The Dragon Brothers

Viola POV

I’m standing in front of the mirror staring at myself. Today is my wedding day. Today is the first day in my life I will leave my parents’ castle. My dress is ivory with gold embellishments. It clung to my curves in all the right places. My ebony hair is arranged on top of my head with gold hair pins showing off my long slender neck. I didn’t have much time left as the maids were quickly rushing me out the door. I made my way to the throne room where he would be waiting. He, a man known for his ruthless character as the general of the northern army, a man part dragon with red horns protruding from his head, a man rumoured to be part devil. I had no desire to marry such a man. In fact, I had no desire to marry any man. I didn’t care that he was about to be crowned king as soon as his father passed on. I didn’t care about titles, wealth, and power. I wished for freedom to travel, to be myself without rules, and to not care about what society has to say. As I walked to the throne room I thought of how much I hated this dress. How much I hated wearing any dress. I wanted to wear pants but society said I could not. There were so many things I wanted to do but since I was a princess about to marry a prince I could not. The throne room’s door opened and there he stood. He was dressed in white with red embellishments. His long hair was silver with hints of blue. He was quite handsome. His facial features were sharp and pronounced, his body was large and muscular, and his height was taller than anyone else in the room. Once I looked at him it was hard to look away. I felt this strange magnetic pull as I walked closer to him. I wondered if he felt it too.

The ceremony was quite short and then I was left alone with him. I stood there staring into his eyes. He finally broke the silence. “Come, I’ll show you to our bedroom. I believe your things should arrive from your castle some time this afternoon. I can arrange for a tour of my castle if you would like. Unfortunately, I’ll be too busy to attend. You can go anywhere on castle grounds except for my study and do not leave the grounds.” Lucian spoke sternly.

As we reached the bedroom he held open the door for me.The room was sparsely decorated with four large chests and two large wardrobes. A small sitting area with a chaise sofa and a lounge area were located in front of a balcony. A large canopy bed was backed to the center of one wall. I suddenly realized that I would be expected to sleep with this man that was part devil! The idea was revolting!

“We will sleep in the same room and in the same bed but I won’t force myself upon you. I expect you to come to dinner in the evenings and all events we have. The rest of the day is yours. I have my breakfast alone in the morning in my study. I have to leave now.” Lucian said coldly.

I turned my head as he walked out of the room. He was definitely a man of few words. I began looking around the room hoping to find a way to escape. There was a large balcony overlooking a garden. Outside of the balcony was a tall oak tree with large limbs that brushed against the balcony’s exterior. The garden was next to the moat that ran around the castle and so the fencing next to the moat was short compared to fencing around the front gates. I quickly began to form a plan to escape.

I was staring outside the window forming my escape plan for early tomorrow morning right after breakfast when people are just beginning their day. I am brought out of my daydreams by a knock at the door. A young maid is there to show me around the castle and the castle grounds. Viola knows that a tour could help in her escape plans so she excitedly greets the maid, “Hi I’m Princess Viola. What is your name?”

“I’m Argenta. One of the house maids and I’m pleased to show you around. Prince Lucian has designated me as your personal maid so I will help you get ready every morning, run your baths, and attend to any other of your needs. The castle consists of seven floors. The main floor is the ballroom, library, throne room, several dining halls of different sizes, various meeting rooms, the kitchen, the laundry room, and the servant’s rooms. The next five floors are for the five princes. Each prince has their own floor. The seventh floor is for the king. Each prince has a bedroom, a study, a private library, several guestrooms, and a beautiful greenhouse on their floor.”

I became increasingly interested in Lucian’s private library and wanted to see it immediately. “What kind of books did he keep? Did he like poetry? What about modern fiction? Or was he more into historical documentaries?” I queried Agenta.

Agenta giggled as she led me to the private library. As she opened the doors I gasped in delight at the large selection of modern and outdated prints of almost every genre imaginable. The room was massive to encompass so many bookshelves and the shelves went all the way to the ceiling. There was a brass staircase so that someone could get to the books on the higher shelves. In the middle of the room were leather couches and in between the bookshelves were more leather chairs.

I instantly became sad that due to my escape plans I would not have the opportunity to spend as much time here as I would like. I had read every book in my parents’ library and only dreamed of one as grand as this. I loved reading fiction for fun, poetry for its beauty, and educating myself on history. There wasn’t much that I didn’t like to read about. For a while I just stood in the library in amazement.

The next stop on the tour was the Lucian’s greenhouse which I thought was absolutely breathtaking. “It’s beautiful! There are so many plants and flowers that I don’t even know what they are.” I could imagine myself with a book sitting at one of the many tables sipping a cup of tea and enjoying the beauty around me.

