6 Awake

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CHAPTER 6

Followed by the dull pain she was starting to sense in her fragile body, Raven's eyes slowly fluttered open as though they were being forced apart without her consent.

A soft groan of pain escaped her lips as the aching feeling that she thought to have been from a dream spread throughout her whole body.

Yet, when she relaxed on the comfortably soft bed again, the pain eased up.

Her eyelids felt extremely heavy proving to her she had slept for a pretty long time, and when she stirred the other way, shutting her eyes to the irresistible call of sleep, that was when it suddenly struck her.

'A bed?'

Her eyebrows knitted into a look of enquiry as her hands subconsciously grabbed the duvet which was properly draped on her.

'How did a duvet get here?' Raven questioned inwardly.

For some unknown reason, she got the feeling she wasn't actually meant to be on a bed.

Snapping her eyes open at the disturbing intent, Raven forced her body to move, getting herself into a sitting position as her tired eyes finally landed on the structure of the room she was in.

It was different and looked nothing like her room.

"Where am I?"

She rubbed both eyes with the back of her hands in case she was hallucinating but staring at the structure again, it was still the same.

Her questionable gaze drifted from the black duvet which was draped on her to the walls of the room she was currently in.

The structure, the aura, as well as the intricate designs on the wall and bed furniture told her this wasn't like any house being built in Drakenflare.

The walls were masterfully covered in pieces of golden-orange amber to the extent Raven found it difficult to tell which was even its true colours.

The floors were equally well polished with intricate golden patterns and aside from the few ornate chairs set against the walls, the room sort of looked empty with a strange darkness looming at the left corner but she averted her gaze without paying much attention to it.

There were two large windows on the Easternmost walls, allowing direct sunlight to filter in, causing the confused and disoriented Raven to look away despite seeing such a beautiful sight of the morning view.

Her mind was a jumbled mess and finding herself in this odd but fancy room didn't help matters.

Whatever state her mind was in currently, only one question reigned in.

How in heaven's name did she get here or was this heaven itself?

Like a quick bolt to her brain, the memories which had escaped from her head came rushing in, causing her eyes to dilate in reaction as the images of fire and disaster flashed before her eyes.

"Awake?"

In the middle of recalling the earlier disaster, a cold deep voice resonated, sending quick shivers running down her spine.

Immediately, Raven whipped her head to the sound of the voice as a familiar dread followed deep down in her system.

Her breathing stilled. Her widened eyes remained sharp and piercing as she took in the being before her.

What she was actually expecting to see was a dragon with horns, sharp claws and teeth, ready to tear at her skin and feed on her flesh but on the contrary, it was a completely different thing.

As frightening as her thoughts could get, she immediately skipped the thoughts away.

There was no way a dragon that mighty would fit into this room without crumbling the buildings.

Lazily sitting on one of the ornate chairs was a being having his aquamarine-blue eyes locked on her like a predator.

She blinked in reverence but found it difficult to pinpoint what his face looked like in the peach darkness as her gaze swept over him in disbelief.

The clarity of his fair-toned skin had splendidly offset his silvery-white hair which plummeted seducingly over his face, shoulder and down to his back.

It made her, who had much paler skin, jealous of the smoothness of the stranger's glossy and spotless skin.

Everywhere else in the room was brightly lit save for the place the stranger before her was currently seated which had an eerie darkness to it.

One that felt both alluring and sinfully tempting.

Her gaze slowly went down to see he was wearing a transparent black robe which left a very tempting view of his chiselled chest that Raven found herself gulping hard from the sight.

Where did this daredevil come from? Didn't she pass out when trying to save a little girl?

How did it end up like this?

However, no matter what thoughts spiralled in her mind, she could not help but feel a certain familiarity with this being and immediately felt her brain working.

As Raven thought, trying to fix the pieces together, her eyes widened again when a strange but somewhat true idea struck home.

The eyes, hair, different room design, the familiar darkness exuding from him the more she stared at him... There was no mistaking it.

It was him. The same person she met in the cave. But how did he turn out like this? From a scary beast to an alluring sexy daredevil.

Her heart thudded wildly against her chest upon realization.

At the same moment, the being before her leisurely rose to his feet as his eyes fluttered slightly, making known his majestic nature as the air went still against his silent command.

