
009: Challenges
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56
VictoryAnne ViceThank you all for your patience as I get these new chapters uploaded. If you are enjoying the story so far, please leave a comment to let me know what you think! Also, consider leaving a gem or two so that others have a chance to see and appreciate this story. Thank you all for your support!
Related chapters
Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 010: The Elf King
[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
Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 011: Flirting with Fire
[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
Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 012: Warnings and Whispers
[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
Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 013: The Dance
[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
Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 014: The Chase
[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
Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 015: The Things of Which We Do Not Speak
[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
Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 016: All Kingdom Faire
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
Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 017: The Magician's Apprentice
[Carnelia]Ona freezes, every part of her going completely still as she asks in a very careful, clipped voice. “What did you just say?”Orion’s eyes grow so wide and glow so brightly that the kaleidoscope of swirling colors cast freckles of speckled light on his cheeks. “My mate,” he then closes his eyes, blushing. “That is, I think she might be.”“Either she is or she isn’t youngling,” she growls. "With mates, there is no "think" there only "is." Besides,” Ona stretches to her full height, somewhere between her usual form, as her nostrils flare with small tendrils of yellow flame, “You’re. Too. Young.” She takes a few calming breaths before adding, "Or at least, for your sake and hers, wait until you reach full maturity to consummate your union. You are too young to be burdened with a clutch of your own."“Really?” he raises an eyebrow, staring up at his formidable mother. “And how old were you when you met my father?”She pauses, opening her mouth to answer and then snapping it shut
Latest chapter
Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 086: The Wanderer
[Primus]Her face haunts me in my dreams. My beautiful wife. I can't stop thinking of our last evening together when we finally reconnected and pledged to do whatever we must do to stay together.But she isn't here with me and I can't find her. The way to Elfholm is a mystery as no traveler who has encountered the elves remembers where. The illusions are so thick that they often lose themselves. It seems that the harder I search for her, the more difficult it becomes.Fate can be brutal. It doesn't matter how strong you are, how honorable or just, fate doesn't care. A king can be brought to his knees by it's whim. Carnelia is not with me but when I close my eyes, It's almost as if I can feel her in my arms again. Carnelia. My sweet and wonderful mate. It has been two weeks since I last held her. Two weeks since I heard I saw her through a film of darkness.She was so brave. So strong. But I can feel her pain. She needs me more than ever. Whoever has her, they are treating her cruelly.
Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 085: Love and War
[Kora]I tried to call the Celestial Kingdom using the shared communications devices between our two countries. I wanted to update them on Orion's situation, to ask for aid and counsel. Elfholm has stopped sending messages demanding my presence at their Moon Council. I have tried sending my messages only to find my signals blocked.The False Queen demands my presence at Skyfall. With each refusal, she sends me a new piece of my love. At first, it was just a bit of hair, an article of clothing to remind me of his fragile situation.But it has been weeks.So now it has become talons and horns, fangs and scales.How long do I have before it is fingers and toes? His arm? His manhood?I am tired of being stuck here. I am tired of waiting.My father kept many labs. He was an anxious sort, very suspicious, and tended to over-plan. I can appreciate this about him as these are traits the two of us share. The colossus at my castle was not the only one, and while I am tempted to take this other
Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 084: Shards
[Ona]She didn't warn us. She hardly even said goodbye. She looked at us with such sad eyes as she swept her hand upwards and we became encased within a sphere of darkness."I am so sorry..." Her last words faded and distorted as my brother screamed her name, screamed for her to stop.But she couldn't hear him.I held my little brother close while the darkness swept our little family, our remaining guards and nurses, up and out of Elfholm to Luxandra above.Freedom. She sacrificed herself for freedom.When the inky darkness receded, we were only footsteps away from the Eastern Gate in the Realm of Air, close to the home duchy of Eleanora the False Queen. Carnelia used her newly developed abilities to phase our entire number across a vast amount of space.Not even the Elf King himself was able to move us all so far so quickly.What is she becoming now that she is growing up into her power?"We need to get moving," I try to urge my brother, who has fallen to his knees, his hands reaching
Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 083: Moonspeaker
