Chapter 6

Miaka’s P.O.V

I stepped on the first staircase that led down the hall where the party was being held. My grapy stood beside me proudly, followed by my uncles Geraldine and Kameron. Nervously, I looked down at the awaiting crowd.

“He’s not here yet.” Grapy squeezed my hand reassuringly. But I knew he would be here soon and he was going to make quiet an entrance.

Smiling despite my anxiety, I nodded at grapy and we began descending the stairs to the sound of cheers and surprised gasps. My brother, Lyric Von Crusader, the King of the shifter dimension, was the first to greet me as he pulled me in for a bear hug.

“Damn! I can’t believe you only just turned eighteen!” He pinched my cheeks lovingly. “It seemed like you had aged way before your time.”

“Maybe I had, you never know.” I winked at him before being passed onto my next brother, Lancelin, the Incubus King and his wife, Sanaya Eustein, followed by the Vampire King, Erick and his mate, Alina.

Seeing all my extended family, meeting them in person, it temporarily made me forget about the dread ahead. I felt happy, elated to have my loved ones around me.

“Hey!” I turned to find Kathy in a blue evening gown that hugged her hourglass figure. Her short jet black hair had white blonde highlights in them and she wore a diamond necklace around her neck that was glittery enough to catch everyone’s attention. Her Magean mark was also visible on her left shoulder, in a snake like pattern. “Happy birthday, love!”

Kathy gave me a hug and a kiss, careful not to get her bright red lipstick on my cheeks. I took her hand and we moved away from the crowd towards the open balcony overlooking the town. The room was packed to the brim; from nobles to high ranking officers of law and the army and of course, the council members. Everyone was mixing and talking and making merry, and that’s why it was easy to be overheard. There was supposed to be a fireworks display at exactly midnight, announcing my birthday to the world, but the lights set up all over the capital were already enough. If only I could enjoy my eighteenth without fear of what was to come.

“How’s the boy?” I asked Kathy, once we were out of earshot.

“Stable, but still unconscious.” She gave me a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry; he’s being monitored by our best healers. I’ll call you as soon as he wakes up.”

“And the rest of the patients?”

“Some of them have already been discharged and reunited with their family.” Kathy gave a small nod towards where Rain stood like a statue beside grapy, ready to take on any threat. “She gave orders to patrol the victim’s houses for the next couple months. They’ll be monitored in case the kidnappers try to come back or do something stupid.”

“I ought to thank her for that.” I sighed. Rain was too good at her job. She sometimes corrected my mistakes without even letting me know, or helps me out with things I would’ve overlooked. Although, she did have seven hundred years of experience.

“Don’t worry; Rain has been thanked for her job.”

I froze on the spot, and so did Kathy.

It took a second for me to realize my mistake and by now, the cat was already out of the bag.

Putting on my best smile, I turned to face the man who was my foster father, Conner Von Feltsper. Although, we didn’t share a normal father-daughter bond, he was my father according to law. He was a thousand year old demon and grapy’s second eldest son. But more than a father, he was my teacher. He was the one who taught me how to fight, not just with weapons, but also with my bare hands and without the use of my strength. He had taught me politics and statecraft, but most of all, he had taught me that I couldn’t trust anyone, not even my own shadow; for everyone wanted something from the Demon King.

“I’m sorry.” I gave a small bow. “I should’ve informed you.”

“You don’t need to, from today onwards.” He came into the light from the shadows of the balcony, his dark brown hair appearing even darker in the dim light. He too was wearing his military uniform in red, contrasting the emerald green of his eyes; but he wasn’t angry. He had a small smile on his face and his eyes held pride. “Come, let’s get the celebration started.”

The celebration continued deep into the night with a five tired red-velvet cake, especial wine made by the royal chef and aged for the last eighteen years and a huge feast that was delivered to every house in the capital. The fireworks display at midnight was even more spectacular and by the time it was three in the morning, most of the guests were starting to leave. Kathy too had to leave because she had an emergency patient that required her urgent attention. The hall that was packed only a few moments ago, began to clear out until it was only my family members and the council who was left standing.

Rihero didn’t show up.

“Maybe he rethought his decision?” Grapy told me when we were alone for a moment.

I shook my head. “No. He isn’t the kind of per-”

Speak of the devil and he shall appear.

No sooner had the words left my lips than the doors to the hall were pushed opened and in came none other than Rihero Von Palestine, the Dragon King.

He was dressed in all black from head to toe, with a black suite that had a golden dragon embroidered on the left side. He wore black pants and a black shirt underneath and his midnight black hair hung open to his hips. His dark eyes were completely devoid of light as he came to a stand in front of me and I couldn’t help but notice how we contrasted each other. Light and Darkness. Fire and Ice.

“Happy eighteenth birthday, my Lady.” He gave a small bow before taking my outstretched arm and placing a kiss on the back of my hand. “You look stunning today, a true woman.”

Several eyebrows were raised at that comment, but nobody wanted to pick a fight. Rihero didn’t bother with useless chatter; he said what was on his mind. And something told me, he was only just coming to his point.

“You’re late, Dragon King.” I gave him a polite smile. “The party has just about ended.”

I could sense my brothers moving closer to me. Lance came to stand on my right while the others were now surrounding us in a semi-circle. Kalna, the Mystic Queen and the only other woman in the Dark Council, stood nonchalantly beside Rihero, only a few feet away. Her stance was relaxed, but we all knew she was just as protective of me as everyone else in the room. And everyone could sense that Rihero was up to no good.

“Nonsense.” I dismissed it like I hadn’t even spoken. “The party doesn’t end until I have given you my gift.”

“Oh?” This was it, the moment I was dreading all evening. “Please, there’s no need for gifts. It’s my pleasure to have you as my brother, as my guest. I require no other presents.”

“You’re a woman now, Miaka and I do not see you as a sister.” His smile was just cunning. “So on your birthday, I would like to become the man who guides you in every aspect of your life. Marry me, Miaka Von Feltsper. Become my queen and let us unite two dimensions.”

I was expecting the gasps and the curses that sounded all around me; however, I wasn’t expecting Lyric, the shifter King, to nearly come barging onto Rihero.

“What the hell are you talking about?” He was in Rihero’s face, but Rihero didn’t budge. “We raised Miaka since she was an infant! She’s practically like our daughter!”

“To you? Maybe. But to me, she’s a woman of great worth.” Rihero smiled that emotionless smile that rubbed off on my senses. “What I propose is between me and her. She knows what is at stake and she knows what is important to her.”

The statement made it clear for everyone that Rihero was blackmailing me and it also meant now I had no choice but to tell. Finally, after eighteen years of keeping it a secret, the truth had to come out…and it very well might mean the end of me.

“So, Miaka?” Rihero urged. “What do you have to say about my proposal?”

Everyone was looking at me now as the sound of the clock ticking was the only thing heard in the room. Everyone was dead silent. It was now or never. I could beat him at his own game…or end my freedom right here and now.

In the end, there wasn’t much of a choice. So I gave him my politest smile, and spoke the words that sealed my fate.

“I agree.”