《Hope: The Beast Mistress》


 1. Prologue

    The forest was magnificent in that spring. Birds were chirping, the wind blowing smoothly, and butterflies flowing from a flower to another. That morning stroll was perfect, but Hope needed to get back home before her mother started plowing. She was the only help her mother had, and she was trying her best despite her usual laziness.


    Even if she was twenty years old, Hope was still acting like a child sometimes. She loved playing around with her pets and strolling through the woods.


    She got back into the village and started the usual ritual of friendly greetings. Everybody knew everybody, so it was only polite to greet at every step of the way. Hope had many acquaintances but no real friends, except for her animals, which she didn''t consider animals at all. They were as intelligent and loveable as actual human beings.


    "Finally, you are back," her mother, Ona, greeted her. "I will plow, and you will come after me and sow." Ona went on with the task while Hope rested against a tree. It was so good to stay in the shade and enjoy the day. Hope opened her jacket and pulled off her squirrel, Josephine.


    "Jo, please take this," Hope whispered, giving it the bag with seeds. "These are not for you. Just go after my mother and drop a little bit along the way. When you finish it, come back for another. If you manage to do this five times, I''ll reward you with a huge bag of nuts."


    Hope had found Josephine in terrible shape two years ago. A red-tailed hawk hunted her down. Josephine fought him mid-air, and he dropped her on the ground. For months, Hope took care of her and healed her with herbs and love. Now, the squirrel squeaked happily and went off. Hope sighed in relief; finally, now she could take a morning nap.


    "Hope, bring me a glass of water. I am parched," she heard her mother shouting. "Oh, alright!". Hope put two fingers in her mouth and whistled loudly. A colossal grey curly dog appeared next to her. "Max, good boy! " she started petting him. "Follow me, boy!".


    Hope went into the kitchen, filled a glass of water, and put on Max the special harness she made, especially for these kinds of emergencies. Two straps grasped the glass of water, and she tied it perfectly. "Perfect! Max, go to my mum and give her the glass. Oh, and walk slowly, or the glass will be empty when you arrive." The dog left with his tail wiggling.


    Hope didn''t want to have a favorite child as any good parent, but Max was definitely her favorite. In the forest, she found him starving and suffering from several wounds inflicted by animals and humans. Almost a year it took for him to trust people again and to become this happy, beautiful dog constantly wiggling his tail.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    Hope was preparing to go back to her nap when she heard a sudden shout. A full-blown commotion had started in the village, but she couldn''t make sense of what was happening. So, she started running towards the point where the shout originated.


    A scared little boy was in the middle of the road crying, and no one was helping him. She recognized him as Tom, the butcher''s son, a sweet child that often came by to pet Max. Hope wasn''t a huge fan of children, but she couldn''t understand why no one was helping him get up. Also, his cries would have meltdown even an ice golem.


    Hope ran towards the boy, and only after she took him up in her arms, she saw the giant monster in front of her. The beast was twice her size in height, and its glowing yellow eyes petrified her. Its paw was huge, and it had three sharp claws going straight towards her.


    Hope realized she needed to protect that poor boy, so she needed to do something immediately. Without thinking it will actually work, she screamed, "Go away! Don''t hurt us!". Her heart was crushing her chest, and her feet started shivering.


    A complete silence surrounded everything. Hope opened an eye, being too scared to move. The creature was turning its back, and it was moving away from them. The whole village burst into applause. Everyone came to congratulate her courage, and without even knowing it, she became the village hero.


    This entire situation was a huge drag. Hope only wanted to take a nap. This kind of reputation could bring only more trouble and undesirable problems. A hero always gets in trouble and often pays with his life or any other important thing in his life.


    Hope didn''t realize how right she was until a few weeks later when armed guards appeared on her doorsteps. They were looking for the girl who tamed the beast, and they weren''t going to leave without her. Ona started crying, explaining that Hope is her only daughter and she can''t live without her.


    The officer in charge of the squad interrupted Ona abruptly. "Your daughter will come with us either way. That is the only possible outcome. It is your decision if we take her nicely or we beat both of you, and we take her unconscious." He was an emotionless wall, and any other argument would have just bounced back and crushed them.


    Hope couldn''t bear it anymore. She couldn''t stay quiet and let those men beat her mother. There wasn''t any other option. Hope kissed her mother on the cheek and held her tightly, not knowing when she will see her again.


    "Mum, take care of Max and Josephine. They will also be alone, and you guys will need each other." These were Hope''s last words before being shoved in a carriage and took off, not knowing the destination or even the purpose of this voyage. She had tears in her eyes, knowing this could be the last time she saw her mother.


    At least, Ona was safe, along with Max and Josephine. But who was this important person who wanted her so badly? One thing was sure: she will not be easy prey, and she will fight until her last breath against tyrants who feel they are above everyone else.

 2. The Real Beast

    Hope was tired after a whole day of traveling in that small carriage on a bumpy road. When it stopped, she managed to take a peek at the window, and she could see the Castle of Springwood. The carriage had arrived, and it was waiting for the mobile bridge to land over the Spring River so they could get inside the inner courtyard.


    The Castle of Springwood was high on the top of a hill surrounded by thick forest and imprisoned between two meandering arms of the Spring River. People say the previous Lord was the one who had decided the place where the castle was built. He specifically wanted everyone who came to the Castle of Springwood to think twice before bothering him.


    Hope realized that she had entered into great trouble only when her gaze fell upon Lord Springwood in the castle''s great hall. His black hair fell in strands of various sizes up to his shoulders. His ebony eyes were as dark as darkness itself. His pale white skin seemed like the sun never touched it before. The Lord''s smile was cold and a bit creepy, but his gaze made her blush. Why? She had never felt this way before, recognizing that his stunningness had overcome her.


    Hope wasn''t stupid. She knew that smile was a fake, perceiving some bits of his true intentions hidden behind that smirk. The Lord''s eyes were playful and enticing, but if you would look closely, you could see the bitter darkness that flowed beneath all that.


    Little she knew that the High Lord of Springwood was entirely bored. For Drake, that being his real name, the measly humans were tedious and troublesome, very few things being able to arouse any feelings inside his heart. Sometimes, the Lord could find exciting individuals to keep him entertained, but they didn''t last long. Even the ruler''s duties seemed dull. "What is your name?" she heard his baritone voice for the first time.


    Drake thought that today could be an exciting day, but he didn''t invest too much hope in it. The answer to his question arrived. "Hope." That made him smirk, thinking of the coincidence. Drake found an invigorating feeling spreading through his being. Maybe she won''t waste this day after all.


    "Tell me, are you going to be an interesting toy, or I should toss you aside like my previous ones?" Drake''s smirk widened, seeing Hope''s expression. But she didn''t back down. "I am not a toy! You can better compare me with a beast than with a doll. My advice is to release me before finding out why I am interesting."Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    Drake''s giggle echoed in the whole room, and all the guards were astonished. The last time he had done that was years ago, and it was a terrible day for all living in the castle. His mood could change, igniting his bloodlust and driving Drake in a full berzerk mode.


    He sat up from his throne and walked towards Hope. Drake grabbed her neck and pushed her onto the wall. His face was so close that she could feel his hot breath on her cheeks. Drake''s huge sharp nails were scratching off the lime on the wall. Hope heard his husky and threatening voice. "I will see this beast and how it fares in the arena. If you can''t survive, then so be it, but I would prefer you alive to try and tame you."


    Drake''s eyes were glowing, and the murderous feeling was weighing heavy on Hope''s chest, leaving her breathless. Or was the hand on her neck? She glared into his eyes indifferently. "The real question is who will be tamed and who will be the tamer."


    Drake was starting to enjoy this conversation. No one had dared to address him this way for ages. This girl was ruthless, possessing such boldness he once adored seeing in people before becoming empty on the inside. Drake''s inner voice started shouting, "She might be worthy of being my mate. I want to see how she fares in different situations and how she handles herself." He pushed back the voice within, needing to find his own resolution.


    Her big brown eyes resembled those of an innocent deer, but her inner strength made Drake perceive her as a fearless tiger stalking its prey. Good! That was becoming interesting, but a tiger still would be far beneath him. At that moment, Drake decided he needed to find out more about her.


    A shiver ran through Hope''s body when she heard his husky voice whispering in her ear. "I am bored, and you will entertain me. I will find out what makes you tick. After that, when I know everything I need, I will probably get bored again as usual. The real question is, in fact, if you will still be alive then."


    Drake turned his back and started moving away, returning to the throne. "Take her to the arena." Hearing his cold voice, Hope shivered, feeling how fear starts creeping inside her heart and realizing this lord can do whatever he wants with her.


    The officer who threatened Hope''s mother stuck his hand in her hair, pulling Hope out of the room. Maybe she closed her eyes, and that was the reason why she couldn''t see Drake''s movements. One moment he was near the throne, and the next, he was beside her. Blood covered her face when Drake cut off the hand that was painfully pulling her.


    Hope froze in place. There was no way she could describe her amazement. Hope would have done the same thing given a chance. At that particular moment, she didn''t know if she should be horrified or satisfied.


    The guard started screaming in agony while Drake smiled and licked the blood from his sword. His eyes glowed red when he showed his wicked smile again. "I never said you should inflict pain. That is my prerogative, and yours is to do what I order. Tsk, tsk, tsk...You taste as bad as I''ve imagined..."

 3. The Arena

    The arena was in the castle''s courtyard. The people who built it dug just this vast pit in the ground with only one way in or out. They have also set up a layer of barbed wire around the edges to secure the perimeter. No one moved; the guards and servants seemed like stone golems frozen in place.


    Drake appeared and sat on the single chair placed on the highest spot around the arena. "Let the game begin!" he shouted. This man''s ego made Hope giggle. An average person would probably feel fear or even worse, but all she could do was analyzing that intriguing man. Indeed, he was creepy and an egomaniac, but how else a powerful being could express boredom?


    Hope''s thoughts were interrupted by an enormous pulley that was letting down an iron-barred cage. Inside, a magnificent tiger was tilting its head and roaring menacingly. A servant girl gasped, seeing this creature that in her eyes seemed like a ferocious monster.


    But Hope saw something else. The tiger was angry indeed, but beneath all that hate, there was fear and sorrow. He would tear the head off anyone who would approach him to feel safe and ease his pain and hunger. A wild beast trapped in a cage and cornered in a pit... Hope knew that feeling; she was experiencing it right now.


    Drake made a sign, letting the pulley handler know he could open the cage. When the tiger made his first step out of the cell, Hope sat down while maintaining permanent eye contact. She was calm, peaceful even, sharing all her feelings and emotions with this magnificent creature in front of her.


    The tiger tilted his head and closed his drooling mouth when he heard her voice. "You are a splendid creature, and I adore you with all my heart. Do you wish to tell me your name? Hmmm... Menace, you say? I think Handsome is more like it! Would you let me call you Handsome?" Hope cajoled as she pulled herself closer to the tiger until she could place her hand on his head.


    The feline sat down next to her and laid his head into her lap, purring like a kitten. "Handsome it is!" Hope giggled, petting the tiger. His fur was soft and short, almost red with dark brown lines. Hope could see the lighter color on his abdomen, chest, and on the hidden side of the paws when Handsome turned upside down, demanding for her to pet him more thoroughly.


    Drake was laughing loudly, applauding ostentatiously. "This seemed easy for you, little girl. There is a rule you must consider. Only one can leave the arena alive," he announced, grinning. He was intrigued by her display of power and Drake could bet it wasn''t over.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    Hope turned to him, joining his laughter. The Handsome tiger was imitating her exactly; he tried even the laughter, but only a roar came out. "Oh, but here in the arena is only one being. We have reached a consensus, and now we are one. If you wish, we will die as one." Drake''s laughter came to a stop, but hers continued. "If I get out of this pit without any help, will you agree to a bargain?" Hope tried her luck, betting on his tremendous ego.


    His eyebrows moved like he was interested enough. He sighed, smiling, and spoke. "I agree to make a deal with you if it doesn''t concern your freedom because that is out of the question."


    "Do you know that squirrels can jump over six meters?" Hope chuckled, knowing she will show off one of her favorite skills.


    The next moment she sat down on her bottom with her knees raised and her hands in front tightened and bent at the elbow. Hope jumped over the wall, over the barbed wire, and landed next to Drake. "I have learned that from a dear friend. Now, let''s talk a bit regarding our deal," Hope boasted, looking into his eyes and searching for a reaction.


    His eyes went red again, and the sparkles ignited Hope''s desires to the very bottom of her soul. Drake licked his upper lip and whispered roughly. "Let''s hear the proposal."


    "We begin a fair contest to decide who is the beast and who is the mistress," suggested Hope.


    Drake let out a soft chuckle. "Or master," he smirked, trying to get the upper hand.


    She crossed her hands over her chest, sighing in a sign of disbelief. "If you say so. Anyhow, I will need a bit of freedom around the castle, at least. You don''t have to let me go or anything," Hope added, thinking if she should have requested other important stuff, but she was clueless for the moment.


    Drake''s interest was peaked. "You have a deal. Any other requests I should know about?" he dared Hope, trying to see what else was going through that pretty head of hers.


    "In fact, yeah, there is one question I need answering. Why do I fear you less when your eyes are red?" asked Hope, trying to copy his mischievous smile. She was trying to understand his dual nature, but it was like hitting an immovable wall.


    "If I give you all the tools to picklock the treasure chest, that won''t make you a real thief artist, isn''t it?" Drake''s eyes were checking her out from the top of her head to the toes of her feet. "I will even give you something extra. You will get a proper attire fitting for a guest in my castle. Tomorrow morning get up at 6 A.M; the training is starting at 6:10."


    Drake turned his back on Hope with his black hair fluttering in the spring breeze. His tall, slender figure moved away slowly and elegantly as if he knew his new favorite toy was carefully watching him. Hope still hadn''t made up her mind if she wanted to kill him or know him better. But she was confident of one thing: she will win this challenge.

 4. The Princess Room

    The young servant girl who gasped seeing the tiger was now seeing Hope in her room. When the girl opened a set of large doors, the beast mistress thought it was a mistake. That couldn''t be her room. Sure, she was expecting to receive a room after all that show she had to put up for the perky lord, but not this.


    Whoever made this room took it straight from a fairytale princess story. Half of the room was one step higher, like a stage where the bed rested in the middle. Massive marble columns surrounded this upper side of the room, which seemed to keep the ceiling from collapsing over the enormous four-poster bed. Silk veils descended from the support above the bed and were tied to the sides. Should these things around the bed protect you against mosquitoes?


    Hope was feeling lonely without her beloved pets, so she decided to make new friends even though she wasn''t exceptionally good at that. "What is your name?" she asked the young maid. "Ayala, my lady."


    Hope sighed, jumping on the magnificent bed and stuffing her legs beneath her. "Please, cut short that bullcrap. I am not a lady, and I will never be. Tell me, Ayala, do you have a similar room here in the castle?" Hope questioned, trying to understand how things worked inside this castle.


    The girl blushed hearing that kind of words and such an unbelievable question. "No, my lady, my room doesn''t even compare with this one. It is much smaller, with a single-person bed and grey decor," Ayala faltered as she became unsure if that was the correct answer.


    "Perfect," Hope replied. "Let''s switch rooms!"


    "No, my lady, that simply can not be! It is not permitted. A lady can not sleep in that kind of room." Ayala mumbled. "Please, don''t insist, or else the lord will have my heart for breakfast." Hope stared at the young servant for a few moments. Was she talking seriously about the lord eating hearts?


    "I don''t want to get in trouble. Have a good night, and I will be waking you up in the morning." Ayala stormed out of the room before Hope could say anything else.


    The bed was too large and too fluffy. When Hope laid down trying to close her eyes, a feeling of drowning started to creep into her mind. Hope could shatter any anxiety when cuddling with one of her pets. At this particular moment, she was all alone.


    Hope dragged the least soft blanket she could find and throw it onto the floor. Then she laid down on it, rolling herself inside. Sitting on the floor in a blanket was somewhat better; Hope was still alone but at least could sleep for a bit. The desired relaxing dream came soon, and she was once again strolling through the woods with the wind guiding her footsteps.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    -----


    It was a moonless night. Hope was running through the woods, being chased by something terrifying. When she fell and stumbled, she thought that would be her end. A circle of fire surrounded her, and the flames rose so high that she could barely see the top of the trees.


    She began to see a shadow approaching her through the fire. Whatever it was, it was huge. Suddenly, a colossal head, more extensive than her whole body, went through the flames and stopped in front of her. He had sharp teeth like all carnivores, but much more prominent, red and black scales covered his forehead and started towards the rest of his body, and his eyes sparkled red.


    She knew those eyes; they were just like Drake''s, and it gave her the same feeling of curiosity and desire. Hope reached out to touch him. She was not afraid. The only thing she wanted was to be one with that magnificent being ...


    -----


    A voice was calling her. "Hope, my lady. It would be best if you wake up now, or the master will get angry. Please, my lady." Hope opened her eyes. "Ayala, now I am angry. Couldn''t you wait for a few more minutes, so I get to touch him?" The unspoken question on Ayala''s face was priceless. That made Hope chuckle while getting out of her cocoon. "So, what is waiting for me today?" she yawned, watching the mattress, which now she founded as enticing as a siren singing for the lost mariners.