[Carnelia]"I refuse," I hold my head high. "Allies do not treat one another like prisoners. If you wanted my help, you should have asked rather than chain me to this realm.""We're sorry, Your Majesty, but we feel it is necessary with your history to keep you contained. It is for your safety as well as the safety of all gathered here," an elderly drake steps forward, the starflower jasmine glowing blue throughout his long tendrils of hair."It took three of us to bring you back from the shadows when you unleashed your small nightmare," he explains. "We must keep you powerless or risk your wrath. We know the pull of a mother to her children. Why did you try to flee? You are safe here?""Why would any mother feel a need to leave quickly with her children and family--fear for their safety." I glare directly at my uncle. "As you say, I am too powerful. If someone were to threaten their lives," I refuse to remove my eyes from my uncle, who matches my gaze with his steely hardness, "I might
Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 082: Torn
[Carnelia]The darkness takes me again, but this time, I have learned how to navigate it. The seemingly limitless void takes on shape and form. If I can find my anchor, I can find my way.Remembering the last time the shadows tried to take me, and how I used the shadows to take me to Primus instead, I focus on his voice, his scent, and the way I feel in his arms. He will be my anchor, my mate.The darkness slowly recedes and the silence is replaced with the sounds of my children crying as Primus calls my name."Oh gods, Carnelia," he weeps along with our babies as his hands grasp mine.Looking up, I see a dark, unnatural cloud looming just above the exit to Elfholm. Thalan doesn't plan to let any of us escape after all. I thought my uncle had at least a little bit of honor, but if I think about it, I can see the advantage of keeping us here. Ona and Primus he might let go, but me, my babies--we're his blood. His brother's legacy. Had I been born powerless, he might have let me go, but
Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 081: Homebound
[Carnelia] Ona and I began to make plans immediately. We would all leave under the guise of returning Ona and ensuring her safety. Because our children are so very young, we would be taking them with us as well. Once returned, we'd close the gates again. As far as we understand, the Moon Dragons cannot phase into the Celestial Kingdom. The only way to get to the Celestial Kingdom without the gates being opened is by using a 4th form. Yes, the Moon Dragons have a 4th form, but that doesn't mean they'd just be able to enter the Celestial Kingdom without resistance. There are other defenses in place as well. They'd have to bring an entire army of Moon Dragons. And there is no reason great enough for the Moon Council to approve such an open act of war against fellow Celestials. The plan wasn't bad for one cobbled together from excuses, driven by hunches and fear. Elfholm isn't safe for our family any more, not with the Elf King so determined to keep me here. A drake like him wouldn't
Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 080: The Queen's Knight
[Athony] The universe can be cruel. Sometimes the mate she chooses for you is a dream. Sometimes she is your nightmare. Often she is both. Eleanora keeps me around because I am useful. She is very stubborn with a willpower of steel--excellent qualities in a queen, but terrible ones in a mate. But she is loyal to those she finds useful. Why else would she still keep Segundus' corpse rotting in a vat of amber fluid? We thought it had been lost to the fire, but the universe isn't just cruel but capricious. She saw fit in her infinite wisdom to hide his corpse below several layers of earth, down a long lost tunnel leading to tracks that go to the sea. We found it a moon cycle earlier, and the joy in Eleanora's eyes was only overshadowed by her smile of victory. "We must have the Technician," she insists. "When that beast is in our grasp, we will win this battle and reclaim our rightful places." "You deserve to be Queen of us all," I bowed before her. As she touched my shoulder to r
Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 079: Broods and Bonds
[Carnelia] "Primus" Moving as a shadow I find myself by my mate's side. I became the shadow. My husband is curled up in the nest with our children, snuggly resting by their side, lending them his warmth and protection, but as soon as he senses me in the room, his eyes snap open, glowing green like fresh leaves. "Carnelia."He slowly untangles himself from our brood, and I want to smile at the sweetness of it all but I'm terrified. Not only by what I just heard from my uncle but by what I might become. A creature of shadow. A creature of the void. "You came back to me," he cups my face as he brings himself closer, touching me tentatively like I might turn into vapor and disappear. For all he knows I might, I hurt his heart when I walked away. "I will always come back," I wrap my arms around him, taking pleasure in his solid strength. I need him to anchor me. Without him and our children, I might float away, becoming darkness. I need this. Breathing him in deeply, his warmth comf
Reclaiming My Beloved Dragon Prince 078: The Shadow Walker
[Carnelia] The shadows call me now. I'm no longer alone when I leave the light. "A consequence of spending too much time too close to the void," Thalan explains as we turn the corner. "I was wondering how long it would take for you to hear them. Had I known you were a universal dragon sooner, I'd have pulled you from the dream immediately, even at the risk of your mind." We pause by a dark window. Everyone is asleep or close to it now. I left Primus with our children. I long to return to them and to reassure my mate that I will not leave him. I don't know how we are going to make this work. My heart is torn in two. But one thing I've never been more certain of is the importance of our little family. Even if I have to burn this world and forge another from its ashes, I'll find a way for Primus and I to rule together in peace. "The void," my words echo as it bounces along the crystal-covered cavern walls. "You keep mentioning this void, but I saw only Primus' dream." "Then how did
