Chapter 30

FELIX

Two days later and I was still completely distracted by the memory of being entwined with Mila in the shower. Last night, I had needed to rise from bed and resort to my own hand in an effort to pump out the sensation of her just so I could sleep.

Desperate times, desperate measures.

I was a hopeless mess at our council meeting the next morning, daydreaming about her screaming my name even as one of the cabinet members droned on about the state of agriculture in Fresonia. My father had been forced to kick me sharply under the table multiple times to bring me back to reality.

After another dull meeting, my father pulled me aside.

“Go visit your dragon, Felix,” he said. “You need some time to reconnect. Especially now that you are so close to becoming King.”

I nodded. He had a good point.

Fresonia’s dragons were kept in a secret aviary high in the mountains. The Great Witch had developed a magical door that allowed for immediate transport to the aviary. Only the royal family was permitted to use it.

One step and I was in the mountains towering over Fresia, grinning as the wind whipped through my hair and the temperature dropped several degrees. I walked over to the hidden aviary entrance.

Most of the dragons were sleeping, except for one: the largest, most ferocious of the bunch.

My dragon. Igantius.

He was large and foreboding, with leathery wings and dark red scales. His eyes glowed as he saw me. Despite his terrifying appearance, Iggy was a big puppy dog when it came to me.

I took my time greeting him and scratching his scales. I started saddling him up to ride when I heard a voice from behind me.

“He’s a special dragon.” It was Esmeralda.

“He’s a magnificent beast,” I said, turning to face her.

“A great dragon for a great king,” she murmured.

“Did you enjoy meeting Mila?” I asked, as casually as I could.

“She’s a wonderful young lady,” Esmeralda said.

“And?”

“Very clearly your Destined Bride. My magic sensed it almost instantly.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. “Good. I'm glad I finally found her.”

Esmeralda leaned against the fence of the aviary, looking at the dragons. “You must marry her soon, Felix. The curse is closing in on you.”

I nodded, sadly. My 30th birthday was only a few weeks away. Mila and I needed to speed things up.

Although, after our second night together, maybe she would be more agreeable to intensifying our relationship…

“Do you love her?” Esmeralda interrupted my thoughts.

“I…” I didn’t know how to answer that question.

“The intricacies of the curse are complicated,” she explained. “I am still unsure myself of what will happen once the two of you are married. Perhaps once you consummate the relationship…”

“I, uh, don’t know if that’s the case,” I said, blushing. Esmeralda raised her eyebrows in understanding.

“Ah, I see,” she said. “Then perhaps it’s the marriage itself. But you must do whatever it takes to propose to her as soon as possible. The sooner Mila is your wife, the sooner the curse is broken.”

MILA

The walk from my new restaurant location to my motel was longer than I thought.

Fresia was a different city at night–especially the part I lived in. The fruit carts were packed away, and the people were a bit meaner. A bit tougher. Normally Felix picked me up from work, but he was busy tonight with royal activities.

I pulled my jacket a little tighter around my shoulders as I walked. A few men stumbling out of bars gave me lewd glances, and I shivered in the night chill.

“Whatcha got there, little princess,” some drunk man called out from behind me. I picked up my pace. Only a few more blocks to my motel, and then I was safe for the night.

“Hey! Lady! I’m talking to you!” The man’s voice was closer now, and angry. I broke out into a sprint.

Someone yanked my arm and I stumbled, nearly toppling to the ground. The drunk man tightened his grip. He leered at me, his breath reeking of whiskey.

“Why are you running from me?” he slurred. “I just want to be friends.”

Another man stepped into view on my other side. Trapping me.

“Don’t you want to be friends?” the second man asked. He was bigger and burlier than the first.

Terror surged through my body.

“Help!” I cried out. “Please! Somebody help me!”

The drunk man easily pushed me against the back of a building. This area of the city was not well-lit. Unless you were really looking, you wouldn’t be able to see me.

The drunk man covered my mouth with his hand.

“Quiet, bitch,” he sneered. “This won’t hurt a bit.”

The second man advanced on me. I sobbed to myself. Life had been so promising this morning. That was all about to be ripped away.

My heart was pounding, fear coursing through my veins. I squeezed my eyes shut and prayed it would all be over soon.

And then I heard a roar.

“GET AWAY FROM HER!”

It was Felix.

He threw the two men away from me, landing in a few good punches before they scrambled to their feet and ran away. Felix turned to me, worry written all over his face.

“Mila,” he whispered, and pulled me into a hug. I wept against his chest.

“You’re safe now,” he said, stroking my hair. “It’s all okay now.”

“I was just walking home,” I wailed. “I wasn’t doing anything wrong. How did you find me?”

Felix’s face darkened. “I heard you yelling.”

I frowned. I hadn’t been very loud. “You did?”

“Yes,” Felix said. “I was walking home to surprise you when I heard you scream and came running. Call it a… gut instinct.”

I shuddered in his arms. “I should probably go home now.”

Felix’s grip loosened on me and he pulled back to study my face.

“Stay at my apartment tonight,” he said. I looked at him, confused. “Just for the night. Just to make sure you’re safe. I will call the chief of police and make sure they do some extra patrolling tonight to make sure the streets are safe.”

The incident had left me in such a state of shock that I found myself agreeing to spend the night.

Felix escorted me back to his city apartment, which thankfully was only a few blocks away.

“You can stay in my room, if you like,” Felix said. I opened my mouth to protest, but he cut me off.

“We can build a pillow wall if you want. I just want to make sure you’re safe.”

I shoved his shoulder playfully. “I don’t need a pillow wall.”

I made us both some tea and we sat on Felix’s bed. I tried not to think about the semi-disaster that occurred last time I spent the night.

“I’ve been used to living alone since I was very young,” I said, searching for the right words to express my gratitude. “This is a… welcome change. Having someone there when you go to sleep, I mean.”

Felix gave me a soft, crooked smile.

“I like falling asleep next to you,” he said. “It’s nice.”

That night, I slept more soundly than I had in weeks.

I woke up early the next morning, and headed into the kitchen. I wanted to prepare breakfast for us, as a thank-you to Felix for letting me stay the night.

There wasn’t much in Felix’s refrigerator, but I managed to scrape together some supplies for banana French toast and crispy bacon. I was just finishing pouring maple syrup on the French toast when Felix walked into the kitchen, wearing only a t-shirt and boxers, his hair mussy from sleep.

“This smells amazing,” he said, yawning.

“There’s coffee in the pot,” I told him, fixated on plating our breakfast.

He kissed my cheek and wandered over to pour us both mugs of coffee.

“If I recall correctly,” he said, “and I believe I do, you like your milk with a splash of coffee and whole lot of sugar.”

I laughed. “A lot of milk, yes, please.”

As we sat down for breakfast, Felix studied my face. I crunched down a piece of bacon.

“What?” I asked him.

“Just hear me out,” he began. My eyebrows raised.

“I like this. Falling asleep with you, waking up with you. I think we should do it more often.”

I nodded, my mouth full of food.

“That’s why I think you should move in.”