Chapter 29

“Don't do this to me Zeus."

“Don't do this to me Zeus!" Her silky voice whispered. Broken and filled with guilt as her palms cusped around my face.

“Zeus!" She pleaded and for the first time, I could tell how deep my mate meant these words. For the first time, she was begging for mercy “Zeus!" She pressured again tapping my lifeless face repeatedly.

“I love you,” she mumbled without hesitation. "I love you Zeus!" She affirmed again, this time leaning against my blood coated shirt as she sobbed.

“Don't do this to me Zeus."

“Don't do this..."

My eyes jolted awake immediately. I sat up with my body covered in sweats, my heart thumping faster than usual. I frowned at the bedsheets while the morning rays lit up my room. For a while my mind kept playing that nightmare over and over again. But I had a strong feeling this wasn't a nightmare; this was a vision. I was going to die. Green was going to lose me.

I gasped at that thought. I tried to get the negativity out, but her voice wailed even louder, and her cries became very lucid. I trotted to my bathroom, washing my face repeatedly. I stared at my mirror while my fingers trembled against the basin. I couldn't help but ask myself why and how?

I stormed out of my room and headed for hers.

“Green!" I yelled as I dashed into her room, but my mate was nowhere to be found. I couldn't feel her aura around and it struck me, that my mate had left for Dragonville. Fear began its powerful stride in me again. For a reason I didn't want to trust Eren. He was a man certainly cunning and dangerous.

I went for her personal library, hastily scaling for a book about Dragonville or whatever could give me handy information about Dragons. In the end, I could only conclude one thing, their profound loves for caves. If I was going to help my mate, perhaps there was a tiny chance I could find the Dragon stone too.

I closed the book and her voice immediately pitched again.

“Don't do this to me Zeus!"

I paused for a split moment. Perhaps my vision was simply telling me to just stay put. That if I followed after her, maybe that might be my end. At the same time, I didn't trust Eren. I couldn't risk my mate's safety on just a vision that seems very likely to avert. Without further thoughts, I took my final decision. I was going to Dragonville.

***

“I honestly didn't think you would honor my invitation." Eren chattered as we stood in the veranda enjoying the night view of Dragonville surrounded with nothing but caves.

“Isn't it obvious? I'm sure you didn't just invite me here to the party you're hosting downstairs." I watched him carefully with the corner of my eyes. He smiled before taking a gentle sip of his wine. He was donning a black and gold royal robe and I, a gold medieval gown.

“What are you even celebrating?" I asked as I leaned against the Verandah. He leaned too as he heaved a light sigh.

“It's all part of my plan. If all goes well,” he responded, holding my gaze.

“And if it doesn't?"

“Well, Party's over,” he chuckled but I could still note the seriousness in his voice.

“So," I pursed my lips. "Why am I here?"

He looked across his lands, admiring the beautiful night lights emanating from buildings.

“You know why,” he simply stated. "Vera is crippled and can't seem to perform magic anymore. Damian has become one handed and lost more than half of his army, all thanks to you,” he toned sarcastically before returning his gaze to me.

“In the end, you already have three out of the four artifacts you need. I'm your next target, you see me as an enemy you want to conquer." He smiled and this was exactly why I couldn't let my guard around him. He was always good at playing mind games.

“So why did you invite your enemy over? It can't possibly be to kill me." I answered before sipping a big of my champagne.

He chuckled.

“I don't see you as my enemy. I love you after all, my only pain is that you never fail in rejecting me over and over again." He sighed. As those words phased through my ears, Zeus was the next thing to birth in my mind.

“You and I can never be a couple Eren." I replied.

“Oh, come on!" He groaned. "I'm handsome, powerful, wealthy and you, you're the most beautiful, powerful and wealthy just like me too. Green we're made for each other." He inched closer to my side, but I shrugged his talk off like it was nothing.

“Be the last man standing, I will never be yours." I took another gulp.

“So, tell me then, what am I lacking? Or who's your ideal man?"

“I hate men,” I said almost immediately but deep inside, I was blushing at Zeus's beautiful smile. Never ever have I seen one so perfect as his. And those Hazel eyes of his, they were like a rare gem for me.

“You can't hate all men. Some are rare gems just like me." He smirked and I couldn't help but laugh. Silence dined with us for minutes before his voice arose again.

“Why don't we make a deal?” he said with all seriousness. I studied his countenance closely.

“You want the Dragon Stone and I want you." He pursed his lips for another moment.

“Marry me and the Dragon Stone is yours."

I frowned immediately. I thought about Zeus's Mark on my neck. Even though I had applied the illusion spell, more than ever a part of me wanted it to show. To reveal before Eren's eyes that I was taken. I belonged to someone else. Lightening flashed in the skies, I could pick Zeus's familiar scent even though it was faint, I could feel the tingling sensation quicken within me. As if he here but perhaps I was simply imagining things.

