There was quick successions of tapping on the roof top followed by a few chilly winds. Even the hair strands on Liana's body, screamed in panic. It was like watching some horror show, holding your breath anticipating, but the difference was she was actually living inside it. Liana started having an emptiness growing inside her pit. Like something was sucking at her very core and it's made her weak at her knees.

" Steady! They can sense fear and pain. " Draco ordered, helping Liana recuperate.

The glass at the back shattered as Liana saw what she should not have seen.

A deformed face with bifurcated eyes. Made of thick dark smog, dripping as it crawled, inhumanely upside down, hanging from the wall. It jumped from one side , then it went to the next, but before Liana could move, it was standing against her breast.

She felt the cold sweat form on her forehead and under the nose.

It tilted itself in strange angles as above Liana's head it rose.

" Surrender! By your Majesty's Order! " Draco yelled.

But it kept staring Liana into her eye as she felt everything tighten from inside out. She turned her eyes to find her body slowly phase into solid stone. Despite that she looked at Draco desperately, asking him to hold Damian before he slipped from her hands and hit the ground.

But this time Liana caught something else in Draco's eyes.

He was looking in another direction, like someone waiting for a cue. But Liana was in no position to even turn to catch it's view.

"Now! " Draco barked as two consecutive jumps surrounded the Shadow in some kind of a net. It howled in pain as the two figures struggled to have it restrained. Draco walked nonchalantly towards it this time, filled with air and poise like he usually is, and robust.

He placed a hand on its mouth as it shrank. The two figures came in front of Liana's sight as they packed The Shadow up like some pile of dirty laundry.

"Nearly done... "

But Draco slammed the speaker at his back before he even uttered the rest of his words.

" What took you so long Calix?Did you find the ones issuing this order? "

Draco demanded as the lad looked up at him with timid but big eyes.

He was covered in steel, waist down like Draco was the first time she had clear view of him on that ground. The lad had fiery hair, reddish in hue very unlike Draco's white which was now short and cute.

" Ah! Did I just think this Dragon was cute! " Liana hit herself in her head and winked hard trying to shake what was in her mind.

" Oh! You. I had completely forgotten. Neutralise this one Raba, before we are found. " Draco looked at Liana as if disgusted with her winks and threw the instructions at the girl standing next to her.

She looked as badass as it could get. Liana kept staring as she blew her with a blast. The girl Raba, opened her perfectly sultry mouth as flame poured out from some mount. It warmly melted the solid entrapping Liana inside and she broke free and almost fell on her rescuer once again.

"Careful! " Raba smiled at Liana with the sweetest voice.

That was completely opposite to what she looked like. Her hair was tied in several tails unlike the boys and it appeared golden like, very much close to a blonde. Her frame was strapped in leather and steel but what set her apart from the two men were her hands, that appeared mechanical. They didn't just seem metalic but Liana could tell by the touch that they were actual steel.

" Is that our little prince? "She asked taking Damian in a little embrace.

" Let him be for a while. We still don't know how many more are lurking. "

They all nodded and then looked like they were getting ready to leave.

" Are you sure we should head back first?"

" How long do you plan to stay here? "

" It's better this way till we are able to detect the source of the defectors. I cannot risk what happened to happen again. "

Liana listened with concentration trying to understand what they were getting at, however Draco tucked her back under his arms as the other two leapt out of the open window frame.

" So? "

Liana finally asked when nothing came from Draco's end.

"So? So what? Don't you know where you live? Do you need help to even find your own home? How pathetic. "

Drack rolled his eyes like Liana had asked him an elementary question.

"Is he planning to come to my house? Is it for Damian. Can I even trust this man? It's improper to take someone to one's house on a first date.

Date? How did I even come with this word... Shit! shit! shit! There is something definitely wrong with the wordings in my brain. "

"Do you plan to stay here all night? " Draco's husky voice brought Liana back from her self reprimanding journey and she smiled the most awkward smile, and then moved slowly away from under his hands.

"Umm, may I ask if you were asking for my house so you could see Damian and me off? " She asked, knowing full well, it wasn't what he was talking about.

"See you off? I am going to live with you. You have my son and I need to be here too. We cannot set off to our kingdom right away. And isn't it obvious we would need a place to stay. Since he his already living with you, it's just going to be one more gracing your lowly residence. "

"Yeah, " Liana forced another smile, " Live with me, Yeah! And grace my lowly residence, " She looked at themselves and repeated, " Just the three of us. Under a single terrace. Alright. As you say your Majesty. I will lead the way. " She cursed under her breath so hard, she almost bit her tongue away. But Draco seemed to be quite impressed by the last few of her words. He nodded apparently quite pleased as she walked sulking in front, taking the lead.

Liana turned the tap off to sush the sound of the running water.

"Did you get the television on all by yourself? "

Liana peeped over from the kitchen sink as the sound from the Hall blasted her ear drums.

