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Chapter Nine

I scoff, "S-Sister?"

Christian nods and walks over to the horse drawn carriage, "You heard me."

I storm after him, then grab his arm, "Explanation, please? You can't just say-"

"Arabelle, I will explain later. But first, get onto your horse." He unclips the horse from the carriage and mounts it, looking to me. I walk over to where the guard horse is and mount him, then trot over to Christian. He kicks the Clydesdale into a canter, holding the egg carefully in his arm and the bridle in the other. I keep at his pace until we reach a small hut made from sticks and straw. Christian jumps off the horse and I jump off mine, then we walk into the hut. He paces the egg in a little nest and turns to me,

"My mother kept a diary from when she was younger and only just married my...well, the king. Last night, curiosity got the better of me and I stole it and read through it. The King isn't my father."

I swallow nervously, knowing what he means, "Continue."

"Why do you think that your mum is so bent on getting close to the royal family? For her benefit? No, she wants revenge on my mother for stealing her husbands heart. My mother convinced your father to kill her eldest son, Jeremy, and was also going to get him to kill Harrison too, then once I was crowned king, she would tell everyone that your father he was my father and they could rule. My mother loved your father more than anything. Once the King found out who had killed Jeremy, my mother tried to hide him, but it wasn't enough when you told the king where he was," Christian growled, "and sentenced our dad to death."

I narrow my eyes, "I didn't do that sentence. I was only a little girl and didn't realise what was going to happen to him. Had it been now, I never would have told the King."

Christian takes a step towards me, "But you want to know something else?"

"What?"

"You and your sister are the only children that your mother and father had together."

I blink in surprise, remembering my brothers, Rory, Daniel and Maxwell. Wait, how can I be last in line? Christian smirks at me as though he has the answer,

"Where are Rory, Daniel and Max, Christian." I demand, not asking the question."

"Well, once you left, a guard had seen Danny helping you..." Christian pulls a finger across his throat, making a similar sound to a sword cutting through flesh, "And Rory fled off, trying to find you. A year later, a hunter came through and gave us his coat covered in blood. We don't know whether he is still alive or not, but he is classified dead now. Max died during last winter with hypothermia."

My stomach falls, but for some reason, I knew deep down that Daniel would be dead when I came back. Helping a traitor to the crown is nearly as bad as being the traitor. I shiver involuntarily then turn back to Christian,

"Now, how are you a dragon's heir? I thought-"

"That there was only one, exetra exetra? Well, so did I when my marking showed up. I told my mother straight away and she was extremely happy and surprised. Being a dragon's heir sealed my place on the throne. But then when you got the marking too...that meant there was a competitor for me. I didn't want to cause a fight, but my mother was set on getting rid of you, so she put a price on your head, not my father."

I sigh and sit down on the cool floor, "So what now?"

Christian smirks at me, "Well, for a start, I think I should meet your dragon."

I scowl, "No!" A fierceness overtaking me. Something warns me that another dragon rider might threaten our bond.

"I won't steal him, Arabelle. I only want to meet him."

"How do you know it is a him?"

Realising he slipped, Christian turns away, "Um..."

I hear a swooping sound outside and I run out, seeing Kaloua landing out the front. I gasp and usher him into the woods,

'Go back, Kaloua!'

'Christian said that me coming here would help you.'

I scowl at him and continue to push him away, 'Well, he was wrong! Go, now!'

I hear footsteps behind me and Christian steps out, bowing before Kaloua, "Your dragon...a rare ice."

I nod and turn to face Christian, my back against Kaloua, "Yes, and none of your business."

"Well, I am both your brother and a dragon's heir, so I would appreciate meeting your friend."

I scowl and Kaloua steps around me, walking over to Christian with curiosity. He does a few laps of Christian before turning to the hut. He doesn't even bother to try and squeeze in, but just rams into it, knocking the sticks and hay over. He walks over to the egg and gives a weird hiss like sound at it.

Christian mumbles to himself, "Fire and Ice are enemies..."

I rush over to Kaloua and push him away from the egg, "Kaloua, behave. This is one of the few other dragon eggs left."

Kaloua snorts and glares at the egg. I lift it up and walks over to Christian, handing him the egg, "Hold it cl-"

CRACK!

We both cast our eyes down to the egg as a long line appears on it, then another and another.

"It's hatching." We say in sync and place the egg on the ground. Kaloua watches from a distance, his eyes narrowed, while Christian and I kneel close, curious as to the dragon inside. When the egg opens, a small white dragon head pokes out. All dragons are white as hatchlings. It jumps out and I see Christian get a sort of trances look when he makes eye contact with the dragon. It walks over to him and I know they are talking to each other. Kaloua snorts and stops his foot at the hatchling in a threatening gesture and I narrow my eyes at him,

'Be nice, Kaloua. It's only a hatchling.'

Kaloua shows his teeth, 'A fiery female hatchling.'

I give a joking smirk, 'A female, huh?'

'You can get really annoying, you know, right? That dragon is another heir! Can you not see the threat here?' Kaloua says, a scowl forming on his head, 'And they could blow our secret.'

I nod, 'I know they could...but then we can blow theirs. And maybe once the dragon is grown - which will be in no time - you might come to be friends with her.'

Kaloua gives me doubtful look and we both turn to see Christian holding the growing dragon in his arms. Already it is growing bigger. It will have the same rapid growth that Kaloua had had.

"What is her name?" I ask Christian, not particularly wanting to touch the dragon. Kaloua's ice element has an effect on me, wanting to steer clear of the hatchling.

"Nadi." Christian says, stroking the hatchling.

I scowl at Nadi, already feeling like she is dangerous. She looks at me with a friendly looking smile,

'You and I can talk too, you know, Arabelle.' I hear a soft and slick voice say in my head, and I immediately want it to just disappear. It feels like when someone who has greasy hands touches you and leaves the slimy substance all over your arm or wherever.

'Thats great to know.' I snap back, maybe slightly too harsh. She narrows her eyes,

'So you are ice, and I am fire. Destined rivals.'

I sneer at her, 'If that's how you want it to be, then so be it.'

Nadi just stares at me, her amber eyes deciding something, like she is tossing up whether to begin a rivalry with me or not. Christian watches us both with a look of confusion and Kaloua the same. I turn to him,

"Don't worry, I don't think she will be stealing any of my time soon."

'Good.' He simply says and continues to stare at Nadi.

I glare at Kaloua, 'Be nice at least.'

He lets out a huff of ice cold fog and walks off, going to cool down somewhere else. I look up at the sky to see night is falling and turn to Christian,

"We need to be getting back to the palace before someone notices us missing."

I go to collect my stuff when Christian places a hand on my shoulder, "Belle, remember, not everyone knows we are related. Only you, me and my mother. We have to act as though I am still betrothed to you."

"But Harrison said that was canceled?" I question and Christian laughs,

"He says that, but I can tell you, my father and mother still want us together. I honestly don't know what my mother is thinking..."

I nod and move around Christian to grab my stuff, "So shall we?"

Christian calls for his horse and I whistle for Thunder, but Kaloua comes over too. I stroke his nose then smile kindly,

'Go back to the chapel. And take Nadi with you. I am sure her and Snow will get along just fine.'

Kaloua makes a face but turns to Nadi and they both fly off, Nadi's smaller wings not keeping up with Kaloua. I snicker and Christian kicks his horse into a canter, and I follow.

"Where are they going?" He asks and I smile, seeing Kaloua fade into the sky,

"They are going somewhere safe...and away from discovery."

Christian nods, "I'm counting on it." And we race back to the palace.