Her gaze rose with him, taking in all of this undefined being. Something she came to regret right after as she found herself being drawn to the majestic nature he possessed.

It felt as though he had been perfectly sculpted to show the world exactly what true beauty meant.

He took a step forward and then another, followed by a third till he was out of the darkness, submerging into the light the room had to offer.

Each time he took a step forward, her heart jumped in her chest, thumping loudly in her ears that she was afraid her heart might even escape from her chest soon.

"Finally," she heard his hollow voice comment in a bored manner.

'Finally? What does he mean by finally?' Raven questioned in her mind but kept her gaze firm.

Sensing her confusion from the way her brows creased, Xavier mercifully decided to help her out.

"A day, 2 hours and 47 minutes since you passed out. Finally, you're awake."

Rather than bothering her mind into paying attention to his calculation, she immediately questioned him in a harsh manner.

"Who are you and what do you want with me?"

She felt that if she could play the victim who was oblivious to the situation, then he may spare her.

But meeting his gaze right now, it felt as though he sensed her underlying pretence and it caused her to retreat on the bed.

"You still need to ask, huh, Saphira?" He inquired.

She had already turned in a different direction, distracting her mind from the handsome-looking being but when he called her that name again, Raven snapped her head back.

"I am not Saphira!"

"Ah, I see. Meaning you recall who I am," he blatantly clarified.

Her mouth fell open in the realization that she fell right for his schemes before shaking her head as she rose to her feet.

"What are you doing?"

"I thought I made it obvious? I'm leaving."

"Under whose authority?" His deep voice echoed from behind her while she fought with her escape thoughts in her mind as she turned around to glance at the room once more.

"Thanks for kidnapping me, but I must return," Raven turned in his direction, balling her palms into fists by her side.

"You do have a lovely home. Sadly, I cannot stay," she added hoping he would consider allowing her escape.

"You will."

"No, I won't."

Although she was scared of the very wits inside of her, she had thought better about how to control them.

As dragons, it was quite easier to smell someone's emotions just from looking at them, if they did not properly guide them.

However, when faced before this being, she was left speechless and many a time allowed her emotions to be read.

"I said you will," Xavier announced in a domineering manner, letting the cold aura seep out once more.

He had hoped that this would scare her and put her in place but to his amazement, she did something else.

"And I said I won't! Do I look like your slave?"

He squinted at her question, completely taken aback by her words as he never expected her to have such fierceness in her.

Yet, when the thought of her being his wife crossed his mind, he shook all negative thoughts away.

After all, she was his Saphira. There was no way she would be timid.

However, because she shared a link and connection, Xavier knew her resolve would melt to his charms.

Taking a step further, Raven was forced to take one back until the back of her feet touched the bed frame.

Dead End!

"You were saying?"

"I won't stay."

"If I remember correctly, I never gave you a choice so it's obviously not up for discussion."

"Excuse me!" Raven roared in anger. "How dare you kidnap me and keep me hostage? Do you think the realm would let what you have done, go? Do you think my father would…"

Her words instantly hung in her throat when his cold eyes abruptly met hers, intimidating her with his towering figure.

"You are the first guest in my palace. And if you are bothered by anything, do not worry, soon my people will return."

All it took was a moment of silence before Raven burst into an uproar of laughter before him.

Never had Xavier who lived for centuries unending, found himself faced with such mockery.

However, the young little one before him did so merrily.

"Saphi…" She lifted her hand between them, forcing his words to come to an abrupt stop as his narrowed eyes glanced at her serious face.

"Never have I seen one act so delusional in all my life as you, your majesty. Your people, return?" Her eyes still twinkled with mischief and humour in them.

And instead of getting angry at her insult, he found himself admiring her instead.

"After the hell you caused?"

"Yes."

"Wow, bravo," she jested, musing at his delusion.

"Yes. Look around you. What do you see?"

Raven tore her gaze reluctantly from him and glanced around. True, this wasn't the kingdom she knew and it wasn't from a very far village as everything spoke of the wealthy status of the owner.

"The fact that this palace exists, is enough reason to believe that there are those loyal to me. And soon, they will return."

Her lips parted slightly from his words. He did have a point. One she failed to notice.

"Now, which one of us is delusional?"