    "First, I will help you get dressed. Then you will have meetings with the clothier and the beautician. After lunch, there is a manners class and an appointment with the book study teacher."


    Hope stormed out of the room while Ayala was shouting. "Milady, please don''t go until I help you dress properly." But Hope was unstoppable now. She slammed the doors from the main hall, founding Drake on his throne. "What do you think you are doing?" she yelled, venting her anger.


    His eyes shone menacingly. "I should be addressing that question."


    "I don''t want to be treated like a lady or take pointless classes. That wasn''t what we agreed. If you really want to teach me things, we can do running, climbing, or stuff like that," proposed Hope while reassuring herself that she was not going to take a no as a proper answer.


    Drake spoke calmly, but his murderous gaze made her shiver. "Thank you for the suggestions. Now I will take all those out of the list. I don''t want you to do what you want, but only what pleases me. We agreed to try and tame one another. Today you do what I want; tomorrow, I will do what you want, and so on."


    Hope opened her mouth to contest this, but Drake spoke first. "Oh, and this is not negotiable. If you dare to make another sound, I will take your head and place it at your feet," he snarled, wanting to see Hope running away in fear. But she was just sitting there. Hope knew Drake wasn''t joking but somehow, that was what made him enjoyable.

 5. The Wildling in Disguise

    The tailor was a middle-aged man, extraordinarily tall and thin as a plank. His gestures were too exaggerated, and the way he spoke was ominous. His eyes measured Hope, looking as if she was an unattractive cake that had to be remade before it could be presented to the guests.


    "Oh, dear, where shall we start?" The clothier asked himself, waving his hands in the air like he could do magic. "I have a few dresses I want you to try, and we will see then what we should modify on the next ones. But before that, you should settle into your new corset."


    What was this madman talking about? Corset? It sounded like a dog leash. Hope didn''t even know how right she was.


    Ayala accompanied her to the next room to help her put on the corset. Hope didn''t understand what all the fuss was about. After she got naked and put the corset on, Ayala started to tighten and bind the straps. Hope had never experienced such painful and embarrassing moments at the same time. She expelled all the oxygen from her lungs, and she felt her tummy touching the spine. Hope couldn''t help but be impressed by the strength shown by Ayala.


    Once she got back in the main room, where the tailor was waiting, Hope received a red strapless dress. Ayala helped her get in this new garment that stood put around her body without shoulder straps or other visible means of support beside her breasts.


    "Oh, dear," the tailor gasped. "I didn''t realize you have such a large chest. It almost gets over the corset; that wasn''t to be expected from such a frail girl. Note to self! Design a new dress with less cleavage."


    "Yeah, sure, go ahead and cover up all the good parts, but can we lessen the corset? It is driving me nuts. I can''t breathe; my whole body is aching from this continuous fight." Hope was gasping for air.


    ------


    The meeting with the tailor went on for several hours, and Hope missed lunch altogether. The beautician was waiting for her already, and all the other classes were postponed for the day after tomorrow.


    Hope was hungry and tired. If someone asked her what she wanted more, eating or sleeping, she couldn''t choose. But no one asked. Today, she had to do all these things without any consideration for her physiological needs.


    To her surprise, Tamara, the beautician, was a person she liked. Her hands were soft, and she gently handled Hope''s hair and face. For the first time, Hope thought she knew how her pets felt when she was caressing them, trying to make them feel safe and at peace.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    Tamara used pieces of black coal to give a dark contour to Hope''s deer eyes and ocher lipstick to transform the lips into a bloody color of sexual desire. The beautician refrained from using the white lead powder because Hope''s skin was already pretty fair.


    When Hope looked into the mirror, she couldn''t believe that was her reflection. Tamara had raised her reddish-brown hair in a messy bun that revealed her long, attractive neck, framed by a pair of long pearl earrings. Hope was actually really looking like a lady!


    "Lady Hope!" Ayala rushed into the room, breathing heavily. "Lord Drake announced you must attend the ball in the great hall tonight."


    The sun had almost set, and darkness was creeping every corner. It seemed a bit late to announce a ball within the next hour or so, but you should expect anything from Drake. Hope hated predictability. Her voice was eager. "Tamara, would you help me with my make-up after I get dressed?"


    "You don''t need to ask!" Tamara smiled softly. "I will come with Ayala and help you get dressed."


    Both Tamara and Ayala were excited as if they were the ones to attend the ball. Their attitude was exhilarating, making Hope wanting to do this even though, deep down, her instinct was screaming that she could get hurt. Hope''s gut feeling was that she was going to this ball with her soul on a platter, displaying it openly, and everyone could pinch it or jolt her hand to drop it on the floor.


    All three went to scour through the dresses the tailor left behind. They all agreed to a thin blue satin dress. As Hope was a free spirit, she immediately loved that dress, and she wanted to wear it without that awful corset. The garment had a single thin cord tied at the nape of the neck, and the back was completely bare.


    Darkness had already filled every corner of the realm when Hope was ready for the ball. Even though they both witnessed her entire transformation, Tamara and Ayala were stunned. Hope exuded so much elegance, beauty, and refinement, looking like a nymph in the story which had come to enchant the entire audience.


    "Here is the last piece you need for your outfit to be complete," Tamara whispered, showing a pair of light blue high-heeled sandals. Hope thought she would stumble and fall at first, but she was pretty athletic, learning to walk on her toes since she was little.


    It was fun getting ready for the ball, being a new experience for Hope to be surrounded by girls and talking beauty stuff. Even though she couldn''t believe it, she was eager to get to the ball. A night of beauty and new thrills can be exciting, and she couldn''t stop to wonder how Drake would look in a tuxedo.


    Every other day, this hour would have meant the time for sleep, but now it was only the beginning of the night. She felt so good she thought nothing could go wrong. Or could it? After all, Hope knew she was no Cinderella, just a wildling in disguise.


    Hope had always imagined the worst-case scenario. This way, nothing terrible takes you by surprise, and, thus, everything except the worst-case scenario is better than what you have imagined.

 6. The Red Eyes

    Hope went downstairs and took a deep breath before opening the doors to the grand ballroom. Multiple chandeliers with ten arms lined the ceiling and brightly lit the hall. On the left was the violin quartet singing a rhythmic song, emphasizing her feeling that she was in a fairy tale.


    Stolen by the view and the music, she hardly noticed that this huge room was almost empty. The only beings here were her, the violinists, and a waiter. The latter approached and handed her a glass full of a golden liquid. Hope tasted it, and the bubbles stung the inside of her cheek and tongue. The contents felt deep in her stomach. Maybe because she hadn''t eaten anything all day?


    She was preparing to go to the only table in the room that seemed to have some food on it when she felt a warm hand on her bare shoulder. Hope turned her head slightly and saw out of the corner of her eye the rebellious strands of Drake''s black hair. She also caught his mischievous but sexy smile. She wanted to turn towards him, but a whisper stopped her. "Don''t turn around yet. Enjoy this moment with me. "


    The violins continued to play, but the rhythm was slower and the song softer. The hand with the long, sharp nails began to stroll on her back, neck and then began to descend slowly down her spine. A shiver went through her backbones, feeling her with delight. She could not believe that such a man could generate such a feeling inside her.


    The hand stopped at the waist, where the dress began. Hope thought this was the end of the little experiment, but then she felt a warm, wet kiss on her left shoulder, and the tremor turned into a rain of sparks that set her on fire. And then other slow kisses caressed her neck, going up to her ear.


    To break the control Drake was beginning to have over her, Hope suddenly turned around and caught him off guard. His eyes were sparkling red, but they were full of desire and loneliness. Immediately, as if snapping your fingers, his eyes turned black again, taking on a playful and threatening note, and his arrogant smile curved his lips again. "Do you want to give me this dance?"


    "I do not know how to dance," confessed Hope as she nervously looked around the ballroom. Her head tilted, thinking whether he arranged this ball and hired musicians only for the two of them.


    "That''s not a problem," Drake replied. He lifted her hands and placed them around his neck, then hugged her and lifted her lightly like a snowflake. Now, Hope''s feet no longer touched the shiny floor, and she flew weightlessly over the dance area. She didn''t react because she could only think of one thing. Hope still couldn''t forget the lonely look she caught on his face.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Hope wanted to know what he was thinking and feeling, but she was almost sure he wouldn''t answer if she asked him directly. It was so easy for her to know how the animals felt, and when she touched them on their head, she touched their souls, and they got the perfect connection. Unfortunately, Hope couldn''t do that with people. She had tried several times and did not know why, but humans were a completely different kind of animal.


    In her village, there was a saying that there is no death in trying, so Hope decided to try her luck. Now, she was at the right height to take that test. She raised a hand resting on Drake''s neck and slowly touched the top of his head. He froze and stopped dancing to the rhythm of the music. Hope felt a tremendous power pulling her in. Where?


    Hope was in complete darkness. There was no ray of light. Everything was dark, and total silence enveloped the black infinity. Suddenly, a pair of red eyes shone in the dark. Hope took a few steps closer until she could see them completely. The red iris covered the entire eyeball, and the pupil was just a vertical black stripe from which radiated yellow waves like the sun''s rays.


    The being who possessed these eyes had to be gorgeous, strong, and intelligent. Hope was still drawn like a thin piece of iron flying helplessly at the all-powerful magnet. She took a few more steps forward until she realized she could no longer move onward. Huge thick metal bars stood between her and the magnificent creature. Did this barrier exist to keep her out or to keep him captive?


    The owner of the red eyes began to approach the metal bars. From the sound of his footsteps, he must have been huge, colossal even. Hope was looking forward to seeing him and maybe asking him who he was and what he was doing here. But where was here?


    Suddenly, huge claws appeared through the iron bars, and Hope took two steps back, almost losing her balance. When she was stable again on her feet, she cleared her throat and prepared to ask the first question. Just then, an intense whirlwind, like a powerful tornado, lifted her and pulled her away, dragging her through the darkness¡­


    Hope opened her eyes and was still in front of Drake on the dance floor. It was as if time had stood still, and all she saw was a fragment of vivid imagination, but still unreal.


    When the reality almost completely convinced her that she had hallucinated during the dance, she heard Drake''s low, threatening, husky voice. "Oh, little toy, why have you had to do that? That is an invasion of privacy, and it is pretty naughty. For that, you will receive a punishment fitting for your transgression. Now, go to your room! This ball has ended!"


    Drake turned his back and moved away, whispering something. "Foolish dragon and foolish me for agreeing with this charade."


    Hope picked up the whisper with the superhearing borrowed from the connexion with her dog, Max.

 7. Manners and Elegance

    A new day began, and Hope was happier than ever. Although she had not yet decided what she would ask Drake to do today, the mere fact that she had him at her discretion was more than enough to fill her with excitement.


    Hope got dressed in her old clothes because those were making her feel more like herself, and left the room smiling. As she descended the stairs, she glanced out the window and saw him. Drake was riding a gorgeous black horse. Hope could not decide which of the two looked more majestic. She could have an honest debate with herself on this subject, and she didn''t think she could choose.


    Hope stared at the beautiful black stallion in ecstasy. The massive elongated neck with a beautiful curve merged into a well-built body. The gigantic thick legs ended with long hair and large hooves, giving his look originality. The fluffy tail reached to the horse''s hooves.


    Indeed, the rider was breathtaking also. The imposing outfit and the way his body waved to control the horse made Hope sigh. Together they seemed a single well-oiled mechanism that worked with astonishing precision. They complemented each other, emphasizing the beauty of the other.


    Hope sat and watched the show for a long time until Drake gave the horse to the caretaker and headed for the entrance to the living area. Hope hurried down the stairs and came out in front of him. The man was a little amazed by her exuberance, not being accustomed to people being so enthusiastic in his presence or approaching him with such detachment.


    "Are you ready for what''s next?" Hope asked, wanting to see his reaction, though she still didn''t know what was to come.


    Drake shrugged detachedly. "I don''t know what you mean, but I already know what you''re going to do today. In the living room, Bernard, the teacher of etiquette and manners, is waiting. What he has prepared for you will most likely occupy your whole day."


    "But today is my day, according to the deal with which you have already agreed. I decide what to do today," Hope grumbled, trying to get a grip and not smack him in the face.


    Drake wasn''t impressed. "That''s the punishment for what you did last night. I would be happy if I were you because it could have been much worse. Besides, the show you put on now proves that you need Bernard if you want to have the slightest chance of training this beast," he said, smiling, pointing nonchalantly at his body.


    Hope clenched her fists, refraining from slapping him in that arrogant mug. Oh, this man managed to annoy her much more than he should. She managed to calm down, promising to turn the wheel.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    -----


    Bernard was a 50-year-old man with a good-natured figure, but Hope didn''t like his gestures and attitude at all. Everything he did and the way he spoke seemed too calculated and unnatural, and these were always alarm signals.


    "The term lady has a classy and elegant connotation, and being a woman does not necessarily turn you into a lady," Bernard began.


    Hope snorted disapprovingly. "I never even pretended to be a lady ..."


    "It''s also not nice to interrupt people while they''re talking!" Bernard expired emphatically and continued. "Being a lady depends on refinement, grace, movement, and a chosen education that will allow you to behave properly in any situation. So, a real lady knows the code of good manners. Before I move on, I want to make sure you know at least the basics when it comes to good manners. Show me how you greet someone."


    "As I greeted you when I had entered this room," Hope said, yawning. She still couldn''t understand the point of all this, and she wasn''t going to go along with it just to entertain some strangers.


    Bernard threw a disapproving glare. "A woman should always greet with a smile on her face. She must also wait for the man to greet her first. And if two women meet, then the youngest greets first."


    "And how do I know I''m the youngest? What if the other person looks younger than they really are? What if she is a hundred-year-old witch who looks like a child?"


    Bernard froze for a few seconds. He had never received such questions in this part of his course. It was clear that this girl was going to make problems, but, nevertheless, he continued. "When you have a conversation with someone, it is absolutely necessary for the other person to finish talking before you start. You should never start talking while the other is still at it."


    "Even if everything he says is completely uninteresting and boring, and the whole conversation is actually just a monologue meant to make the interlocutor feel inferior?"


    Bernard blushed and decided to become more stinging. "The outfit completes a lady''s appearance. To be elegant does not mean to worry about the price and number of clothes, but about the quality, the cut, the possibility of harmonizing the outfit with the accessories, and choosing them so that you never look old-fashioned. A person with good taste does not wear bright colors and applies the basic laws of aesthetics."


    Hope knew that now he had begun to strike even more directly at her tastes. Her yellow T-shirt and red knotted shirt tied under her bust were clearly Bernard''s new target. The girl''s answer came naturally. "I don''t like you at all. I find you unsightly, and your presence turns my stomach upside down. Now you should feel very well, knowing the level of good taste I possess."


    His stunned face was the icing on the cake for Hope and especially the moments that followed when Bernard began to understand the meaning and then tried to find a thoughtful reply. When he realized that he was left without the right words to throw back at her face, the man resumed his elegant attitude and perfect posture and left the room.


    Hope started laughing out loud. "It seems that this course did not last all day. Drake almost got me good here, so I must give him something of at least an equal value. Now, let''s see how I can get my revenge on Drake ..."

 8. The Food Beast

    The massive table with a sitting for thirty people in the dining room was full of delicious meals that could take your breath away. Even if she hadn''t been hungry, Hope would still have eaten as much as possible. She felt like a ravenous wolf that found a group of deer. Her eyes gleamed with lust, and her mouth was full of saliva. Hope started eating straight from the trays. She was alone at the table anyway.


    "You don''t see that every day," she heard a loud, slightly amused voice behind her. Hope didn''t bother to turn around because she already knew very well those vocal modulations, calming and scaring at the same time. Drake approached and looked over her shoulder at the tray from which the food was rapidly disappearing.


    Hope ignored him. After a few minutes, when she finished the tray and prepared to shoot the next tray in front of her, she decided to answer because she had a few seconds to catch her breath. "I think you are the one in need of some lessons with Bernard. It''s not nice to interrupt someone when they eat or look inside their plate."


    This food beast sitting in front of him amused Drake thoroughly. "Not even when the person doesn''t have a plate, but a tray?"


    "Especially then!" the girl replied and started the second tray. It looked like she wouldn''t notice him too soon, but she was eating pretty quickly with both hands, so Drake decided to watch the whole show amused.


    When Hope finished two more trays and three carafes of water, Drake felt he still wanted to have fun. "I see that you have evolved a lot with your manners and high society etiquette. There will be a serious conversation between Bernard and me about this. "


    The girl wiped her mouth elegantly with the napkin as if she were a different person than the one she was when she devoured the trays. "The lessons are over because he has nothing to teach me."


    Drake raised an eyebrow in question. "Is that so? I wouldn''t say that¡­."


