A Pet for the Dragons

154.

ARIKA

I felt helpless, like I didn't have any control over my own life anymore, and this was a worse feeling than being lost in the sea, not knowing if I'd ever see land or die in my ship's cabin.

As I followed Mavie to her high table, I felt several eyes burn into my skin. I wanted to look back and run back to Ivret but was afraid to look back because of the consequences. Despite all the guests, the Grand Hall was filled with guards.

On her way back to her high table, Mavie stopped to talk to a few dragons here and there and maybe place a bet to two or reserve an exotic-looking creature for herself. It was all too much for me.

I wanted to run away from there, but I couldn't. There seemed to be invisible shackles binding me, forcing me to obey Mavie. I sat behind her on a cushioned platform that seemed somewhat nicer for a slave. I shuddered and focused on her, studying everything about her.

What did she truly want from me? Why did she 'borrow' me from Ivret? All sorts of questions ran through my head. I looked around me, trying to be as aware of my surroundings as possible and taking mental notes of everything.

Around Mavie's table, a small crowd always remained, consisting of some nobles and other important dragons, all asking her for favours after offering her their slaves or prized possessions as gifts.

I paled, watching their interactions. I searched the crowd for Ivret but didn't see his face. This made me panic a bit from inside, but I shut it completely and tried to be alert for anything that could happen to me.

However, nothing happened to me. I watched the auctions and continued looking for Ivret. He seemed to have disappeared suddenly, and this worried me. What if the guards got him? The thought sent a shiver down my spine.

Everything was so uncertain that I didn't know what to expect anymore. One of the servers offered me a drink that looked and smelled like vodka. I should've been careful about the drink. I should've thought twice before accepting it, but I was feeling too jittery, and the drink was too tempting.

It didn't take me long to doze off after having it. I cursed myself mentally as the darkness surrounded me, swallowing the golden Grand Hall, the dragons and Mavie. I slept deeply, and it was odd that I was still alert even though I was asleep.

It felt like I was floating under shallow water. All I had to do was sit up to break through the water's surface and gasp for breath.

However, something was holding me back. I couldn't move. I couldn't open my eyes even though my other senses seemed oddly alert. I felt the fur of the cushion from under me change into something hard and uninviting. It made me shudder.

I felt some movement around me before I felt a strange pressure in my abdomen. I heard voices, but they were faint at first. As I concentrated more on them, they started to become clearer.

I recognised Mavie's voice instantly as she asked, "Is she with a child yet?"

"No, not yet. I don't sense anything. Her womb is empty." An unfamiliar, hoarse, and deep voice spoke. Even though the voice was comforting, it had an eeriness I couldn't overlook. Mavie made a frustrated noise.

"What's taking him so long? I thought he had mated with her," Mavie said, her voice thick with annoyance. All her calm and composure was gone. There was no hint of diplomacy in her voice anymore. She almost sounded like a different person. Her impatience reminded me of everything Ivret and the brothers had told me about her.

She was always used to having everything her way.

"Who, your Majesty?" Asked the hoarse voice.

"Why? Lord Kalaz, of course." Mavie replied. This time, she sounded a bit more composed.

"I see," The hoarse voice replied.

"Maybe she's—"

"I don't sense any fertility blocks in her. She has a fertile womb and even fertile eggs. She'll be in heat soon. It's a matter of time before she bears fruit, I say," The voice replied. I tried to force myself to open my eyes, but I couldn't do so at first. It seemed like my body was against me.

"Matter of time, you say? Time is the only thing I don't have," Mavie said in a hard tone. "Time is my biggest enemy. You of all must know this,"

I tried to move my limbs, but they felt too heavy. However, I pushed and finally managed to move a finger. Meanwhile, the two continued to talk, oblivious to me being awake.

"Of course, your Majesty. But there are only so many things that could be controlled. We cannot control conception. Unless you..." The hoarse voice hesitated. "Unless you wish to get the Mage— she's awake,"

I snapped my eyes open at once but closed them immediately because of a blinding light. I blinked rapidly, trying to focus my vision. Meanwhile, I mentally checked every part of my body to ensure that I hadn't been physically harmed in any way.

"We shall discuss this later. You're dismissed," Mavie ordered. He was gone before I could look at the owner of the hoarse voice. When my vision focused, I realised I was alone with Mavie in a strange room.

It took me a moment to realise that I was lying on a table— a similar one to an operating table found at any hospital. The relation made me sit up with a jolt, and I climbed off immediately. The rest of the room looked like half a library and half a laboratory. It reminded me of Ivret's study.

"You're awake," Mavie declared, her eerie pitch-black eyes swirling with gold focused on me.

"Where is this place?" I asked, trying to calm my racing heart. "Why are we here?"

"No need to panic. I borrowed you tonight so I could look you over and have an honest talk with you without someone eavesdropping," she said the last bit loudly, clicking her fingers, shutting the giant doors of the room with a thunderous thud.

~

Read the next 50+ chapters on Patreon. The link is in my bio.

Thanks for reading <3