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CHAPTER 7

The duties as the acting king were not easy at all – because simply put; Christian Dragomir D’evreux wasn’t one. He was a warrior and an advisor – he was no king – he wasn’t cut out to be one. And above all – performing all the duties of a king reminded him too much of his friend – his brother; Alexander – who was the king by right – and he was devastated by the loss of a brother. His people were in despair. Both because of the curse and the loss of their beloved king whose rule had made them prosper so much – Alex had simply made their kingdom the strongest amongst all. And now he couldn't say the same about his once mighty people. His beloved Evreux was struggling. The curse hadn't only bound their bodies or their happiness but it also impacted their livelihood. the trade with other kingdoms as well as with human world had taken a hit because people bound in their beast forms couldn't perform the tasks they could in their human bodies.

These were the times when he missed his mate the most – her soothing touch and her wise council – who was banished to the human world after what Katherine had done. He still remembered the tortured look in her eyes when she had to leave them. He saw the light leaving her eyes that had always shone so bright that it always took his breath away with only one look from her. He used to be in awe of her vibrant nature. Now she looked like a dead woman walking. He wasn’t a violent man but in that instant a thousand excruciating deaths for Katherine Vidarr raced through his mind.

So many years he had spent searching for Katherine with his people both in this world and that of the humans but she had just vanished from the surface of the earth. He still had spies everywhere who were ordered to keep looking for her. He owed it to his friend to break his people out of the curse. People; whom Alexander had loved till his dying breath.

Though over the years many of his people had found mates and were able to break out of their nightmare but many more still remained. And their pain was enough to age him way before his years.

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“Man I’m spent after beating the shit out of those three pussies. I just want to fall down in the sun and sleep – but no – your old man can’t let me rest for two damn seconds” Dimi grumbled non-stop while flying with Valiance towards the healers’ crypt.

“Hey stop whining, would you? Those were just kids you beat up. Are you telling me those ‘kids’ sucked you dry? Come on man”. Valiance said in amusement.

“Shut up”. Dimi snapped as expected “I just don’t like going to that place. It freaks the shit out of me”. A visible shudder passed through his body. “Those damn ladies are so freaky with their yellow eyes. Haven’t you ever seen them glow like a cat while they work their mojo? I pity the bastards who end up with them as their mates. I swear if my mate is one of them I’m gonna run for the hills and I’m not ever coming back. I’ll stay a dragon my whole life, thank you very much”.

Valiance was laughing his ass off. Dimi had been afraid of the healers since he was a little kid. Nobody knew the reason because he hadn’t even told Valiance anything. And it was saying something because Dimi couldn’t keep anything from his best friend even if his life depended on it.

They landed near the crypt and naturally Valiance took the lead. “Go ahead, I’ll stay here” Dimi said almost jumping with nerves. His tail was swishing continuously, indicating his need to run as far away from the underground town as possible.

“Dimi Man, stop being a pussy. Come on. We’ll be in and out. Now come along, we don’t have all day”.

As soon as they entered the crypts an unnatural mist encompassed them both, making them shudder. Soon an eerie voice followed the chill. “Don’t be frightened young dragons. This will clean you of the impurities of the outer world. It is necessary before you are allowed to enter any further”.

Dimi jumped at the sudden bodiless voice that undoubtedly belonged to some centuries old healer. Valiance barely controlled the laughter that threatened to bubble out of his chest at the spooked look on his best friend’s face. But he couldn’t control the shaking that took over his frame as a result of suppressed laughter.

“Greetings healer” said Valiance respectfully “We’ve come to see the human girl who was brought here yesterday by my father Christian D’evreux”.

“I know why you’ve come young dragon. And I know what lies ahead. Tread carefully”. Valiance didn’t show the alarm he felt on the old healer’s cryptic warning. She must also be a seer if she could predict the future. “Follow the enlightened path and it will lead you to the healer’s station”. Dimi was already moving towards said path, no doubt trying to get far away from the voice as soon as possible. This time Valiance didn’t bother to conceal his laughter at his best friend’s expense to which Dimi turned and gave him the stink eye for - Which only made him laugh harder.

“Pussy” Valiance couldn’t leave it well alone “Bitch” Dimi grumbled in return.

From the healer’s station they asked for the room and bickered all the way there, but their back and forth died as soon as their eyes found the sleeping form on the cot.

“Damn she’s beautiful” Dimi being Dimi whisper hissed. But Valiance was shocked into silence by the sheer beauty that lay in front of him. Her flaming red hair was spanned out around her face like a halo of raging flames. Her porcelain skin was spotless – no freckles that he could see. And he was astonished at the sudden and vicious need to see her eyes – to see that face smiling.

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