    Hope interrupted him to make her point. "You can know many things, but you don''t have to apply them all. If you truly want to live, do what you enjoy, do what represents you, even if you know it''s better otherwise. That is my motto in life. "


    Hope could feel Drake''s bloodlust seeping through the room, making her skin crease. "That advice is not a very good one for me. If I listened to it, the whole world would burn to the ground," he whispered. All of a sudden, the mess hall seemed a place taken out straight from hell.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Drake didn''t understand how those words escaped from his lips, slipping his thoughts out loud. He recovered quickly, calmed himself as much as possible, and continued. "By the way, where''s Bernard?"


    "When he realized he had nothing to teach me, he got up and left," Hope replied without a care in the world.


    Drake rose to his feet, overturning his chair. His face darkened with murderous intent, and his bloodlust grew. "Did that individual dare to leave without my consent? He won''t live to see tomorrow!"


    Hope was in awe. His bloodlust made him look even more handsome, and his face was not just a mask anymore. She compared him with a dark god, who came into this realm for vengeance.


    Drake went for the door, probably to go after Bernard. Hope got up from her chair and grabbed his wrist. A growling sound accompanied Drake''s voice. "I think your sense of danger is pretty messed up, my little toy! No one touches me without my prior consent and lives to tell the story."


    Hope smiled and chuckled briefly. "Only a lonely and bored creature could say that. You don''t impress or scare me. Today is my day, and I plan to take advantage of the remaining half of it. Or is this threatening creature in front of me a liar and a coward?"


    Hope thought that would make him even angrier, but the man''s thirst for blood began to dissipate. Looking into those sharp deer brown eyes relaxed him, leaving behind his anger and criminal intentions. A deep sigh escaped his lips. Drake turned to her and grabbed her by both hands. "Tell me then, what do you so desperately want to do to me today?"


    Hope froze because she still didn''t know what she wanted. As a matter of fact, she had a desire for him to recognize her as his mistress and be at her feet. A part of her whispered she would have liked it even if the roles were reversed, but she buried this part deep and hoped to smother it.


    Hope''s problem wasn''t that she was out of ideas. Actually, she had so many that they were tangled in her head, forcing her to separate those that would be impossible for her to adapt in such a short period or those foolish enough that she wouldn''t want to say them out loud. She suddenly thought of something that might help her, or so it seemed to her at that moment, and she let it out. "Never have I ever, the drinking game!"


    Her mind started to race as she realized that the idea might not have been so fantastic. It doesn''t even sound so good once she said it. Drake was staring blankly, dumbfounded. He couldn''t understand why she had chosen this and why she had fought so fiercely for a childish game.


    "How could you possibly think you can hold your liquor better than I, little toy?" Drake smirked, coming back to his old self again.


    Hope winked seductively with a sultry smile. "The answer may be yes, it may be no, we will find out tonight. Whoever wins the game doesn''t matter; it''s just about who wins the bet."


    For a few moments, Drake let his attention be captured by her charming smile and the way she winked at him. Hope continued, however, immediately after. "Eating well allows you to stay on your feet for longer. I had my fill, "she said, tapping her belly hard.


    As Drake sighed to himself, he became pensive. How could this girl be so sexy and seductive in one moment, and then, in the next, she can be vulgar and utterly devoid of any good taste?

 9. Never Have I Ever

    Hope had never been in this room before, but she could feel it enticing all of her senses. Somebody put out the candles, and the only light came from the burning flames in the fireplace. In front of the hearth sat a huge bear fur and next to it two glasses with a bottle of red wine.


    It seemed that this time, Drake had decided to make the surroundings more pleasant for the game night. Hope sat down on the fur and began to caress it. The fur had belonged to a beautiful and magnificent bear. Did Drake put it here to upset her, knowing how much she loved animals? It was a possibility, but it wouldn''t bother her. The life cycle is something natural, each animal has its predator, and such magnificent animals can only be killed by the supreme hunter: man.


    Drake entered the room, approaching her with his eternal arrogant smile on his face. It was the first time in his life that the voice inside him whispered that he didn''t need that mask and that he might be himself for once, but that was impossible. He had already forgotten how the real one was.


    Hope was holding the bottle of wine and reading the label. "Do you really think we''ll have only one bottle of wine? Do you fall on your knees after one glass?"


    She was trying to vex him even from the start. He didn''t understand why, but that didn''t annoy him at all. Did he even find it adorable? No! This was not Drake. Does this girl have other powers? Mind control or something like that? He recovered in time to respond in his usual tone. "If it is not enough, I will immediately send a servant to bring us more. Do not worry."


    Drake sat down on the other side of the bear''s fur, took the bottle from Hope''s hands, opened it, and poured it into glasses. "So, how do you play this game?"


    "Oh, it''s straightforward," the girl giggled. "Everyone says a sentence that starts with the words never have I ever, and then everyone who did that has to drink. The rules are elementary. "


    A single glance at Drake convinced her it wasn''t. ''He looks at me like I am a madwoman talking useless or crazy things, and now he will decide to get up and leave. I have a few more seconds, and I will lose his attention. I need to be assertive and more objective.''


    All of Hope''s thoughts were useless. She could have said almost anything because Drake was also lost in his own thoughts. ''The shadows formed by the light coming from the fire caress her face and give her an ethereal look. Why do I think about this? I have a few more seconds, and I will reach out to caress her cheek because I am jealous of that shadow that plays so smoothly on her face. Why do I think about this? I have to be tougher and more imposing.''Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    The change of rhythm in Hope''s voice brought him back to reality. "I better give you an example to better understand. Never have I ever been a prince or princess! Now, everyone who is or was a prince or princess drinks. "


    The sudden stiffness that appeared on Drake''s face made Hope think he already hated this game. He clenched his jaw tightly but then relaxed and sighed. "Ok, fine! I''ll try to be honest for one night," he whispered to himself, raising his glass and tasted his first sip of wine.


    Hope''s eyes widened like two huge onions, and she put her hand to the mouth in astonishment. Was she really sitting in the presence of a prince, and that prince had agreed to play this stupid game with her? She snorted in a laugh so loud it shook her entire body. Hope leaned on her back and continued to laugh heartily, thinking how funny the situation was, and she hadn''t even had a drink yet.


    If anyone else had dared to laugh at him, Drake would have cut off his head in less than a second, but somehow he knew that the girl in front of him wasn''t doing it with bad intentions or making fun of him. It was a laugh from the heart and from the freedom she could afford no matter what the situation.


    Drake cleared his throat to catch her attention. "It is my turn. Never have I ever lived my life the way I wanted. "


    Hope took the glass and drank almost half of it. Lord Springwood looked at her questioningly, so the girl felt the need to say, "I was thirsty!"


    Seeing that he did not touch the glass this time, Hope continued. "Only he who lives his life the way he wants is a powerful person. You always have to fight for what you want and for what defines you as a person. Never have I ever killed a person. "


    Of course, Drake drank¡­


    -----


    The sun was starting its journey on the sky while Hope and Drake were lying on the fur next to each other, with seven bottles of wine lined up beside them. They looked at the ceiling and laughed. None of them had ever felt so good.


    Hope turned to face him, leaning on her elbow. "I like your real laugh much more than the mischievous and deadly smile you show every time. I would like you to show it more often! "


    Drake raised his hand and stroked her cheek. He knew he wanted to do this before, but now Drake couldn''t remember why he hadn''t done it. Her skin was so smooth and velvety, and he wished he could always feel it so close. Her face began to move closer and closer to his. Did Hope want to do what he was thinking? Their lips met for a split second when suddenly the girl rose abruptly and ran to the window.


    Drake didn''t know what to think, but instinct told him to see what happened to her. He got up with difficulty and reached the window next to her. Hope was vomiting. Drake smiled. ''So she also has a sensitive side?''


    The man grabbed her hair with both hands and then wrapped it in a single ponytail, which he held with his right hand behind her back to allow Hope to do her thing more freely. Then he waited until she put her head on the edge of the windowsill and whispered, "You can go. I''m going to sleep here. "


    Drake laughed heartily. This girl really had something special. He lifted her into his arms and slowly laid her back on the bear''s fur when he saw Hope''s lips moving slowly. He bent down to hear better. "I can''t sleep without a pillow."


    Drake''s amusement was boundless. He sat down next to her and put her head on his chest while caressing her hair with one hand. "Now you have a pillow. You can sleep. "

 10. The Beast and the Monster

    Hope woke up in that fluffy bed she couldn''t stand at all. Her head throbbed as if it was trapped in a vise while a torturer played with her mental health. She perceived the knock on the door as if someone with a mace was using it directly on her head.


    Ayala''s face appeared by the ajar door, and she smiled. "Good evening!"


    Hope''s temples vibrated with shock at the sound of the maid''s voice. It took a few moments until she understood what the words meant. "What do you mean by evening?"


    "I mean, you''ve been sleeping all day," Ayala smiled. "Are you telling me what happened last night?"


    Hope sat with her eyes closed and tried to clear her thoughts. She remembered everything that had happened last night in great detail until Drake put her head on his shoulder and told her she could sleep. When Hope saw in her mind the scene with her vomiting on the window, the girl was horrified and ashamed, but those feelings passed quickly. It wasn''t like she could go back in time and redo the past. She barely managed to stutter, "Can you bring me some water and some pickles, please? And then I promise I''ll tell you."


    By the time Ayala returned with water and pickles, Hope was in better condition. Now she could certainly have a conversation if they use a lower voice. "Before I tell you, can you first tell me how I got to my room?"


    "That''s simple," Ayala smiled. "I woke up in the morning and came to do my first chores of the day. I caught lord Springwood climbing the stairs with you in his arms. At first, I was scared, thinking that something bad might have happened, but then I saw the smile on his face and how calmly he looked at you, so I believed it was for the better not to intervene. I''ve never seen him like this before! The lord was so peaceful and happy!"


    Hope smiled, imagining Drake in that situation. In fact, he had acted like a gentleman throughout the night while she had been... oh well, let''s just say her usual self. She needed to talk to him and find out if she had paved the way for a connection between the two of them last night or destroyed that possibility forever.


    Hope stuffed another pickle into her mouth, running to the door. "I''ll tell you more in the evening!"


    "But it''s already evening," Ayala murmured in disappointment.


    -----


    Drake was in the yard, practicing knife throwing. He already stuck more than twenty knives in the trunk of a tree, and he was preparing to throw the next one. His posture was straight and perfect, and the knife flew with astonishing speed in a short, undulating jerk from his shoulder, elbow, and wrist.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Hope was approaching from the side and she could admire the strong shape of his chin and the straight line of his nose. The wind blew, bringing strands of black hair that caressed the perfect white cheeks. ''Even when he does lethal things, he still looks like a hell lord for whom anyone would be able to sell their souls,'' Hope thought as she got closer to him. She noticed that the knives already stuck in the tree''s bark formed the letter H.


    "Should I take that as a compliment or a threat?" Hope asked amusedly. He answered neither with a smile nor with a look. "You can take it any way you want."


    ''Aha, it is obvious. Here we go again!'' Hope thought resignedly and then continued with her outer voice without any hesitation. "Can we talk about last night?"


    Drake threw the next knife, this time into another tree. "We have nothing to talk about last night. We both let our guard down and behaved like children. I indulged you according to our deal. It is over now."


    He did not reach out to take the next knife and continue the exercise. Despite the birds announcing spring, Hope could not break through the infernal silence and bleakness that hung between them. She did not want to listen to those words. She wanted to hear Drake, but not the words he said to her now. Hope was expecting something else¡­ What? She was a fool! She sighed and asked boldly, "So, what do I have to do today?"


    In a split second, Drake picked up the next knife and threw it a few millimeters from her leg. "We''ve been playing childish games for too long, and I want you to do what I actually brought you here. You have to get the beast out of me or kill it. The choice is yours, but we can no longer live in the same body. "


    Hope froze and, inside her mind, saw again those incredible red eyes and the cage that held that magnificent creature captive. Was that gorgeous beast in Drake? Hope managed to recover and muttered, "I''ll try."


    "Trying is not enough! You will succeed in a maximum of six months before winter comes, or your head will join Bernard''s," said Drake, pointing to the ramparts of the castle, where the head of the manners and etiquette teacher was resting on a spike.


    Hope''s heart skipped a beat. Her big brown eyes were pinned down on Bernard''s head, making her look like a deer lost in a very dark place while trying to escape the big bad wolf. "Did that man die because of me?"


    Drake''s laughter accentuated her malaise, and unpleasant chills ran through her as his voice thundered. "That man made his choice when he decided to leave and not listen to me. He made that choice on his own. Now the same option is yours. You fulfill the task I set for you, or you fail. If you succeed, I offer in exchange your life, freedom, and a small token of gratitude per your desire. If you fail, I get your head to adorn the walls of my castle with it. "


    Hope was perplexed. She didn''t see that coming. Is it possible to truly understand another human being? Even if we waste time and make serious efforts to get to know someone, in the end, how much do we manage to precisely understand what represents him as a person? However, perhaps most importantly, how can we tell if he really deserves to be known?

 11. The Fire Dragon

    The sky was blue with white clouds floating on top as though a powerful being had frozen them in time. Hope lay on a blanket stretched on the grass. The clouds seemed to move slowly under her control as she waved her arm. Taking part in this activity was one of her favorite hobbies. It was liberating to sit and do nothing, letting her worries and fears float away on those clouds.


    Hope''s reddish-brown hair was flowing over the blanket like a silk veil. Her body was as light as a feather, and she could feel the soft embrace of the clouds as she pictured herself floating on one of them.


    One of those white fluffy cotton candies was thinner and seemed like floating away from the flock. Hope giggled. Everywhere there must be a black sheep trying to mix things up and disrupt the balance. In fact, that was what made things more interesting.


    She awoke from her daydream when Drake''s voice reached her. "Why did you summon me here?"


    Hope did not move, attempting to maintain a state of calm within. "Come on over! Settle down next to me and gaze up at the sky."


    "Is that why you called me?" Drake snorted. "Today is not even your day to make demands."


    It turned out that the words did not sound exactly as intended. He didn''t know why, but Drake didn''t feel like he had authority over her now. A wave of peace was creeping inside his guts, heart, and bones, scaring him out of his wits.


    It was not uncommon for Drake to see viciously slaughtered bodies and take the lives of others in gruesome ways. That was real, and that was what made him feel powerful and unique. This peace gripping his innards was making him weak and despicable.


    Although the voice he heard wasn''t Hope''s, the words were coming from her lips. There was something too odd about it; it was as if the world''s most incredible being had come here only to bring peace to the troubled souls of the wicked. "You said that our deal is childish, and you gave me a mission. You did not set conditions, which means that you are only interested in the result. So, until I fulfill my mission, you have to obey me, or you can kill me now because, otherwise, I have no way to succeed. "


    Drake sat down like an obedient child, his mind empty of any thought and chilled by that infinite feeling of peace that seemed so inappropriate and foreign to him. He sat down next to Hope in the same position as her and began to look up at the sky when he heard the mesmerizing voice again. "Do you feel the current drawing you to the clouds?"


    "Yes," Drake replied, not realizing when he said that word.


    "Take a deep breath and allow the current to carry you along. Find the perfect cloud and climb to the top. How are you feeling? "


    "I''m free," Drake whispered, knowing that this was how he felt, although it was yet another completely new feeling for him.


    Hope allowed him to get drunk by the boundless freedom. Then, the peaceful wave that she sent towards him gradually diminished in intensity. Now Hope suspected why some of her abilities worked on him, but she had to be sure. She placed one knee on each side of Drake as she rode over him. He stared intently at the woman as she bent down and covered his head with her hands.


    Drake shuddered. Now it wasn''t just a disembodied voice maneuvering him the way she wanted. At that moment, the voice had a face bent over him, and the sun''s rays had created a halo of light around her head. Was this woman real? Did he create her from his dreams and desires?This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    Hope did not allow him that moment of consideration and whispered, but this time she sent a wave of curiosity and desire. "Close your eyes!"


    When Drake obeyed without any reluctance, she ran her hand through his silky black hair and made the connection. "Now the current has changed course and urges you to go down. Do not oppose the current. Find the deepest pit and go down as deep as possible. You will wither and become an ocean of darkness if you oppose the current. You can obtain peace even in that pit and even if you reach rock bottom if you do not oppose it. Let go! "


    They both opened their eyes simultaneously. Drake''s eyes were entirely red with golden rays, and the pupil was just a vertical black stripe. Till now, those red sparkles in his eyes were just a glimpse of the beast. Now, the creature was here.


    The voice that resounded was that of an ancient god, too strong and thick to be a man. "I am the Fire Dragon, and I must thank you for releasing me from that cage. This human deceived me into thinking we can reach communion, but he is too vain and weak for me to inhabit him. I am one of the Old Gods, and I demand wisdom and power from those who seek to merge with me. Only such beings can be deemed worthy of my attention."


    Hope grabbed both his hands, pinning them on the grass and tightening the grip between her legs. "I released you from your prison, but still, I am holding you under my power. You can feel that I can make you do whatever I want. Do you deem me worthy of your attention?"


    The Fire Dragon''s eyes scoured her with admiration. His eyes were looking deep inside her soul, penetrating every shield she could muster to protect her heart. Hope felt like this creature knew her, maybe even better than she knew herself. His voice thundered, full of passion and something else that Hope couldn''t grasp. "Yes! I deem you worthy of so much more¡­."


