Chapter 1: Sold To The Dragon

Mackenze watched as her little sister eventually fell asleep. Xzayvien stood up, knowing she had to follow him even though she hadn't been informed. After entering his suite, Mackenze summoned the confidence to speak with him.

"Thank you, my Lord. I never expected the generous gesture you showned me today," 

"I couldn't possibly help you because of what you offered in return," he responded after a long silence between them.

"I'm a low-level citizen in my village; how could I repay you without providing myself as a maid to you? Don't you need one, my Lord?" she asked in a trembling voice.

"I don't a maid precisely, why did you possibly think I'll waste my money to rescue your sister if I only needed you as my maid?" he asked in a sarcastic tone, looking deep into her eyes.

"I don't need you as my maid, but as someone close to me, I didn't help you because of what I expected in return. I need you, my Ivore (love), since you are my mate, someone I have been waiting to meet since my three hundred years on earth," 

"What are you saying, my Lord?" she stutters and takes a step back, terrified. She noticed him flashing his brows at her in distress, and she wonders why.

"I am the cursed dragon, and you are my mate. But, because you're a human, you have to surrender your virginity for me to relieve the curse, and I have to mark you as mine," he announced, stunning her to the core, and seeing him move closer to her made her want to scream but couldn't bring herself to.

After getting an inch closer to where she stood, he halted on spot, "I won't force you, just say what your heart wants and I would accept it,"

"Even if it does hurt you, my Lord?" she slutters and he gave out an appealing nod.

"I can't offer you what you asked for; in my realm, I'm only a nobody. And I am scared I will be permanently in debt to them. 

Finally, I'm terrified of your kind; you're bloodsucking beasts!" she yelled angrily, and her comments triggered him emotionally, but he slowly mumbled.

"Alright, I'll take you to your realm with your sister in the evening, if that's what you really wanted," he said nothing else, and he walked away from her faster than normal.

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The night has finally arrived, and Mackenze will most likely be chosen by a dragon. It was not what she wanted, but she had no choice but to accept her fate.

A line of gorgeous maidens may be seen waiting to be chosen by the dragons. Some desired to be dragon's brides for their money, while others for their attractive appearances.

But Mackenze's mind was different; she was only there because her aunt compelled her due to her excessive greed for money. It has long been customary for any bride to be given a large sum of money before being taken away by her mate.

As a result, Mackenze's aunt was just interested in the money and ignored her. Meanwhile, following the declaration of the mating ceremony to begin by their supreme King, Xzayvien, the dragons began approaching the selected maidens.

Mackenze sneaked out of their midst as the mating ceremony began. Though she is unfamiliar with the dragon realm, she is desperate to flee before she is discovered to be missing.

Everywhere was totally dark, and as a human who isn't used to walking in the dark, it was tough to figure out where to go. After reaching the chosen bride's building, she attempted to devise a means of escape, but was thwarted by a mysterious voice.

"Are you trying to escape?" Mackenze moved her head backwards, seeing the figure standing in front of her sent shivers down her spine, filled with fear.

"My Lord…., "I'm actually the King, "You're the King?"

"Yes. Are you shocked?" Xzayvien inquired quietly, this time looking deeply into her eyes, hoping for an answer. 

Mackenze gave an affirmative nod, despite her attempts to mask her dread, and Xzayvien could see a tinge of panic welling up in her eyes.

"My Lord, please do not retract your words. You are not here to take me as your bride, right?" her words remained incomplete as he drew her closer to himself, making her an inch away from him.

"Who else touched you, Kenze?" he inquired in a frigid tone, prompting Mackenze raised her eyebrows, bewildered, "I don't get you, My…,"

"Did any male touch you? I can't feel my touch on you again, claiming you're a wanted bride," he said, leaving Mackenze immobile in dread.

She was fleeing from them, unaware that fate had already prepared her for disaster! The prospect of being a dragon's bride upset her little body, and she has no idea when tears started streaming down her cheeks.

Xzayvien was very saddened to see his mate cry; even though she didn't want him, the bond continued drawing him to her. He wanted to console her and make her feel loved— most crucially, her reason for hating dragons, despite the fact that he was their King, his obligation was to destroy those who sought to harm his people.

The lady standing before him was totally different from them; she was his mate, and he was eager to learn why she disliked him so much.

When a person appeared out of nowhere, Mackenze immediately went behind him for protection, believing he was a dragon.

When the mystery individual noticed their King, he quickly bowed in respect, saying, "I apologize for invading your privacy, King Xzayvien. But I have someone who is uniquely mine in your midst. 

Please, kindly allow me to take her with me," the dragon pleaded pluckily, and Mackenze, realizing he was referring to her, gripped Xzayvien's cloth protectively while shaking.

"She is not yours today or in the future. Even if she was yours a minute before, she became mine the instant I felt her touch on my skin. She's mine; go get yourself another bride," Xzayvien replied possessively, in a frigid and angry tone.

"I'm next to you; aren't you supposed to be mindful of all my loyal days with you? Why would you take what is mine!" the dragon shouted angrily, causing the building to shake slowly in fear of his deep icy aura.

The dragon prepared to assault Xzayvien, and he was also ready to unleash his attack, but his little mate's grasp tightened on him.

"Please, my Lord, I'm losing my sight," he heard her mutter quietly, and Xzayvien focused his complete attention on her. Mackenze was blindfolded, but he could watch her gradually losing consciousness.

Without thinking twice, Xzayvien guided her out of the building, knowing the intruder would not follow.

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Mackenze opened her eyes and found herself in an unknown suite; she was bewildered and suspected she had been kidnapped.

"You're awake," she heard someone remark. She rotated her shoulder to the opposite side and saw Xzayvien standing behind her.

"My Lord?"

"I barely arrived here in a few minutes; it appears you are improving. I'd take you back to your realm very soon," he doesn't even wait for her to say anything before leaving her sight.

"I should not have asked him for help. Why is heaven always against me?" she mumbled, and tears of grief began to flow freely down her cheeks.

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Mackenze entered her aunt's compound, and as expected, her aunt was furiously waiting for her. She had expected her to be united with a selected mate, but Mackenze's approach only serves to trigger her.

"Aunt, I'm sorry, but I wasn't chosen as anyone's mate," Mackenze pleaded, immediately falling to her knees in sorrow.

"You've always been useless! You couldn't even bring glory to my family for all those years I've been looking after you and your useless little sister since you became orphans. Is this all I get in exchange?"

"I'd do anything to compensate for my tragedy. I promise to work more; please don't send us away," Mackenze apologized, knowing what her aunt would say if she wasn't chosen.

"Your sister is of no use to me, so I'm going to sell you off to any buyer of my choice instead," her aunt said sinisterly, making Mackenze scream in surprise.

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In the dragon realm, in the slave market, some carnally inclined men could be seen betting their money on Mackenze.

"A hundred coins!"

"Three hundred coins!"

"Seven hundred coins!"

"Two bags of gold and silver," said a frigid voice, thrilling the audience. Mackenze's turned toward the buyer, and spotted a mature and attractive man seated inside a carriage.

Several eyes were perplexed when they saw who had requested her, who was none other than Xzayvien. Though they were unaware of his personality because he disguised himself, his pricey robe speaks loudly!

Two guards approached the gathering, grabbed Mackenze's hands, dragged her out. And she was guided into her Master's carriage.