Back on the balcony
******************** Damon's POV*****************
"The hell was that?" Jasper shouted as we both rushed into the ballroom to see the commotion.
Someone was yelling at a young boy, who couldn't have been any older than fifteen. His trembling in front of a group of these so-called women, I look at Angela screaming like a banshee over a dress. A Dress.
With Count Rose and Baren Dawn's daughters kicking up an even bigger fuss. I'm on the verge of shifting with just the thought of her getting her way causing problems if she becomes queen.
Yet she's still apparently not grown up enough to step away from something so childish as bullying. I couldn't help but think about the supposed engagement again.
"Great, another brat throwing a tantrum." Jasper crosses his arms, his brow furrowed.)
"Damb it. Angela has gone too far!" Damon is growing on edge.
"What are we supposed to do?" Jasper asked annoyed.
"Get the kid out of there. I'll think of something. Go!" Damon shouted at the guards.
"Damon, look." Jasper pointed towards the growing crowd.
Just when I was about to jump the second-floor railing a young woman appeared with a black face mask covering half her face and an elegant yet modest purple dress. She was calm and went to where the boy was.
Checking for any injuries on his hands or feet. When she was sure she didn't find any, offered him her hand to help him stand on his feet. Facing Angela and her fickle friends. Let the show begin.
******* ******* ******* ******* ******* ****** *****
I waited for that woman in the black mask to come back to the ballroom, but even though hours had passed, she was nowhere in the room. My inner dragon, Nyxen, who goes by Nyx, was pacing anxiously. Giving me terrible anxiety, with a headache that was killing me.
"Nyx, can you calm down already? You are putting me on edge."
"No! I can't. Something's up." Nyxen paces relentlessly.
"What do you mean?" I say, taking a more serious tone.
"I…I can't explain it. It's outside, hurry! Hurry!" Nyxen shakes himself off, still feeling weird.
Jasper looks at me strangely, sensing the change in my mood. "Hey man, what's wrong, what's the hurry?"
"Nyx senses something off; I'm going to find out what. Stay here and keep an eye out for anything amiss tonight, alright?" I tell him plainly.
Jasper saluted respectfully. "Yes, sir, and Damon, be careful."
As playful as Jasper was, he never played the fool when Damon was in his king's tone and let Damon walk to the back garden by himself. He would stand watch in the ballroom, protecting the guests in his king's stead.
The gardens stretched quite far, at least a mile or so each. Using the mental link he shares with his familial clan, he speaks to the guards.
"Search the area; we may have some unwanted guests in the back garden," I commanded.
"Sir, there is someone in the eastside garden walking further toward the mountain. Permission to follow them." The lieutenant saluted.
"Granted. The rest of you stay in your assigned areas. Report anything out of place. Got it!" I demanded.
"Yes, Alpha." The lieutenant and the other soldiers saluted, running back to their post.
I make my way to the eastside garden following the woman. Not too keen to let this so-called woman go wherever she pleases. Especially on my clan's land, where we have the potential threat of her seeing one or more of my clansmen in their dragon forms. If that were to happen, I would be held responsible. Not to mention the panic.
I followed her scent through the forest. Her scent was like a field of fresh flowers and lemongrass, leading me further from the palace. Until I finally found her, hiding in the thicket of flowers.
A secret garden? The vibrant colors danced in the wind around her. There in the moonlight was the one in the black mask. The girl who disappeared while that brat, Angala, returned. Here she was, in front of me. Making large rings with the flowers, trying them on like a crown. Guess she was done, since after a while she walked toward the river.
The river separates the palace from the mountain, where everyone shifts and flies. I watched anxiously, from a distance so that she wouldn't see me. Still being able to track her movements, hoping nobody in their dragon forms would be seen tonight.
I watched her walk away from the garden; flowers on her arm, into the forest. I almost got caught once or twice. She laid the flowers and placed small candles in them like boats. Trying to be quiet, I sat not too far away. Just enough to observe, respecting her space. To my surprise, she didn't even turn around when she started speaking, startling me.
"You like to follow me, don't you?" She said, looking at the sky. I smiled to myself, strangely drawn to this woman.