Junia's POV
I stepped back from the mirror to take a look at the dress Ignara made for me, and it was perfect.
I chuckled softly and swirled around. Today, I agreed to have dinner with Ashmaris. There was a knock on the door to my chamber. I told the person to come in, and it turned out to be Ishkara's maid.
"Greetings from Lady Ishkara," the maid bowed. "Lady Ishkara asks if you will have dinner with her."
After the lunch three days ago, I have avoided Ishkara. I was confused, and I didn't even know who to believe, my father or Ashmaris.
My eyes fell on my bracelets again, which Ashmaris and his sister claimed had hindered me from feeling the mating bond.
I don't know whether to believe a man who killed my husband or my father, whom I haven't heard his own part of the story from.
"No. Tell her thank you and that I am busy." I smiled at the maid. The maid bowed and then left the room.
I adjusted the dress and made my way out of my chamber. I followed the directions I had been given. I got to the dining chamber, and it was set up in a romantic setting.
Ashmaris was already waiting there. His eyes roamed over me as I stepped further into the room. He walked toward me.
He brought out some flowers, cut off from their plants. "These are for you," he pushed them in front of me.
I frowned and looked at him with disgust. He had killed these lovely flowers. "You killed them," I snapped, taking the flowers from him.
I glanced around the dining chamber for a pot, but there was none.
"I thought you would like the flowers." He sounded like I was ungrateful.
"Not when they're dead."
"I fetched them myself. There were different types of flowers there. I didn't know which you would like. I see now you don't like flowers."
I turned to him. "I do. In my home, we don't kill flowers. Lovers plant beds of flowers that are their partner's favorite."
A smile appeared on his face but quickly disappeared. "Do you consider us lovers now?" His tone was teasing.
My eyes widened as I realized what I had said. "No, I don't. I only meant when giving flowers, you plant a bed of them." My tone was firm.
"I will plant one for you."
I didn't take him seriously. I placed the flowers on the table and decided I would replant them later after bringing them back to life.
"So what kind of flower do you like?" he asked.
"Why? You are not going to plant any, are you?" I laughed quietly, waving him off. He wouldn't even be able to do it.
He might not have been near a farm before. "Why do you think I would like flowers?" I asked him. He neared me and pulled out a chair for me to sit down.
"I am learning how to woo you."
His words stopped my little movement as I tried to sit properly on the chair. My eyes landed on him. He was staring right back at me.
No man would willingly admit that they were learning how to woo a woman. He said it like it was the most natural thing in the world.
I felt my cheeks warm from his burning gaze.
"Stop staring," I murmured.
"You look beautiful," Ashmaris said. His face didn't show anything. I don't know if he meant those words or if he was just saying them.
I nodded. I couldn't find my words. My cheeks grew hotter.
We ate our food in silence until he broke it. "Do you like to read?" he asked.
My eyes darted up and landed on him. "Yes," I answered reluctantly.
"What kind of book?"
His question made me stop. I hated answering this question. I like to read books, romance genre, but most especially books on governing and war strategies.
The Seelie men find a woman who reads books other than fairytales and romance absurd and unattractive.
My father let me read, but not too much. He claimed that he let me read a little of such books so I could offer advice to my husband someday.
"Fairytales," I lied, picking up my cutlery and starting to eat.
"You are lying."
"I am not."
He didn't push further. "We have a large library in the west wing. You can go there if you want to read," he said, and he continued eating his food.
His words got my attention again. The idea of a library was so tempting.
"It rarely has visitors," he said, like he knew I would jump at the chance.
But I didn't reply to him. He would look at me weird if he knew that I liked to read such books. Men rarely consider women's opinions, and that shouldn't be right.
"Go on a ride with me."
"Why?" I dropped my cutlery on the plate. My eyes found him.
"So that you can see the city," he replied shortly.
"Your sister already did that. You have to find a better reason if you want me to follow you."
"Is there something you are expecting from me?"
