Chapter 86: A date to the ball

Eloise

It took me a minute to recover from the shock of what Byron said.

It wasn't exactly a surprise. I had known it since Feylen when my powers had finally awoken. I had felt the bond snap into place between us.

I realized back then that it was the reason I instantly walked to him that first night near Thornwood borders.

But until now, I had never said it to myself that Byron Wesley, the heir of Shadowborn dragons, was my mate.

I still don't quite understand how it's even possible. I don't know what I was, but I know for certain that I wasn't a dragon or werewolf.

So how did a dragon heir ended up being my mate?

“Eloise.” He called in a soft, inviting voice that seem to excite something inside me.

I clamped down on the desire to run into his arms and straightened my posture instead.

“What do you want to talk about?” I asked in a harsh tone. But I couldn't let myself soften towards him instantly. There are still so many problems we need to solve. Feeding the desires of the mating bond is not exactly the top of my mind right now.

Byron didn't seem affected by my tone. “Everything about it.”

“I'm guessing the pull became the strongest when your powers awoken on the battlefield in Feylen. The mating bond, it gets more difficult to resist once it snaps into place. Especially for the male.” He added.

I wanted to tell him that it was becoming harder for me to resist as well. I've woken up every single day since that battlefield wanting to be close to him. I've had to restrain myself each time. It isn't the right time.

I looked down at my feet and shifted uncomfortably, and of course, he sensed that instantly.

“I'm not trying to put pressure on you. I just…” he swallowed. Studying his expression, it almost seemed like he was… nervous?

No, that couldn't be right. I don't think I've ever seen him nervous before. He is one of the heirs of the dragon territory, and he's nervous because of me.

“I don't want you to reject it but…”

“I'm not going to reject it.” I blurted. The certainty in my voice surprised even me a little bit. But it didn't freak me out. I knew for a fact that I didn't want to reject what was between us, not before I give it a proper chance.

The anxiousness on his face seem to soften a little bit, the corner of his lips tilted into an almost smile.

“There's just a lot going on right now with Aurelia and… me.” I sighed. “I don't think it's the right time to let everyone know that I'm the mate of one of the heirs of Varethin. And accepting the mating bond now will make it obvious to everyone.”

That was just one of the many, many reasons I couldn't solidify the bond between us. I still didn't know what I was and if I should even be mating with a dragon, let alone an heir.

Byron nodded rather slowly. “I think that's a smart idea. It's not a good idea for the High Lords to know about it now. I don't want them to use you against me.”

I was about to ask what he meant by that when he added, “I'll tell the people who know to keep it quiet.”

I blinked in surprise. “The people who know?”

“Aidas and Elena.”

“Wait… Elena knows? We were only there for a few days. How does she know?”

Byron leaned against his desk. “She figured it out from my reaction when she attempted to burn you.”

I thought back to that moment when Kaden and I had wanted to sneak into Elena's castle. I couldn't believe she has figured it out since then.

“What about Aidas?”

“Aidas suspected because of what happened on the battlefield on Feylen. But Carden had already passed out then so I don't think he knows.” He explained.

I nodded. “You can tell Carden if you want. He's your friend.”

“I will, eventually.” He said. “I'll just tell him to keep it down until the festival is over.”

I wanted to tell him that it might be longer than that, but I just nodded instead.

“I'll get going now.” I said and basically ran out before he could respond.

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.

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I sat on the raised platform on the assembly grounds and gazed at the sky. The moon was full tonight and it shone brightly, adorning the sky. The stars looked so tiny next to it and so far away.

I didn't know how long I had been sitting here but it was long before the moon came out. No one had come to this place. This school was practically empty with the festival tomorrow night.

My friends had all decided to go to the village to drink and dance in honour of the eve of Yulemas. I had decided not to go with them.

The first reason was because the last time I went to the tarven, I had almost got caught by the crazy bartender who wanted to kill me. And the second and most important reason, I wasn't in the right headspace for drinking and dancing.

There were so many things I needed to figure out that partying didn't seem like a good idea. Aurelia, mating bond, and my identity.

My mind wandered to Maevyth and my heart clenched in pain. I had lost control and hurt my family. I had hurt the one person who cared about me more than anyone. I had hurt Raihn too.

Was searching for answers to what I am necessary when I already know this horrible power inside me hurt people?

“I haven't seen you here in a minute.”

I didn't need to turn to know who the person approaching is. The delicious scent of chocolate reached me before he even say down beside me.

“I come here everytime.” I responded.

“No, you don't. You haven't been here since you got back from Feylen.” Carden said. From the corner of my eyes, I saw him lift a forkful of chocolate cake into his mouth.

I turned fully to face him. “Do you eat that much sweet stuff every night?”

He simply nodded without looking at me.

“I'm pretty sure that's not healthy, especially for a royal. Don't you have chefs who make sure you keep to a diet at the Dragon Keep?”

Carden sighed. “Do you want some or are you going to continue criticizing me?”

“Well, I will never turn down chocolate cake.” I shifted towards him and leaned forward. He raised the fork to my mouth and I took a mouthful of the cake. I almost moaned in satisfaction at the deliciousness.

“So,” Carden started as he ate another piece. He handed the fork to me. “What's bothering you tonight?”

I took another bite of the cake and gave the fork back to him. “What makes you think something is bothering me?”

“You're sitting here brooding. Something is definitely going on.” He nudged me slightly. “You can tell me what's going on.”

I put the fork on the now empty plate between us and sighed. “I'm not even sure how to start this.”

I felt a sound shield snap into place and he asked, “Is it about the box you found in Aurelia's room?”

My head whirled towards him. “You know about that?”

He nodded. “Byron and I questioned Tina together. You haven't been able to get the box opened because it's sealed with magic.”

Oh.

Well, that was part of what was bothering me but not exactly the main it. And it doesn't seem like Byron told him about us, that would have been the first thing he mentioned.

“It just feels like we went through all that, Raihn getting hurt and Aurelia's death, just to hit a literal wall. I know for sure that the box contains answers. I just don't know how to get those answers.” I feel frustrated the more I think about that box. What could the password be?

Carden was silent for a while. “I'm not saying your concerns are invalid, but you're forgetting one important thing.”

“What's that?”

“It's Yulemas tomorrow.” He continued despite the frown on my face. “Look around you. The whole school is empty. Even your friends are out partying while you're here worried.”

“Well, I'm not exactly in the mood to party.” I scoffed.

“Look, El, I'm not trying to dismiss your feelings, but tomorrow is literally the festival of possibility. As serious as these problems are, they're still going to be there after the festival tomorrow. Just taking one day to yourself doesn't mean you've abandoned your mission, it's just a break. So why don't you stand up and prepare to enjoy tomorrow, and who knows, the Hearth might even throw us a bone.”

His words made sense but…

“I don't exactly know where to go. I'm not really welcomed here and I can't exactly go over the borders to my people.” I tried to ignore how those words stung.

“That's not an issue. Come to the ball at the Dragon Keep tomorrow. No one will harm you there.” He said.

“That still doesn't change anything.”

“Not if you're my date to the ball.” He grinned.

As crazy as the idea of being Carden's date to a ball is, I find myself agreeing to it.

I just hope it doesn't piss off a certain someone.