A Pet for the Dragons

146.

ARIKA

I don't know how to look at the stars, but I was pretty sure they must've aligned into something unholy because today seemed to be a complete disaster from the beginning since I opened my eyes.

After dinner, I returned to my room, feeling physically, mentally and emotionally tired. Zorge and Radrox remained in the study, discussing their Commission. I wanted to know more but decided to leave this time because I was already too overwhelmed by everything.

I was still very unsure about what to expect at the dinner, but it was clear that it would be a precarious affair. I was especially concerned about it because of the way Ivret was acting. It just didn't sit right with me.

I was seeing an entirely different side of him. The fact that he was once known as the Lord Venom made me shudder. It reminded me how I practically didn't know much about the three. We were still... strangers in many ways, but despite all that, there was a strange familiarity with them. It felt like I'd known them forever. I wondered if it was because of their mark on me.

I lay in bed, waiting for sleep, but I was sure I wouldn't fall anytime soon because my thoughts were racing a hundred miles per hour. In the silent room, my racing heart was the loudest thing. I closed my eyes and tried to think about the sea and my ship... but this was another thing that had been bothering me while I wasn't busy getting overwhelmed by this place and the curves it threw at us. I didn't know where my ship was. It was one of the most valuable things I owned. I dedicated my life to building it. It felt like a part of me, but I didn't know where it was.

When I used to get overwhelmed at the sea, I could at least remind myself that no matter what happened, the ship was still in my control. Nothing was in my control here, and it was starting to eat me away.

I sighed deeply, realising that I was overthinking in the opposite direction, and it wasn't helping me calm down a bit. I shuffled in the bed for a while, trying to find the perfect position, when the door opened abruptly, and Radrox walked in.

I sucked in a breath as soon as our gazes locked.

Maybe a little distraction would help a bit... I thought to myself as I rose. He regarded me briefly, something unfamiliar and uncertain in his eyes. I wondered if he was still apprehensive about me.

"I won't bite, I promise," I told him when he didn't move. He grunted before stalking towards the door, taking his heavy fur cloak off, giving me a full view of all the scars on his body. I took my time to trace every single one of them with my eyes.

A part of me felt giddy because he was showing his scars so freely to me. I remembered how pissed he got when I saw them the first time. I was glad that we were over it. However, I couldn't help but notice the tension in his body. All his muscles were on full display, but they wouldn't flex properly.

I watched as he took off his belt before turning to me. His eyes focused intensely on me, making my heart race,e but for an entirely different reason. I froze, waiting for his next move. He watched me for a couple of seconds before climbing onto the bed, and the next thing I knew, his lips were on mine.

I kissed him back immediately. It was a slow kiss at first, but it turned fiery soon as he sucked hard at my bottom lip and waged war against my tongue to subdue it before stroking it to complete submission. I had to push him back to gasp for breath after a few moments.

The apprehension finally seemed to leave his eyes, along with the tension in his body. I felt him relax against me before he pulled me against his body and pulled the thick blanket over us.

"Radrox," I sighed, snuggling against him, enjoying the warmth of his body. He buried his face in the crook of my neck, humming gently, making my whole body shudder with a new kind of pleasure. His hot breath tickled my skin, sending vines of pleasure curling down my spine.

"You're worried," He commented, and I snorted.

"You think so?"

"You're not the kind to leave when my brother and I are discussing important stuff," He shot back, and he was right.

"I've been in several shipwrecks but never felt so out of control," I told him. He pulled me closer, making me relax again. "Why is everything against us all of a sudden?" I couldn't help but ask.

It made sense for me because I had done several fucked up things in the past, but it didn't make sense for them. They seemed like normal dragons. Maybe I brought them bad luck? The thought send a stabbing guilt to my heart.

"I wish I knew," He answered with a defeated tone. It almost made me shudder.

"What? You've given up?" I asked, and all I got was his silence. This was troubling. When I sat up to look at him, he was watching me with hooded eyes filled with so much vulnerability.

"You'll never see us again if we get sent to the commission," He spoke. His voice was thick with so many emotions. In the dim light of the room, I thought his eyes looked glossy with unshed tears for a moment. "Those who go there never return. It's a terrible place,"

"No, you won't be going there," I dismissed quickly. My heart threatened to dig itself out of my chest at his words. He sounded so sure about this that it was disturbing. "I wouldn't allow it,"

"What would you do?" He asked, shifting closer to me. I searched his face nervously, hoping he was joking and hadn't given up, but... then I saw a tear escape the corner of his eyes and run down the side of his face. It was shocking for a moment. I couldn't believe it was real. I reached out to touch the wet trail the tear had left, but it was gone too quickly.

"I will..." I searched for words but found none. "I don't know what I will do, but I will do something. I've done a lot of terrible stuff in my life. I will do it again and keep you all with me. Mavie seems to want something from me. Whatever it is, if it's the price I have to pay to have you all with me, I will do it." I told him, caressing the back of my fingers over his scar. He reached out to hold my face.

"You don't know what you're talking about," He told me gruffly, but I shook my head.

"I mean it. If this gets out of hand, I'll meet and discuss it with her." I told him. Radrox watched me darkly for a moment. I leaned into his touch. His hand was huge, callous but warm. I loved it.

"What if she asks something unreasonable?" He asked.

"Like what?" I shrugged. "Whatever it is, I'm sure it's not worth your lives. I'm willing to do anything to keep you all safe with me," I assured him, even though I was uncertain about it. It scared me, but he didn't need to know. "And I mean anything," I whispered, leaning down to kiss him.

~

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