A Pet for the Dragons

101.

ZORGE

I stared at the Cardinal Guard, trying to read his emotions, but I got almost nothing. This didn't surprise me. The Cardinal Guards were trained not only in physical aspects but in mental, spiritual and unconscious aspects too. They were the most powerful guards to exist across realms.

My powers were no match for them, but I couldn't help but probe their shield, hoping to find a crack to slip and read what they had planned for me and others.

I shuffled nervously on my feet, looking around the waiting room outside one of the royal meeting houses. It seemed newly created because I was unfamiliar with this place. This further fed my nervousness. I didn't know what to expect.

One moment, I was with Arika, on the verge of knotting her and the next moment, I was summoned by one of the Cardinal Guards.

The more I tried to force my powers through the walls of the Cardinal Guard's head, the more unsettled I felt. It felt like there was nothing. That dragon looked like nothing but a shell. There was not a single emotion on its face. He didn't even blink, but his head snapped towards me in the blink of an eye when he sensed my stare. I almost jumped out of my skin but held my ground.

"How long shall I wait?" I dared to ask, knowing that asking questions like these could land me in trouble. But still, I couldn't help myself. In repose, the guard looked away and said nothing. It was expected.

I'd lost track of how long I'd been waiting when another guard appeared through the grand doors at the other end of the waiting room. He headed towards me instantly. I felt relief but, at the same time, more anxious. I couldn't figure out what this could be all about.

However, as soon as the other Cardinal Guard allowed me to pass through the grand doors, I understood what was happening, especially when I found Callath in the room. Alone.

I might not be able to read the Cardinal Guards, but I could read Callath like a scroll. This made me feel less anxious. He gave me a smug look as if I were some bug finally under his feet.

I could tell that he was still seething due to the way he got beaten at the Gallow Castle. He was waiting to avenge himself. I'd have been fine by that, but the more I read his emotions, the more it seemed like an excuse for something bigger and much more... darker. It sent a shiver down my spine.

"There you are," He sneered at me.

"So I am," I said.

"Where's your brother?" He asked but shook his head. "Never mind. You alone will do for now,"

"What do you want me to do?" I asked. A menacing smile stretched on his lips as he focused his pitch-black eyes on me.

I had dealt with Callath before. There was a time when I used to work under him directly, but even then, I didn't feel as disturbed and anxious in his presence as I felt at that moment.

In response, he took out something from the sleeve of his cloak and tossed it towards me. I caught it. It was a scroll with the Empress' emblem. My fingers felt cold to touch it, and soon, the chills spread through my whole body.

Cold sweat broke out on my forehead, wondering what it could be. It had to be something terrible if Callath delivered this to me. I stared at Callath for a long moment before undoing and reading the scroll.

"No...." I hissed as soon as I was done reading it. My heart shrank in my chest. "You can't..."

"I didn't," Callath smiled at me. "It's the Empress' decision, and you know what happens if you go against it,"

"She cannot do this. We aren't part of the court anymore—"

"— but you're still her subjects. She has every right to make such decisions for her subjects. Especially for the ones she feels are exceptionally gifted," Callath said darkly. I could feel his satisfaction but regret for not having Radrox here to witness his reaction.

"She cannot do this to me and my brother," I told him grimly.

"What are you going to do to stop her?" He asked me. I clenched my jaw and glared back at him because he knew there wasn't much to do here. "That's what I thought. I trust you will deliver the news to your brother, too. You are dismissed now,"

"I understand times must be tough for you at the court, for the only source of joy in your life are these petty things," I couldn't help but dish it back to him. The sly smile on his face instantly dropped, and he glared back at me.

I stormed out before he could say anything else to me. I was afraid if he opened his mouth again, I'd start raining punches on him, but that wouldn't save Radrox or me anymore.

I was finding it hard to believe that after all this time, we were subjected to this... but for what? Why did the Empress choose to do this to us?

But more than that, it meant one thing— I'd be away from Arika. The thought deeply disturbed my dragon. We'd just marked her. We hadn't even properly mated to complete the bond and....

I clenched the scroll hard enough until I heard it crack. I wanted to burn it and pretend I never met Callath and he never gave it to me, but again, doing so wouldn't undo this.

The Empress had already decided our fate.

"Where were you all this time?" Radrox asked me when I returned to our wing. He was leaving it. I tossed the scroll at him quietly. He took it without a question and read it.

His eyes blazed red as soon as he was done reading the scroll.

"No," He growled. "She can't do this,"

"She did," I hissed, already heartbroken at the thought of leaving Arika. 

~

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