by Lola Gabriel
Oryn was rather devastated when he had learned of this curse, as he felt comforted by the idea of spending his life with one person who was designed for him, and he for her.
As if the main objective of the curse was not damning enough, they were also doomed to possibly kill or harm their True Mate—if they managed to find them, of course. This was rather problematic to Oryn, and he didn’t want to risk getting close to anyone on the odd chance that they would be his mate, which he doubted.
Statistically, the chances of him finding his mate was very, very low, and in Oryn’s mind, numbers never lied. He also didn’t believe in destiny or chance, but that everything was a calculated path which ran its course as different choices were made.
Oryn was used to being relentlessly teased by his brothers, who were much more spontaneous and light-hearted than he was. Admittedly, he did get lonely by himself, which was why he threw all his energy into his business: a multibillion-dollar company storing and retrieving digital data for clients all around the world. He even had branches in the Philippines, Sweden, and the United States, which he visited on a regular basis, just to confirm that everything was running smoothly. He did not distrust his staff; he was just a control-freak who needed to see for himself that everything was going well.
Another vice, in his brothers’ opinions, but Oryn didn’t mind. He was content. There had not been an attack on his family for the past ninety years, yet as much as he wished it wasn’t so, something in his gut told him that he should prepare himself. Paranoia, though not a good trait to have, was better than being dead.
With that thought in mind, he changed direction and flew back home, still close to the water. His green scales blended in well with the water, especially in the dark, but the orange rays shining across his sleek body made it a little easier to spot him. He hadn’t realized he had been flying for such a long time. Usually, he’d make it back to shore just as the sun came up. He scolded himself for being so careless. He couldn’t slip up again or put himself at risk.
When he came close enough to shore, still about fifty miles away, his body jolted downward, and he dove into the water in a smooth and effortless manner. He descended into the depths of the ocean, ensuring he would not be detected. With his wings now curled up against his lean body, he cut through the water at a magnificent speed, leaving only a trail of bubbles in his wake. As the depth of the water began to decrease, the rays of sunshine occasionally broke through the water.
Oryn was in Coxs Bay, minutes away from his home and private dock.
His shoulders contracted as he effortlessly shifted into his human form like he had been doing for five thousand years. It was difficult at the beginning, when he was required to be in his human form most of the time, but Oryn was in complete control of himself. Without fail.
He broke through the surface and took in a deep breath of air, hoisting himself up onto the wooden deck beside the boathouse where his boat was kept. Naked but unfazed, he strutted into the boathouse and retrieved a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. After getting dressed, he made his way up the wooden stairs leading up to the backyard of his house and walked inside.
Oryn took a long, hot shower, washing the cold and salty water of the South Pacific off his skin, though it was far too deep to truly wash away. It was in his soul, and it was a part of who he was.
When he had decided to relocate to New Zealand, he had fallen in love with it instantly, and he felt at home, in the same way he had felt at home in Romania. Oryn was destined to be there, between the oceans and the green lush forests, to thrive and be himself, even if it was only for himself.
Oryn glanced in the mirror as he folded his tie—not that he needed to see what he was doing—and he pursed his lips. Dressed in a suit, as he always did, his shoulders appeared broader than usual, and no one would think that, underneath the suit and the polished businessman he appeared outwardly, there was a dragon prince who possessed the ability to control earthquakes and end the world if he wanted to. Sometimes he did.
Oryn was quiet in his car on the way to his offices, but his driver, Jayce, didn’t speak a word or ask him anything. Oryn was better left alone in times like these. The pensive expression on his face was another sign that he wished to be left alone, and Jayce knew this too well. He had been Oryn’s driver for the past five years and knew exactly how to read him, which was no surprise, since Jayce was also a dragon.
Although some of his employees were also immortals, Oryn never felt the need to let them know he knew of their abilities, or their immortalities, for that matter. Most of the time, he kept to himself, pondering the mysteries of the universe while he soared above the clouds.
