The First Sacrifice

Identity

     "Are you saying you think I'm a dragon?" I asked quietly. Washing my hands in the basin of water beside our food. Max followed suit and we stood as Arthur ushered us out of the double doors. His broad back stood tall; black fabric stretched across his shoulders and over his upper arms, his pants where a white linen today his jewelry was gaudy and filled with shiny baubles. His arm cuffs were black dragons breathing fire they started at his wrists and wrapped up to his elbow. His neck was adored with a black chain. Max dressed similarly there similarities apparent in the way they walked, he was wearing a pair of linen pants and a red vest his arms covered in soft leather cuffs embroidered in the intertwined black and red dragon emblem that fit the theme of the compound.

    "Daughter, we cannot be certain but now that the both of you have mated and I smell the mark my son has claimed you it is possible that you have fulfilled the purpose of your combined heat." We had been walking for a few minutes down winding corridors and now we were outside so I stopped in the midst of what seemed like a garden and demanded answers.

" I am not following. I am a human woman and yesterday I went into heat. You said I would feel the betrothal and with it came feelings of connection but now that I've mated..." I flushed as Maddox purred my eyes dropping from the piercing gaze of Arthur.

I swallowed and met his eyes again, . Now that we've mated you say we have fulfilled  our heat?What does that mean?" I demanded leaning into Maddox as I felt my anxiety heightening.

Arthur smiled softly. "Aurora, my queen, would be better at explaining this. Daughter if you and Maddox have fulfilled your heat as we have predicted, you may be bringing to the world a fledgling of your own." My face felt hot and Maddox's heart beat fluttered behind me my back pressed against his chest.

Before I could respond Aurora entered the garden dressed in and all white tunic and camel skin pants. Her hair flowed around her like a waterfall. She stood before us her her hands on her hips.

"Arthur, sweetheart... I shouldn't have sent you to do a woman's job. Come we shall talk privately later. The court awaits their new princess." Arthur smiled and met his wife wrapping an arm around her waist. Maddox slips his hand in mine my fingers were trembling. There was a possibility that I was with child.

"I'm here with you, Eury. And I will continue to be here with you and ours." Maddox whispered into my hair. We had walked only a few more feet into the garden before we where met with. Clearing that had been prepared white tents and tables adorned with fruit, braised lamb, pork and chicken. Coal fired vegetables and sweet water... A feast was prepared in my honor and the clearing held a number of guests, the ones dressed in white clearly stood out as the court.

As soon a we stepped into the area the quiet murmuring of chattered silenced and noses upturned and then landed on me. In that moment I wanted to shrink, I slipped into the arms of Max and he welcomed me into his chest. Aurora clapped her hands and began the reception.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the Redwing Dragon Clan  Court and honored guests it is our honor as your King and Queen to present our newly found Princess, the betrothed  for your Prince; your future Queen Eurydice." An bright smile spread over her face like a crescent moon moon, Maddox led me and the Court applauded and before I knew it a flurry of people lined up to meet me.

I was met with three women at first. All three equally beautiful and scantily dressed in midriff tunics and leather pants, jeweled cuffs on their forearms. " Princess Eurydice, it's a pleasure my sisters and I went to school with your betrothed, though we are human we have lived among dragon our entire life... It is a pleasure to meet you." They bowed and Maddox tensed as the sashayed from us putting an extra swing into their hips and a lusty look backwards. My teeth clenched.