His Druid's Tainted Heart ( Fated To The Kings)

Indali

The Dragon Princess

Twenty-five months.

Twenty-five, miserable, fucking months. Two years, thirty days, and twelve hours.

Years spent avoiding her own family.

The dragon princess felt like screaming every time she thought of her forced isolation. But she had enough training now to suppress her emotions, not a flicker shown on her face, careful enough to keep her thoughts to herself.

With no family by her side. No doting brothers and sisters-in-law. No besties to hang around, she learned to be alone.

No mate had come to claim her, too. No romantic soul to promise he would tear the whole world apart to find her.

Huh. So much for an unbreakable mate bond. Not everyone was destined for a happy ending.

Her destiny was to save the Alliance by disappearing. She knew that the day she was awakened.

She was not the pampered dragon princess anymore. She was the last Oracle hunted by the deadly Unseelie King and Uzza, the Angel of Death.

Though these past few years, Natasha was a great companion, it was not enough. Indie was still left on her own for weeks until Nat returned.

And if she was not on a mission, she kept Indie from losing her mind with back-breaking training. From difficult spells to nose-bleeding enchantments, sword fights, and hand-to-hand combat, there was almost no time to think during the day.

But at night, when she was alone, her thoughts would wander. To her previous life, when she was just a dragon princess. Lately, she had deprived herself of that as well.

Nat had even found the time for occasional spa and shopping. But she was posing as a stable boy for now, not the glamorous tavern singer. Hanging around with him at the day spa while Indie was also in disguise as a male servant was too hilarious to even consider.

Indie had to bite her lip from grinning at the playful thought. But her eyes shone with amusement. Glad such trivial thoughts could still entertain her.

Tugging at her tight collar, feeling the sweat running down her back, she grimaced. She couldn’t wait to change into her regular boy shorts and sports bra.

She carefully scanned the ballroom again. Everything was as it should be.

What is taking them so long?

The wedding reception should have started an hour ago.

Thunderous laughter filled the ballroom and champagne flowed like water. The ballroom was extravagantly decorated with chandeliers made of diamonds and moon crystals. The walls and aisle were also covered with precious rubies and gemstones and thousands of white peonies and Holland daisies.

This custom set-up, which took almost a year to prepare, was fit for royalty.

Her eyes narrowed on the round table covered with a French lace tablecloth. Her two enormous cake castles were displayed to perfection. A beam of light made the intricate handmade decorative art gleam and sparkle.

Opposite was another long table filled with otherworldly gifts from the Alliances.

This was a day of celebration and victory.

Guests murmured excitedly while they took pictures. The dragon princess couldn’t help but be proud of her gift.

Nat told her that the Lycan Queen bawled her eyes out when she saw it earlier while overseeing the final details of the bonding gala and reception.

Indie couldn’t wait for Rie’s and Mish’s reaction to her surprise. Her body still ached sweetly from the endless hours spent creating such perfection.

With a tray of canapés in her hand, suddenly aware she was standing too long, she swept a quick glance around her and started to move to the group of guests assigned to her area.

Natasha had made sure Indali was only serving the betas and warriors of the various packs invited to the reception. Though the bunch was a bit crude, they were respectful despite the clashing testosterone of unmated wolves.

Nat made sure to avoid the dragon dignitaries and demon lords, thankfully located near the front and out of earshot.

Letting out a deep breath, Indie ducked her head and served the men silently. She made sure to avoid skin contact with any of them. Not even the tip of her fingers.

Her mentor had warned her that any slight contact could awaken her natural scent, jeopardizing her disguise. And a certain gentleman could definitely detect it even a mile away. Then their careful plans would be for naught.

To the outside world, the princess was a stripling lad with dull black hair and thick glasses; her delicate features and flawless pinkish skin were blurred by a glamour. She had no visible curves because of the white bands wound to her chest down to her waist. Her long serviceable coat and baggy trousers also covered her rounded hips and derriere. The black boots she was wearing, those of an eleven-year-old fae, completed her disguise to perfection. She smelt of him, too.