Oryn had been born with the gifts of the Earth—hence being an Earth Dragon—and it clearly showed: he loved being surrounded by nature. He was often found outdoors, especially when he was a child, frolicking around in the dirt, unearthing the mysteries in the soil. Climbing trees in his human form had been one of his favorite things to do while they’d been in hiding, and he was often the lookout. His radar helped him to detect any lifeform from miles away, and he’d notify his family right away.
His Jaguar came to a stop in front of his office building, and Oryn climbed out.
“Thank you, Jayce,” he told the driver. Jayce simply nodded.
Oryn felt as though he may have been a little rude as to not talk to his faithful and loyal driver that morning, but he had a lot on his mind. He had spoken to his mother last night and had a long and in-depth conversation about being alone. Of course the Dragon Queen was convinced that it was not the best idea for Oryn to spend his life alone. As he was the most family-orientated prince, he was most likely to seek out a mate first, but in all fairness, she also knew that Oryn thought too rationally, and he wouldn’t want to endanger anyone else for the sake of raising a family.
Sure, he physically was stronger than his brothers, but he had a big heart—sometimes too big—and he was prone to getting hurt more quickly in an emotional level. Therefore, he shut himself off to feelings and focused on the task at hand. It was only during the quiet of the night when Oryn’s loneliness hit its peak.
“Good morning, Mr. Veskovic,” the doorman uttered when he entered into the building.
“Good morning, Phil,” Oryn greeted him. He had always felt comfortable and confident when people addressed him so formally. Naturally, a smile formed on his face on his way to the seventh floor, where his offices were.
His company, GreenVeil Data Storers, occupied fifteen floors of the ANZ Centre Tower, where there was a private cafeteria, gym, and wellness center for his staff. Oryn believed in taking care of his employees, given that they were the reason why the company was as successful as it was. Oryn was humble and believed that giving credit where credit was due was an important part of being a CEO. Of course, he didn’t allow anyone to walk all over him or make unreasonable demands, but he was understanding and kind—to an extent.
When the elevator doors opened on the seventh floor, there was already a buzz in the air, and employees were working at their usual pace. Filing clerks carried around carts of files, and happy chatter was heard from the staff lounge to his right.
He walked past his personal assistant Naomi’s desk, which was empty. She was probably waiting for him in his office.
Sure enough, he noticed Naomi standing in his office through the glass doors. She was arranging his files in the way he liked them to be when he opened the door, and her long blonde hair was straighter than usual. She turned around and looked disdainfully at the large wooden grandfather clock in the corner. Naomi hated that clock, said it made the office feel like a haunted old mansion, with its Persian carpets and wooden bookshelves lining two of the walls. Oryn, on the other hand, loved it, and it reminded him of home. The office was in fact his second home, so he might as well be comfortable while there.
Naomi, her brown eyes sparkling in contrast with the dark blue blouse and pencil skirt she wore, raised an eyebrow and glared at him
. “You’re late.”
“Good morning to you, too,” Oryn grinned and entered the office, closing the door behind him.
“Yeah, good morning.” She rolled her eyes at him, which he found amusing for some reason, and he walked around his desk. “Why are you in such a mood?”
Naomi was the one person who knew him better than he knew himself, and that was both terrifying and comforting to Oryn. She knew how he drank his coffee, when he needed something stronger to drink, when he’d had a bad morning, when something was bothering him, and when he was happy—or happier than usual. She had been working with him ever since he’d started the company more than ten years ago, and he wouldn’t have come so far if it hadn’t been for her. She was his rock, his confidant, the one person he could tell anything without being judged.
Naomi was not only easy on the eyes, with a curvy body and long lean legs, but she was smart, well-spoken, and had that spark inside her that Oryn found very appealing. He was, however, in no way attracted to her, even though she was the person whom he felt most comfortable with, and whom he couldn’t live without.
