Bound to the Cursed Dragon King

"Do you accept this bond before the Dragon Goddess and the kingdom?" The Dragon Priest asked loudly, as he turned to the people who had come for the Dragon King's wedding. 

"We do!" The crowd chanted happily, their voices filled with excitement.

But before the ceremony could continue, a loud voice shouted from the crowd.

"No... I do not."

A loud gasp spread throughout the gathering as every head turned toward the entrance. As everyone watched, a young woman walked angrily toward the altar. Her long black cloak flowed behind her while her silver eyes burned with rage. The moment the elders saw her face, fear flashed across their expressions. Mothers quickly pulled their children closer while several warriors instinctively reached for their weapons.

King Ragnar's face darkened immediately the moment he saw her. "Nyra, what are you doing here?" he demanded coldly. "You were banished from this kingdom."

Nyra stopped a few feet away from the altar, her painful eyes locking onto Ragnar. Tears shimmered down her cheeks.

"So you ended things with me and sent me away?" she shouted angrily, her voice trembling with heartbreak. "Huh? Just to marry this thing. A vampire?" She pointed furiously toward Queen Aline, causing the crowd to murmur.

Aline lowered her eyes nervously while King Ragnar stepped protectively in front of her. "Nyra, you know I had no choice," Ragnar replied angrily. "You used forbidden dark magic. That alone made it impossible for us to marry. And after what you did, you could no longer remain within this kingdom."

"Impossible?" Nyra laughed bitterly. The sound alone caused several people to flinch, while younger children burst into tears of fear. 

"You speak of impossible?" Nyra screamed, tears now flowing freely down her face. "Ragnar, you made me fall in love with you. You promised me forever. You held my hands and swore I would become your queen."

Her voice broke painfully as she stared at him.

"Do you know the pain I feel watching the man I love stand here marrying someone else?" she yelled again.

"Nyra, please..." Ragnar said calmly. "Stop this and leave peacefully."

Nyra stood silently for several seconds before a twisted smile slowly appeared upon her lips. "Of course," she said. "I shall leave."

The crowd sighed in relief.

But then Nyra slowly turned her gaze toward the bride. Her silver eyes darkened completely until they became black. Dark energy began swirling around her body. "But first..." she whispered coldly. "I have a gift for you, my ex-lover."

Fear instantly spread across the faces of the elders.

"Nyra, don't!" one elder shouted.

But it was already too late.

Nyra slowly raised her hand toward Queen Aline's stomach as dark magic crackled around her fingers.

"No son born from this bloodline shall ever truly love a woman," she declared loudly. "Every heir born from Ragnar's blood shall become a monster... a destroyer of women... cursed to bring pain and death upon every woman who enters his life!"

The moment the curse left her lips, a thunderstrike tore across the sky. Guests screamed in fear as the candles around the altar were extinguished instantly.

Thick black smoke suddenly flowed from Nyra's glowing eyes before shooting directly toward Queen Aline. The dark magic struck her stomach, causing her to scream painfully before collapsing instantly into Ragnar's arms.

"ALINE!" Ragnar shouted in horror as he caught his unconscious bride. Ragnar looked up furiously as he held Aline tightly against his chest.

"Nyra, stop this!" he roared.

But Nyra only smiled coldly through her tears.

"Now you shall feel the same pain you gave me," she whispered bitterly. And within the blink of an eye, her body dissolved into black smoke and vanished completely.

** TWO YEARS LATER...** 

"Is the news true?" someone from the crowd outside questioned loudly.

"Yes, we want to know!" another shouted as the people began whispering excitedly among themselves.

"Hold your horses," the Dragon Commander said firmly.

The people immediately fell silent as they all turned toward him, waiting impatiently for him to speak.

"Yes... It is true," the Dragon Commander finally announced. "Queen Aline gave birth to a son last night."

The moment the words left his mouth, the entire kingdom erupted into excitement and joy. People hugged one another happily while loud cheers filled the air. Some dragons partially shifted, glowing wings appearing upon their backs as they flew high above the crowd in celebration.

But the moment  King Ragnar stepped out onto the grand palace balcony with a child resting carefully within his arms, the crowd fell silent once more as every eye turned toward their king.

King Ragnar slowly lifted the child high for the entire kingdom to see, pride shining within his eyes.

"He shall be called Vaelor," he declared loudly. "And one day, he shall rule this kingdom with love, strength, and honor."

The crowd exploded into even louder cheers. Some screamed joyfully at the top of their lungs.

But suddenly..

"For the child you carry bears the curse of Nyra." An old woman, nearly five hundred years of age, spoke suddenly, her aged voice echoing across the crowd.

At once, silence consumed the entire kingdom.

Every head slowly turned toward the old woman standing quietly among the people. Her eyes remained fixed directly upon the child in King Ragnar's arms.

King Ragnar's smile slowly faded.

"What do you mean?" King Ragnar asked.

The old seer released a bitter laugh before slowly walking forward. "Have you forgotten so soon, King Ragnar?" she asked. "The curse Nyra placed upon your bloodline was never broken. Your son now carries that curse within him."

The palace doors suddenly burst open as Queen Aline rushed onto the balcony. A painful cry escaped her lips as fear filled her face.

"No... not my son," she cried desperately, gripping King Ragnar's arm tightly. "We must break the curse."

The old seer stared at the newborn prince with pity before slowly shaking her head.

"No one can break the curse," she said bitterly. "No power within this kingdom, nor beyond it, can destroy what Nyra created."

A painful silence filled the air after her words.

The joyful smiles that once covered the faces of the people slowly disappeared, replaced with fear, sadness, and sorrow.

"But..." the old seer continued, causing everyone to look toward her once again.

"There is one soul... a soul yet to be born... who holds the power to break the curse." Her eyes remained fixed upon the child. "Until that day comes, the prince shall live bound to this curse."