    Hope managed to hold back her excitement, staying on point. "Good! Then listen carefully. This man you are inhabiting isn''t weak. I''ve never seen a more powerful man. He is strong and tender; loving and spiteful; peaceful and conflicted; good and bad at the same time. Can you even fathom how tough one must be to keep in check all these opposing traits?"


    The Old God''s gaze calmed, and he smiled peacefully. Seeing Drake''s face with a genuine smile was quite a sight for Hope. She noticed acceptance when his booming voice echoed again. "I understand. I choose to do as you wish, but I will require something of you. Just don''t forget that. You can order me anything you want, but when the time comes, you''ll have to do your part of the deal."


    It wasn''t a good idea to make a pact with an Old God without knowing what he will want in return. But Hope was now connected with him, and she could sense that he wouldn''t ask anything harmful for her or anyone else. It felt like a personal request was waiting to be made when the opportunity would arise.


    Hope nodded in agreement, and the Fire Dragon became submissive. "What would you want me to do?"


    The mistress understood that she had complete control over the beast for now. She wished that things could go so smoothly with the monster named Drake as well. "Go back to your cage. Await the moment when Drake will propose once again to become one. It''s important to work hard to achieve unity this time. Don''t forget that it takes acceptance, and you both should strive for this."


    Hope sighed in relief when his red eyes closed. She wished Drake hadn''t heard the whole discussion because that would swell his already oversized ego even more. The woman stood still, admiring his sexy, elegant features, especially now when he looked so calm with his eyes closed like he was sleeping and dreaming of a peaceful place.


    After a few seconds, Drake opened his coal-black eyes again. They were always shrouded in thick darkness and icy coldness. But now, she could see deeper, glimpsing the frozen pain hiding in those beautiful yet deadly eyes that seemed forever inconceivable.


    Realizing the way she was straddling him while pinning his hands on the ground, a normal girl would have blushed. But Hope was no normal girl. She enjoyed being on top, and a smirk covered her face.


    But before either of them could say or do something, they heard a bark coming from the woods. Hope tensed abruptly with a grimace of concern.


    ''This can''t be good,'' Drake thought, seeing her expression frowning even more.

 12. Soulless

    There was a grubby dog, covered with dirt and mud, at the edge of the forest. His barks were rushing her to come, and anxiety overwhelmed her. Immediately, Hope got up and ran as fast as she could towards him."Maaaax!"


    Despite all the happiness of reunion, the joy disappeared when she reached out and stroked his head. There was sadness in the dog''s eyes, and its tail barely wagged. Hope hadn''t seen Max in that shape since she discovered him barely walking and broken inside and out.


    Something jumped out of the tree on Hope''s shoulder. Josephine, the squirrel, was very agitated and did not stand still at all. Max let out a loud bark and ran away, stopping in the distance and looking back as if he wanted her to follow him. Josephine jumped out of Hope''s arms and ran through the trees.


    It seemed as if something had gone horribly wrong with them, and Hope thought tragedy had struck. The bad feeling accentuated going up through her whole body and making her shiver in despair.


    Drake was approaching Hope when she looked back towards him with the corner of her eye. Her voice was trembling when she whispered. "I have to go. Don''t worry. I''ll be back soon. "


    With two leaps, Hope disappeared through the trees in the footsteps of Josephine and Max. Drake didn''t understand what was happening, but her gaze was desperate, and her voice was shaking. He had done so many things to scare her, to make her run away, and yet he had never seen her like that.


    "I''ll be damned if I have to wait for her here," he said to himself angrily and then gave a resounding shout. "Adam, bring me Darkness, now!"


    The caretaker Adam immediately brought the black stallion named Darkness, the same massive black horse Hope had admired the other day. Drake mounted him and urged him to go, and the horse ran away like thought, and in a few seconds, the castle was no longer visible. The last thing Drake heard was the voice of caretaker Adam. "Master, should I tell the guards to follow you?"


    -----


    Drake traversed the land, climbing up and down the hills and passing through vast meadows. A long time had passed until he realized he had lost track of Hope. After clearing his mind and separating it from the racing heart and the inner voice urging him to hurry, he was able to calm down and think clearly.


    Then he realized that the animals were leading her back home most likely, and he knew from which village he had sent guards to bring her to the castle. He steered his horse in the right direction, and not long after, he saw streams of smoke rising into the sky from a distance. His heart skipped a beat, urging his horse to run even faster even though Darkness already was running with almost supernatural speed.


    At the entrance to the village, he slowed down, not knowing exactly where he would find Hope. In addition, he had to be very careful because the fire had spread to almost all the houses, and they were about to collapse. Desperate people ran in all directions with faces full of soot and buckets of water in their hands. The chaos was indescribable. He could hear screams and moans everywhere, and the beast inside him became very agitated.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    A five or six-year-old child was knocking desperately in a closed window and could not break it, with the sounds of the surrounding chaos covering his desperate cries. Drake saw him and also the burning roof, which was about to collapse. He dismounted and ran to the house, kicked the door open, and stormed inside. The scorching smoke hit him in the face, but he didn''t care.


    The fire spread to the ceiling and walls, creating a prison of flames encompassing everything in its path. Drake covered his face with a handkerchief and continued to move forward without paying attention to the tongues of fire that caressed him. He felt the Fire Dragon being in his element, rejoicing the scorching heat. But beneath that bliss, there was fear, fear of not finding Hope.


    "Why are you trying to save this child? Why aren''t you tracking down Hope?"


    The voice of the Old God was powerful inside Drake. But the man was accustomed to it second-guessing his every move. "I don''t know. I can''t explain it. Now let me be," Drake said, using his inner voice and trying to detach from the creature.


    That was not the moment to get overwhelmed by the beast''s power and will. The man acted based on instinct, trying to live his life the way he wanted, the way Hope showed him. And now he was sure that this was his intent and not the dragon''s, and that was why it felt good and right.


    Drake continued to advance until he reached the child. He didn''t know if he had to say or do anything to stop him from crying, but he didn''t know what to say anyway. The man lifted the child in his arms and smashed the window with his elbow, but before he could jump out the window, the ceiling fell with tremendous force.


    Drake lay on the ground with the child under him, trying to protect him with his own body. A deafening noise accompanied the breaking of the bars that held the roof on fire, and everything collapsed on Drake.


    Later, some villagers started removing the charred debris because someone had seen a man entering this house. They were amazed when they found something under the rubble that looked like a colossal wing covered with red and black scales. Near it, there was a huge pillar that couldn''t be removed by ten people uniting their power. The villagers murmured in astonishment and fear as the wing moved, pushing away that enormous pillar like a feather. Then, the wing turned into a human hand ending in long, sharp nails.


    The dust from the debris was itching Drake''s nose, and some of the shards of broken glass were deep inside his leg. Nonetheless, he felt that leg move and knew nothing important was damaged. Apparently, only a hand had transformed into a wing to protect him from fire, the Fire Dragon''s skin being impervious to flames.


    "Next time, I won''t help you!" Drake heard the voice of his inner beast.


    "Why did you help me now? Do you need me?" Drake wanted to stir the dragon as much as he was annoying him.


    "No," the Fire Dragon responded, sending waves of hate and anger through his cage. "I''ve helped you for her. I need Hope, and she will never forgive me if I would let you die. Now go and find her. If she dies, I will rip through your body, converge with my brethren, and scorch this world asunder."


    Drake threw the last pieces of rubble aside and stood up, still holding the child, who was no longer crying, and looked at him with a smile. He had never been looked upon as a god who receives the supreme gratitude. He put the child down and turned his back on the boy.


    "Sir, sir!" Drake heard a faint voice behind him. "Thank you! Can you please tell me your name so that I can pray for your soul every night?"


    "I am no one, and I have no soul," Drake muttered and continued walking away.

 13. The Richest Man

    A tall man with black hair and clothes that had once been elegant made his way briskly throughout the burning houses. The villagers still could not put out the fire, and their hopes of saving something faded more and more with each passing moment.


    The man in black seemed haunted and hopeless until he saw something. He stood still for a few moments, and then hope returned to his gaze, and he murmured. "Hope..."


    The woman was standing on the ground supported by a stone fence, holding her knees in her arms. Looking at a fixed point out of this world, she seemed oblivious to Drake''s presence. A fine layer of grime was covering her face, and her wacky hair was splotchy with ashes where it had been too close to the flames. She held her palms out so they wouldn''t touch her knees, and Drake noticed that the fire badly burned the skin on the inside of her hands.


    The man knelt beside her. "Which one was your house?"


    The woman didn''t blink or look away. As if she were a doll and the puppeteer only pulled on the hand-moving thread, Hope''s hand moved without causing any disturbance to her body or fingers. She pointed vaguely at the house in front of her. The fire was still smoldering, but it had largely gone out. Drake got up and headed there. He entered carefully, not to be caught under the rubble again in case something else collapsed.


    Near the entrance, he immediately saw an almost complete charred corpse. The horrible sight did not impress Drake at all, but a shiver ran through his body when he realized that Hope had seen the same thing. The corpse was very close to the door and could be seen from the outside, if the door was open.


    Then he realized that, when Hope got here, she opened the burning door, which is why her palms were so burnt. He considered it a miracle that she did not throw herself into the flames to get the corpse out, knowing that this impulsiveness would have been so into her character.


    "You should have come faster! You should not have stopped saving all the human children who are born only to rest their worthless shades upon this land. You shouldn''t have allowed this to happen!"


    The creature''s voice grew louder and louder, and Drake wasn''t feeling strong enough to push him back into the depths of his being. He was too tired to fight and murmured helplessly. "Can you please shut the fuck up?"You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    The dragon was not going to give up. "Do you see the condition of the girl? What if she doesn''t recover? What if she remains in this state forever? What if she was irreparably shocked? "


    Drake shook his head. "Impossible! Hope is strong, and she will get over it. She only needs time and space and by no means your unnecessary worries. I''ll take care of this! "


    "How? Do you intend to do it in the same way you managed to find her before something happened?" snorted the Fire Dragon.


    Drake was tired, and all he wanted was to take care of Hope and not bother with this annoying creature. He lifted a burnt wooden pole, broke it on his knee, and kept the sharper half. Drake grabbed it with both hands and placed it near his heart. "One more word, and I will pierce my chest with it. I''ve had enough. Go back and leave me. "


    Drake paused and then whispered, "Please."


    Though he wasn''t sure if it was due to the threat or the last word, he no longer felt the presence of the annoying beast. He breathed a sigh of relief and walked away from the ruined house.


    Drake talked to the villagers and managed to get a bucket of water, clean rags, and some ointment for burns. When he returned, Hope was in the same position and had not moved an inch.


    The man sat down and tenderly raised one of her hands, pulling it towards him and placing it with the palm up in his lap. He cleaned it with a damp cloth, and after it dried, he applied ointment. He expected to see her startle because he knew she had to endure terrible pain, considering how nasty the wounds looked. Hope didn''t move or blink. Drake bandaged her hand in another clean cloth, then got up and moved to the other side of her, repeating the procedure on the other hand.


    A monotonous silence had descended upon them, in which only the crackling of burning wood could be heard. The smell of smoke was already soaked in their nostrils, and they could no longer smell it.


    When he had finished bandaging her hands, Drake took the last clean cloth left, soaked it in water, and began to wash her dirty cheeks gently. Hope didn''t move this time either.


    Drake sighed, realizing he had nothing left to do, so he sat down next to her and leaned against the same stone fence. Knowing how much he also needed his moments of peace, he decided to respect her quietness.


    By dusk, Drake was about to break the silence several times, always thinking he had found something interesting to say that could soothe her and get her out of that state. But every time he opened his lips to say something, he realized it wasn''t enough. Nothing he could say would be enough.


    No one would have imagined that he would see the imposing Lord Springwood looking like a beggar and sleeping at night supported by a stone fence. A passerby recognized him from a celebration a few years ago and thought he was the perfect example of how wealthy people can decay.


    When Drake woke up, he saw Hope sleeping with her head on his shoulder and holding him in her arms. He looked at her with pride and admiration and began to caress her ruffled hair. If the same passerby had seen him now, he would have realized that only now had Drake become the richest man in the world.

 14. Hopeless Hope

    Darkness grazed the grass on the edge of the scorched village. Drake and Hope sat for a while, looking at him. The scene was gorgeous, with the black stallion on the lush meadow and the darker green forest behind it. They both knew that the view was entirely different if they would dare to turn around and look back at the destroyed village.


    Hope still hadn''t said a word, but at least now she was walking and behaving seemingly normal, just a little upset, but with a stern expression. Drake got on the horse and reached out to help her up. The girl hesitated for a moment, then raised her hand but did not take Drake''s hand, touching Darkness''s head instead. The horse let out a painful and scared neigh and ran away. Drake barely kept his balance when the stallion took off.


    The black horse lowered his head and became completely aerodynamic, increasing his speed with each passing moment. He seemed to be fleeing as if his life depended on it and headed straight for the forest. Drake realized this was his only chance to jump off the horse if he wanted to stay with Hope. He didn''t think again and didn''t hesitate. He plummeted on the grass, and although it was relatively soft, he felt a sharp pain in his ribs, shoulder, and nape when he rolled over.


    Drake got up with difficulty and saw Hope entering the forest on the other side of the grassy field. He walked slowly after her, holding his ribs with his left hand while his right hand was inert. It seemed strange to Drake that he did not want to kill her for what she had done. He did not feel the slightest criminal intent. His whole being understood her and realized that he would have done the same. He would have wanted to be alone with his pain, cry, scream, release his suffering without spectators.


    But he couldn''t leave her alone. He knew that dark place she was going to now, and he knew there wasn''t a way out of there without getting a little help. Pain and sorrow filling your soul are like banishing you to a forsaken land where you can see only your darkest features. Every person has a dark side, even the best of them all, even Hope.


    As he entered the forest, he began to hear wailings. He followed the cries and found Hope in the same position as yesterday, only this time leaning on an old tree. Drake didn''t know if she noticed him or not. Hope was talking, but not to him. She was unloading her burden.


    "I am angry because I am powerless. I refrain from destroying everything in my path, from killing every person I see. All the anger builds up inside, and I feel like it''s going to explode if I hold it back any longer."Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    The strong woman he once thought resembled a tornado was still there, but now, she was transformed into an unstoppable cataclysmic apocalyptic event.


    Her face was a grimace of anger and hate, gritting her teeth so loudly that Drake could clearly hear the gnashing from a few feet away. Hope continued screaming. "I want the tension that builds up inside me to explode; I want it to go boom and scatter my brains all over the place. I see this scene in my mind, and I''m happy! "


    Tears welled up on her chin and continued to flow, even as she began to laugh loudly and forcefully. "I am laughing! Because when I die, I won''t feel powerless! "


    Drake was amazed at how much she resembled him. He had been in the same state, discussing with himself in the past, and then ended up in this same situation. He couldn''t allow Hope to get to the same inescapable point.


    The girl''s laughter subsided. Now she was crying and smiling sadly. "I am a fool because I care. Nothing in this world matters. Everything is irrelevant because it is ephemeral; everything goes away; everything disappears. This is the design of creation. And then why should I care? Why care about something or someone?"


    Drake approached and sat down next to her, leaning against the same tree as her without saying anything. All he had to do at the moment was give her enough space to dump her suffering, yet knowing she wasn''t alone.


    Max and Josephine slowly approached with sadness pouring out of their eyes, seeing Hope. Josephine jumped on her shoulder, and Max lay with his head on Hope''s lap.


    The girl began to cry again, even louder this time and a shadow of disdain and anger clouded her face. "Do you know that when I got home, I wanted to go in? I opened the door even though the doorknob was locked and hot, and I had to push with both hands. Then I saw her¡­ I wanted to go inside after her, but Max grabbed my clothes and wouldn''t let me go. The first thought that crossed my mind was to order him to enter first."


    There was a long silence in which Hope seemed lost in memories and pain again, but suddenly she continued. "If I had done that, I would have hated myself for eternity. But I still loathe myself for thinking about it. The mere fact that it occurred to me to do something like that makes me a vile person. "


    Drake sensed a new feeling creeping deep into the essence of his being. A new one that he had never felt before. Admiration. Because at that moment, he saw for the first time that there is strength in weakness, happiness in suffering, hope in sorrow.


    She didn''t need words; she was the one who had to speak her mind, casting out all the pain, in need to understand her grief. So he offered her the only thing she needed. Drake got up a little and slowly hugged her tightly with his left arm because the right one was still numb, kissing her on the forehead and whispering. "Oh, my hopeless Hope ..."

 15. The Past

    The silence that Drake maintained as Hope stopped sighing urged her to speak. So the girl began to tell the whole story of her life.


    The man''s eyebrows arched in surprise when he learned about the wild animals that had raised Hope until the age of six, when her mother, Ona, found her in the woods. Hope could not say that she had led an abnormal life or that she had been unhappy.


    The animals loved her desperately, and Hope had a great time with their pups. All the creatures in the forest lived in harmony, raising the human chick, and the carnivores went far away to hunt and not destroy the balance created for their priceless treasure.