Agenta smiled. “Yes. Prince Lucian keeps quite exotic plants and flowers. He brings some back on his travels.”

“Oh, he travels?” I perk up as traveling is one of my key plans once I escape the castle.

“Yes. He travels with the Northern Army as their General and rumour has it he takes long flights in his dragon form to see faraway lands when he is feeling melancholy.” Agenta admits.

“Tell me, can someone ride on top of him while he is in his dragon form.” I ask shyly.

“Supposedly, only their true mate can ride on top of their dragon and only thetir dragon will know who that person is. Well, shall we get back to the tour? Let’s go down to the first level and I can show you the gardens that run along next to the moats. The outside of the castle is surrounded by gardens. The gardens are surrounded by a moat which then is surrounded by fencing. Two of the gardens on the east and west side of the castle have large pools within them. We should visit them first.” Agenta smiles back as she walks the princess out of the greenhouse.

The gardens were truly beautiful and the pools were nothing less than breathtaking. After the tour was finished Agenta filled a bath with tea tree oil and rose blossoms then she laid out a dress for me to wear to dinner. The dress was a deep blue with gold embellishments and showed off every curve perfectly. Agenta then brushed my hair and fixed it with a gold and sapphire hair pin. She topped the look off with some light blush to my cheeks and some rose color to my lips. I looked absolutely stunning. Agenta took me to the dinning hall. “Since guests have not been invited and there is no entertainment, the small dining hall is being used tonight. I will be one of the servant attendees. After the meal I will take my leave for the night and will see you in the morning. The prince usually takes his breakfast in his study. I will find out if that changes now that you are here.” Agenta whispered outside of the dining hall before opening the door for me.

As I entered the dining hall six men stood up. I once again felt the strange magnetic pull to Prince Lucian. The old and feeble king stayed seated. He raised his hand and greeted me. “My dear child, Princess Viola, welcome to our family. I hope you have found your accommodations to your liking. Please, meet my sons. Your husband Prince Lucian, Prince Ambrose, Prince Cyprian, Prince Wolf, and Prince Quentin.” Each prince bowed their head as their name was called and I bowed in return. Prince Lucian pulled out a chair so I could sit down and dinner was served.

“So, princess, have you toured the castle yet?” Queried Prince Quentin.

“Yes. I did so this afternoon. I was impressed with Prince Lucian’s massive library collection and beautiful greenhouse. I also enjoyed the gardens outside the castle, in particular, the two pools on either side of the castle.” I honestly replied smiling.

“Hmmm, I wonder what else she’ll find that’s as massive?” Whispered Quentin. A round of snickers followed.

“Can you please respect the fact that we have a lady present? You do know how to act in front of a lady don’t you?” Lucian shot back with his eyes suddenly turning darker.

After Lucian’s response the dinner talk remained rather quiet. Once the king was done eating everyone stopped and Lucian helped Viola out of her seat to walk back to their floor. “I’m glad you liked the library and greenhouse. Those are my two favorite safe havens.” Lucian admitted quietly as he held the bedroom door open for Viola.

“Where do you travel to to find the exoctic plants?” I asked as I watched Lucian take off his shirt. I licked my lips at his large muscled body. He was definitely nice to look at.

“Well, as far as exotic places, I’ve been as far as India, the Orient, and Egypt. Have you ever been to the ocean?” Lucian smiled at her interest.

“No. This is the first time I’ve ever left my parents’ castle at all.” I answered feeling a bit unsophisticated. “What about the books? You have such a large variety. Have you read them all? Where did you get them from?” I asked, trying to change the subject.

“Either in my travels as a general or in my other travels. I have read most if not all. You are certainly chatty all of a sudden. I like it.” Lucian smiled watching me blush slightly. I quickly turned on my heels and ran for the washroom to change into my nightgown. Lucian shook his head and got into bed.

I snuck out of the washroom and slipped into the bed hoping not to disturb Lucian as I mentally reviewed her escape plan for tomorrow morning. Agenta had said that the guards at the watchtower change guards at 9 in the morning. She knew because she was smitten with one of the guards. That was when I planned to escape. During the change of the guards I would climb down the tree, make my way through the garden, wade across the moat, climb over the fence and then there’s freedom. Of course freedom meant walking through the forest not just to the next town but all the way to the Golden Empire. I slowly succumbed to sleep dreaming of freedom and making her own decisions in life.

A/N Please drop me a comment and let me know if you like the story or the chapter. I love all feedback both critical and complimentary. Check out my other book Prince Justus and the Rogue. You can also go to my facebook page for chapter updates and updates on new projects. https://www.facebook.com/Sammi-From-Anystories-1020524119915