A Pet for the Dragons

155.

ARIKA

"Get comfortable," Mavie waved her hand at me casually as she collapsed on one of the study chairs, looking somewhat tired and frustrated. "We're going to be here for a while,"

"Okay," I muttered, looking around for a place to sit before deciding to sit by something that looked like a glass tube. They looked like I could break and throw at Mavie for defence if necessary.

Thinking about defence, my hands immediately went to the weapons in my dress, only to realise that I wasn't wearing my dress anymore. Instead, I wore a dark robe. It was nothing fancy, but I was glad it wasn't see-through like my dress.

"I got you changed to sneak you here without drawing too much attention," Mavie said, noting my sudden shock at my new dress. This caught me off guard, but I quickly hid my surprise. I was already too vulnerable here.

"What do you wish to talk about?" I asked Mavie cautiously, not knowing what to expect from her.

"There are many things I wish to talk about with you," Mavie began with a deep sigh, twirling something that looked like dice made out of diamonds in her fingers. For a moment, I was glad that her pitch-black eyes weren't on me, staring me down with that devouring intensity. "But first, tell me why you haven't mated with Ivret yet. Is there something wrong?"

"It's a personal matter. I don't wish to share anything about it with you—"

"Ah, like you have a choice?" Mavie snapped at me, the impatience thick in her voice. However, she composed herself too quickly. "You think we have a choice, Arika, the human?"

"Yes?" I replied, or rather asked. Her change of tone confused me, but I was determined not to let her too much into our matter. She had already fucked up quite a lot of things. "What do you mean?"

"Just answer what I asked you. It's important. It's just one of those things I don't wish to know, yet I have to," She pressed.

"But why?" I challenged. "What do you have anything to do with what's going on in my bedroom?"

"A lot, unfortunately for me," Mavie replied frustratedly. "Now answer me,"

"You have to tell me first," I shot back. I'm not sharing anything with you. You've already made a lot of things worse for us." I realised the words after they left my mouth, but it was too late. The resentment and annoyance I'd been harbouring for Mavie all this time were slowly starting to emerge.

However, Mavie didn't seem offended at all. She looked... unaffected. It seemed like this was just one of the annoying chores for her.

"Very well," She sighed. "I want something from you, Arika. As long as you give it to me, everything will be fine. I will let you all go your way," Mavie said.

"And what is it?" I asked, dread settling in my stomach. I felt sick about what she would say next because I already knew it at the back of my head. After hearing the conversation a while ago, I knew what exactly she wanted from me.

"I want Ivret's child," she replied. Just have a child with him or either of them and give it to me. I won't bother you all after that. You have my word on it." Her words were nothing less than haunting. Even though I knew what she wanted before she said it, I still couldn't believe my ears. It left me speechless for a moment.

"You're a mother, yourself. Would you be okay giving away one of your children?" I asked. It was a bold question, but it was necessary. Again, I knew the answer before it left her lips.

"I wouldn't mind if it's for the greater good," She said blankly. However, it seemed like something flickered in her eyes for a second. It was gone before I could see it properly.

"What greater good?" I asked, gritting my teeth.

"You wouldn't understand," She dismissed quickly.

"Because I'm a human?" I shot back.

"Because you aren't an Empress, looking out for a whole nation." She snapped back, straightening up and finally fixing her eerie eyes on me.

I sucked in a breath because of the unnerving she looked in that moment, under the low light of the candles. I shuddered.

"If I wished to, you would've woken up with all your eggs gone, but I don't want that. It's not the best method," She muttered to herself. "I want this to be a cordial cooperation between us. I'm not asking you to hand over your child to me. All I want is for you to pledge your child to the throne. It will be treated like a prince or princess. You all will be well rewarded, too, especially if it's a girl,"

"No," I hissed. "I'm not giving you anything,"

"Are you sure?" She asked, "Because I said earlier, we don't have a choice,"

"I don't have a choice because you are forcing it on me!" I corrected. "I'm not—"

"I wish that were the case, but it's not. I, too, don't have a choice. It's something that has to be done. I could've negotiated with Ivret about this since he's one of your masters, but I didn't because, in the end, you'll be the one bearing the child. I want it to be your choice,"

"I will never give you my child, and I will never choose a place like this to have children," I told her. "And how are you sure that I wish to have children? Maybe I don't—"

"That'd be even convenient for me. I could take your eggs and—"

"NO!" I yelled, not caring if she was the Empress anymore. At that moment, I realised my eyes were burning due to unshed tears. A tense silence followed my words.

"Very well," Mavie sighed, rolling the dice on the table. She stared at the dice for a silent second. "There seems to be another way... and you may not like it,"

~

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