Courting (Part 1)

Ravina stalked back to her room with her hands clenched. If she had a pistol in her hand she would indeed have shot him in the head. Lucky dragon, but soon he would become unlucky. Because her favorite weapon wasn't a pistol. It was her mind.

She arrived at her room where Ester waited as usual. Her face lit up upon her arrival.

"My lady." She took her hands and led her to sit on the bed. "How was it?" She asked excitedly.

Ravina remembered Lord Steele and the kiss he placed on her wrist. A kiss could possibly not have that effect. At least not on her. It frightened her that he could make her react in such a way.

"It was alright."

"I want details." She shook her hands pleadingly.

"Alright. Let me get comfortable first."

Maybe she needed to talk to Ester to know more about men. Experience wise.

Ester helped her change and then they sat comfortably in her bed. Ravina told her what happened to see Ester's reaction. Was it normal for men to be that bold with a woman? Was he perhaps taking advantage of her innocence? Ester might give her some insight.

"Oh," Ester said, her eyes widening. Alright, he was too bold. "That is bold, my lady but I don't know why I like it. It makes my heart beat fast." She placed her palm on her chest.

Ravina had also felt that effect where her heart picked up the pace.

"What do you think of him?" Ravina asked.

"Well, if he intends to marry you perhaps he feels like he can be bold. Maybe you two will share a kiss soon."

A kiss? That would happen too. This whole physical thing made her uncomfortable. She didn't even like hugs. How was she supposed to endure this? But then she remembered his lips on her skin. Would it feel the same on her lips?

She swallowed, still a bit horrified.

"My Lady, I know you don't like people getting close to you but he will be your husband," Ester said, a bit saddened for her.

"I know," Ravina said.

"You might enjoy it. He seems attracted to you."

Maybe. He promised he would make it enjoyable but she doubted that.

"And if I may my lady, he is quite handsome." She smiled.

Ravina could acknowledge a man's appearance and his way of dressing and carrying himself but she never felt attracted to any. She was dead inside.

"He is," she agreed.

"Imagine what your children would look like," Ester said dreamingly.

Children would be a nightmare but she had no choice. It came with getting married and a man like Lord Steele would of course want his name to be carried on. He didn't seem to want to change his mind either.

Well, she would just have to take the good with the bad.

"Oh well, I will let you sleep. Let me know if you need anything."

"Thank you, Ester. Good night."

"Good night."

Once Ester left, Ravina lit a few more candles and pulled out professor Ward's notebooks.

She had gone to Malachi tonight to test the scent theory but he seemed to have regained control over his emotions. She could not conclude that he wasn't affected by her scent yet.

Opening the notebook, she scrolled to the page she was reading before the party. She then found the latest line she read and continued.

The male would usually find his breedmate during her most fertile years and he would be the most drawn to her and eager to mate during her fertile days.

Fertile? This word made her feel a certain way she couldn't quite describe.

She turned the pages to find something to help her. When the word attraction caught her eye, she stopped.

The title was "How to attract your breedmate".

Just like animals certain colors and sounds were used to attract breedmates. Other ways were to display power and strength.

The males would show off their skills in combat, physical strength, and endurance to attract their breedmate. Females would use bright colors to their advantage and seduce with their voices.

Voice? Oh, God. If Ravina ever sang, people would turn deaf so the voice seduction was out of the question. Let's see the colors, she thought.

Red. Dragon males were attracted to the color red. In fact, a breedmate wore the color red at her mating ceremony.

Red? She scoffed. He had threatened she would be wearing red when dead.

A cunning smile curved her lips as she closed the book. Alright, king Malachi. You should see me in red before I die, she thought.

Ravina went to sleep, looking forward to her new experiment.

In the morning as she walked by the window she caught sight of her Uncle and Lord Steele. Ignoring them she went ahead and had Ester help her change and make her hair. When she went by the window again they were still talking.

Ravina paused and walked closer to the window. Her uncle and Lord Steele stood close to each other as if speaking about something secretive. Lord Steele had a grim look on his face and listened to her uncle intently while her uncle spoke continually.

Lord Steele said a few words and then her uncle continued. What were they talking about for so long?

Lord Steele spoke again and this time she watched his lips carefully. She believed he said, "don't worry."

Was her uncle giving him lectures about taking care of her? Still, they wouldn't talk about her for so long and Lord Steele wouldn't look so focused. Certainly, they were planning something. Being a governor appointed by her father, they could be discussing something political.

Ignoring them she went to the laboratory as usual. Bram was curious about her meeting with Lord Steele. Ravina gave him a curt reply saying it was alright.

"You have known him for a long time?" She then asked after thinking for a while.

"Yes," Bram said.

"Is he trustworthy?"

"Well, he was very close to your father," Bram replied.

"That doesn't answer my question."

"I don't know what kind of trust you mean Ravina. I just know he will give you the protection you need. He is much more powerful than you think."

She nodded thoughtfully.

"Did you get any information on breedmates?" He asked.

"Yes. Professor Ward worked with more dragons than I thought. It seems like many came to him in exchange for a favor. They wanted to know if breeding between humans and dragons is possible."

"It is not surprising. The dragons aren't as reproductive as humans so they could have been looking for humans to breed with."

"Wouldn't that cause a problem with the other dragons that don't want to mix with humans?"

"Maybe it is a clan decision to bring in human breeders to keep the clan alive."

She remembered how Malachi threatened to make her a breeder for his clan. Maybe it was a common thing. She felt sick again thinking if her sister could be in that situation. She peeled the skin on her fingers again.

"Stop that!" Bram said walking around the table. "You are ruining your hands again." He opened the drawer and pulled out one of his medicine pastes to put on her fingers.

"It is useless." She said but he ignored her and applied the paste to her raw fingers. It burned like hell.

He then lifted the sleeve on her dress to examine her arms. Sometimes she cut herself with her pen. Not intentionally. It just happened and she couldn't stop it.

She noticed a few cuts that she couldn't even remember how she got them. "I am not cutting myself." She assured him.

He just shook his head and gave her the paste to use on herself.

In the afternoon Ravina prepared herself to meet Lord Steele. Last night, he had asked to meet her again and take her out and she had agreed. He was waiting for her inside the gate with guards and horses ready when she arrived.

"Good afternoon, Your Highness." He gave a curt elegant bow.

"Good afternoon, My Lord." She curtsied.

Lord Steele came and took her hand helping her down the few stairs ahead. He then pulled her closer a little and kissed her knuckles.

"I have been waiting to see you again." He said, his eyes staring into hers.

Ravina felt heat rise to her face. What was this?

When she said nothing he led her to their horses. "Are you ready to leave?" He asked.