Donavon

"No thanks, I am good".

"You sure? One dance wouldn't hurt". The man was persistent.

"I don't feel like dancing and besides I am a terrible dancer, you will end up with wounded feet if you dance with me". Amari replied, the man shrugged and left, probably to find another dance partner.

Turning down for the umpteenth time yet another offer for a dance, Amari signed taking a sip of the liquid in his cup, he didn't know what it was but it tasted sweet and Briar assured him that it was non-alcoholic, he looked around trying to find Briar in the entangled mess of bodies, dancing around the bonfire in the center of the clearing, she was in her element, her silver cloak and red dress flowing with her movements as she danced happily in the arms of a shadow walker, her smile bright.

"Dear Nyx, I shouldn't have let Briar talk me into this". He groaned inwardly, parties were not his thing, Amari would have much preferred laying on his bed, curled under his sheets and well-warmed as he read through cheesy romance stories, but here he was, surrounded by loud music, dancing couples, and happy chatters, but he wasn't the only one not dancing, a few couples sat whispering among themselves, others tired or probably drunk also sat down, so he didn't stick out like a sore thumb, hopefully.

The sweet scent of lavender, informed him of Briar's arrival as she slumped on the log he was sitting on.

"Tired?". He laughed as she laid her head on his shoulder, chest heaving and brown skin glistening with sweat.

"You bet, my feet are on fire". She huffed.

"Well, you were always free to refuse them".

Amari said as he watched the dancing couples in the center.

"And miss out on all that fun? No way, this is the closest to freedom we will ever have, so I am going to live it". She laughed.

"He looks like he wants to dance with you again". Amari nudged her, he had caught the shadow walker she finished dancing with still gazing in their direction.

Briar sat up, removing her head from his shoulder, her eyes catching that of the shadow walker, she smirked and winked at him, Amari thought he saw the boy's cheek redden, but couldn't be sure from the distance.

"No more dancing for me, else I want my feet to fall off". She snorted. "Now you, on the other hand, have done nothing but play wallflower since I brought you here, I brought you here to have fun and loosen up, you have been tense for days". Briar frowned.

Amari sighed gazing at what was left in his cup, she was right he had been tense, every day he feared that his dream might just happen, he feared sleeping these days, the nightmares of blood and darkness tormenting him.

"You are going to be bonded tomorrow, this is your last chance at having fun, enjoy it while you can". Briar said softly.

Guardians were meant to keep themselves pure and untouched for their betrothed, any form of relationship was strictly forbidden and if caught was met with banishment and disgrace, while Briar might dance and flirt with the shadow walkers, it was how far she could ever go.

"I thought you always wanted to be bonded, it's what you ever talked about, what you always dreamed about". Amari argued.

"Yes, but it's because it's the only thing we are allowed to dream about, sometimes I wish to go outside, and see what it's like outside of Ikran, Lumeria is so large, yet we are confined to such a small part of it, fall in love, maybe save a kingdom, but that's only for the heroines in those books we read". She gazed at the moon and laughed softly, her eyes dark and obscured with a hint of sadness.

Amari placed his hand on hers, while the thought of giving his life to a stranger scared him, he had never once thought of leaving Ikran, it was where his family lived, the only home he had ever known, he couldn't picture life outside of this small, cold and beautiful place.

"We can't leave Ikran, never will, the darkness out there will gobble us up, you don't have to look so worried, I am not some foolish heroine who is going to run away to chase something that might not even be real". Briar rolled her eyes at Amari's worried look, he laughed gently, glad that Briar was back to her usual self.

They sat in comfortable silence, just watching the others dancing and singing.

"Still not going to consider dancing?" She asked, the previous conversation they pretended as though they had never had.

"I am bad at dancing, I fear that I will make them mad when stepping on their toes". Amari said he didn't wish to dance with anyone, content in his space and being warmed by the fire.

"Alright then, dance with me". Briar laughed as she stood up, pulling an unwilling Amari along with her to the stage as she danced with him, soon he danced alongside, laughing and moving in wild steps, to wherever the music took them.

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"You are mine". He whispered aggressively, eyes burning with lust as he held her against the wall.

"No, it's impossible, I can never belong to you, I love Vincent". She glared at him, though her body burned from the heated look in his eyes.

He growled, anger coursing through his blood, as his mate mentioned that her heart belonged to another, he stepped closer, his hands trailing down her neck.

"Your mouth claims such, but look how fast your heart beats for me, your body reacts so beautifully to my touch". He trailed his nose in the crook of her neck, while she struggled to stifle a moan.

"I can smell your arousal, beloved". He whispered in her ear, one hand cupping her breast.

Knock! Knock!

He tore his gaze away from the book he had been absorbed in, now back in his room after the dance, he couldn't find sleep and settled on reading instead.

"Who is it?". "It is me, dear". His mother's voice sounded from outside the door.

Pushing the sheets he had wrapped his legs in from his body, he climbed down the bed and unlocked the door, Selene stood on the other side, dressed in a peach colored night dress, she held two mugs of steaming tea, Amari shifted to the left so she could enter and locked the door after her.

"The Dragon prince's mate". Selene laughed as she traced a finger at the black leather bound of his book, the tea now placed on the small bedside table.

"Ma". Amari blushed as he snatched the book from her and hurriedly shoved it inside the drawer, she watched his actions with amusement in her eyes.

"No need to be so shy, I too enjoyed such books in my younger days, it would interest you to know that in my days, there was a heated debate by the council if such books should be allowed to be read, they were banned from being sold in Ikran for two years".

"Really?" Amari asked, surprised there was a time were such books were banned, he would surely die from boredom if that ever happened.

"Of course". Selene replied, as she patted at the space beside her on the bed where she sat, Amari getting the hint took the spot.

