The Dragon King's Heart

In Laina's mind, she was in a dark space shrouded in mist. She could barely see anything in front of her. Laina felt an ominous presence surrounding her, a sense of dread.

Laina tripped and fell to the ground with a thud. She gripped her heart, feeling immense pain. When she looked down at her hand, all she saw was blood. Laina tried to speak, call for help, but nothing came out from her lips.

There was only blood. Laina looked around her, hoping there would be someone or something to help her. No matter how hard she tried, she could not get up. Her legs were numb.

Laina looked up. Her eyes widened in shock as a familiar silhouette formed before he eyes.

"Dante? Dante!" she called out his name as she tried to catch up to him.

Laina stretched out her hand as she used all the strength in every fiber of her being to move forward. But he never turned back or answered her call.

Laina flickered her eyes open as she sat up in bed. She was drenched in cold sweat.

"It was… a dream…"

She turned to her side to look out the balcony window. It was still nighttime. The moon hung up high. Laina subconsciously reached for the pendant she wore around her neck. She hesitated for a moment before tapping it twice.

The pendant emitted a soft glow as Laina held her breath and waited.

She waited.

"Laina?" his voice came through, he sounded as if he had just woken up.

"Dante? Can you hear me?" Laina asked as she held the pendant tightly.

"Yes, I can hear you. What's wrong, my love?" Dante's voice was filled with concern.

It was unlike Laina to call at such an hour. Dante was worried something bad might have happened. He took a sip of water as he waited for Laina to reply. When she did not, he grew increasingly worried. He sat up at the side of the bed.

"Laina? Is everything alright? I'll come over right-"

"No no, I'm alright. I just…" she bit her lip, "I just wanted to hear your voice, that's all."

There was a pause of silence.

"I miss you," Dante's voice cut through the silence.

Laina leaned back on her pillow with a smile on her face, "I miss you too."

Realizing she had called him in the middle of the night, she apologized for disturbing his sleep. But Dante did not mind.

"I wasn't sleepy anyways," a blatant lie followed by a yawn.

"I think we should both turn in. We have a long day ahead of us," Laina chuckled.

"I'm alright, I don't need sleep," Dante replied. She noticed a slight shiver in his voice.

"Are you feeling cold?" she asked worriedly as she gripped the pendant tightly.

Dante was surprised by her question. He turned to his side. If they were still in Everfree, Laina would have been sleeping by his side.

"Just a little," he replied, "Without you to warm my bed, it feels a little extra chilly."

Laina bit her lip. Since her return to Kinshearth, she missed him dearly. Laina had a hard time sleeping without him by her side.

"Well, we will meet again soon enough," Laina said with a smile, "Perhaps an arrangement could be made."

When Laina ascends the throne and takes her rightful seat as Queen of Kinshearth, she would have full control over the Kingdom. No one would dare question her ever again. The Royal Court had been eager for the Queen to find her King. Perhaps it was time for them to seal the deal.

"An arrangement? Sounds interesting," Dante replied, "I'll see what I can do,"

Laina laid down in bed, snuggling cozily underneath the covers.

"Dante," she muttered as her eyelids grew heavy.

"Yes?"

"Can we keep talking until one of us fall… asleep," she yawned.

"Of course."

~

"The guestlist-"

"Right here," Margaret handed Laina the list.

"What about-"

"The accommodations have all been arranged. They are compiled right here," Margaret brought over some more documents that were placed at the side of the table.

"The ceremony-"

"Ceremonial gown is ready for you to try on. The Royal Seamstress is waiting for your final adjustments," the handmaid replied.

Laina put down the paperwork and looked up at Margaret. Worried she might have missed something, the handmaid clasped her hands together.

"Is something wrong, Your Highness? Did I miss something out? I'm quite certain  everything is in order."

Laina chuckled as she shook her head. She placed a hand on Margaret's shoulder.

"You've done everything right, Margaret. What would I do without you?" Laina praised.

Margaret averted her gaze, shy from the praise she had received.

"You're too kind, Your Highness," Margaret replied with a wide smile.

This was the event of the decade, Laina's coronation. After the ceremony, Laina will no longer be a princess. She would become Queen. The atmosphere in Kinshearth, especially the capital, was filled with joy and festive spirit.

According to tradition, the crowning ceremony was a private affair within the Kingdom. No foreign delegates were allowed to attend. But Laina insisted on having a few esteemed guests. Queen Victoria of Wolfenheim and King Dante of Dracona were amongst the selected few who received a special invite from Laina herself.

"I'm so glad you're able to make it," Laina greeted Queen Victoria with open arms.

"Likewise. Defying the traditions of your Kingdom? You will truly be a different ruler," Queen Victoria replied.

The Werewolf Queen brought with her a small entourage of delegates and guards. But before they could further their conversation in the Throne Room, another guest arrived. As soon as the announcement was made, Queen Victoria stood to the side.

"Perhaps we can converse later. After you've had some time with the King of Dracona," the Werewolf Queen teased her with a quick wink.

Laina blushed a little. But the Crown Princess quickly regained her composure just as Dante presented himself before her.

"Congratulations, Crown Princess Laina. I look forward to the ceremony," Dante said formally.

He lifted Laina's hand gently and kissed the back of her hand. Most of the noblewomen in attendance were in awe of the Dragon King's charming looks. All of them would die for a chance to speak to him.

But none of them would ever have that chance. The heart of the Dragon King was already taken by the Crown Princess of Kinshearth.

"I'm happy to have you here, to share in this joyous occasion, King Dante of Dracona," Laina reciprocated his greeting formally.

After receiving her guests in the Throne Room, Laina was quickly ushered back to her quarters for the final preparations of her coronation. The Throne Room was reconfigured with rows of seats, in preparation for the ceremony. All guests were ushered into the Royal Garden for refreshments while they waited.

Everything had to be perfect.

It was Margaret's mission for the day. Several maids fawned over every single detail. From Laina's braided hair to the jewelry she was wearing, all the way down to the shoes she wore.

"They'll be talking about this for decades to come, maybe even centuries," Margaret said with excitement as she combed Laina's hair.

"Centuries? I'm sure there'll be fancier coronations," the Crown Princess teased.

A sudden knock on the door caused a little scare in the room.

"Who is it?" Margaret called out.

"King Dante is here to the Crown Princess," a muffled voice replied.

"Send him in," Laina said excitedly.

The door swung open. As Dante entered the room, all the maids kept their heads hung low. Before the Dragon King could speak, Margaret did first. She instructed all the maids to leave with her.

Though the preparations were still incomplete, Margaret knew Laina had been waiting to spend some time with Dante since their formal meeting in the Throne Room.

After everyone left the room, leaving only Laina and Dante, Laina got up from her seat and ran into his embrace. Dante already had his hands stretched out and open.

"How have you been, my love?" Dante whispered into her ear.

Laina shuddered.. She did not realize how much she missed him until this very moment.