Draco looked at Liana with such an expression that was a mixture of disbelief with wonder.

"What does your question even mean? " Of course he sounded very offended.

" Oh! So you did switch it on by yourself. My bad. I thought you were some kind of an ancient Dad. I mean like from the books - 'Old, grumpy, rustic dragons, vicious and wild, eager to take over lands'... "

but yet again Liana was cut short as Draco jumped over the couch and was beside her even before her eyelids could move up half a milimeter.

"I don't no about the rest but they did get the vicious part correct, " He pulled her close with one hand behind her waist as she lifted both her dirty hands, still inside the washing gloves.

"and if you so insist, we can check about the authenticity about the Wild, title, " his lips curled up in such an unholy suggestive manner, Liana almost chocked on her own saliva and coughed, as she moved away.

"Did you just try to flirt with me? " She actually asked looking at him from behind the cabinet.

He laughed , twirling around, as if it was the best amusement.

"Well, if you are so capable, I guess you could atleast try being a little sensitive as well. The reason I asked if you switched on the television was because you have kept it on at full blast. And if you remember, there is a baby sleeping just next room. Turning the volume down wouldn't hurt your ego or sentiment. "

Liana blinked as Draco stared at her with what seemed like an expressionless avatar.

" You are right. "

He leaped back on the couch with the remote in his hand.

" Did he just admit I was right? "

Liana just turned around, slowly walking back to the kitchen, contemplating.

"Come here. Look. "

She had to turn immediately back after his sudden command.

Draco had the news on.

The anchor read about -

Strange occurrences across the city. Thunder clouds sighted at odd locations followed by severe lighting strike and property damage. A total of ten lives lost till count and several others missing.

Liana turned towards Draco, her brows lifted up.

" Are those the Shadows? "

Draco simply nodded as he browsed on. The incidents were everywhere, however none were able to say anything specific about it anyway.

" What are those things? "

Liana wondered aloud, looking again back at the screen. There was another footage of a building being ripped apart as the 'thunder cloud' hovered away.

" Those are our hunting dog. They can be very usefull in warfare. "

" But then if you are their King, aren't they supposed to have listened to you back there? "

Liana was clearly mentioning about the incident back at the top storey where Raba and Calix had to intervene for the Shadow to be retracted. Liana seemed to have noticed how it had clearly disobeyed Draco, back there.

" They don't have a working brain. They act upon what's fed inside their head. They would not be deterred unless they are once again held back. They have been our deadly offense against the most fierce of enemies."

Liana could tell if he detested of actually cared about those beasts.

"It must be someone from amongst my top closest men, who mobilised them here. And I can't leave unless we can surely tell. "

"Tell what? Your men mobilised something that's killing people in this world. And you goa round calling yourself mighty, sitting in the couch, loking at some news. "

Liana's voice was very different this time and even Draco understood.

He turned towards her and said,

"that is precisely the reason we haven't yet left, "

he was of course referring to Damian and himself.

" There is something big going behind my back in my kingdom. I can't possibly take my son back and put him in harm's way once again. I can't even leave him alone back here with these Shadows everywhere. But if I show myself right now, whoever is behind all this would surely know Damian is also nearby. For me keeping him safe is for the time being ,the top most priority.

At least till we have a lead as to who is behind all these. " He added with a paused.

At that moment Liana found he wasn't as invincible after all as he had seemed.

"You said 'in harm's way once more'.Tell me, did something happen to Damian before this. "

Draco looked at her as if she had stabbed him in the spleen.

" You sure have a lot of guts for a human. Do you think the Dragon Lord is here to discuss his state affairs with a earthling? I just shared a little bit about what Damian is already up against since you have been taking his care. Consider it a favour and don't dare to cross your sphere. "

Liana smiled. She was glad Draco was back to himself again. But she wasn't thick enough to atleast get the fact that her Damian has been facing hardships since his birthing.

" Ahhh! Correct. I still need to do the sink load of dish. "

Liana stood up and streched, her hands soggy, still under those washing gloves.

" You can skip it, "

Draco declared out of the blue as he swished his hands facing towards her kitchen.

Liana, had to almost hold the table's edge as she watched her dishes bathing themselves in the sink pool, drying in the towel then dancing their way back to their shelves, and she felt her knees were almost out of power.

" Keep that closed, " Draco banged her lower jaw shut as she had her mouth wide open, taking a full grasp.

She jingled behind Draco who switched off the television and walked towards the terrace door.

" You could have done that all along. But you kept sitting with your snout. "

" Are you complaining? "

Draco turned around with yet another swift jerk.

" I can put them back just like they were, with every single spot. "

" No! No! No!I was just going to thank you"

Liana turned immediately around, quickly changing her mood.

" You can take the living room couch or sleep in the spare bed beside Damian. I will get going first to my room. "

She bowed and ran on her toes back inside as Draco stood at the door watching her fool around.

