Chapter 3
I woke up in agony, my hands and stomach burning, and I instantly knew that it was because of the iron shackles, why were they doing this to me?
The pain was too much, all of it was too much.
I should have never agreed to this, I should have stayed home with my family.
What did Dranon mean when he said the choice was never mine? Had they planned to take me either way?
It was all a mistake, all of it. I should have known better.
Syrian was right, Griffin’s are barbaric and deranged. They are monsters.
How did they know that iron burnt my kind? It wasn't something that was never openly talked about, my father goes to great lengths to make sure that no one ever speaks of it aloud. Especially when you never know who is watching.
Someone must have let it slip, even if they didn't mean to, or maybe the Griffin King has spies somewhere, maybe they were watching us this entire time.
Fuck. That has to be it, that has to be why he knows so much.
It must be how he knows about me.
I opened my eyes to see I was still in the carriage, only it had now stopped outside a massive black castle, and I was on the floor.
If i was stronger i would have tried to escape, but my body could barely move, the iron was crippling me.
It was making me weak. Vulnerable.
I wish I could just disappear, but that didn’t seem to be an option, not with my hands bound, I had to find another way to escape.
I had to get home and warn my father that it was all for nothing.
I had to warn him that it was a trick to lure me away from the Dragon kingdom.
Griffins are liars.
I sat up on the floor and peaked out of the window, though I saw nothing, the sun having set long ago. i was almost certain that I could hear voices, quiet and tense.
They were trying to make sure that i didn't overhear what they were saying. Goddess. I'm going to die here, aren't I?
“I told you to bring her to me unharmed.” said an unidentified voice, the male tone angry and low.
I couldn't see who the voice belonged to, but even just by the tone in his voice i could tell that he wasn't to be messed with. He was dangerous, they all were.
I heard Dranon’s voice next. “We tried sire, she resisted us.”
I tried to be quiet, but the clinking of the shackles gave me away, and I had no idea how much trouble I would be in, or if it was even Dieter behind the door.
Maybe i wasn't brought to the king at all, maybe i was brought into a den of monsters.
“It seems she has woken up.” Said the unfamiliar voice, still sounding angry.
I gulped and held my breath, wondering what was going on, and why I had been brought here if saving the eastern territory was a lie, because the king of the Griffin’s couldn’t really want a dragon for a wife.
Races didn't tend to mix, not if they could help it, and no one actively decides to claim a wife from halfway across the world that they have never met.
It would be a far greater risk that just marrying your own kind.
Something else had to be going on, I just didn't know what.
The door to the carriage opened and a tall man came into view, with more muscles than I had ever seen and a broad chest, he had chestnut hair and hazel eyes, the stubble on his chin left to grow out. He was dressed all in black and had a gold Griffin badge on the left side of his chest.
“What am I doing here? I demand you take me home this instant.” I snap, trying to look strong whilst trembling in pain from the iron.
“You see majesty, she doesn’t know her place.” Dranon the messenger growled, shaking his head as he scowled at me.
“She is from a different culture, she will learn.” The king Dieter (or so I'm assuming) said with a smirk, as though I was amusing. “So sorry for the way you were treated Lucinda Thorn, but you are in a new place now and your demands will go unheard.”
“I will not remain here, especially after such treatment.” I say slowly, pushing myself onto my knees without the help of my hands.
Dieter’s smirk grew, he was enjoying this. “As I said, your demands will go unheard, you are my property now, and as such you will not be leaving my side unless I give permission.”
“And I said that I will not remain here.” I growl, smoke coming out of my nostrils, the dragon within me stirring awake at the glance of my anger.
“You are not in Dragon Territory anymore, Lucinda. Here we do things differently, women such as yourself have no authority.” Dieter laughed, reaching into the carriage to try and grab me.
I recoiled away from his touch and growled again, more smoke coming from my nostrils and mouth, a warning that I will burn him.
“You have two seconds to comply, or I will show you who you belong to.” The griffin king threatened.
I scowl at the scum, “I belong to no one but my dragon.”
“Dranon, bring the iron whip we prepared.” he commanded, smiling evilly as my eyes widened.
“This is against the treaty!” I protested, fearful that he would actually use such a thing.
Were all the women here treated like this?
He laughed harder, and so did a few of the guards around us. “I signed no such treaty, surely you know that dear.”
My eyes widened at the realisation that he was right, The Griffin tribe never signed the treaty, I had no power here and I couldn’t protect myself. What was I going to do? I couldn’t just accept this and live by their rules, I had to get home, I had to warn my father.
“W-what do you want from me?” I stutter, Dranon returning with a large whip in his hand, one that had iron spikes on the end.
If I was hit with that, my skin would melt.
I could even die if the iron remains in my blood stream.
“I want your obedience.” says the king as he held out his arms. “Now, come here.”
I shuffled awkwardly towards him, my anger quickly replaced by fear, I was in more trouble than I had originally thought.
Dieter lifted me out of the carriage, my arms still shackled behind my back, his eyes roaming over what skin my gown allowed him to see.
He leaned down, kissing me lightly on the head. “Welcome to your new home, my dear.”
He was crazy, I had to get away.
I had to get home and warn them all.