"So how was the party?" Selene asked. "It was nice". Amari replied. "Figured we could do some talking over some herbal tea, your grandma's recipe". She said as she handed him one of the cups and took one herself.

"I am scared". He admitted as he took a sip, the floral and sweet taste filling his mouth, smiling at the nostalgic taste, reminding him of his grandmother. "I know I shouldn't be, but still I worry, a life without you, Dad, and Freya, I am moving in with a stranger I never knew and dear Nyx am I even ready for children". He continued.

"I was scared too, but then look how me and your father turned out, you will be happy, your betrothed will be your protector they will love and cherish you and you don't have to worry about children, you can have them whenever you are ready". Selene smiled. "You think so?" Amari asked. "I know so. Now stop worrying and go to sleep, you don't want to meet your betrothed while having eye bags." Selene laughed as she hugged him, running her fingers through his soft locks.

"Thanks, Ma". Amari whispered as he moved out of the hug. "Good night". She kissed his forehead as she stood up from the bed. "Good night Ma". Amari stood up and locked the door after she left, diving under the covers and willing the gentle hands of sleep to take him, no nightmares this time, he prayed.

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The thick white fur on its body camouflaged it so easily with the snow, icy blue eyes watching the plume bird as it fished from the river, the fur on its head was longer falling to the left, it jumped down from the tree soundlessly, it's tails swishing behind.

The Yslair was a creature known for its beauty and power, a predator on the food chain, it stalked forward to its oblivious prey, ears twitching it stopped eyes snapping towards the dark woods, but no creature was in sight, it went back to stalking it's meal.

Whoosh!

The Yslair jumped slightly, but still, an arrow was embedded in its leg, thick blue blood staining its white fur it growled, eyes turning a darker shade of blue, the plume bird now startled released a caw and flew away, and the darkness in the woods began to solidify and soon took the shape of a man.

Man and beast watched each other, the Yslair growled, body moving in a fast blur, suddenly it was thrown down by its own shadow, it stood up and released a howl, two ice spears forming and flew towards the man.

A shield made from shadows blocked the man from the ice spears.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Two more arrows shot out one piercing the Yslair's stomach, the other unable to penetrate its chest, as ice protected it, but the man was not worried, the poison would soon start slowing it down.

The Yslair tried to summon its magic but was unable to, even its wounds were not healing, the body becoming weaker, it sensed its approaching death and growled, eyes turning red.

The man shifted, knowing the Yslair was about to enter berserk mode, where it would shatter its energy core, killing both itself and its attacker, knowing how dangerous an energy explosion was, he moved, body melting into the shadows, and came out of the Yslair's shadow, the Yslair already entering into berserk mode could not dodge the attack, the dagger piercing it's chest straight into its heart, it released one unyielding howl, and crashed down on the floor, eyes dimming into blankness.

Donavon unlatched his dagger from the Yslair's chest, thick blue blood spurting out, he remained unfazed, but knew it was wise to leave quickly before other predators, especially the Yslair's parents were attracted by the smell of blood.

Slumping its body on his shoulder, the heavyweight feeling like paper, he flashed in a blink, body melting into the shadows.

✨✨✨✨✨

"Commander is such a powerful man, killing a three-tailed Yslair in such a short time, and look how huge it is". One man whispered to his companion watching Donavon's retreating figure, as they warmed themselves in the fire, the borders of Ikran were ten times colder than the village itself.

"That's the level we can only look up to, I remember the time I saw a one-tailed Yslair, I almost wetted myself, it had taken five men to kill it". His companion replied, pulling his cap tighter around his head as he breathed cold air into his gloved palm.

"Tch! The men at the camp are going to be having a real feast, I have heard Yslair meat tastes divine". The first man sighed in envy if only he wasn't at camp patrol for the day.

"No need to be envious, they won't be able to muster the courage to ask the commander for meat". The other man said. "I wonder when we will have our next break, my wife is due soon". He sighed.

"Me too, can you believe my little Arabella can now write, my wife attached a paper of her handwritten words in the letter she sent me". The other man laughed proudly.

"Really?". "Of course, I will show you when we are back in camp tomorrow".

✨✨✨✨✨

"Dear friend, I heard you caught a feast on your hunt". The loud voice was followed by a boisterous laugh and footsteps as the person joined Donavon at the back of his tent.

Donavon frowned at the loud noise but said nothing, as he watched Alex walk to join him, his brown curls, bouncing on his head, a wide grin on his lips as he sat beside him on the log.

He had made quick work of the Yslair, its fur already being dried, meat washed and cut as a few roasted on the fire.

"Smells nice, I am not leaving without a taste". Alex said, as the scent of spices tickled his hunger, oil dripping down the meat in sweet temptation.

"You can have as much as you want, give some to the men too, I won't be able to finish so much on my own anyway". He shrugged pointing to the bowl full of meat, as he went back to sharpening his dagger.

"Thought you would be gone by now, it's your matchmaking ceremony tomorrow, I pity the poor guardian who will be betrothed to you, having to deal with your dead-faced look". He laughed.

Donavon glared at him."As though you aren't a handful yourself, poor Dina saddled with you". He snorted. "What's got you so happy anyways?" He asked, Alex was always a happy fellow but there was something different today.

Alex smiled. "I am going to be a father, Dina informed me of it in her letter". Donavon's eyes widened, and he pulled Alex into a hug. "Congratulations". "Thanks, friend".

They remained comfortably sitting by the fire, eating meat, drinking wine, and discussing baby names.

✨✨✨✨✨✨

After sending a drunk Alex, who had become an emotional mess back to his tent, Donavon gathered his belongings, clothes packed in his bag, he pushed his cloak tighter around him, gazing at the tent that while sparsely furnished, was the closest to home to him, he left, departing for Ikran.

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