So, only her natural scent could really give her away at this point. She was quite safe for now. Letting her enjoy this joyous occasion with her family. Even if they were oblivious to her presence. This was enough for the princess.

A commotion at the entrance suddenly drew her attention. Indie was not quick to avert her gaze, and she got a good look at HIM.

Fuck me.

Even in his glamour, he still took her breath away. He was in an all-black tuxedo. That fallen angel face, cold as ice, remained unreadable and stoic. He moved with elegant grace for someone so tall and leanly muscled.

“They’re here!” Some she-wolf from the crowd exclaimed excitedly.

“So handsome!” Another one giggled.

“That’s the living goddess.” Esmeralda. Her beauty was legendary, and her ethereal power was incomparable. She was also the head of the High Council.

“Ahhh. But her escort...”

“Oh. That’s the elusive Demon King. I heard those two are inseparable.” The guest whispered. “They are a perfect pair.” She added, sighing dreamily.

Indali’s palm itched. There was a pinch of hurt in her heart she could not help but feel. She wanted to blast someone, something. Taking a deep breath, jaw clenched tight, she moved further away from the growing crowd.

Just a few more minutes. Her only goal was to catch a glimpse of her sister-in-law, Rie, and her best friend, Mish. That was it. And she’d be gone again to complete her training.

After that, she would sever their mate bond. She would do it right now if she didn’t fear the backlash. The effect of destroying a bond could end this party in a disaster. It wouldn’t do.

Indie would hurt herself first before disappointing Rie and Mish.

She had to move to a safer distance before all reason left her. Damn, stupid mate bond. Couldn’t wait to get rid of it. And him. Most especially him.

Trying to avoid the surge of guests, someone jostled her shoulder. With her slender figure, she stumbled, and she almost fell to the cold floor. A hand instinctively gripped her right wrist to steady her, then let her go just as suddenly.

“Careful, boy.” A growl sounded from above her, then the warrior was gone.

Indali winced. She rubbed her raw wrist. Shifters do forget their strength sometimes. Patting the bruise on her skin, she sniffed and caught her scent.

Oh, shit! Now what? Better move her ass while the guests were busy currying favors from the elders. Some had arrived and were shown to the tables at the front.

Turning around so she could observe from the corner of the room, she suddenly felt a pressure inside her head. An unfamiliar feeling swept over her, and it left her vulnerable.

“Look at me! Let me see you.”

A direct command.

She froze. She knew that voice. He had haunted her dreams every night for the past two years.

Her death grip on the empty tray turned her knuckles white. But her temper flared up. No one was allowed to command her like a common slave. Not even her arrogant mate.

“No! Go to fucking hell, asshole! Roll!”

Indali almost gasped out loud as she realized she had answered through the mate link. She gritted her teeth. It was suddenly so strong now that they were in the same room.

“Oh, yes. I will find you, my darling princess.”

The seductive promise from his gentle voice made her shiver.

Grappling with reality, securing her scrambled senses, she muttered an enchantment to forcibly drown whatever it was and escape the link.

Fuck that arrogant demon!

Indie knew she shouldn’t go just yet. Running from the celebration would do more damage. Concentrating, she drew a stronger spell. Removed traces of her scent and, inch by inch, closed the mind link.

“You are getting better and better, princess. Until later.” His final words before he was completely cut off.

********

Okay. Time to go.

She had seen Rie and Mish cry. The cake was devoured. That was it for the day. Her melancholy lessened by what she witnessed and she was content for now.

There was no need to tempt fate. Glancing one last time at the long table where family was, all smiles and laughter, her lips curved in satisfaction.

Wiping her hands on her brown apron, turning, she unhurriedly exited the venue. Nat would be waiting for her at the stables; a portal was ready to bring the two of them to the Demon Realm.

Tomorrow, Indali has to take on her most difficult training yet. This could make or break her.

She would try anyway. For her family. For the Alliance.

The only thing she didn’t know how to face was her mate’s woman.

Esmeralda.

The Dragon Princess decided to break the bond as soon as they reached the Demon King’s realm.

It was the only way she could go on.