Chapter 2

"Aba," she mumbles, protesting her worries to her grandsire. "They can't do this!"

She may stand a chance when it comes to combat for her aba Mandel has discreetly spent his free time training and honing her. What fears them is the fact that she can't shift and Alianah is extremely good in aerial fights.

"I've been observing the six princesses and I can say that Princess Alianah possesses wit, agility, and great power among all others. She is the best fit for my prince Hasham.

Amira can't fathom the thought of it, hence she speaks, "My apology for interrupting, but you are all aware that Prince Hasham and I share a special feeling. You can't just decide who is best for whom. We—"

"Princess Amira," Alpha Rowal cuts her words. "You have heard my words well, I guess. We need to breed as many strong dragons as we can to guarantee victory and I meant two powerful dragons from the sovereigns to lead. Are you in any way stronger than princess Alianah, princess Amira?"

The alpha of the red dragons' question echoes in her head. She can't help but observe that everyone's eyes are at her, waiting for her to respond. She glares at her sisters who are throwing back smirks. All the words they have thrown to her suddenly circle in her head.

Laughing, "Is that all you can do?"

"You just turned 18, why can't you shift? You're a big disgrace to the royal gold dragons!"

"Or maybe...she doesn't have royal blood in the first place," mocks the laughing voice.

"You can't be at far with me, Amira! Stop with your stupid ambition!"

"You're weak!"

"You're a trash!"

"You're a disgrace!"

"Loser!!"

"Princess Amira!" her father snaps causing her senses to come back.

"Let me repeat myself, are you in any way stronger than princess Alianah?" Alpha Rowal asks once again.

Hasham can't help but grit his teeth in anger. They have long been asking the alphas for approval, but they can't just give it. And now they are deciding without even discussing it with the two of them. Unable to hold his temper, he closes his fists and stands, "I won't accept any other draconian lady in my life. Amira is the only one I want to be tied with, no one else!"

"We're not asking your opinion." Rowal grumbles, his aura sends an intimidating force among all other dragons, then he speaks to his son through the mind link. "You do not dare go against me. You know very well what I am capable of doing." His father's threat sends chills to his body. He knows him as a heartless dragon who doesn't mind taking the life out of anyone who disobeys him. His mother has always been the victim of his atrocity.

Seeing the fear in his son's eyes, he shifts his gaze at Amira. His tone changes from hard to delicate. "Now princess Amira, do you have what it takes to defeat princess Alianah in a battle?"

She clenches her fists at the question of King Rowal. Before answering, she glances at her beloved Hasham who's hiding his face on his chest. He cannot fathom the idea of giving her up, but he's not the one to mess with his father.

Amira then glares back at her siblings who are throwing mocking stares at her, except for the second youngest princess, princess Vanessa who cheers her up.

Her aba Mandel speaks from behind, "You're not ready yet for a fight. We'll find another way, okay?"

"There's no other way, aba!" she answers. Adamant, she proceeds to the center and vigorously declares, "I, princess Amira, the youngest of the royal draconian, challenge princess Alianah for a fight to determine the strongest fit for prince Hasham's heart."

Princess Alianah, a tall, fine and exquisite draconian of minimal golden scales, stands from her seat and declares with so much pride, "I, princess Alianah the third born of the royal draconian, accept the challenge of princess Amira for a duel to determine the strongest and most deserving for prince Hasham." She doesn't keep her mocking glares to her sibling as she speaks.

"Well then, with your alpha's approval, I want to arrange the fight as soon as possible." Pleased, Rowal glares at alpha and compels him to make a decision.

Douman, the sovereign amongst them, firmly clasp his sceptre and stands to give his words. "The princesses have been trained enough, it's about time that we test and see how strong they have become. We shall witness their fight tomorrow after the sun shines in the east."

~~~

The wind blows heavily causing the hem of Amira's loose blue pants to dance around her legs.  The huge and healthy trees surrounding the draconian, shower them with leaves as they anticipate the start of the fight.

"We have gathered here today to test the skills and strength of princess Amira and princess Alianah which they have honed and acquired in their years of training and discipline under the guidance of the strongest draconian mentors. The princess who will show exceptional strength and can knock down the other will win prince Hasham."

"Why do I have to fight when in the first place, I am yours and you are mine?" Amira questions.

"You don't have to do this, my precious. We'll find a different way, end it while you still can," Hasham answers through the mind link.

"It's too late, Hasham. But I'll do everything I can to win this challenge. I'll do everything to win you no matter what."

"Amira...I can't lose you."

"So am I, Hasham. I love you and I'll have no regrets doing everything I can to win you, even if it takes the life I have."

"Don't say that, Amira. We'll never lose each other. Promise me."

Their mind talks are cut when the head of class A draconian soldier speaks, his biceps are bursting from his stripped white-gold, soldier attire.

"The capacity of dragons to knock down their enemy is not only measured through aerial wins. One must be able to fight on land to make sure that every living foe is eliminated. There are hidden gears in different sides of the wilderness, fight a class B draconian guarding the gear to claim one. Collect as many as you can before heading to the battleground so you have something to utilize on the actual fight. You have ten minutes to venture into the wilderness and locate the battle area. On my mark, 3..."

Amira's heart starts to pump faster and louder as she hears the start of the countdown while princess Alianah smirks and prepares herself for a run. She knows she is of big advantage and her sister won't stand a chance, but then Amira is determined to empress every draconian watching.

"2,"

"I will win you, Hasham. I promise," she swears.

"1...Ire!"

The battle for love is set, blood ties are of no value when it comes to this. The weak has no place in their realm. The deal is to either win or to die.