I frowned. That hurt my ego. "No," I replied too quickly, averting my gaze.
He chuckled and stood up, walking toward me. He stopped when he was near me. "The reason I want to show you the city is because I want you to mate with me."
I flushed.
"So would you let me show you my city from the sky?"
I turned to him. Our eyes met again. His gaze was so intense it felt burning.
My heart thumped hard against my ribs.
"Yes," I agreed, my voice suddenly soft and quiet.
"We should go now. The view is nice at this time." He pulled me up by my arm. His hands were warm against my arms.
His hands found mine and engulfed them in his large ones. Then he let go, and I missed their warmth, wanting him to keep holding me.
What am I thinking about?
I cleared my throat, regaining my posture. "I want to plant those flowers first." I pointed to the already dead flowers on the table.
He simply nodded, and a few minutes later maidservants came in with pots filled with sand. I pushed each flower into the pot and pressed my hands against the dirt to bring them back to life.
Ashmaris watched me in silence as I did everything. He didn't disturb me or tell me to hurry up. At some point, he assisted me. When we were done, he called the maids again without talking, which I suspected he did through a mind link.
"Where do you want them?" he asked. His question brought me out of my thoughts.
"In my chamber, on the balcony," I answered. The maids started grabbing the pots and taking them out of the dining chamber, which was now an utter mess.
My dress was stained, but I used my magic to get it clean. It wasn't exactly clean—it was just an illusion that made it look like the stain wasn't there.
I wasn't supposed to be doing this because Marlien had warned me not to use my magic. He told me I would need strength when he wanted to help me take off the bracelet.
The bracelet they claimed was harmful never hurt until now that I am here in the dragon hold. If it is restricting my real self, what if I was dangerous, or my father was just trying to protect me from myself?
"Are you ready?" I heard Ashmaris's voice, distant from me. I glanced to where his voice came from, and he was standing right on the balcony of the dining chamber.
One thing I noticed is that they lived in the upper part of the palace, and every place had a balcony.
"When did you walk to the balcony?" I didn't even hear his footsteps. I walked toward him. "Why is there a balcony in every chamber?"
"It makes it easy for us to take flight," he answered, taking off his upper clothing.
"What are you doing?!" I yelled, looking away.
"Taking off my clothes," he answered.
"I thought we were going for a ride?" I moved away from him, pressing a hand against my chest.
"Yes, I need to shift to my dragon form. Do you mind?" he said.
I turned to him. My eyes fell on his chest, then lower to his stomach—flat and hard-looking. He even had visible muscles.
I stepped closer and touched his stomach, feeling the muscle.
"How do you get all this muscle? Is it healthy?" I pressed my hand against one. He didn't answer my question, so I looked up at him.
He was already looking down at me, his eyes hooded. "You didn't answer me."
His breath was ragged.
He cleared his throat. "We should go now." He stepped away from me.
When he stepped away, it kind of hurt, but I brushed it off. "Okay."
He climbed over the balcony and jumped down. "Ashmaris!" I shouted and ran to the balcony, looking down, but I saw nothing.
I heard the clap of wings, then a loud roar, and he appeared in his dragon form. The moonlight shone against his dark scales.
He stopped midair, sustaining a posture near the balcony. He was large and majestic.
"Climb over."
I heard him. My eyes widened. He can talk in his dragon form?
"You can talk!" I exclaimed.
"Yes."
"I thought you would be mute." I laughed and climbed over the balcony. I jumped and nearly slipped off him, but I was quick to hold onto his horn.
I climbed up to his neck.
"I am not mute."
"You shouldn't be talking." I patted his head playfully. "Now be good and show me your city."
He tilted his head lightly, making me swirl slightly.
"Ahhh!" I screamed.
"You won't fall." His wings flapped, blowing wind into my hair. "Hold on to me."
I shifted, holding onto his horns. His head bent forward, and he dove down, earning a scream from me.