A Pet for the Dragons

196.

ARIKA

I felt like a brand new person when I woke up the next day. Radrox's arm heavily rested over me while my ship rocked gently. I could hear the sea outside, and it was at this moment that I realised exactly how much I had missed it in the first place.

I felt Radrox's arm tighten around me when I stirred gently. He still seemed to be deep asleep, yet he was aware of my presence. For a moment, I stilled and took in every sensation that I could feel. After months of feeling numb, my life seemed to be full of colour and sensations all of a sudden.

I felt Radrox's warmth and the feel of his smooth scales pressing against my skin. Even though I hardly slept last night, I felt well rested. It felt like I had the best night's sleep, even though I remembered riding Radrox sometime early in the morning, right before sunrise. It had been quite an eventful night. I felt so satiated. It was the best feeling ever.

However, my stomach grumbled, reminding me that we hadn't had any dinner yesterday. I wasn't sure if there was something edible still left in my ship's storage. Usually, there should be something for the emergency, and on top of it, I needed to figure out where exactly we were at the moment.

Last night, I set my ship on autopilot, which ensured it would slowly drift in circles. We should still be near the harbour, given the waves were gentle last night.

Either way, I needed to figure some shit out, and for that, I needed to get out of bed, but Radrox was almost all over me, his weight pressing me down into the mattress. It was the best feeling ever. I could stay like this forever, but my bladder was screaming at me. It was in that moment that I realised that he was still somewhat inside me.

Slowly and gently, I managed to push him off me before freeing myself from his heavy and grabby arms. I was glad that he wasn't hard anymore and slipped out of me easily. I saw a disturbed look on Radrox's sleeping face when I finally managed to get myself free.

His arms roamed in the bed, searching for me even though he was in a deep sleep. I pouted at the scene and gave him a warm kiss on his forehead before going to the bathroom and taking a quick shower.

Radrox was still asleep when I stepped out in nothing but a towel. All of a sudden, I felt like I was at home. This was how it was all supposed to be. The only thing missing in that moment was the presence of Ivret and Zorge. The morning would have been utterly perfect if they had been present as well.

It didn't matter. I'd bring them here soon and take them on a cruise to one of my secret islands that I own in the middle of nowhere. The thought excited me, but first, I needed to find something for breakfast and get us back on land.

I went down into the storage and managed to find some noodles and dried vegetables along with instant coffee packets. Perfect. I brought them upstairs in the kitchen and began cooking while also checking my ship's coordinates.

I was right. We were still near the harbour, circling. My ship had just drifted a few miles away from the harbour at night, but I could still see the horizon. I sat in the cabin with my coffee, checking everything while Radrox caught up on his sleep.

This morning couldn't get better. It felt like I was back in time in my old life. All of a sudden, it felt like the shit at the Cardinal House didn't happen at all, and it was anything but a dream. But... my hand drifted over my abdomen where the scar remained.

No, it wasn't a dream. I'd never forget what happened, especially with my... I took a deep breath. A part of me still found it hard to believe that there had been a moment in the past when I was pregnant, even if it was brief. And it cost me.

I lost something...

I shook my head again, not wanting to think about such gloomy things on a beautiful sunny day, floating on dark blue water while feathery clouds dotted the sky. It was too good a day to mourn. I needed some time to be myself again before I could even start to think about those things and mourn properly.

I was afraid that if I let myself get into it now, I'd never come out of it again. I sipped from my cup of coffee again and turned the ship towards the harbour, not powering the engine to full speed. I still wanted to spend some time like this... enjoying my rebirth.

I sat in the captain's cabin for a while before Radrox finally awakened and joined me there. Though he came completely naked, not even caring to put on a shirt or pants. Not that I was complaining.

However, he looked pissed that I didn't wake him earlier and punished me by giving me a heated kiss that promised all sorts of dirty things later.

"What's this?" He asked with a disgusted look on his face when I offered him a cup of coffee.

"It's coffee. Helps you wake up," I told him, adding some sugar to sweeten it. He took another sip. I could tell that he still hated it, but he continued drinking nonetheless. We sat in the cabin for a while, watching the sea.

I couldn't help but watch him as his eyes fixated on the horizon. He seemed to be deep in his thoughts. I took my time eyeing him. Under the sunlight streaming through the enormous windows of my cabin, I could see every detail of his body.

I could see each scar and all his scales perfectly. I didn't miss how defined his body looked, all the muscles and everything. He looked like a war god. Suddenly, I wished even more that Ivret and Zorge could be here.

I was pretty sure both of them would have been bickering in the background over something stupid like the colour of the water. I giggled at the thought, aching for them even more.

"What?" Radrox asked. I sighed deeply.

"I wish Ivret and Zorge were here too," I told him with a pout. "Don't get me wrong. I love this moment as it is, but I think it's too quiet. I miss their background chatter over something stupid,"

Radrox snorted. "Don't ever let them find out about it. My brother would never leave you in peace otherwise,"

"I'm sure he would," I smiled, finishing my coffee. "Were the two always like that from before?" I couldn't help but ask. I had always wondered this, but this was the first time I got to ask it out loud.

Radrox groaned, an annoyed look on his face.

"You have no idea. They could hardly stand each other when we were grouped for the first time. They tried dragging me into it, too, but one punch to their faces was enough to make them learn to keep me out of it."

"I'd have mistaken them as siblings initially because of that," I smiled.

"We're grouped for a reason," He said, his eyes lingering on the horizon as if he was still in the middle of a deep thought. I put my cup away and climbed on his lap, claiming his full attention.

"What are you thinking?" I whispered, holding his face in my hand and looking deep into his red, glowing eyes that always captivated me. I felt his hands on my hips immediately.

"I'm thinking about us," He replied, his voice slightly hoarse due to all the emotions laced in it. His eyes softened as he gazed into mine.

"What about it?" I asked, brushing my lips against his lightly. I felt him grow tense under me in response.

"I'm thinking how we're going to be as a family," He said.

"We're going to be perfect. You, me, Ivret and Zorge," I said, pressing a soft kiss against his lips.

~

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