The crystalline dew, resting on the transparent leaf of the Olive Tree beside her window looked as surreal as her marriage prospect with the King. Draco, the mighty, popular, philanderer, sybarite owner of the present Dragon realm. He was the most self-centred person she had ever known. Most vicious, hot headed, even cruel to some extent.

But then why didn't she oppose the proposal? Why wasn't she upset when they sent the betrothal gifts? Moreover, why did her heart leap with joy, every time they mentioned him?

Kiara had grown up with the rest of the Royal children, Draco and his brethren. She was the daughter of Draco's father's most trusted Officer.

From the moment her eyes had layed it's glance on Draco, her heart wasn't her's anymore. She had fallen badly in love with a man, who was devoid of pitiful emotions. Her heart beat everytime he moved past her. At every word he uttered. Even though he was always surrounded with girls. For Kiara , it never mattered.

"He is here my lady, asking for your audience. "

A maid announced suddenly from the back, which left Kiara startled.

" Who's here Lima? "

Kiara asked, turning back to the window, once again.

" Our King , my lady. He is waiting for you in the next chamber. "

Kiara was up on her feet.

"What? Draco? He is here? Then why didn't the guards announce his presence? "

She looked as nervous, as she was puzzled.

"They were instructed not to, by the king himself. "

Kiara ran in front of her mirror. Checking herself out. She looked perfectly made up, from her head , down to the toe tips. Yet she brushed over her cheeks with a little rouge. Then added a little more colour to her tinted lips.

"May we?",the maid asked.

" Yes, Yes, Of course."

Kiara followed her, holding her breath and walking on tip-toe.

She announced herself, stammering as she did. But Draco smiled, for the first time, atleast in Kiara sight. She had never seen him smile before, not as gently as he did this time. He would often laugh out loud, or smirk, when he was having a good time.

" Come Kiara. Have a seat. "

He pointed to his right and cued all the attendees to leave.

Kiara went with her head down and followed his command like an obedient child.

" I know how much you might be against the notion of this marriage. It hasn't even been particularly easy, either for me... "

Draco began as Kiara looked up, wondering what did he even mean. Of course he had no idea what he meant for her. Neither was he aware of her feeling.But what could have possibly made him think that she might be against this union totally?

"No, I mean... "

Kiara bravely tried to cut him off, but as usual failed miserably.

" You don't have to be formal here. It's just you and me."

The words hit Kiara straight. She had no idea why her spleen squeezed. Or was it her bladder, lungs or her entire being.

" I know you have seen me with women. We have literally grown up like brothers and sisters. But you might as well be aware of my temperaments. They were nothing but temporary fun. "

Ahhh. So that was what he was implying. He thought Kiara might test him knowing his womanizing nature.

It wasn't entirely false though. It cut deep like a knife when she had first seen him with a brunette beauty. How she had cried that night. How had her heart ached. But it had long stopped hurting as she saw him everyday with a different girl.

" You see, Kiara... "

Her heart skipped a beat as he called out her name. How sweet it sounded. She didn't know it had a melodious nature.

"... you see I have had no interest in marriage. In settling down with a mate. But you might well aware be of the Prophecy, that has recently been doing the rounds. For me, my kingdom means the most. And since it's about my throne, I had no choice but to give in to their toast.

My parents have long been coaxing me for marriage. They must have had their eyes on you. Hence the sudden decision and rush. I hope you were able to follow? "

" Huh? Yeah. Absolutely. I totally understand. It is not like you think. I have no problem to stand beside you with your hand in my hand. "

Kiara wanted to tell him that but instead she decided to keep her mum. Just nodded her head, letting him understand what she got his point.

"Like I said before, I would never have agreed if it wasn't for the throne. I need a heir. As soon as possible, to shut all their mouth. "

Draco banged on the table beside him, as the vase fell tumbling down. Kiara shuddered in surprise as it made a loud sound.

" Kiara, I will need your cooperation and help in this. We have been friends for years, I hope I can count on you. "

Draco continued unapologetically.

" Friends? When were they friends? "

Kiara was calculating as Draco suddenly bent on his knees.

" I promise I will never force myself on you. Nor will I ever restrict you in anyway. If I have to get married and produce a child, I might as well do it with someone like you, loyal and filial. "

Draco had her hands in his, as she suddenly felt her core trembling. She bravely looked up to meet his eyes as he looked at her's, reassuring.

" Do you promise to be my aid? Bear a child for me? "

He asked once again, as if afraid, she might refuse birthing once the child is borne.

Never had she realised he was promising her word by word, what exactly he wanted from her, what their relationship had. His eyes melted something deep inside as it burnt with rekindled flame that she had kept suppressed in silence, and it was becoming hard to stay apart. Eagerly she nodded her head, giving him her heart felt consent. He stood up, happy and relived and he actually looked content.