The Dragon's Mate

Chapter 35

Emerald has no time to think as the wild man turns on her with his eyes of a bloodthirsty beast. He growls and roars before swinging his deadly fist to attack as Emerald dodges and flings herself onto the man's back. Emerald brings her fist down on his head and feel it crunch as it bruises her knuckle however the wild man does not seem to budge or show any sign of pain. Emerald wonders, 'what has this man gone through to ignore a blow like that?.' The man tries to throw Emerald off however she holds on tight as he moves to smash her against the side of the pit, she sees the spear out of the corner of her eyes once again; Emerald immediately grabs the spear and brings the rod of it up against the man's throat. Hunter says, "yes, Emerald!." Emerald hears Hunter's calling her name triumphantly as she uses all her weight into choking her opponent. Emerald thinks, 'just a little...more....' using all the remaining strength she pushes it further as soon the wild man hits the dirt with the crowd gasping. Emerald smiles thinking, 'I did it...I.. I won.' The man turns blue beneath her, suddenly you hear a new noise coming from him, not a growl, not a roar but a whimper. The wild man whimpers as the Dragons above chant out, "KILL HIM! KILL HIM! KILL HIM!." 

Emerald turns to the wild man observing him and thinks, 'this man... he is not a monster, he is a slave, just like me.' At the last moment Emerald releases the spear from the man's neck as he hits the ground and coughs. Annabelle asks, "what do you think you are doing?!," all of the Dragons stare down at her, completely stunned and surprised by Emerald's action. Emerald looks at him saying, "I WILL NOT KILL HIM, he's done nothing wrong." Annabelle says, "nothing wrong, you say?! he would have killed you without a second thought." Emerald clenches her fist answering, "only because you forced him to, you made him the monster he is today." Emerald grabs the spear and throws it at Annabelle's feet before glaring up at her saying, "he is a slave, just like me and I will not destroy a man who's never known freedom and you should not either." Some of the Dragons growl, others snicker but Hunter stares down in awe. Annabelle grows red hot with rage saying, "fine, then you will fight a Dragon to the death, you won't have a problem killing one of us." Emerald is taken back and shocked by Annabelle's words as the crowd cheers. Emerald thinks with a worried expression, 'I am only human, a Dragon will kill me... there's no doubt about it.' Annabelle says, "any volunteers? Who would like to take on this brave little girl?." Several Dragons step forward with sharp, diabolical grins however Hunter comes in front saying, "THIS ENDS NOW!." Hunter's command shakes the ruins of the castle as everyone freezes expect Annabelle. Annabelle says, "why should we, your Grace? everyone is having a grand time and the slave volunteered." Hunter clenches his fist saying, "she is no slave." Annabelle asks, "what did you say?!." As the dust settles from Emerald's life-threatening duel, Hunter leaps effortlessly into the pit, pulling Emerald into his arms with the force of a storm in front of everyone. Emerald thinks, 'I feel safe in Hunter's arm, but everyone is looking at us.' Hunter lets Emerald go and looks up saying, "by royal decree, I claim this woman as my royal courtesan." The Dragons were shocked as Emerald was even more stunned thinking, 'his royal.....courtesan?.' 

Emerald says, "as in your royal.... lover?." Hunter nods saying, "yes, a woman like an equal to my Queen, mine to treasure and bed whenever I please, my paramour." Annabelle was stunned saying, "your what?!." Hunter says, "you all heard me." Annabelle fumes as Hunter lifts Emerald from the fighting pit and drags her away from the crowd. Emerald thinks, 'he is doing all this to protect me, I know that but still....' She asks, "Hunter... are you sure about this?." Hunter answers, "it's done, I, well had to-." Before Hunter can finish the high priest arrives saying, "ah, my King, so Emerald will be your royal courtesan?." Hunter says, "high priest, I did not realise you heard that." The high priest cocks his head, an unreadable and unsettling expression forms on his face. He says, "tell me, what brought about this decision, your Grace?." Hunter replies, "even with my upcoming wedding, I cannot deny... I crave this woman." Emerald looks at Hunter wondering, 'is he trying to convince the priest this is real?.' Hunter says, "my Queen will not satisfy my needs, but my courtesan is more than willing... aren't you willing, my pet?." Emerald feels Annabelle's and the high priest's eyes on her as well as the court; most of all Emerald feels Hunter, his desire, his intensity as he whispers into her ears saying, "show them how much you crave me, too." Emerald says, "yes, my King."