    Ona had seen her in the woods when she was picking mushrooms. She had noticed a 6-year-old girl running naked through the woods, playing with animals. As she approached, a giant bear cut her way, preventing her from coming closer to the child.


    The brown bear exuded endurance, strength, and vitality. The woods around the village had been the home of this impressive species for centuries. Ona had heard of them but had never seen one before, especially so close. The bear''s fur was reddish-brown, and the bear cubs around it had a narrow white collar around their necks.


    Then Ona heard chatter from the tree on the left and looked up, seeing a chimpanzee. He made strange noises, but all the other animals paid attention to him as if forgetting about Ona''s existence for a few seconds. His long, strong, slightly tapered fingers were firmly gripping a tree branch.


    Hope had already made a strong connection with these animals and understood their language. In fact, until the age of six, animal language was the only language she understood. Throughout the forest, everyone listened to the chimpanzee boss because his intelligence had stabilized the community, especially since Hope was with them.


    "Considering that this is a human woman, we can leave her around the girl. If they understand each other well, the presence of a representative of her own species could be beneficial for the child''s development," said the chimpanzee leader, and the other animals approved, most with regret and fear.


    Ona did not understand what was happening, but the bear got out of her way and was able to move forward unhindered towards the girl. She was very clean and well-fed, given the circumstances. A hug from Ona swept the girl off her feet, and she embraced the woman as much as she could with her tiny hands. Ona had never had children, and her husband had died immediately after marriage. When she felt the little girl''s warmth, a single word escaped her lips. "Hope!"The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    The animals allowed her to leave with the little girl, but they watched that village and the woman''s house day and night for many years to come until they decided that Hope was safe and comfortable with her new home.


    But for Hope, the transition was not easy. It was a period in which she closed herself in because she did not understand anyone and had to rely only on the tone of the voices.


    She lived in a new environment that she could not call home. For a long time, Hope did not understand how they managed to separate her from her family, but it was clear that she would not return to her former life, although what was happening far exceeded the comprehension power of a six-year-old girl.


    The world was completely different even if, at times, it seemed to look alike, especially the gaze of her new mother resembled the look of the bear watching her cubs. But things were going in a completely different way. As impossible as it felt for Hope to comprehend the essential elements and principles of her new world, she had no choice but to be trapped in it. A common-sense conversation was impossible for her.


    Hope has become a quiet and challenging child in the new circumstances. She could only trust Ona, but Hope didn''t feel that she could rely on her unconditionally. The woman''s scent was still foreign, and the girl''s senses told her not to let her guard down.


    In time, she learned the language of the people and began talking to Ona. But she never really opened her heart to her. She began to bring home all kinds of animals she could find and needed her help. Hope was equally dependent on them since they were the only ones who understood what was going on inside her soul. They were also ripped from their homes and understood her loneliness.


    When she sat and cried without understanding why her tears were flowing, her companions sat beside her, offering her warmth and waiting for her to calm down. Ona did the best she could to make her way into Hope''s heart, but she couldn''t get past all the inner shields Hope created to protect herself.


    -----


    Hope sighed sadly. "And now this woman who dedicated her life trying to give me love and integrate me into society has died without knowing where I am and not even if I am well. I didn''t even send her a letter so she wouldn''t worry. I feel like it''s all my fault."


    Drake said nothing, and the girl continued. "I don''t even know why I''m telling you all this. To date, I have revealed my inner thoughts and story only to animals. Maybe it''s your silence that''s pushing me to keep talking. But no! Ever since I saw you, I''ve felt similar to you. The smile on your face is put there to hide something else, but I can still see beyond it fragments of the real Drake. You won''t see that with me because I don''t know if the real Hope still exists. "


    A huge chasm seemed to deepen between the two, and Drake could feel the ground being pulled from under his feet because he knew what her request would be. Hope''s next words confirmed his fears.


    "I have to go rediscover myself. Find out who I am and what I want. I feel empty inside and that I live only by being carried away by the tide. I need to find out what I want from life. I know you need me to help you, and I know your threats are very real. The decision is yours. Kill me or let me go. "

 16. Parting Ways

    Drake was still staring at the ground with no emotion on his face. Now it was Hope''s turn to wait because the next move was his. Despite her thinking that she may die, she wasn''t scared because she felt like a soulless vessel anyway.


    Hope caressed Max and Josephine and sadly told them telepathically to leave until she comes after them. Using this precaution made sure that things would turn out well, at least for them. She also said that they should go back to the village and look for Tom, the butcher''s son, because he will love them, and his father will accept them for his sake.


    After a few minutes that seemed like an eternity to Hope, Drake stood up and walked slowly toward a secular tree. He hit his shoulder hard on the trunk of the tree, and there was a bang. The man was able to straighten his right shoulder after being dislocated from jumping off his horse. Then, with his left hand, he massaged the neck that still hurt, but the pain was not as great as the one he felt deep in his soul.


    Lilac flowers adorned the trees, and the murmur of birds enjoying spring sweetened the atmosphere in people''s hearts. But this man and this woman were immune to the beauties around them. The surrounding world no longer existed, and the whole universe was reduced to a forest, then to a clearing, and then to a single heartbeat.


    Drake turned back to the tree where Hope was sitting, and she stood up, waiting for his verdict. Nevertheless, the girl did not sense any criminal aura or hidden intentions when he spoke. His voice immediately diverted her thoughts into the opposite direction. "You once told me that if a person really wants to live, he must let himself be carried away by the tide and do what he wants. I will listen to your advice, but only this time."


    His left hand caressed her cheek, and his right slid over her left shoulder blade, where Hope began to feel some tingling and then a burning pain. But the pain stopped abruptly. Drake smiled sadly. "I left you a small gift from our mutual friend. When you are afraid, he will feel and know where you are. This is the only condition I include in the release of you. I know he won''t feel you too soon, or maybe never because you may be many things, but fearful is not one of them."


    Drake''s fingers continued to caress the dragon-shaped tattoo that had magically appeared on Hope''s left shoulder blade. She snorted in a cold, sarcastic laugh. "Do you like to caress yourself?"


    Drake was not so shaken this time by the changes of spirit that Hope managed to induce in any situation. Only she could have taken a sentimental and dramatic moment like this and transform it into a black perverted comedy.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    The man bent down and placed a light kiss on Hope''s lips. It was an innocent kiss, short and full of feeling. It was a goodbye that craved for an answer because he knew that this moment could mean goodbye forever and wanted to leave behind a promise of things that could have been.


    Drake looked at her for another second and then turned away. Again Hope had to use her enhanced hearing to catch his whisper. "If you miss me, you know where to find me."


    The girl also started walking in the opposite direction, sighed, and looked at the sky. On a twig, two pigeons nibbled at each other''s beaks, chirping happily before leaving to build their nests. Two butterflies flew in a spiral, following each other until they faded in the distance behind the branches of the trees.


    It felt as nature itself was telling Hope that she was making a mistake, and her gut feeling told her to go back and run after Drake. But that wasn''t possible because once she made up her mind, there was no going back. That was her way of doing things.


    The man could not hear her and could not gather the words that flew from Hope''s lips and disappeared just as quickly as the spring breeze blew. "I already do¡­."


    The woman was feeling torn apart. On one side, Hope thought she was now disappointing Drake by not helping him with his problem, the same way she failed Ona but not being the loving child she had always wanted. But the other side, the one that won the battle, wanted to be selfish. Ultimately, the argument that won the fight was that if you''re going to help someone, then firstly, you must help yourself.


    And yet, for the first time in her life, she had a strange feeling that she was returning home. It was like an uprooted tree that needs solid ground and strong roots to rise to the sun. She needed to know what gave meaning to her life so that she could continue to exist.


    The woman had never been so free. Embraced by instinct and fate, she followed her steps and let herself go where they led her. Hope no longer had to hide the savagery from within her. The surroundings were no longer populated with people who treated her like a human being who had to follow the rules of society.


    The only person who had ever connected her to humanity no longer existed. Hope was still suffering after the loss of Ona, but a part of her knew that this is the cycle of nature, a perpetual circuit of transformation, in which nothing is lost, only transformed. Ona still existed but in a different form.


    She went like that all day, not knowing where her footsteps took her. She didn''t know where she was, but the woman knew she was on the right track. Hope began to ponder what form she had before she became this person now. And before she was born, did she have consciousness and feelings?


    While thinking of these philosophical things, her thoughts became disrupted when a whisper that could have been easily mistaken for leaves rustling reached her ears. "You finally got home."

 17. Aegis

    The whisper Hope heard came from a tall, thin man hiding behind the bushes. He had applied green paint to his face to blend in with the green spring leaves. The shoulder-length hair and a short coat of feathers, tanned animal skins, and cloth completed his tribal look.


    "Follow me!" said the mysterious man dressed like a savage and then disappeared beyond the bushes through the forest. Hope made two jumps and reached the top of a tree where she could see him quite well, despite his almost perfect camouflage. He was heading east. Following his path, the woman saw a small village in the middle of the forest in the distance.


    Even from such long-range, it was clear that this was no ordinary village, but rather a pile of straw and wicker tents. Those people were probably living a pretty hard life. However, she was curious why that man called her.


    As curiosity awakens courage, they often go hand in hand, but very quickly, curiosity fades away, and courage is left alone on the path already chosen. Hope knew this, but being very curious, she could not resist the temptation to find out more, even though she knew she could get into quite a lot of trouble. Why did people have so many feelings and attributes that far exceeded the instinct of self-preservation?


    The woman got closer to the settlement and hid in some large bushes close by. The village was indeed how Hope imagined it, perhaps even worse than she had thought. The people seemed happy with their simple lives and their chores, each contributing to the welfare of the tribe.


    Out of a wicker tent came an older man with long white hair, who seemed to be barely able to walk, and yet he was moving at a pretty fast speed without leaning on anything. At one point, he stopped, sighed deeply and loudly, and brought the words out in a loud but warm voice. "You can come out of the bush and come see me better. We are waiting for you."


    For a moment, Hope didn''t realize he was addressing her. She knew how to hide well and mask her presence and even her smell. How did that old man know she was there, looking at him?


    The bushes shook, and Hope rose to her feet, cautiously approaching the imposing old man. Yes, he was imposing, but not by stature or posture. His voice and attitude gave him a prestige that could not be denied even by the most rebellious being in the world.


    When she reached him, the old man stared into her eyes, as if trying to read her soul. He seemed to reflect nature in his green eyes, inspiring a supreme peace and a devastating power. The jade glare seemed wise and old as the world itself, but also young and strong. The deep wrinkles completed the look, giving even more breadth to the sensation created by his gaze.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Hope heard the old man''s strong, warm voice again. "Follow me inside. There is a lot we need to talk about."


    He seemed to know about her presence before leaving his tent, which was the only reason he came out. Hope followed him, curious to find out more and hear what this mysterious old man had to say.


    Sitting down in the middle of the wicker hut, the old man urged the woman to do the same in front of him. When Hope took a seat on the ground and crouched her legs beneath her, the old man began to speak. "We have been waiting for you for a long time, Aegis. It was time for you to return home and take your place, according to the legend. "


    "Home?" Hope muttered, not understanding why the old man used this word. She had never been here before.


    The old man had nothing to hide, so he revealed the entire story. "Every year, we leave a newborn baby in the woods and wait for him to return to us. The one who will find his way home is named in legends as Aegis and must fulfill his duty. "


    "I understand, so every year, you kill a newborn. I can already see that this tribe has taken the concept of barbarism to a whole new level," Hope snorted, already annoyed. "How many children have returned so far?"


    The answer came promptly. "No one. Except you."


    Hope swallowed hard, curiosity being the only thing holding her back. Part of her knew that maybe it was better to know nothing and just get up and leave now as long as she still could. Therefore, she gritted her teeth and then asked. "What does the legend say?"


    The old man continued with his robust and calm voice. "Legend has it that in this tribe will be born Aegis, the protective shield of humankind which is in perfect communion with animals. He or she will lead mankind into a golden age and rule over the unnatural monsters, those atrocious abominations that can be called neither humans nor beasts. These creatures are a demonic combination of both, and they have been ruling the world for so long that their roots have been lost in history."


    Hope started laughing, a burst of forced creepy laughter. When she spoke, the woman''s voice was full of dignity and scorn. "It''s funny that a person who shows no remorse for the deaths of dozens or maybe hundreds of babies can call other beings monsters. Even more amusing is that all people want something from me. Some want me to fill a void left in their soul created by their own helplessness, others want to turn me into a lady unable to accept me as I am, and others want to shape me to fit the legend that gives meaning to their useless lives. But no one gives a shit for what I need and what I crave! "


    A warm voice inside whispered sadly. "Drake let you go because that was your wish, even though he got nothing out of it."


    Hope started laughing again. Yes! It was funny that the most humane person she had ever met was a monster with a beast inside him.

 18. Out of Control

    [Warning! This chapter contains blood & gore depictions not suitable for everyone. Also, this is the first and last warning regarding this trigger. Be advised that more will come in other chapters!]


    Hope got up without adding anything and returned to the exit to leave the hut and this cursed village. She knew it was very likely that her birth parents would be here, but she had no interest in meeting them. The woman wouldn''t have had anything to tell them even before discovering the truth about why they left her.


    The moment she turned her back on him, the old man made a humming sound, immediately followed by a desperate scream. He started screaming with all the power of his lungs, pointing his finger toward her back. Several people stormed into the hut, and many more others were waiting at the entrance. "Aegis has been corrupted. The Beast marked her and corrupted her irreparably. His symbol is already on her shoulder blade and will slowly influence her. This is the beginning of the end. Kill her! Now!"


    The first man to approach her had three white pigeon feathers in his ebony-black hair. Hope''s instinct kicked in and her fingernails immediately lengthened and sharpened when she thought of the magnificent claws of Handsome, the tiger in the arena. The man''s blood was now under her fingernails, along with pieces of flesh from his torn chest.


    Hope wanted to go out, but two other men grabbed her both arms, flanking her and holding her tightly between them. The image of Handsome came to mind again, as did the huge fangs he showed when he roared. The woman''s canines grew, and she immediately thrust them into the arm that held her right hand, and then in a single jerk of the head, she snatched a whole piece of meat, and blood began to gush from the man''s torn artery.


    Hope felt the sweet smell of blood and began to get drunk on it, but she calmed her feral bloodlust because she still needed to keep her mind clear. An animal was much easier to trap than a human with animal powers.


    The next men who approached were already afraid; their eyes were hesitant and were no longer so determined after seeing her bloody face and animal eyes looking at them with hatred and disgust. But one of them had an improvised spear and was going to attack with it from long range. He forcibly pushed the tip of his spear toward her while three other men surrounded her to limit the woman''s movements and options to avoid the fatal blow.


    Hope didn''t hesitate for a second. A leap launched her over the spear that was headed horizontally for her, allowing the woman to land onto the shoulders of the one holding the spear. She grabbed his head with both hands and pulled hard until his body fell to the ground, and she stood above him with his head in her hands.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    The bleeding head rolled at the old man''s feet, red drops bouncing on his clothes. His eyes were terrified and his jaws trembled with horror. Hope growled. "Don''t look so scared, old man! Your hands are much more stained than mine, only you were too coward to kill with your own hands."


    Now, everyone outside was panicking. A wave of astonishment spread through the crowd, and Hope most often heard a single word above the murmur. "The monster!"


    When she emerged from the hut, everyone stepped out of her way. It was a sea of ??people splitting in two, making her way. Some were utterly motionless; others threw themselves on their knees and apologized; others cried, and others prayed. It was so easy to cross the threshold between being a savior and a monster.


    The goddess born of blood and who had to step on corpses to earn her life and freedom finally understood human nature. She would have preferred to spend her whole life with wild animals because their primary instincts were much easier to understand.


    For humans, hope could be a harmful thing. A legend gave them hope, and they were able to do terrible things to keep their hope alive. Now their hope was there, and they were afraid of it. What strange beings people were!


    Aegis stood in front of the crowd, the shield of humanity full of blood as it served its purpose, to defend itself from monsters. The legend had a name, a face, and a voice that she would use for those who had ears to hear. "A shield is meant to protect. He who attacks is at a disadvantage. Aegis will defend whoever deserves it and will crush whoever will attack it. You live here in the middle of the wilderness because you long to be one with nature, and yet the most terrible human attributes taint you. You live your life from one day to the next, killing your children while waiting for the salvation promised by a legend. You are worse than the monsters in your stories, and the very nature you adore will turn against you. I give you two days to scatter in all parts of the world and never return. In two days, the forest animals will invade this village and feed on whoever is still here. The wild animals will track anyone leaving the forest, but you will not be harmed. Remember, if you ever hurt another being again, an eagle will take your eyes off, a bear will tear you apart, or a wolf will devour you. It''s your choice!"


    The blood flowed drop by drop from her inert fingers lying beside her body while the woman walked away and faded into the woods. Was this village her home? Was she born here? Had her birth father been among the men she had killed now? All these questions were meaningless, and so were their answers.