“No." I asserted.

“So, you want war then. Green we both know that if our communities go against each other, there would be no winner. It will just be a cycle of endless war between our kind. One that could last for hundreds of years,” he explained.

“Do you want that? I don't know what you're planning to use these artifacts for but I'm pretty sure you don't have a few hundred years to spare just to get my stone."

My palms curled into a fist; this was his specialty. Playing this mind games and as much as I hated it, he was right. He was equal to me in strength, going to war with him would only be a waste of my time. But neither could I marry him too. For one, there was Zeus and on the other hand, I was pretty sure it wouldn't be some random marriage. It could be one of those ones that require binding our souls together.

Either way, any option I chose works well for him. I was the one with something to lose here.

I smiled while my palm relaxed.

“You had me checkmated from the very beginning huh."

He chuckled.

“One has to be extra cautious when dealing with you. I love you but I also love my people too and I wouldn't let any harm before them due to my foolishness."

I took another sip whilst weighing my options again. War with him would only bring stagnancy to my plans but marriage to him would require pushing Zeus away from my life. My teeth gritted, back in the days, I would have happily shunned him out, but things had changed now. I had grown so attached to him. But this was it, I had to make my stance here.

To choose my dream or Zeus.

“We have a deal." I mumbled feeling a pang of pain sprout in my chest. Guilt and sadness followed suit. It was enough to tell me I was taking the wrong decision but, in the end, I had chosen. My dream.

“Well then, I guess this is the perfect avenue for me to announce this good news." Eren donned a smile as he gestured for us to go downstairs.

“Shall we?" He offered his arm, one I felt like smacking down.

“Just don't try any funny business downstairs." I warned before intertwining mine with his. He chuckled again.

“I won't, love."

“Don't call me that." I retorted as we took an elegant stride down the stairs leading to the ballroom. All attention fell on us. Staring at us with their awestruck faces.

“At least wear a smile, my love." He grinned to the crowd.

“Call me that one more time and I'll rip your tongue out." I almost growled, at the same time I donned a superficial smile.

“Ladies and Gentlemen,” he announced as we came to a gradual halt before them. The music ceased and total silence descended. My heart started to thump. With every second I spent with him, it felt like I was going to explode.

“I'm sure most of you here must be wondering why I hosted this party, well, it's to share the good news."

My teeth gritted, the burning sensation within me dosed.

“It is with great pleasure that I announce to you that, Green, the ruler of the Vampires and I, Eren, the Dragon Lord, are getting married."

The crowd burst into an indistinctive shatter as they clapped. Some of them smiling like idiots, some of them unable to contain their shock. His hand curled around my waist, and I could feel his head inching closer to mine every second.

Irritation coursed throughout my body from his touch while my mind kept telling one thing, this wasn't the right decision. Only Zeus was allowed to touch me this way, to kiss me. More than ever, I needed Zeus. I needed my mate to save the day.

As Eren's lips almost touched mine, lightning struck him tossing him away from me. I felt that familiar sensation deepens, his scent had gotten deeper. I glanced at Eren who grunted on the floor before glancing in the direction lightning came from like everyone else.

“Zeus!" Some of them exclaimed and I couldn't help but smile like a lovestruck idiot. All my fears, my pains subsided just seeing him alone. He marched boldly to the center, his eyes glowing blue at Eren.

“You? How dare you enter my territory?!" Eren barked as he arose. His guards surrounded him immediately, but my mate didn't look bothered.

“How dare you touch my mate you filthy thing!" Zeus yelled, commanding silence immediately.

“You have no mate here, Werewolf!" Eren blurted.

“She is my mate!" He declared, grasping my right palm firmly. The crowd burst into another round, Eren's jaw almost dropped and I, I just stood like a statue. Watching my mate fight for me. Protect me.

“Unbelievable!" Eren disagreed, Zeus flipped his finger and my instincts told me the illusion wore off.

“Look closely, she's already been marked. That's my mark on her!" He growled. "She's my woman!"

The tension further increased, everyone staring like confused entities.

“Is this true?" Eren directed at me. Even though he knew Zeus wasn't lying. Perhaps he just needed me to deny it. To deny Zeus.

I stared at my mate whose gaze were still on Eren. I might have chosen my dream before, but life was clearly giving me a second chance here. I wasn't going to misuse it this time, I wasn't going to let any harm befall him.

“Yes." I voiced. "Yes." I smiled. "Yes, Zeus is my beloved mate. And if anyone dares to make even a scratch on him, I will shred that person to pieces." I affirmed while Celine and few of my other guards encompassed us.

“What did you say?" Eren's eyes twitched obviously overwhelmed by the nightmare he was living.

“You all heard me. Zeus is my mate!" I announced with so much pride, joy, and happiness. I didn't know what life had in store for us next, but I was going to enjoy this moment. I was going to accept my mate without thoughts for the first time.