She made all his appointments, wrote all his briefings, speeches, and knew enough about the company to know what was needed in human resources, personal relations, and even the control room where the data was backed up. Oryn was convinced that there was not a single thing on Earth she could not handle.
“I’m not in a mood,” he muttered.
“Could’ve fooled me,” she scoffed and stepped away from the desk.
“It’s nothing, really,” Oryn answered, and he briefly caught sight of his reflection in the glass windows. His brow was furrowed, deeply so, and his jaw was tense. He wasn’t really sure what exactly was bothering him. The conversation he’d had with his mother had ruffled a few feathers, and he kept thinking about not wanting to be alone.
“Fine, don’t tell me,” she sighed and threw her hands up in the air. As she walked towards the door, Oryn sat down in his leather chair.
“I had a talk with my mother last night.”
“Oh.” Naomi cringed and turned on her heel. “Was it a bad one?”
Oryn interweaved his fingers. “It wasn’t a good one.”
A glimmer appeared in Naomi’s eyes, and she sat on the chair in front of his desk, crossing her one leg over the other. “Tell me everything.”
Oryn narrowed his eyes at her and muttered, “You relish my pain, don’t you?”
“Depends on the pain,” she winked coyly. “Now tell me.”
He took a deep, miserable breath and replied, “My mother is worried about me.”
“As all mothers are,” Naomi interjected.
“She’s worried that I still haven’t found a girlfriend and that I am lonely. Apparently, it is no way to live, or so she says.”
“Are you lonely?”
Oryn opened his mouth to answer, but his words failed him. Was he lonely? Of course, but was he going to admit that to Naomi?
“I don’t know,” he replied simply.
“Your mother probably has ulterior motives, like all mothers.” She shrugged. “Either she has someone lined up for you who she wants to introduce to you, or she is afraid she will never get grandchildren.”
“She’s made the latter abundantly clear at many of our family gatherings, so I know that’s true. She also knows better than to try and pair me up with someone whom I have no interest in dating,” Oryn answered.
“How will you know if you don’t get to know them?”
“Because they’re usually blonde, and…”
“And?” Naomi shook her head, causing her long blonde hair to purposely fall over her shoulders.
“And not my type.”
“And what exactly is your type, Oryn? I swear, in all this time I’ve known you, I’ve never seen you with a woman before. Your type is probably the only thing I don’t know about you,” she chuckled.
“I’m sure you don’t know that much about me.”
“Try me,” she challenged and crossed her arms with attitude.
“My birthday.”
“October eighteenth. Easy.”
“My favorite food.”
“It is and will always be filet mignon with garlic,” she said. “Paired with a dry red wine, preferably a Pinot Noir.”
Oryn’s lips curved into a slight smile, and he sat back in his chair. “My favorite author?”
“Oryn, you’re really underestimating my knowledge of you. It’s a little insulting,” she scoffed. “And it’s Poe.”
“Okay, Miss Know-It-All. What am I afraid of?”
“Your mother,” she chuckled. “Not being good enough for your father, even though you would never admit it to anyone, including yourself, and not being in control.”
Oryn’s jaw clenched. She’d hit a nerve with her comment about his father, and he lowered his gaze.
“Oryn, I didn’t mean to upset you—”
“I am not upset.” His voice was cold and stern.
“Right, okay. I’ll go get you some coffee.”
“Thanks, Naomi.” Oryn turned to the files stacked neatly on his desk and placed the top one on the desk in front of him. As he opened the first one—it was a contract of a new employee he needed to look over, although Naomi already had—Naomi came into the office once again, with his coffee. She gently placed it on the coaster and handed him his pen.
“Thanks,” Oryn uttered and clicked the pen three times.
“You have a meeting with the new marketing team tomorrow.”
“It’s about time,” he said. “Were they not supposed to have started last week?”
“No, you distinctly told them that tomorrow was their first day. You know, with the dates of the new contracts, and for payroll to set everything up,” Naomi replied.