    It is said that the law of nature is to kill or be killed. Yes! The reason that wild animals kill is survival, feeding, and continued existence. But people kill for obscure reasons and find absurd justifications for all the horrible things they do and then live their lives as if nothing has happened.


    She had killed some living beings for the first time in her life, but she did not feel the slightest trace of remorse. They had attacked her, and the result had been a direct consequence of their choices. She looked at her bloody hands and was not impressed by the sight of them. Was she a monster now?

 19. Lost Souls

    Should he have thrown away his pride and begged her to stay with him? Instead of throwing his pride aside, he let something else escape him, a necessary part of him, without realizing that he had lost what he needed to be complete. His feeling of emptiness was more significant than ever before.


    Drake entered the great hall of Springwood Castle, watching down as his feet moved one step after another and he felt utterly lost. No one dared to address him when they saw him in a bad state because they knew very well that they could end up dead. And yet, he heard a faint voice behind him. "Where is Lady Hope?"


    That question put salt on his wound, and when he turned, his eyes gleamed red, with a crazy urge to kill someone. But the innocent face of the maid who had tears of sadness in her eyes blocked his rage entirely. "Your name is Ayala, isn''t it?"


    "Yes, Lord Springwood!" the girl replied in a barely audible voice, already terribly frightened by his gaze.


    Drake turned and walked to his chair. "Hope is not coming back. Send the chief of guards to me. "


    Ayala hesitated for a moment but eventually managed to speak before Drake could reach his place. "My Lord, you have not yet chosen a new captain of the guards after cutting off the right hand of the previous one. So who exactly should I send to you? "


    Drake sighed and sat down in his comfortable chair. "Did the one without a hand left the castle?"


    "No, Lord Springwood! He is still here."


    "Then send him to me now. He doesn''t need hands to listen to my commands and give them further to the guards and peasants."


    Ayala made a deep bow and left the room. It wasn''t long before the door opened again and came in the man who wanted to drag Hope out of this very room by pulling her hair. Now he was missing his right arm and had a bandage on his shoulder and the remaining stump. His figure was much less flashy; he seemed even submissive and docile. It was perfectly appropriate behavior for a captain of the guard to display in front of his master. The officer bowed to the ground immediately upon entering in respect and obedience.


    "Do you remember the village where you got that girl from her mother?" Drake started directly.


    The captain replied without hesitation. "Of course, master!"Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Drake seemed calm, but his voice was so sharp that it could cut off any head that did not bow to his will. "That village burned to the ground two nights ago. I want you to find the perpetrators and bring them directly to the dungeon under the castle. Do you feel able to fulfill this mission? "


    "Yes, Lord Springwood. In ten days, you will have all the perpetrators in prison."


    Drake smiled, but the captain couldn''t see it because he hadn''t looked up from the ground all this time. "You have five days to bring them. On the sixth day in the morning, I will go down to visit the dungeons. If the culprits are not there, I will personally come after you and throw you in chains in their place and do to you what I would have done to them."


    The captain just tilted his head down even more, as if strengthening the promise made to fulfill the mission and that he was aware of the repercussions if he failed. Drake''s smile widened because he liked what he saw. It was becoming increasingly clear to him that people became more loyal when they were afraid. "What''s your name, Captain?"


    "Casey, master," the captain replied promptly again.


    Drake pursed his lips in displeasure and then slapped his tongue on the roof of his mouth. "I can''t pronounce that name easily, and I don''t think I would remember it. From now on, your name is Armless. Understand?"


    The man shook his head vigorously as a sign that he agreed and also confirmed verbally. "Yes, Lord Springwood. My name is Armless. "


    "Perfect! Now get out of my sight. I want you to come back with good news. Don''t forget for a moment that this name fits you perfectly even if you miss both hands."


    The captain greeted again and left the room. Drake couldn''t help but wonder why he had been so threatening to the poor captain, who already seemed scared and lost in the darkness of fear. But that''s how he had to treat everyone so he wouldn''t get attached to anyone. That''s how he should have treated Hope. Damn it! He had previously treated her in the same way, but it had not worked. Why was she immune to him? Was she just brave, or was she something more unique?


    Drake rested his head on his fists. He felt that he had lost the little spark that was beginning to give meaning to his life. It seemed that in the end, Drake was capable of feelings and had a soul meant to be lost for eternity and forever accompanied only by his loneliness. He liked it more when he considered himself soulless.


    -----


    Meanwhile, another lost soul felt just as lonely, even though many beings surrounded her. There was a cave near a waterfall in the forest where Hope made her nest, and most of the animals came to check it out.


    She hadn''t felt so good in a long time. All these forest dwellers understood her much better than humans, and she, in turn, understood their behavior and social hierarchy. Hope was at ease and did not have to wear a mask and had nothing to hide. The animals did not judge her and instead offered unconditional love.


    And yet, something was missing. For a short time, Hope had felt a sun burning in her soul that cast sparks and gave more color to her life. Now she felt lost and alone, despite the love and understanding that surrounded her.


    But she decided to stay there in the forest and live in peace because she did not want to risk even more bloodshed, she did not want to lose control, she never wanted to kill again. And when Hope made a decision, she never backed down.

 20. The Torturer

    It was completely pitch black, and he couldn''t see anything. His hands and feet were tied in chains very tightly, and he could only move his head. The man could feel his nose starting to itch, and he tried not to think about it because he couldn''t scratch it. There was no window and he could hear the sound of water crackling constantly, so it seemed likely that he was underground.


    Jett was in an awful situation. It probably would have been better for him to die with his entire team instead of raising his hands into the air and shouting from all the power of his lungs that he would surrender. That damn captain without a hand had punched him in the face and left him breathless, breaking his nose. Maybe that''s why his nose was itching so hard.


    After the impact with the fist, he had fainted and woke up here in this dungeon, bound worse than an animal and not knowing when he would see the light of day. Jett thought he would make some easy money, just looking for a girl and bringing her to his employer, but things had gotten out of hand.


    He heard the creaking of a door and finally saw a ray of light. A figure entered the room with a candle in his hand, which cast shadows on the visitor''s strong and slightly elongated chin. The hand with the long, sharp nails placed the candle on the table in front of Jett and then retreated into the thick darkness.


    A few seconds passed that seemed like an eternity to Jett. He thought that the person might have left, but there was no creaking of the door. He knew that nothing good would follow, and the voice he heard confirmed his fears, for that voice was calm but hollow, and at the end of each sentence, it seemed that the visitor''s lips curved in an ominous smile when he uttered those words. "Are you fascinated by fire?"


    Jett froze completely. By no means did he think that this was the first question he would be asked. In the end, he managed to mutter, "No, not particularly."


    A slight chuckle came from the darkness. "I''m fascinated by it, and I''m going to share my passion with you now."


    Jett heard footsteps slowly approaching. A pale white hand freed his left arm from the chains, and Jett immediately began to scratch his nose. But, quickly, the unknown man grabbed his wrist with an inhuman force, and his long nails penetrated deep into the prisoner''s flesh. The unknown visitor pulled his arm hard and held his palm close to the candle flame.


    Jett clenched his fist to avoid it, and then he heard the voice again. "Tsk, tsk, tsk, toys like you are defective, failing to perform as expected. Let''s make some improvements. Shall we?"Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    The second hand came out of the darkness, untied the fist he was clutching with all the power he could muster, and ran its fingers between Jett''s fingers, gripping his hand as if it were a romantic date. But immediately, a sudden thud was heard for only a split second, and all of Jett''s fingers were in an unnatural position, torn from the root.


    The ensuing scream was tenfold and replicated hundreds of times in echoes reflected by the bare, cold walls. No matter how great his pain, it did not compare to the agony he felt when the delicate skin of his palm reached over the candle and began to heat up.


    The itch in his nose had worsened from the smell of burnt flesh, but it didn''t seem so important anymore. Jett''s screams were relentless, endless in a circle of terrible pain. He barely managed to make any intelligible sounds among the screams. "I tell you everything you want to know. Please stop. Ask me. I''m telling you eeeeeeeverythiiiiiiiiiiiiiing!!!!! "


    The torturer giggled but removed Jett''s hand from the flame and placed it on the table with his burned palm up. "Why did you interrupt me? I had just started playing with my new toy!"


    Jett''s fear was boundless and much stronger than the pain he felt because he realized that the man in front of him was serious, and that was just the prelude. He began to speak breathlessly. "We were hired to find a girl from that village near the forest. We would find her easily because the whole village knows her. Many call her the hero of the village because she saved a child from a monster. But when I got to her house, she wasn''t there. We started questioning her mother, but she didn''t know or didn''t want to tell us anything. Lester punched her to make sure she wasn''t lying, and then a dog jumped on us. I kicked him and threw him out, where he fell motionless. When I turned around, I stumbled upon the table and the candles on it lit the curtains and the carpet. Believe me. I didn''t want to set fire! I ran and found nothing. We weren''t even paid¡­. "


    "You could have taken the woman out of the house when you ran away!"


    The voice in front of him thundered, and for the first time, it no longer seemed hollow. Now the torturer was nervous and deadly, and that scared Jett even more, who started screaming again. "Please, please, I''ll straighten up. I''ll never do something like this again! I hate royalty! I will never work for the royal family again! I promise! Please!"


    For a while, the unknown visitor stood in silence. Not a sound came across the room.


    "Who hired you?" the threatening voice was heard again.


    "I do not know his name, but he was dressed like a king or lord and had the coat of arms of the royal family on his cuffs. It was a dragon on it! "


    Two red sparkles appeared in the dark, and the voice was more monstrous than ever. "What color was the dragon on the cuff?"


    "Blue, blue!" Jett screamed more frightened than ever.


    Drake extinguished the candle, leaving the room in complete darkness, and went outside. He leaned against the wall, calming his breathing until his eyes returned to normal. "Damn it, Wrenn! If you want Hope, you''ll need to kill me first! "

 21. Reunion

    [Warning! This chapter contains mature content not suitable for young readers. Also, this is the first and last warning regarding this because I hate to repeat myself. Be advised that more will come in other chapters!]


    ----- After six months -----


    Drake was in his study, writing some urgent letters that had to be sent with new orders today to all the dispatched units. It had all become a large-scale operation in search of Hope.


    The desk was framed by three sides of shelves crammed with books that Drake had read from cover to cover over the years, assuming that this was the only way he could feel things, through the eyes of the characters in the books.


    A person entered the room, and Drake did not look up, suspecting that was one of the servants coming to bring him tea. There have been six months, but still, he wouldn''t yield, giving himself body and soul to this search, in search of Hope.


    "I heard you were looking for me."


    Her voice made him freeze and stop writing. Recognizing her voice, his heart skipped a beat, and a genuine smile full of happiness lit up his face, but Drake did not raise his head, and the visitor could not see his expression. "I don''t know who told you that, but I''m not looking for anyone," Lord Springwood replied, resuming his letter.


    He put all his self-control at work to not get up, stopping himself from running at her. She was the only thing he ever craved so hard, but he wasn''t going to give in to her.


    Drake felt her approaching, making his heart beat faster, and his hand started shaking. He put the fountain pen in a fixed point, so she wouldn''t see his hand staggering over the paper.


    Suddenly, the papers flew off the table, and Drake stood with his pen in the air, leaning over the empty desk. He saw a perfect knee touching the desk, then a second one placing itself almost in front of him, and then the dress that she had lifted to make this move slid back, covering them both.


    Two warm hands gripped Drake''s face, lifting it until their eyes met. Her big deer eyes looked at him with thirst and desire. It looked like Hope had come into perfect communion with her wild side.


    The woman did not wait. Every second that passed brought them closer to a new sour and sarcastic reply from one of them, which would have destroyed this moment. Hope kissed him with all the passion accumulated in the six months of suppressed thoughts and fantasies. His lips were as sweet as she had imagined but far too inert, as was his entire body, which had frozen completely.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Realizing that she was the only participant in this scene, Hope withdrew a little to try to see what went wrong. Drake looked like an ice statue; he didn''t even seem to be breathing.


    There was a life-or-death battle inside him. He watched her slightly parted sensual lips wanting to bite them and suck the life out of them. There was an unspoken invitation in her eyes.


    Does she really think she can come back here after six months as if nothing happened and behave like that? Who does she think she is? Does she think it''s enough to storm in here, and I''ll fall at her feet?


    "Damn you!" he wanted to scream, but only a groan full of desire and passion came out. He reached out, grabbing Hope with both hands, and, in less than a second, he savagely pulled her on his lap, making her ride him. Now Drake was the one who grabbed her head with both hands and kissed her hard, but his passion was much more rapacious, almost devastating. It seemed as if the woman was responding to every move of his tongue, to every longing sigh, and her hands were as possessive as his own.


    The shock of the sudden shift left Hope sighing in surprise as he leaned her against the empty desk and lifted the hem of her dress. Everything happened much faster than she had thought, but she didn''t want to stop him.


    The kiss didn''t halt for a second; the desire didn''t allow them to break away from the other''s sweetness. Drake lowered the intensity of his tongue movements when he was amazed to find that the woman was not wearing underwear.


    Drake''s hand landed on the most intimate place of Hope''s body, and a sigh of ecstasy escaped her. His long fingers ran in circles quickly due to the excessive moisture of her passion. The huge nails almost didn''t touch her, rarely feeling them, and in those rare moments, it seemed intentional like he was looking to increase her pleasure.


    Drake stepped away from the hug, stopping the passionate kiss. He wanted to look at Hope, to see the rapture on her face. The man tested the entrance inside her, but it seemed too narrow for even one finger. He discarded his astonishment and returned to what he had been doing before, continuing to play with the warm, damp exterior, occasionally touching the button that made her whole body arch.


    He was looking at her and couldn''t get enough of the view. Drake picked up the pace. The movements became faster and faster, touching more and more often the special button that was so sensitive.


    As Hope''s sobs surged in intensity, she closed her eyes and bit her lip as she began to squeeze his free hand and whispered through the sobs. "Do not stop!"


    Drake stopped. He grabbed both of her hands tightly and squeezed them against the desk surface, almost crushing them. The man sat on top of her, keeping her captive under him, almost crushing Hope on the desk. She came undone.


    Drake leaned slightly to her ear, and his warm breath sent shivers of pleasure. "This is the punishment for leaving for six months and giving no sign of life."


    The man got up, walked slowly to the door, and left without looking back. Hope lay motionless on the desk for a long time afterward. She could still feel the sporadic vibrations of pleasure spreading through her body, searching for the finality that was not to come.


    She closed her eyes, and a wicked and longing smile appeared on her face when she whispered. "My dear Lord Springwood, you are not the only one who can play this game. A new contest has begun. "

 22. Home

    Hope knew this had been a warm welcome from Drake. If he didn''t want to see her, he would have thrown her out a long time ago, or her head would have hung from the ramparts of the castle. The truth was that she had not come here just for him but because she needed his help.


    He was the only influential person she knew who could help her discover information that would fill in the many gaps she had about her genealogy and the powers she had. Or at least that was how Hope managed to convince herself to follow the urge of seeing him again.


    The woman smoothed her dress and went in search of Drake. The game could continue even after solving the much more severe problems she had.


    The woman didn''t have time to take a few steps out of the room, and two fragile hands hugged her, and a soft voice cried out. "Lady Hope, you''re home!"


    Home? She had never thought of this castle as her home. And yet, it seemed that the only people waiting for her were here. Is that really what makes a house become a home?


    She had always had beings eagerly awaiting her at home. These had always been her pets. As it turned out, Ona was generally too busy to wait for her and miss her, or maybe she didn''t know how to show it to her child. What was certain was that now was the first time she was expected by people who had been worried about her and had thought of her.


    Ayala led her into her former room, which looked exactly the same as Hope had left it. Even the dresses were in the exact order in the closet. It was as if she had woken up the next day after six months of sleep.


    "Lady Hope, why did you leave?" Ayala asked in a whisper.


    The mistress of the beasts sighed deeply. "I had to be free, to discover who I am and what I want from life."


    "And did you find out?" Ayala was like a curious child who wanted to know her parents'' adventures when she had not been with them on vacation.


    Hope did not want to tell her that she had discovered where she came from but that she had been forced to kill people with her bare hands in a grotesque and bloody way during her adventure and that she had hardly recognized herself. She still didn''t know what she wanted from life, and Hope could not obtain freedom as long as she was still stuck in the past.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    Hope answered shortly so as not to have to explain. "Yes, I have learned enough, and now I am better. What happened around here?"


    "Oh, at first, it was terrible. We were all afraid of what Lord Springwood would do," Ayala began. "He sent guards to find the perpetrators who set fire to your village. After finding them, the master calmed down a bit, but then he started sending guards in small teams to all the corners of the world looking for you. I heard he sent at least one spy to the royal court, or so I eavesdropped. You know, we servants gossip a lot. "


    Hope didn''t understand anything anymore. Ayala''s story might have been a little distorted, given that most things were probably gossip from various sources or heard in peculiar circumstances. To be sure, she best persuaded Drake to tell her the truth, or at least some of it. "Ayala, can you ask Drake to have dinner together tonight? Then help me prepare something special?"


