The Dragon's Bride
Chapter 23

Catori stirred in her sleep from loud shouts and a booming sound. She shifted to her side, then the shouts came again.

They caused Rydstorm to jump to his feet and rushed out of the room, which in turn woke her up.

Not long after, Rydstorm came back from wherever he was, then pulled Catori to her feet.

“I need to get you somewhere safe.” His voice held urgency, as he stop pulling her to lift her into his arms.

“What’s happening?”

But he didn’t have to answer. The surrounding chaos was enough, they were under attack.

“Is it Lilith?” She now asked.

“No, wyverns. They followed a soldier here when he came back from returning with his mate.”

“What?” Catori’s eyes widen.

Rydstorm didn’t answer, as his only priority now was to get her to safety.

“Alice, take her to the safe room.” Rydstorm said, putting Catori on her feet.

“But-”

Rydstorm cut her off with a kiss.

“Amica mea, please. I want you to be safe. It would kill me if anything was to happen to you.”

Alice’s eyes widened as she saw a gust of wind and snow coming their way.

“Alice, take her. Go!” Rydstorm ordered.

Alice grabbed Catori’s hand, then pulled her along until they got to a set of stairs that led down.

The blue hair girl paused to remove a torch from the wall then hurried down the stairs with Catori following closely behind.

“What is going to happen to everyone?” Catori asked.

“Everyone will be fine. You need not worry. The wyverns do this all the time because they want the crystals encrusted in the walls. Rydstorm and his men will kill them. While we who are without powers, hide until they tell us to get out.”

“You don’t have any powers?”

“Unfortunately, I’m a late bloomer, or so they say. That or I’m just defective. But yes, I have no power, so I am deemed useless and constantly need protection.”

“So, everyone else fight?”

“No, mostly the females, elders and children hide here. Unless you are a part of the army.”

When they got to a door, Alice did a series of knocks.

The heavy door clicked, then was opened while scraping against the floor.

Catori was once again in awe. She didn’t know what to expect, but it sure wasn’t a wonderfully decorated large room with beautiful gems in the rocks, or even white stone chairs.

“How did they know it was you?”

“A wyvern wouldn’t have known the code, and I doubt they have a human side to know how to knock. They have only legs and wings instead of arms.”

Catori nodded, trying to picture what that would look like.

She looked around the room, then her eyes landed on Nita, she immediately rushed over to her.

The two embraced each other.

“Thank gods you are safe.” Nita said.

“I am glad you are alright as well.”

Nita nodded, then quickly stood when Alice came over to them.

“Don’t do that Nita.”

Nita bowed anyway, then straightened herself.

Catori looked around again to see the nymphs by themselves, having hush conversations. While those of the dragon race were grouped together and offering comforting words to each other.

Alice frowned after catching Catori staring. “The nymphs. They are only here, thanks to Fang. They serve no true purpose and have no shame. I wish he would get rid of them, too promiscuous and have no boundaries. Even for the men that are mated.”

Nita said nothing.

“I should go talk to them.” Catori suggested.

“Why?’’ Nita asked.

“To ask them about Lilith.’’

‘’Trust me, you are only wasting your time with them. All they care about is sex, their looks, and our men.’’ Alice said, in hopes of stopping her.

When Catori got to where they were sitting, after ignoring Alice and Nita’s plea not to do so.

She noticed that they were sitting on the edge of a pool, that had a small opening which drained the water.

As she got closer to them, that was when she noticed they were naked, except for one.

“Ladies.” Catori greeted, making sure to use her best authoritative voice.

The nymphs looked up at her; they giggled, then went back to splashing in the water.

“Nymphs!” Catori said much louder.

Again, they ignored her.

“Or maybe you would prefer whores?”

That got a reaction out of one of them, who hissed.

“She’s Rydstorm’s mate.” Another said.

That got the others to sit up straight.

“Where is Lilith?” Catori asked, getting right to the point.

“Since you are new, let me explain. We are recyclable. When Fang is done or grows tired of one of us, he goes out to get others.” One said.

“So you don’t know where she is?”

“No, haven’t seen her.” She responded to Catori, then laughed. ’’She always thought she was the one, always saying he won’t get rid of her. Guess she was wrong, but that’s what one gets for bragging. I didn’t like her, anyway.’’

Catori wrinkled her nose.

“Do any of you know what she was planning? Or who is this master of her is?”

“No.” They said collectively.

“So, none of you are working with her or her master to gain control of Rydstorm’s Palace and over throw the Fates?”

Catori watched each and every face of the nymphs to see if they would give anything away. Thankfully, one of them had an eye twitch. Then she looked down.

“You, what’s your name?” Catori pointed at the dark hair girl who had her head down.

“Raven.”

“Raven, tell me where Lilith is before I lay my wrath on you.”

The nymph hissed, then got up out of the water.

“I will never tell!”

The other nymphs began to whisper in shock.

“This place can burn for all I care!” Raven said.

“Raven, how can you say that? Fang is here, and he has been good to us.” A pink haired one said.

“No, he hasn’t!” Raven yelled, then said more quietly. “He only uses us, just like everyone else does. Lilith and I are trying to escape that. You all could too, just join us and we will be free for men and their lustful ways.”

“Us nymphs don’t fight.” One said.

Raven hissed. “Fine! be stuck here.” She then turned her golden eyes to Catori.

“There is nothing you or your mate or anyone can do to stop us. Our plan is already set.”

Not knowing where it came from, Catori tackled the nymph, then held her in a headlock.

Everyone was shocked, and rushing over to where their Queen was wrestling with the nymph.

“Catori!” Nita yelled, running over to her.

“Oh no.” Alice panicked, thinking that she wasn’t protecting her, as per Rydstorm’s wishes.

~~~

Rydstorm barreled through three wyverns, by using his fist to punch one in the snout and the other. He jumped on its back, then ripped its wings from its sides.

The wyvern roared, shaking its body to get Rydstorm off. When he finally got free of Rydstorm, he used the almost dead creature to catapult himself on the last creature he faced off with.

Fang was somewhere behind him, wrestling with a wyvern, where he forced the creature’s mouth open and separated the top half of its head from its jaw.

Another one came up behind Fang, spitting acid at his back, but luckily Rydstorm let out fire to burn the acid, which fell to the floor in a bubbling gunk.

Fang used his ice power to freeze the wyvern, then nodded at his king, who jumped and punched the frozen creature which crumbled.

The two soon ran off to fight with more of the enemy.

Rydstorm ripped one head clean off its body, while Fang froze another before kicking it into the wall.

After seeing that the last dead wyvern was thrown off the mountain. Rydstorm told one of his soldiers to go see if there were any casualties, while he told Fang to come with him, before making his way down to the hiding area.

When he pushed the door open, after inserting a drop of his blood, he was shocked at the sight before him.

“Catori?” He called.

His mate looked up from where she was holding a bloody nymph’s face in her hands.