“Right, right,” Oryn mumbled absentmindedly.
“Drink your coffee. You’re fading away,” she ordered and walked to the door of his office.
“It feels like it,” he mumbled.
Naomi turned at the door to look back at him. “Is there anything I can do?”
Oryn, who was now focused on the contract in front of him, answered, “No calls for today. Not even from my mother.”
“Got it,” she said. “I’ll just tell her you’re out making friends, or grandchildren, or whatever.”
The pen slipped out of his fingers, and he frowned at Naomi. “Don’t you dare.”
She chuckled heartily and shook her head. “Don’t worry. I’ve got your back, boss.”
Oryn smiled genuinely at her, grateful for everything she had done for him and would continue to do. Naomi left the office, allowing the silence to encapsulate him as he worked on the files, reading each one through and signing it off.
Oryn worked the best in silence; the sounds of the city made him anxious. He had thought of maybe installing soundproof walls in his office and having an indoor waterfall, but he didn’t have any space where to put it. His office was filled with modern antiquities he had restored throughout the years. A large painting of his parents’ palace in Lunca hung on the wall beside the grandfather clock, and he often found himself staring at it for hours.
The memories of Lunca were still fresh in his mind—rebuilding the walls after the First War—and they would not go away any time soon, although it had been five thousand years already. The dreams didn’t go away, either. He might be the most steadfast of the four princes, yet he was the one who hid the most pain—not only the pain of others, but his own pain as well.
2
The darkness engulfed one of the two bedrooms in the apartment, and not even the light of the moon could break through.
Adley Murdoch lay in the dark, covered by her comfy blanket, her heart racing in her chest. She had no reason to feel threatened. Her life was not in danger at that moment, but the memories seemed all too vivid that night; memories which she had tried to bury inside herself. They always seemed to claw themselves back to the surface.
Her phone vibr
ated on her nightstand, but she made no effort to reach for it from under the covers. She knew who it could be. It wasn’t the first time her phone went off tonight.
Adley worked for a marketing company in Auckland as an entry-level marketing assistant. Having a college degree in the field, it wasn’t difficult for her to find this job, but she was extremely grateful that she had managed to impress the interviewer.
She had been born in a small town in Ohio, where she had grown up and gone to college. She had never considered traveling abroad or settling into a new place, but she was glad she had. After a near-death experience, Adley had decided to take on the world and moved to Auckland. Only having been there for a few months, she hadn’t made any friends yet. There were a few women at her job who she was friendly with, but usually, she didn’t feel comfortable getting close to people too quickly.
Car horns blared below in the streets, people who were going to events, restaurants, and being social, and Adley wondered whether she would be able to do that again. Being traumatized was one thing, but isolating herself in her apartment as much as she could to the point where it was making her hear and see things was quite the other.
Adley threw the covers off her when her phone blared again beside her. As expected, it was from one of her colleagues, practically begging her to come out with them. They had been talking about going out to a new club and wanted Adley to join them. Of course, being the quiet, submissive girl she was, she diplomatically declined every single time, saying she already had plans… to crawl into bed and drown in a pool of misery, sure, but they didn’t need to know that.
She quickly replied with a, ‘Maybe next time. Sorry,’ and she placed her phone back on her nightstand. At least she didn’t have to tell them to their faces, although she would have to explain herself tomorrow at work. Hopefully they would be way too hungover and tired to grill her about it.
The lights of the city beckoned her out onto her balcony, and she obeyed, glancing out at the Auckland skyline and the ocean beyond. The lights flickered happily, and the dark blue velvet sky was littered with stars. Nostalgia filled her soul as she remembered the starry skies of her hometown, the days she had spent in the Ohio sun, carefree and happy. For a moment, she focused solely on those happy times. Swimming in the lake close to her house with her two best friends, Mikey and Heather. The times when the trio had sat in their treehouse, often sleeping there as well.
