Challenge

The panthers snarled ready to charge at her when Cyrus stood up with his hands in his pockets.

"Hurry up, this dress looks hideous by the way." He said, impatiently and bitterly.

"You are still talking about the dress?! What is going on?!" Sage yelled in both fear and anger. She was ready to burn him to ashes and his panthers were ready to launch at her.

Cyrus stared at her blankly.

"Once in a while, I and my guardians switch form. Do not be scared, I am not going to kill you. Well, not now." He said nonchalantly.

Sage wasn't sure if she was terrified, shocked, or bewildered, but she was certain that she was experiencing a lot of negative emotions at that moment. The ice dragon turned out to be more than just an ice monster. He was powerful, which was why she found it difficult to kill him.

"Go and change that hideous dress." He said again and sat back on the couch placing his leg on top of the other.

"Do not command me, you fifthly creature!" Sage growled through her teeth and stormed away back to the room.

After changing into a different black, straight dress that highlighted her curves. She put her hand on her chest just before leaving and did her best to avoid regretting her choices in life.

Although the nine-tailed fox and demon panthers were his guardians, it appeared as though they were a part of him.

Thinking deep, she realised that the nine tailed fox wasn't black when she saw it. She wanted to flee, but she thought that doing so would make her nothing less than a coward.

She sighed and made her way back to the main room where she saw Cyrus petting a black fur ball on his lap. Sage's heart nearly burst through her mouth. When she realised the black fur ball was Snowflake, the nine-tailed fox, she screamed and shut her mouth.

"Okay enough, I am leaving!" Sage shouted, ran back to the changing room and changed back into her clothes.

She wore her mittens and tiptoed out of the changing room. She wanted to leave the shop without Cyrus and his guardians knowledge.

Walking into another room that was next to the changing room, she gasped in fright when she saw Lisa's body headless in the pool of her own blood.

Sage screamed at the scene and ran out of the room breathing hard.

"Did you kill Lisa?" Sage shouted and stormed back to the main room.

Standing in front of the mirror, Cyrus was gazing at his reflection. He had such a wild, enigmatic appearance.

"Yes, why?" Cyrus asked flatly and turned to look at her.

"Why?" Sage asked, her eyes twitched.

Cyrus stared at her bored then sighed shaking his head.

"You are wasting my time, parrot," He said with a frown.

"I am not going to try out any dress, I just want to go back to the castle." Sage said angrily and walked towards the door.

Just as she placed her hand on the handle, she heard, "The ball is as important as to why I have to be lovey dovey with you in front of Charlotte."

She jerkily turned around to see Cyrus standing extremely close to her. She gave him a serious scowl and backed away from him.

"You married me to kill me... To take my life source," She paused with a trembling sigh then asked. "What is all this about?"

The side of Cyrus lips pulled up. "You stabbed me now you want to know more about me." He said.

"No matter what and no matter how I regret it, Cyrus Dragos, you are still my pathetic husband." Sage said with a scoff.

"Arrogant," Cyrus hissed furiously and grabbed her jaw harshly.

Sage winced in pain as she felt his long nails slowly piercing into her skin. She held his wrist with both her hands and squinted her eyes due to the sharp pain.

"I will not tolerate your arrogance." Cyrus growled and released her jaw.

Sage gave him a fierce glance while slowly rubbing her jaw. "Neither will I tolerate your rude remarks and foolish behaviors." She fired.

Cyrus cocked his head sideways. He was undoubtedly attempting to manage his rage. The woman in front of him was really getting under his skin.

"Go and pick any dress or else you will end up like Lisa." He threatened, shoved her aside, opened the door and stormed out.

Sage sighed in frustration as she continued rubbing her jaw.

Cyrus had killed an innocent person without any reason. Or was there a reason? Even if there was a reason, he didn't have to kill her, did he?

On the couch, the nine-tailed fox and demon panthers were ogling her. Everything seemed bizarre to her, she had a lot of questions, and she could feel her hatred for Cyrus growing by the second. She was growing more and more determined to kill him, and she was confident that nothing would stop her.

Sage grabbed the flamboyant red dress that she spotted first and that complemented her hair. She went back to the main room and discovered that Cyrus's guardians had left.

"Scary," She muttered to herself and left the shop, frowning where she encountered Cyrus talking softly to Arthur.

Noticing her presence, they stopped talking and turned their attention to her.

"Smile," Cyrus said to her with a flat yet mocking tone.

"Why is this ball so important?" Sage asked sternly.

Cyrus nodded slowly. "My birthday, your death day or our mating day." He answered casually.

Sage's frown deepened, Cyrus' eyebrows shot up in surprise at her response, and Arthur, who was observing the exchange, strode out to the back of the carriage.

"What nonsense," Sage spat through her teeth.

"Oh no parrot, it is not nonsense," Cyrus said with a deep chuckle that held something sinister.

Sage could feel goosebumps popping out of her skin.

"You see, my birthday is actually the worst day of my life because I did something terrible that I want to reverse which will lead to your death and that is why I need your life source, your fire core. Mating, Charlotte told me that we need to bring an heir." Cyrus explained calmly.

His every word made Sage regret why she agreed to get married to him.

"I do not care about anything that have to do with you.." She paused and pointed at him. "Put this in your small brain, Cyrus Dragos, there is no way I am going to let you kill me and there is no way I am going to let your filthy hands touch me. I am going to kill you and your birthday is going to be your death day." She threatened confidently.

"Oh, is that so?" Cyrus asked in amusement.

Sage dropped her arm and swallowed hard. She was feeling both angry and hungry. She hadn't eaten all day.

"I did not say anything funny, did I?" She asked with displeasure.

"You talk too much and you have also challenged me." Cyrus said with a devious smile that brought out his dimples.

Sage was taken aback. "What?"

He suddenly leaned his face close to hers while she took a few wobbly steps away from him. His sly smirk grew as he wrapped his arm around her petite waist and drew her close to him.

He then whispered in her ear,

"You are going to bear my child whether you like it or not."