    Ayala''s eyes widened a little scared. "I do the second part with the greatest pleasure, but I am afraid every time I have to talk to Lord Springwood. I never know how he will react. "


    Hope sighed and stood up, heading for the door. "Stay calm, Ayala. I''m going to face the monster."


    Drake was back in his study, reading a book, and a cup of tea was lying on the table beside him. Someone already rearranged the desk, and the papers were in perfect order again, as if nothing had happened there. Hope shivered as she looked at the desk, her body remembering the moments spent there.


    She overcame that state fairly quickly and took a seat on the chair in front of Drake, staring at him intently. The man glanced over the book and then returned to reading, and his eyes began to follow the lines of the book again slowly from left to right.


    Hope wasn''t the patient kind of woman, so she broke the silence. "Let''s make a truce for one night. We have to talk. You know this is best for both of us. In the end, we decide if we leave things as they are or if we continue our little game."


    Drake closed the book with a deafening click. In his eyes, that fire she knew was smoldering, but either it didn''t burn so hard anymore, or now he could keep it under control. It was certain that something had changed inside him. Drake''s voice, on the other hand, had remained just as dominant and seductive. "I agree, on one condition. In the end, I''m the one who decides if we continue our little game, as you called it. And you won''t have a say in it. Are you willing to give up control for one night? "


    Hope didn''t know why, but the instinct told her that question had more implications than dinner and a discussion. She could walk on swampy ground, where she could always step into a trap that would catch her and drag her into the abyss with no way out. That''s how she felt when she looked into Drake''s eyes.


    Hope knew that the one who is in charge could control everything from the shadows and let the other one enjoy an ostensible authority. "I surrender control for one night," Hope said, lifting her chin proudly. The smile on Drake''s face and his burning eyes were promising an eternity of murderous dreams of pleasure.

 23. Honesty

    Hope showed up to dinner in her red and sexy dress that had been in her closet for over six months. In this instance, her brown hair was free, all combed on one side, its tips resting seductively over her left breast, her dress exposed on the right.


    Drake couldn''t take his eyes off her. He started from the bottom, following the generous curves of her body, to the very well highlighted chest, the delicate collarbone, and the fragile neck. Her slightly parted lips tempted him to touch them and her gorgeous, bright eyes seemed to prod him to do things impulsively.


    Hope sat down elegantly but did not wait a few seconds and said what she had to say as directly as usual. "I need your help, and you need mine. What if we helped each other? "


    Drake raised his chin proudly, chuckling. "What makes you think I want to be your knight in shining armor?"


    Hope smiled sarcastically. "I don''t need a shiny armor because I''m apparently a shield meant to protect humanity."


    "What?"


    For the second time that night, Drake was astonished. First, there was her completely divine appearance, and now this. What did she mean? But the woman gestured with her hand for this subject to be set aside. "Nevermind. It is not important."


    Drake sighed. "Apparently, we have to talk. And somehow, I don''t know why, but we manage to talk and get along only when we drink. It appears to be a social adhesive."


    Drake made a gesture with his hand, and in a few moments, a servant brought a bottle of wine and filled their glasses.


    When the servant left the room, Drake continued. "Now we will play my version of never have I ever. Each asks a question, and the other must answer honestly. That''s all. "


    Hope chuckled, considering his game ridiculous. "So what is the wine for?"


    "Just to give us the incentive and courage to tell only the truth. Now I''m going to start this time. Why did you leave?"


    "I told you that from the start. To find out who I am and what I want from life."


    "And did you find out?"


    "This is another question. Wait your turn. Why did you mark me with the Dragon sign? "The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "Ask the Fire Dragon, not me."


    Hope''s voice was harsh and almost frightening. "I asked you, and you will answer me. It wasn''t Fire Dragon in control then; it was you. So he told you what that tattoo was, and you agreed to print it on me. Why?"


    "He said that this way, we will be able to defend you if you are in distress, you can call us through the fear that you will transmit. I did it thinking I would feel closer to you, but I was wrong. You don''t know what fear is."


    After a pause, Drake continued. "You have changed. I no longer see in your eyes the playful sparkle of a child who has discovered a new and interesting game. Your voice is louder and more threatening. It''s almost like looking at myself in the mirror. Or close enough. What happened?"


    "I killed people."


    Drake drank, showing a sarcastic sad smile. "Yeah, that can suck the life out of you too if you''re not careful."


    "I don''t want to be careful. I won''t kill anyone ever again. Why are you trying to be evil?"


    "Ha, ha, ha, I am not trying, I am, and I am pretty good at being evil. As to why that, I couldn''t say. I have been this way for far too long to remember why I have chosen this path, and I don''t like to think about the past."


    "I understand. So, you forfeit the game?" Hope smiled, trying to push his buttons to make him open up.


    Drake raised an eyebrow, not understanding her implications. "What?"


    The woman was as assertive as she was beautiful. "That wasn''t an answer, just a lame excuse not to tell me the truth. I thought this night was all about saying everything needed to start trusting each other, to be of help. Don''t you want my help anymore?"


    Drake sighed, knowing what her endgame was but still deciding to indulge her. If she wanted so badly to know his pain, then so be it, but he didn''t think Hope would ever comprehend such feelings. "You can''t possibly understand how it feels for a teenager to have a beast inserted inside of him, a dragon''s consciousness merged into your own. The constant whispers of the Old God were always enhancing my darkest urges and sharpening my fears until I had to shut down my emotions completely just to keep him caged."


    Hope was speechless, maybe for the first time in her life. Her troubles seemed unimportant whims, hearing the sadness and hate engraved in his voice. His eyes were icy cold when he glanced at her again. "Have you ever considered how I felt when you left? You barged into my life, making me care and melting the ice wall I have struggled for years to build. And when I finally thought that maybe having a soft heart in a cruel world is courage, not weakness, you left."


    Drake managed to recompose himself, his usual smile reappearing on his face. "I will help you only because I still need your help, and unfortunately, you are the only one who can help me. Tomorrow you will tell me what you need to know and I will provide you with the information you require. Then you tame the dragon."


    Drake sat up when Hope grabbed his wrist, pinning his gaze with her burning desire. But there was only the ice wall reflecting her glare and his stone-cold voice. "Although feelings are tough to kill, they are even harder to resurrect."


    Lord Springwood yanked out his arm from her grasp and stormed out the room. He wasn''t going to let her in again, allowing those feelings to creep once more inside his heart. The only thing that mattered was to reach the perfect connection with the Fire Dragon, a better one than Wrenn had if he was ever going to stand a chance against him.

 24. Sex or Love

    Days passed like moments. Winter came, and then it transformed to spring. It was almost summer, and things weren''t evolving as much as Hope and Drake wanted.


    The woman made a seeming connection with the Fire Dragon, and the Old God said he would play along. Then she went through talks and meditation sessions with Drake to find his inner balance and commune with himself and the dragon. But something was holding him back. He was trying, but Hope sensed he wasn''t trying enough.


    Drake''s information regarding Aegis was scarce and primarily out of legends and stories passed from mouth to mouth. Nothing was truly reliable, and all the data gathered was mostly contradictory. Hope felt like she had hit a dead end. Nothing was working. She didn''t find anything useful, Drake''s training was useless, and he had become even colder than ever in her presence.


    One day, Hope decided to change tactics. She went into Drake''s study room, where she found him on his chair with his eyes closed and meditating. This was one of her demands. Daily he went inside to talk with the Fire Dragon and to try to reach a consensus.


    For a few minutes, Hope stood in the doorway, admiring him. Despite having relatively short hair, it was long enough to appear out of place next to men of his stature and enhanced his attractiveness. Some longer strands of black hair were always coming to caress his cheeks. Drake''s handsome face was completed by a sharp jawline and high cheekbones. But his personality and the way he carried himself in each situation, seeming to exert no effort, also added to his charm.


    Hope leaned with her hip against the desk, standing next to him, and so she waited until he opened his eyes. "Now, if you are done, I want to talk with him too."


    Drake nodded with indifference. Suddenly, his eyes went full red, flickering with anger and disappointment. His voice was out of this world, filling the whole room with his bloodlust. "I am fed up with this kid. He is arrogant and bossy. His weakness makes me sick. We are in a shape way worse than six months ago. The boy erected a wall around his heart, and I can''t get through. If you want this to work, you must break his frozen shield. Create a connection with him, and you can be the buffer that will tether us forever. I don''t see any other way."


    Hope sighed in disbelief. "I don''t think I can anymore."


    "You must," shouted the Fire Dragon. "You are the only one who can do it. I still sense a vague vulnerability in his defense when he is around you. It is faint, but we must exploit it because it is our last chance."The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Ok, I will try to open up to him and hope he will do the same. Also, I think I know a method that can connect two people faster."


    The Old God nodded, closing his eyes. When Drake opened his smokey eyes again, the first thing he saw was Hope. She asked him bluntly, "What do you think about sex?"


    "What?" he managed to murmur, puzzled.


    "You see, sex is not taboo in the animal world. They can mate on the spot if they feel like it, no matter how many eyes are watching. Some do it to clench the thirst of their instincts; others see it as a means to an end, while others do it for passion, anger, submission, domination, lust, or jealousy. You see, animals are not all primal as humans tend to think. Some mate for life, while others see their partners as objects. They talk about sex with as much ease as humans talk about what they had for breakfast."


    Drake smiled mischievously. "Then why are you still a virgin? I have sensed how tight you were when I touched you in my study room. If you are so open-minded regarding this topic, why haven''t you tried it?"


    Hope sat on his lap, imprisoning him beneath her and pressing him harder onto the chair. "Because I''ve never felt like it. I have experienced the sensation an animal has when he meets his mate. I even sensed heat and desire through my connection with them, but never anything similar coming from inside me. Till I saw you. I wasn''t certain at first, but now I am. No day passes by without me thinking of your hands on my body, of your lips on mine. And there is a burning desire to feel your naked body next to mine. My innards ache every time I see you, no matter how cold you are or how hard you try to push me away."


    The visual images of their bodies close together naked instantly made his member harden. He could feel her desire washing his body, making his pores open and slithering inside him. This woman in front of him was his for the taking, and yet he was still suppressing his urges. Drake wanted her even more badly, but there was still something holding him back.


    His mind was suddenly thinking clearly for the first time in a long while. At that moment, Drake realized what was wrong with this picture. Hope was talking about sex, but that wasn''t what he wanted. He could find that anywhere.


    Then the answer hit him. Both of them were wanting something they never had. The woman wished for sex and passion, and he wanted to love and be loved. They were still worlds apart from each other. "Thank you, but I''ll pass. You can find another monster to clench your thirst. I have better things to do than to tend to your needs."


    Letting out a bored sigh, he pushed her aside and nonchalantly walked away, leaving her dumbstruck. Hope had thought that the worst-case scenario would be Drake taking her too forcefully and greedy, but not this. She never took into consideration something like this happening.


    The woman closed her eyes, reliving the moments of passion from the day she returned to the castle. She knew that he was capable of passion and desire. Why was he shutting her out?

 25. The Human Condition

    Several papers piled up on the desk in Drake''s study room. Hope was watching the pile of yellow notes in boredom and disappointment. She never thought that there would be so much to read, and almost everything was nonsense and bullshit.


    Hope sighed, grabbing the first few papers on the top of the pile and bringing them closer so she could read. The woman had already spent many days in this study room, trying to find something useful regarding Aegis.


    When Hope almost got to the bottom of the pile, there was finally something relatively interesting to read. And, incredibly, it made sense.


    -----


    The mythology of tribal people identifies Aegis with the future establishment of a new reigning dynasty marked by Hope and Equality for humans, beasts, and monsters. Prophecies state that our world, Sundac, will be destroyed if Aegis doesn''t fulfill its duty by defeating the current ruling dynasty and assuming the throne.


    As the story goes, it becomes even more blurry, mostly lost in time and translations. Some ancient tribes tell different versions of the story according to Aegis'' sex.


    Most say that if Aegis is a man, he will have better chances of fulfilling the prophecy and not because of him being stronger.


    A male version of Aegis will have a weaker connection with animals, rendering fewer powers. He will be able to take on the features and abilities of the beasts only if they are in his proximity. But he will trust his mission and his reason to live, being able to sacrifice anything for the well-being of Sundac.


    A female version of Aegis is mainly revered as the most powerful being in existence. But she has lower chances of fulfilling her destiny because of her feelings towards a dark being. The best she can do is to stay pure at heart and body until she defeats the great evil that will otherwise scorch this land, rendering this world uninhabitable.


    -----


    Hope sighed, throwing away the papers. "This is bullshit. Just a modern interpretation of ancient prophecies and tribal stories, trying to make sense of something they don''t even comprehend."


    The woman was bored. She closed her eyes, thinking of the endless possibilities of what the initial legend looked like and how it started. As a migraine started to pound her head, she decided to settle down with a good book and a cup of tea to relax for the remainder of the day.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    Hope went to scour on the shelves for an interesting book. Her gaze fell upon one with the title ''Dignity and Scorn.'' That seemed somehow fit for her. She took the book out of the shelf, and a wrinkled piece of paper floated from inside of it, reaching the wooden floor.


    Hope left the book on the desk, bending down and reaching for the fallen paper. When she unfolded it, the woman immediately recognized Drake''s handwriting, which she had seen countless times in the last five months. His calligraphy was state of the art, always writing only with a nib pen, moving his wrist in a mesmerizing and hypnotic way.


    A single paragraph was lying on the wrinkled paper, and Hope started reading it.


    "I''m a lost soul who''s not trying to cling with wild hopes to a road without beginning. Life and fate are cruel, leaving my heart bare from so much suffering and unfulfilled desires. I go through life driven by indifference; feelings no longer have a grip. I am a lost soul for eternity, forever followed by its loneliness."


    A lonely tear made its way from the corner of her eye, slithering across her cheek until it met her jawline. It remained there till she wiped it off with the back of her hand. A painful sorrow ached her heart, arching her eyebrows in disbelief. So, he was not only capable of feelings, but they were more intense than she could have ever believed.


    Hope sat down again on the chair, thinking of how lonely he had been for so many years, without differentiating his thoughts from the dragon''s. Before she left, Hope glimpsed a part of the real Drake, but she had forsaken it for selfish reasons. Oh, what had she done? Will she ever be able to make him forgive her?


    Feeling another tear forming, she vigorously rubbed her eye. Her tears won''t help her now. She was preparing to leave when she saw traces of lines deepened into the piece of paper, coming from the other side of it. She turned the page on its back, and there was a poem written in the same perfect handwriting.


    "I am in the search of the ineffable;


    I run on the edge of the absurd''s abyss;


    I bypass the alley of infinity on my knees;


    I jump over the black puddle of regret.


    I feed on the poisoned grapes of the soul;


    I drink from the bitter tears of emptiness;


    I fall asleep on the bed of cold leaves of the past;


    I love the rain of stars in the sky of destiny.


    I survive unwillingly because of my instinct;


    The brain sends the intensity of the impulse to the feet.


    Unhappiness is the human condition!"


    The poem seemed sublime to Hope and touched her soul and heart even more than she thought possible. How could a man be so cold and yet so intense at the same time?


    Hope started crying, tears flowing rapidly on her cheeks. She mumbled between the sighs. "It is impossible to bring back the past you have lost. Although I am guilty of so many mistakes, we have the ability to learn from the past and avoid making the same mistakes in the future. I will save you, no matter what it takes and what will it cost me."


    That day, Hope made a decision. She will show Drake that unhappiness is not the human condition. The woman gradually realized that the man was becoming more important to her than she had allowed herself to admit.

 26. Falling

    Hope knew she had to try everything in her power to make Drake snap out of his bubble. The next day, she took him for a walk in the forest to help him find balance in nature, or at least that was what she told him.


    Hope drove him through the woods till they reached a vast deep ravine. She went near the cliff and turned her back on the precipice. "Tell me, if I jump, you will catch me?"


    Drake didn''t have time to say anything because she already leaned on her back and dived into the abyss. Without thinking even for a second, Drake ran and jumped after her. He went with his head down and managed to grab Hope, who was falling slower than him, but the ground was rapidly approaching, and they almost reached the top of the trees.


    They had no more time. Drake went inside, begging for the help of the Fire Dragon. Barely a fraction of a second before reaching the ground, Drake transformed. Hope was safe sitting on the belly of the Fire Dragon and wrapped in his wings.


    The woman jumped off, seemingly not having any care in the world. "This is your first complete transformation. Great job! I knew you wouldn''t let me fall. Now, you must admit that you care about me."


    Hope didn''t have time to take a good look at his dragon form because Drake reverted back to normal in a blink of an eye. The whole forest was now a massive clearing where the dragon hit the ground.


    "I don''t care about you. I am just protecting you until you finish helping me. You are only a tool for me."


    "That might have been the truth. Not anymore. I know you, Drake Springwood."


    "You know nothing. I am not Drake Springwood. My name is Drake Draconian, the heir to the throne. The Draconians rule this world for countless generations, and I am the first black sheep that have ever existed in this family. I am the first one not able to reach unity with his dragon. If I want to challenge my brother and reclaim my throne, I need you to mend my relationship with the dragon. It is all simple like that."


