A Pet for the Dragons

72.

RADROX

I lay with Arika in her bed to keep her warm. I had taken off my cloak so she could receive more of my warmth while she recovered. I'd taken my cloak off only because she was unconscious and couldn't see the rest of the scars on my body.

I was more conscious of the scars on my body, not that the scar on my face was any better. I was used to showing off that scar, but these were different. No one had seen the scars on my body except for the people who were close to me... or the people who shamed me because of them.

I got those scars while commissioned at the War of Dacva. It was a brutal war against elves, and I was among the worst affected for being at the front lines. I was commissioned with other red dragons who weren't as lucky as me to return alive. I was the only one who returned alive in our fleet.

It was a swift way for the Cardinal House to eliminate the red dragons without looking bad. Still, to their dismay, I returned alive, scarred and even surlier than ever after killing the monsters made by the elves.

And what did I get in return?

Nothing.

They dismissed me by saying that I returned purely because of luck. They said that my fitting skills had nothing to do with me killing those giant monsters and safeguarding the islands alone.

Some even shamed me for returning. I was supposed to die at the frontline. My return was seen as nothing but a mere failure.

I clenched my teeth and wrapped my arms around Arika tighter. I'd lived in shame for a long time... but not anymore. Now that we were returning to the Cardinal House, I'd show them that not only did I not care about their shit anymore, but I had a female too. Some would laugh and speculate more, but I couldn't care less.

I had Arika now... but things weren't the way they should've been between us. This was another thing that was bothering me.

Even though my dragon enjoyed cuddling with her, I didn't want to be with her here, running my fingers through her beautiful hair and feeling her unconsciously snuggling against me, seeking more of my warmth... more of me.

I wanted to leave, but I couldn't. Not even if the Cardinal Guards were here themselves to take me away for yet another war where they'd ensure I'd die. I couldn't leave Arika anymore. I was ruined now.

Even though I liked cuddling with her, I was becoming increasingly hard. I had drained my balls earlier in the morning before I'd come looking for her. Yet, my balls were about to burst with my seed again, and my knot throbbed painfully.

I groaned and tried to move away, but Arika made a slight noise of protest in her sleep, draped her leg over mine and snuggled deeper. This wasn't helping my plight at all.

To make matters worse, Arika seemed to be growing conscious with every second because she was starting to move more, especially unconsciously, running her hands over my muscles and scars. No one woman has ever touched my scars, and here she was, touching me everywhere while she slept.

I wondered if she'd be touching me with the same enthusiasm when she'd be awake and see my scars. The thought instantly made me want to leave. I didn't want her to see me like this. Not when things were still messy between us.

I didn't trust her to show my scars. As much as I craved Arika, I was aware that Arika was poison to me. I could only take the poison in small amounts. Too much of it at once would kill me.

With this thought, I started moving from under her. First, I untangled her limbs from mine and then began peeling off her body from mine. I noticed her frown as soon as I started peeling away from her, which almost killed my resolve to leave before she could wake up.

I shook my head and focused on slipping out of bed before she could open her eyes and see me with my scars. As soon as I left her side, she started breathing hard and stretched her hand on the other side of the bed, looking for me.

She was almost awake. I clenched my jaw and grabbed my cloak before heading towards the bed.

"Radrox," Arika moaned before I could leave. I froze and slowly turned around to find her sitting up, rubbing her eyes before she looked at me. "Where are you going?" She asked, her voice croaked. I almost crawled back into bed when she gave me the neediest look. I was about to burst in my pants, but I controlled myself.

I couldn't let my needs get in the way. She had already ruined me enough.

"I need to go," I told her curtly, turning to leave. She still seemed half asleep, and I wished she wouldn't remember seeing me at all because my upper body, with all the nasty scars, was still bare.

"Were you attacked by a kraken, Radrox?" Arika asked, and I froze. Suddenly, one of my most haunting memories flashed before my eyes. I remembered the rain, the tentacles, the thunder, the dark sky, the stormy sea, the roar of the Kraken and its various tentacles with openings.

The scars all over my body tingled, remembering the pain from the tentacles. I tensed even more. I was utterly frozen in my place, unable to move or say anything. I went numb every time I remembered the day I almost died.

It had been a recurring nightmare for me for the longest time, but I'd forgotten it for a long time... until Arika mentioned the Kraken and the memory flashed in front of my eyes in absolute detail again. I couldn't escape it.

I didn't know how long I stood before the door, reliving that day in my head. I moved when I felt a touch on one of the deepest scars on my back.

It was Arika.

She had touched one of my scars, and immediately, it sizzled with phantom pain— a pain I hadn't felt in a long time. She reminded me of the pain again.

Suddenly, something snapped inside me, and I pined her against the wall.

"How did you know it was a Kraken?" I growled. I was on the edge as the flashback kept replaying, trapping me in my head. I was about to lose control and bust into flames and destroy everything. It was a trigger of mine— a coping mechanism and a fight response altogether. It had caused several disasters in the past and now, it was about to happen again.

"I've lived at the sea and seen many things. I know Kraken scars when I See them. Are you alright? What's happening to you, Radrox?" She asked, the panic growing in her voice. This should've made me stop. This should've snapped me out of this, but it made everything worse.

"How dare you touch my scars!" I growled at her, smelling smoke. My body was growing hotter, and my dragon was about to burst out, ready to turn everything into ashes. I was about to burn the whole castle down.

"How dare you—"

I was about to ask her how dare she ruin me again when she pressed her lips against mine abruptly, melting me away.

~

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