172: That Dragon Is Not Me

That Dragon Is Not Me

"This can't be. You know I can't have a mate…I'm human…"2

"Do you still consider yourself as one?" Drayce asked. "You cannot ignore his existence. How long are you going to run away from reality? Even if you deny him, your life is proof of his existence."

"That vile creature is not me." 

Drayce continued, "Do not repeat the mistake I made. Whatever I try, in the end, I have no other option but to give in. There is no other way for beings like us but to accept them."

"It's different in your case, Dray. Your other side, Erebus, he is no one but you. He is the other part of your soul that you created because you hated the darkness inside you. But it's not the same for me. 

"Unlike you, who is a child born from a witch and the Devil, I am born from human parents. I am human. That thing living inside me is not me nor a part of my soul, but an unfortunate consequence of my mother trying to save her stillborn child.

"He is not me, Dray. He is another soul living inside my body—a parasite trying to take over my consciousness every single chance he gets. We are in a constant battle for dominance over my body. 

"And now you are telling me that because of this vile creature, I will become mates with this peasant girl? That I have to give in to his nature, that I surrender to his urges even though that is not what I want? 

"This body is mine! My life is mine to control! Not that Dragon, not that girl, but me—"

Drayce put his hand on Arlan's shoulder to calm him, but Arlan shrugged his comfort away. The prince's handsome face showed frigid anger, but it was directed inwardly.

"It would have been better if my mother did not let me be born."

"Your mother loved you so much, all she wanted was to give her child a chance at life."

His pale-white knuckles shook as Arlan attempted to calm his rising anger. 

"Even if the soul inside her child's body will eventually be replaced by another?" The prince let out a bitter laugh. "I know. We have had this discussion many times before. Everything comes with a price. This vile creature inside me is the cost I paid for living. Just that… it's exhausting, you know?

"I want to live my life without being troubled or affected by that thing. I have no plans to involve myself with women, but due to a peasant girl, due to some magical connection she has with this beast inside me, I must give up resisting? How ridiculous!"

"Mother used to tell me that for supernatural beings like us, there is no such thing as coincidence in this world," Drayce remarked after a while. "I am sure it must have a purpose to fulfill. If a Dragon has chosen her, then that girl cannot be someone ordinary," Drayce said. 

"Not ordinary? Sure. She must be the illegitimate daughter of trouble. She lands herself in all sorts of problems wherever she goes."

Drayce sensed something else in Arlan's sarcastic response. "You never felt anything special about her? Something strange?"

The blue-eyed man shook his head. "Aside from her penchant for living disguised as a man, she is just an ordinary girl, albeit a cheeky and fearless little thing. If she was anything special, I would have sensed it. Did you sense something?"

Drayce realized Arlan was still not aware that his aide was a witch, one aligned with the darkness attribute, and that she was the one he found hiding black nightshade with her. 

'He could not sense her essence?'

Dragons were divine beasts, the magic in their bloodline the purest, that was why their detection range was larger and their senses sharper than the other supernatural races. 

'How could Arlan not realize his aide is a witch? A Black Witch at that?' This got Drayce wondering what kind of secrets the young woman was hiding. 'However, seeing his agitation, it is best not to question him or let him know the truth for now, otherwise he might harm his chosen mate. It will cause him pain if he tries to resist the pull.'

The young king decided to redirect the conversation. "That girl, you don't hate her, do you? Is it bad to have her be your mate? She seems important to you."

Arlan offered him a questioning gaze. "Is that even a question? Why would I hate her? Did she do anything wrong? And of course, she is important. Without her, how can I get a decent sleep?"

"Is that all?"

"Is there more?"

"You keep watch on her," Drayce flatly laid out. "From what I understand, because of her, you are using your magic. You never did that before. You never use magic in the first place, aside from when you are meeting me."

"It is to keep her safe," the prince shot back. "If something happens to her, I am not sure I will be able to find another who can help me stop those nightmares. Like I said, she attracts trouble wherever she goes."

"Are you going to let her believe that she fooled you? That you don't know her real gender?"

"It is better that way."

"Don't you trust her?"

"Depends on the situation, but I know she is not a threat."

"I hope that's the truth."

The pair of friends continued to stand on the cliff quietly, immersed in the peace and quiet of the place.

"Shall we head back?" Arlan asked.

Drayce raised a brow as he looked into those impatient-looking blue eyes. "Why are you in a hurry to return?"

"Not like we are doing anything interesting here," Arlan replied. "I still need to discuss some official matters with the other delegates too. I'm quite busy, you know."

"Alright, if you say so," Drayce said, knowing the real reason ought to be his aide, but he simply let it slide. Before they disappeared, he asked, "If you hate him that much, why use his powers?"

"Everything comes with a cost. Since he is living inside my body, then he needs to pay rent. Using his powers is a fair deal."

"I am sure he is not pleased."

"But what can he do?" Arlan smirked. "If he is upset or offended, he can leave my body and find a new host to bother."

"You truly treat him like a parasite," Drayce commented and the two disappeared from the cliff.

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