Chapter 46 - Swans

I

Stunned, Second Princess Trisha stood still while Delta Gano in a rattled way tried to get his sword, readying himself to fight.

The reddish dragon landed just nearby Second Princess Trisha and Delta Gano. Slowly, the dragon transformed into a mighty, robust, handsome man that stunned more the kissing lovers at the palace’s rooftop.

“Dareon!” Second Princess Trisha exclaimed with eyes wide.

Dareon smiled but when his right hand quickly swung into the air in front of the Second Princess and the Delta Warrior, the earlier astounding incident that they witnessed was suddenly removed from their memories. They will never remember that they saw a reddish dragon that landed on the rooftop of the Palace of the Kingdom of Gold Valley.

“Hey, Chieftain Dareon, where is Princess Shelyca?” Second Princess Trisha asked Dareon, whom she saw standing in front of them. No traces in the Second Princess’ expression that she remembered something mysterious about Dareon.

Dareon smiled. “Ow, she was with the King and the Queen. I just climbed up here to inhale some fresh air. I did not know that you were around. Apology, if I disturbed you.”

Delta Gano shook his head as he replied. “It’s alright Chieftain Dareon. We are about to go down anyway.” Just like the Second Princess, there were no traces in his expression that he saw something mysterious a while ago.

Dareon nodded and smiled at the two. “Alright then. I will just stay here for a bit longer. I will go down in a little while. Should Princess Shelyca look for me, kindly inform her, where am I.”

“Yes, don’t worry.” It was Delta Gano who promised.

As the two were leaving, Dareon focused his eyes on the back of Second Princess Trisha, and to his astonishment, he saw her wolf’s shadow howled angrily. When Dareon moved up his eyes a little, he saw his wife approaching, nearby the Second Princess and Delta Gano.

A sudden thud hit Dareon’s heart. He could not be mistaken; his premonition and apparition always give him a hint of any upcoming chaos or wrongdoing. In that scenario, Dareon presumed that the Second Princess has an evil plan against Princess Shelyca. He should therefore be keener in guarding his beloved wife.

Dareon tried to smile at his wife when she approached him. He then put his arm around her shoulders and inhaled the cool air as he gazed at the whole territory of the Kingdom of Gold Valley, from where they stood. The Kingdom of Gold Valley is so vast, he thought while circling his eyes on the premises that his eyes could reach.
“I can feel the magic of this place, my love,” Dareon whispered, held her head, and let her leaned on his shoulder.

Princess Shelyca sheepishly smiled then asked him. “What kind of magic?”

“The magic of being in love,” he said and then faced her, cupped her chin gently, and kissed her so passionately.

II

This year was the most flamboyant way of celebrating the wedding anniversary of the King and Queen of the Kingdom of Gold Valley.

The Queen decided to make each and every attendee to the wedding anniversary party, mysterious in their own way. Thus, Queen Lusica preferred a masquerade ball style of party to celebrate their wedding anniversary. The Palace also invited unmated werewolves from other Packs and Kingdoms and made the celebration a way for unmated werewolves to find their mates.

So, everyone came in their masquerade attire, faces hidden with different stylish masks.

Before the party started; Second Princess Trisha went to the room of Princess Shelyca.

“Hello sister, wow you are stunning, your mask is that of a swan too?” She asked confirming while looking at her white swan-like dress.

Princess Shelyca nodded and smiled. “And you sister? You looked like Cinderella in your red sexy dress. What’s your mask?”
“Oh just this colorful butterfly,” Second Princess Trisha said while showing Princess Shelyca the butterfly mask she was holding. “Would that be your final attire?” she asked once more.

“Of course this will be my final attire; why? Is it not that beautiful enough?” Princess Shelyca asked somewhat wondering.

“Oh nothing; you know sometimes we women changed our mind in the last minute,” the Second Princess retorted, forcing a brilliant smile on her lips.

When Second Princess Trisha left her room, Princess Shelyca shook her head in disbelief. “Hmm, would that mean, she might still change her outfit?” she thought wondering.

Just a few moments and Dareon came back. “Hey, hubby, where have you been? You are not ready yet. Here is your outfit for the masquerade ball.” Princess Shelyca handed to him a Prince’s outfit and a black male swan mask.

Dareon grinned upon seeing his mask. “A black male swan, hmmm and you are my white swan.”

“Yes. I am your wife, so I should be your counterpart.” Proudly, Princess Shelyca answered.

With that Dareon smiled and then suddenly asked, “Do you know that swans can mate for life and that when either of their partners dies, the remaining swan will die too because of heartbreak?” His eyes were dancing when he looked at her, waiting for her reply.

“Not only swan. Werewolves like us will certainly die of heartbreaks and sadness when our mate dies.” Princess Shelyca said softly.
Dareon’s forehead creased. “I am not a werewolf and not your mate. Would you not be sad and heartbroken if I will die?”

Princess Shelyca was stunned when he heard his question. “Hubby, what kind of question was that? I am your wife and I don’t even want to think that you are going to die or leave me!” she replied offended.

Dareon was waiting for something else that Princess Shelyca would say but she remained silent thereafter.

Dareon approached her and embraced her. He kissed her head and said, “Shelyca, did you remember what I have said while I was putting your wedding ring on your finger? … The ring on your finger is a sign of my love and fidelity. My heart is engraved in it and once you removed it, my heart will melt, my breath will fade and then my spirit will be enclosed by the realm of death and darkness.”

Shelyca cupped his face and looked at him so seriously. “How will I forget? I said the same thing to you when I was putting your wedding ring in your finger,” she murmured.

“Then we are indeed like swans. You are not a werewolf; I am not a dragon; we are like swans my love, from now on.”