Descendants of the Dragons

Kael & Mei Lin

Mei Lin knelt on the cold stone floor, her body trembling as she dared not lift her eyes. The man before her was a towering figure, his presence more daunting than any she had ever encountered. His broad chest, barely covered by a thick black fur cloak, rose and fell with each breath. He was unmistakably a warrior, and one of the Imperial Princes, no less.

Two large swords hung from his belt, he wore only black leather pants, sturdy boots, and dragon-scale bracers on his arms. His attire was simple, yet it spoke volumes about his character—unyielding, fearsome, and lethal.

Mei Lin, vulnerable at his feet, could barely contain her fear. She dared not look directly at him, knowing that even a glance could be interpreted as a challenge. She had no idea why she had been brought here. Would he kill her himself? 

"Brother, what do you want to do? Shall we get rid of her?" Prince Amos asked, his tone indifferent, as if they were discussing the fate of a mere insect.

"Just keep her, Kael. You could use a few more servants or a chambermaid anyway," suggested another, his voice laced with sarcasm.

Mei Lin shivered. Prince Kael? The Fifth Prince? Chambermaid? Of all the Princes, it had to be him—the most terrifying of them all. She bowed even lower, waiting for the inevitable blade to end her life. But the longer she waited, the more confused she became. No one was making a move to kill her. What was happening?

Mei Lin remained frozen, her mind racing. The Fifth Prince, Kael, had not moved or spoken. Suddenly, a low growl emanated from behind her, and she turned slightly to see the Blue Dragon still lurking nearby. Its hot breath washed over her, and she caught a glimpse of its massive fangs.

Before she could react, she heard the hiss of a blade. She braced herself, expecting to feel the cold steel slicing through her flesh. Instead, she felt the heavy manacles around her wrists clatter to the ground. Her wrists were free! Mei Lin slowly lifted her arms, barely believing it. The iron bands remained around her leg and wrists, but the chain binding her was gone.

Her relief was short-lived as Kael suddenly grabbed her, yanking her roughly to his side. She had no time to struggle as he dragged her to his seat. To her shock, he positioned her against his golden throne and then sat without a word. Kael's large fur cloak had been draped over her. Did he do it intentionally, or was it merely an accident? Either way, her bare skin was now shielded from the bitter cold. his attention returning to the dragon colosseum below. Mei Lin knelt at his feet, her shoulder brushing against the throne, too stunned to comprehend what had just happened.

What was this? Why had he spared her? Why was she at his feet, alive and unharmed? The other Princes and their attendants paid her no mind, their focus solely on the ongoing performances.

Kael's silence was unnerving. Mei Lin kept her head low, praying that she would be ignored for the rest of the day. But then, she felt a hand gently caress her hair. The touch was so light that it took her a moment to realize what was happening. Her heart pounded in her chest as Kael's fingers slowly played with her long, dark curls, his touch was so tender.

Was he playing with her hair? Mei Lin barely dared to breathe. She didn't dare move, fearing that any reaction might provoke him. A group of dancers performed with grace and precision, yet all she could focus on was the Prince's hand, now venturing further down the back of her neck.

The rumours about Kael were endless. The King's favourite son, he was feared across the Empire as a dark and ruthless man, who showed no mercy. And yet, here he was, sparing the life of a lowly servant. Was it his dragon's influence that had saved her, or was there something else at play?  Was she to become the chambermaid of the Fifth Prince?

The dragon now lay lazily on a lower step, its sapphire-blue scales shimmering in the fading light. Mei Lin found herself gradually growing accustomed to his touch. Though she remained tense, she no longer shivered with each caress. After several performances, Kael suddenly stood up and walked away, he gestured for Mei Lin to follow him.

Kael's quarters were located far from the others. By the time they arrived, Mei Lin was exhausted. The room was simple, a large canopy bed, draped in silk, dominated the room. There was also a table, chairs, a wardrobe and a large bath pool. 

Kael shrugged off his fur cloak and dropped it onto a chair, massaging his neck.

"Set the bath make it lukewarm" Kael said, his voice deep and commanding.

Mei Lin's five years of servitude kicked in, and she immediately set about preparing the bath, requesting hot water and herbs for the bath. 

Minutes later, Mei Lin was back in the room, pouring the hot water into the tub and adding the herbs she had requested. She looked up, only to realize he was undressing in front of her. She quickly averted her eyes, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. The brief glimpse of Kael was enough to make her heart race.

He noticed her looking away, her face flushed, and he smirked. Had she never seen a naked man before? Kael wondered.

"Do you need more water or herbs, my Lord?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Come here, massage me" he ordered. 

Hesitantly, Mei Lin stepped closer to the tub, doing her best to keep her gaze averted. Kael's presence was overwhelming, and she could feel her hands trembling as she approached.
He reclined in the tub with his eyes closed. Mei Lin hesitated for a moment before stepping behind him and placing her hands on his broad shoulders. Her fingers were trembling, and she couldn't help but feel the weight of the situation. 

As she began to massage his tense muscles, she felt his body gradually relax. She moved her hands over his powerful shoulders and down his arms, using the techniques she had learned over the years. Despite her worries, she took pride in her work, knowing that she was helping to ease his fatigue.

When she dared to look at his face, she saw that his eyes were closed, his expression one of contentment. For the first time since she had met him, Mei Lin felt a small measure of relief. Perhaps he wasn't as terrifying as the rumours suggested.

But then, as she continued to massage his arm, her gaze wandered downward, and she froze. Her lord was fully erect, standing tall and proud in the water.