The sun was high in a cloudless sky when the carriage stopped by a small clearing the woods at the base of a great mountain range. A small brook ran clear cool water from the mountains through the clearing.
"I thought we could stop here for some lunch." Sorin said brightly as he helped Evelyn down from the carriage. "This was always one of my favorite places to stop abd rest before the last part of the journey home." His eyes shone as he looked over the peaceful clearing at the edge of the wood.
Evelyn looked at her surroundings in awe. It was such a beautiful and peaceful place.
"This is perfect!"
"I am glad you like it." Sorin chuckled as he lead her over to a spot that was being prepared for them by the water. He had taken extra measures to ensure their lunch would be perfect before they had left the manor house. He was hoping it would soften the avalanche of information he needed to tell her before they reached the mountain village.
They both settled on the outstretched blanket that had been placed on the soft grass. Before them was a lunch of cold meat, bread, cheese, and an assortment of fruit. Evelyn started filling her plate with food as Sorin watched her with a soft smile on his lips. He hoped that they could continue to have peaceful moments like this for a long time to come.
"Is there something you wanted to tell me?" Evelyn inquired as she nibbled on a piece of cheese.
Sorin sighed. "I was hoping to tell you after we enjoyed our lunch, but I guess now is as good a time as any." He picked a grape from his plate and popped it in his mouth as he thought of a good way to start. "My village lies nestled in the middle of this mountain range. We call them the Obsidian mountains. Our clan is ancient and existed before the beastmen appeared and claimed their dominance over the land."
Evelyn listened in fascination as she continued to enjoy her food.
"I have a feeling that is was one of my kin that had formed the pact to protect your village. I worry that something has happened to him and that is why calamity had struck your home."
Evelyn dropped the hunk of bread she had been eating. "Are you sure?"
Sorin shook his head. "I can't be certain but I will find out." He ran his fingers through his hair. " I only bring this up because you need to be prepared for what you are about to step into when we reach the village." Sorin closed his eyes, a great pair of dragon horns grew from his head, and scales the colour of his raven hair ran down his arms to glitter with a purple sheen in the sun.
Evelyn's eyes widened with both fear and curiosity.
"You're a dragon." She said in awe.
Sorin opened his eyes, the pupils now vertical slits floating in a glowing sea of molten gold.
"I am." He breathed, his voice low with a touch of gravel that tightened something low in Evelyn's body. Then in the blink of an eye he returned to the form Evelyn was more familiar with.
"I am also the only living son of the house Black. The current ruling bloodline of the Obsidian mountains."
Evelyn was in shock. This was too much information for her process all at once. She placed a hand to her temple as she started to feel an ache form there.
"My Lord Sorin is the Prince of dragons..." she mumbled.
Sorin watched in concern as Evelyn attempted to understand everything he had told her so far. He saw her place a hand on the side of her head, the other one slid up to grab the leather collar around her neck.
Anger bubbled inside him, that damm collar deserved to be shredded and dumped in the deepest pits of hell. It however was the only thing that would keep Evelyn safe for the time being.
"You won't have to wear that horrible thing forever."
Evelyn dropped her hands to her lap. She hadn't even realized that she had grabbed her collar.
"But I'm not worthy to be anything more than a slave to the prince of dragons."
Sorin's anger escaped as he heard those words leave Evelyn's lips. His eyes blazed with a cold yellow glow as he looked at her.
"Don't you dare say anything like that ever again!" He grasped her slender shoulders and gave them a shake. "You are the one who is not worthy of me." He squeezed her shoulders and Evelyn felt both heat and pain radiate through her body. She let out a cry that made Sorin ease his grip on the girl.
"I didn't mean to hurt you Evelyn. I often forget how fragile humans are." He let go of her and got up off the ground.
"My sentiment however is still true. You have been through a lot and are strong of will. I am not worthy of your affection but I will strive to prove myself to you."
Evelyn did not know what to say. After being told there was a bond between them then finding out he was a dragon prince and that he had actual feelings for her was a little too much. Did she find him attractive? Of course she did but the world's they came from were so different would they even be able to make this work? She was startled from her thoughts when she heard Sorin clear his throat and extend a hand towards her. She hesitated a moment before she placed her hand in his and he helped her to her feet.
"I know this is a lot to take in." Sorin escorted Evelyn back to the carriage as his servants cleaned up their picnic lunch. "Will you be ok?"
Evelyn thought for a moment. What if she wasn't ok? Would he let her go? Take her back to a human settlement? Would she want to go back to live among humans now that her family was gone? She had so many questions and no answers. There was however one thing she had started to realize, if there was even the smallest chance at happiness she wanted to stay with Sorin.
Evelyn nodded. "I am ok for the moment. I guess we will see what will happen in the future."
That was good enough for Sorin. He helped her up into the carriage and took his place across from her once she was settled.
The carriage started forward up a winding path of stone through the mountains.
Soon the hard part would begin.