    Hope wasn''t going to be impressed by his background or his lineage. This man was driving her crazy. She clenched her fists and gritted her teeth. "I hate you, Drake Springwood or Drake Draconian, or whatever your name is!"


    "Well, I hate you too, Hope, the shield of humankind, the Aegis, the animal whisperer, and whatever titles and powers you may have!"Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    She yelled even louder. "You are a weak and pathetic man, not being able to express yourself in any way. The Fire Dragon is right by calling you that every time. You are an arrogant coward who doesn''t deserve any attention at all."


    Drake''s eyes were sparkling red again. Hope knew that she was winning. The only way to get to him now was by getting his dark side out. Any emotional response, even hatred, and bloodlust were better than nothing. Hope prepared herself for the worst-case scenario. She could already see her head spinning on the grass.


    She closed her eyes, awaiting her end. Hope knew it was close when Drake pushed her onto the thick tree stump behind her, making her backbone hurt from the impact. He grabbed her head tightly with both hands, his mouth founding hers, and a wild kiss started in which Drake found all the corners of her mouth, leaving her breathless.


    His tongue was sweet as honey, and she wanted to taste this kind of passion every day for the rest of her life. Hope responded to the kiss, and her arms started playing with his hair, driving him even closer if that would be possible.


    Getting carried away by all that passion, Hope realized she loved that man more than she could understand. The woman felt they were soulmates, two beings so alike that it could not be seen where one ends and the other starts.


    Drake went further down on her neck, starting to lay waste there now. Hope released moans of pleasure when his bite sent a wave of pleasure through her whole body, making her torso arch. That will undoubtedly leave a mark, but it was well worth it.


    Hope raised her left leg and put it around him, pulling him closer. She wanted to feel all of him. Suddenly, Drake stopped biting her neck and raised his head till their eyes met. "Why do you do this?" he asked with sadness in his eyes. "You are still just playing games. I told you I don''t want to play games anymore."


    Hope grabbed his face and pulled him closer. "You can decide if I play games after this."


    She managed to halt her burning desire and landed a soft kiss. Then she started touching Drake''s lips slowly, only with the tip of her tongue, till his lips started to open involuntarily. Then was her turn to explore his mouth and not leave anything unattended. She was still holding his head, ruffling his soft hair. This was heaven.


    Drake again interrupted the session, grabbed her arms, and looked deeply into her eyes. "What do you want from me? Tell me!"


    That moment lasted an eternity inside Hope''s mind. If she were to give the wrong answer, she could lose him forever. The woman knew that she was in love with him, but her pride wasn''t going to let her be the one to say that first. She already enticed him to have sex, and that didn''t appeal to him.


    Damn it! Sometimes you can tame an alpha male only by letting him believe he has complete control. That meant to let him believe he won the deal they made at first. Screw pride. She promised she will win this challenge.


    Hope took a deep breath, almost like preparing to be slaughtered. "Drake, I love you, and I want to be yours."


    He turned his back and walked away.

 27. A Song of Sorrow

    The sky was dull, and a heavy summer rain was due. It was to be expected after the torrid heat that had been lingering for several days, making the air unbreathable. Hope could hardly wait for the rain, to feel the raindrops flowing on her body, just as she felt tears streaming within her.


    She had overcome her pride, and self-imposed barriers, subdued her hubris and harshness. For what? To not deserve even a word and to see only his back moving away. Yes, she was wrong when she left. Hope knew that but how she could prove she was remorseful? She had tried to help him all these months, to make up for the pain she had caused him, and yet everything had been in vain.


    Hope scratched the bark of the tree with her fingernails until it bled. Her fingertips were living flesh, and some of her nails had snapped. She wanted to feel that pain, to distract her from the much more intense agony she felt inside.


    When the heavy summer rain came, she relaxed. The woman stood motionless as the water fell on her as if she was under a waterfall. She imagined how the rain washed away all the suffering, all the memories, all the pain, all the things that went wrong in her life.


    Maybe it was all her fault, and if she had been different, things would have been better for everyone. Yet how could she be any other than she was? She didn''t know how to be different. It was her very nature.


    The tears flowed again and merged with the raindrops.


    Hope fell to her knees in the end, not knowing if she would ever have the strength to rise from the abyss in which she was falling. She screamed to mourn her pain, and from the edge of the thicket, a pack of wolves wailed with her in unison. They felt the sadness and howled a song of sorrow to show they understood her. Their souls were bleeding as one.


    Hope was again hopeless, drowning in a sea of grief and loneliness. She understood she wasn''t alone at the moment when the alpha male of the wolf''s pack came and laid his head into her lap. He whimpered like a small pup, looking into her eyes with sadness and devotion. They understood her, but unfortunately, that wasn''t solving anything.


    Seeing that wasn''t working, the alpha male sat up and grabbed her hand as if he was about to bite her. But instead, he just gave her a little nudge to make her follow him. Hope went after the pack when she realized she won''t be left alone anytime soon.


    After a few minutes, she understood they were leading her steps back to the castle. Why? Nobody was waiting for her there. Rather than returning home, the woman felt it would be best to stay in the forest with the animals, as she had originally intended. Hope didn''t even know why she had returned. But the wolves did not allow her to pass. Having been entangled in the pack, there was only one way for her to escape: back to the castle.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Wolves mate for life, and for some reason, they were seeing Drake as her pair. She didn''t know how to explain to them, that wasn''t true, he didn''t want her. But their eyes were vehement.


    Of course, she could order them to let her pass, but Hope still didn''t enjoy doing such things. The woman sighed and headed for the castle. She was wet and needed a hot bath anyway.


    -----


    Ayala worried about seeing Hope all soaked up with a scary grimace on her face. Her eyes were swollen and a bit red, like she had been crying for a while. The maid decided she will ask tomorrow what happened.


    The bathtub was in Hope''s room, hidden behind a matte textile curtain. Ayala filled it with boiling water and then softened it with some colder water until it reached the perfect temperature. The maid approached the woman to help her remove her wet clothes, but a crisp voice stopped her. "I can do it alone, thank you! Please leave me alone. "


    Ayala reluctantly left, going to do the rest of her chores. Hope went into the hot water and closed her eyes, trying to relax. To make herself feel better, she listed all of Drake''s flaws in her mind. He was cold, dangerous, sometimes inhuman, stubborn, very complicated, much too kept to himself. But he was interesting, attractive, and the flaws she had just reviewed made him even more alluring.


    ''Hope, what are you doing? He is an insensitive douchebag who treats you like a rag in his possession and with which he can do anything he wants. He treats you worse than a maid. Did you forget how he turned his back on you when you put your heart in his hand? It was as if he had broken it on purpose!''


    Hope was already nervous now, and if she had him in front of her, she would surely have killed him or at least tried to. When she was a step away from screaming her frustration and anger, the door parted and Ayala''s whispered voice was heard. "Lady Hope, Lord Drake invites you to the living room for dinner."


    "Tell that jerk that he can take his invitation and shove it in his ass!" Hope yelled, infuriated, throwing the towel towards the door.


    -----


    It wasn''t until he got home that Drake realized that maybe Hope wasn''t playing and was telling the truth. However, the forest was not the ideal place to open one''s soul.


    Drake was pleased with how he had arranged the living room, the same room where they had played that childish game and drank until morning. The man felt that place held an important moment for the connection between the two of them. He wanted this to be the place where their relationship would flourish. Drake didn''t want to have that discussion in the woods. He wanted to give her everything.


    The fire burned again in the hearth as last time, and the bear''s fur was in place, bringing back fond memories. He had filled the entire room with rose petals and placed two trays of food by the fire, without plates. He wanted to let her be herself, and if she preferred to eat straight from the tray, then so would he.


    The glasses of wine and a bottle identical to the ones they had enjoyed back then rested on a low table, next to an enormous bouquet of red roses in which he had slipped a note with a poem he had written for her. Everything was perfect!


    He smiled and felt like a child awaiting his reward for behaving. When Drake heard the door opening, his heart fluttered and his grin widened. He turned to the door with a gigantic smile, only to turn into a grimace of astonishment and then into a frown full of hatred and contempt. "Wrenn¡­"

 28. Brothers

    The man standing in the doorway was watching Drake with a cold gaze. His ice-blue eyes could have frozen even an ocean of lava. A short strand of silvery-white ash hair was hanging over his forehead.


    That man named Wrenn was a cold white mirror reflecting back to Drake every ounce of the hate he emitted. When he spoke, the man''s voice was strong and manly, even though it sent icy waves that could stop your blood from flowing inside your veins. "Hello, brother! Long time, no see."


    Drake wished it was longer, forever preferably. His jaws clenched, his fists tightened and his eyes sparkled red.


    Seeing Drake''s eerie look, Wrenn started laughing. The power and coldness released by his amusement were laying heavy on the room. "It seems you are still a feeble weakling yet unable to fully connect with his dragon. You are a disgrace to the family and you shall forever be a loser."


    Drake managed to release his fists and jaws, trying to relax and be his usual detached self. He smiled sarcastically and giggled. "Oh, you shouldn''t have bothered yourself to come here and state the obvious. You have already pointed that out every time you could. Now do us both a favor and crawl back to the palace and enjoy the life that was meant for me."


    But the man entered the room unscathed by Drake''s words. It was like he was just a bug for that man, not worthy to be taken into account. Wrenn started strolling through the room, touching the rose petals scattered everywhere. He picked one up, caressed it slowly, almost lovingly, and then it got covered with a fine layer of ice. Wrenn left it on the windowsill. "It seems you were preparing for a romantic date. Can I know who is the unlucky loser?"


    The answer came a little too quickly. "That is none of your concern!"


    Wrenn sat down in a chair, the icy blue gaze still stabbing Drake with sharp daggers. "That may be so unless she is the gifted young woman I have been looking for more than a year now."


    Drake had to remove any doubt. His brother had to return to the palace convinced that the woman he was looking for was not here. He had no reason to hide the name because Wrenn could have found it elsewhere, and then this lie would have raised suspicions.


    "The person who is living here is named Hope and she is nobody. The woman is solely for my entertainment, testing her endurance to my torture techniques. You already know that I love that, and not only physical torment. She is powerless and already submitted to my will and confessed her love. Is that the kind of woman you are looking for?"Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    Wrenn''s confidence started to dwindle seeing how carefree Drake was. Maybe he was wrong in coming here and giving hints to his brother regarding his endeavors. When Wrenn was almost considering leaving this wretched place, he noticed a frowning on Drake''s face which seemed untroubled till now.


    The Fire Dragon''s inner voice reached Drake. "For the first time, I sensed Hope. She is scared of you."


    "What? Why? Where is she?" Drake shouted inwardly.


    "Hope is just outside, sitting a step away from the opened door, leaning on the wall and crying. She is going to run away. Stop her now!"


    Drake managed to show Wrenn a huge polite smile before storming out of the room. "I enjoyed your visit. You can drop by anytime you want. Bye!"


    That didn''t fool Wrenn, but Drake didn''t care. Hope was the single important thing in his life and she was afraid of him. Why now?


    Drake followed the dragon''s instructions till he saw her running away in the rain. He followed her, running as fast as he could, and even if he was faster than any normal man, he couldn''t reach her. Then Drake let go of a heartbreaking cry, "Hope!"


    The woman stopped, and he finally caught up with her. The man grabbed her wrist and turned her so she could face him. He reached to touch her face, but she stepped away, yanking her hand out of his grasp.


    "Why are you afraid of me?" Drake whispered.


    "Why do you care? I am just a toy for you to torture and torment. Wasn''t that what you wanted? To be afraid of you? Yes, I am afraid that you will shatter my heart into even smaller pieces than it already is."


    The man realized she had heard everything. He was the one to be blamed for how things were between them. Drake never knew how to express his feelings and at that moment he was sure she was right. He could mess things up even worse, but he didn''t want to let her go, he was selfish this way.


    When Drake grabbed her wrist again, her nails elongated and she scratched his arm. Blood was falling from his wound and the rain made it flow even faster, changing its color from dark red into pink. But the man didn''t care. "You can make me bleed as hard as you want till you feel better, but don''t go. Give me another chance. Please!"


    Hope never heard him say that word before. She was speechless, and she snapped out of her nightmare. Watching his gorgeous face with droplets of water streaming down his white cheeks, Hope knew she couldn''t leave, but this was his last chance. The man hugged her tightly and all her fears went away.


    A tall man with silvery hair and ice blue eyes was watching them from the cover of the castle. Wrenn was staying at the window, playing with the ice shard containing the rose petal. He smiled seeing his big brother holding that woman in his arms. Wrenn never thought he would be killing two birds with one stone. He will get the Aegis and hurt his brother in the process. This was magnificent!

 29. The Threat

    Drake wanted that moment to last forever, to remain in that embrace with her in his arms, feeling her warmth through the damp clothes. But a weird feeling of worry that she might get a cold and an annoyed dragon that hated water were both pushing him to end this and go inside.


    When he looked down, he noticed Hope was barefoot, her feet soaked in water and mud. The man leaned down to run a hand over her legs and lifted her into his arms. For the first time, he felt like she was all his, making him bite his lower lip.


    Hope saw the gesture and couldn''t resist it. She pulled his head and kissed him with all the love she was feeling, and the man responded to her in the same manner. When he entered the castle, he closed the door behind him with his foot and started climbing the stairs without interrupting the delicious kiss. This was Drake''s house for more than a decade, and he could go everywhere with his eyes closed.


    He went into her room and gently let her onto the soft mattress on her bed. Drake looked into her eyes for a few more seconds and then turned away, going to the door.


    "So, you have a romantic side."


    Hearing Hope''s soft and enticing voice, Drake shuddered. He simply couldn''t let her walk barefoot on the cold marble, but he wouldn''t admit such careful thought. "I didn''t want your feet to smudge through the house, soiling it with that filthiness."


    After the door closed, Hope started laughing, seeing the floor was dirty everywhere with huge chunks of mud from his shoes. Oh, that man! He couldn''t admit he was starting to care about her.


    Ayala came and prepared another bath, even if Hope wanted only to wash her feet. She had enough baths that day to last her a lifetime if she counted the rain as well.


    After the hot bath, she felt sleepy and went to bed without caring about the softness of the mattress, which annoyed her every time. Hope was too tired and fell asleep quickly, with a decision in mind. She will have that man and she will make him admit he loved her. And when Hope made a decision, she never backed down.


    -----


    At the foot of the stairs, there was Silas, the butler, waiting for his master. Drake didn''t look at him, just left a whisper when he passed near him. "Did that man with silver hair left?"Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    "Yes, my Lord!"


    "The next time a person comes to me without being announced, you will be a headless butler."


    Silas shivered, knowing that could happen any day now. He reprised his flawless posture when he heard again the voice of his master. "Butler, send Armless to me."


    Drake was always calling him Butler because, for Lord Springwood, that was his name. That way did not require him to learn his name or to burden his memory with useless things. Over the years, many butlers have died, mostly by his hand, and all were now laying in the crypt with the Butler tag at their feet.


    When Armless entered the living room, Drake was at the window, staring outside. All the flowers that covered everything were removed, the fire was put down, and the servants had taken the glasses and the bottle of wine.


    The captain of the guards bowed down till his head almost touched the ground. "My Lord!"


    Lord Springwood didn''t move, just spoke with his commanding voice. "I want guards patrolling the road leading to this castle. I want to know who comes with at least half an hour before someone reaches this place. Is that clear?"


    "Yes, my Lord!"


    "Good, you can go!"


    Armless nodded and left, happy that for once he wasn''t threatened or scared out of his wits.


    Drake wasn''t happy at all. The note left by his brother washed aside all his newfound feelings. On the windowsill, he found a letter with the frozen petal placed over it. Even if it was summer and was hot in the room, the petal wouldn''t melt. It was like a magical cage that froze the petal in time.


    The man opened the letter and read it, preparing himself for the worst.


    "Dear big brother,


    I was happy to see you after this long time, and it upset me that our reunion lasted so little. Do not worry, because I plan to be back before winter settles down.


    After you left, I stood a few moments at the window and saw a kind and romantic scene. I didn''t know you had it in you. It is good that you never cease to amaze me.


    As you have already figured it out by now, I want that woman that was with you outside in the rain. You have time till the last day of autumn to deliver her to the palace, or I will lay havoc on your land and castle and still take her from your grasp.


    The decision is yours.


    Your loving brother,


    Wrenn Draconian,


    The Crown Prince of Sundac"


    Drake tore the paper into small pieces and threw them on the table next to him. "Well, that wraps up everything nicely."


    Lord Springwood took a seat, sighing. ''A lot of times, talented individuals make the mistake of believing things will go their way. Wrenn was always a talented child. Since we were young, my parents thought he was the one born to rule. Now, they have their way. Why can''t they just leave me be? They can have their puny throne and their favorite heir. But I will not give them Hope. She is mine, and only mine.''


    His sharp nails scratched a deep line into the ice surrounding the petal. The shard snapped into two pieces, broken along the fissure he created. The petal was sliced, a piece of it in each smaller ice shard. Even the toughest thing can break if you put enough pressure in the right place.