Breeder For The Villain Dragon

CHAPTER FIVE

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Guards escort Faelyn to the royal kitchen, fear crawling up her spine as Duga hands her the tray with the prisoner's food.

"Don't you dare drop it," Duga sneers when the tray almost slips from Faelyn's shaking hands.

News about Faelyn's escape attempt has spread through the servants like wildfire. Duga thinks the punishment is way too light. Back in the old days, slaves who tried to run away got flogged to death or thrown into boiling oil.

"I wish I could watch that beast tear you apart." Duga's cruel words make Faelyn glare at her for a moment, forgetting her place.

"Please, I need to see the princess one more time!" Faelyn begs the guards, but they ignore her completely.

Maybe Amiral still has some mercy left…

"Leave us alone. I want to talk to her," Amiral enters the kitchen gracefully, and everyone else quietly leaves.

"Princess!" Faelyn bows quickly.

"I found out how your mother got caught. It was Juta who betrayed you. I'm so sorry, Faelyn!" Amiral's voice sounds sad, making the leaving servants shake their heads.

They think their princess is too kind - she even cares about worthless slaves.

Faelyn's world spins. There's no way Juta would do something so cruel to her. Didn't he promise to ask the King for their freedom?

"I can't save you now. You have to serve the dragon like they ordered. Maybe you'll get another chance to escape later… Don't blame me. This was the only way I could think of to keep you and your mother alive."

Darkness swallows Faelyn whole. Her body trembles, and she drops to her knees before Amiral, tears streaming down her face. "Please, Your Highness! There has to be another way! I'll do anything - scrub floors forever, take any beating, starve for months - just please don't send me to him!"

Her desperate sobs echo through the kitchen as she clutches at the hem of Amiral's silk robes. "I'm so scared… I don't want to die like this…"

Amiral looks down at the pathetic creature groveling at her feet with false sympathy. 'How perfectly broken you look,' she thinks with satisfaction. 'Soon that dragon will burn you alive with his flames, and there will be nothing left of you but ash and screams. Finally, you'll be gone from my sight forever.'

"Get up, dear sister," Amiral says gently, helping Faelyn to her feet while hiding her cruel smile. "You must be brave. It's the only way."

With trembling hands, Faelyn opens the vials and pours the potions into the soup. Her own blood swirls through the mixture like something evil.

Did Juta really do this to her just because she rejected him? If this will save her mother and Daela… she'll do it.

The guards take Faelyn through dark stone passages that go deep underground. The air gets thicker and smells like death and suffering.

They stop at a black iron door. It opens with a horrible groaning sound.

"I don't know why our King doesn't just kill you. He's treating you like some honored guest," the guard spits, looking at the prisoner before his eyes slide over Faelyn hungrily.

"What a waste, giving you to a monster. I'd treat you much better!"

He licks his lips while Faelyn's heart pounds. The guard hopes the dragon doesn't kill her - he wants his own turn with the pretty half-blood.

His hand strikes her behind hard, making Faelyn yelp in shock and humiliation. "Something to remember me by," he leers before shoving her roughly into the dark cell. The door slams shut behind her with a sound like thunder.

Ancient power fills the small space, making it hard to breathe. That burning ember and molten steel scent she remembered from before hits her again, but now it's much stronger and more dangerous.

Moonlight comes through the barred windows, showing her a huge shape in the shadows and two burning golden eyes staring right through her.

The Dragon King sits there chained but not broken. Fresh wounds cover his body, but they just make him look more terrifying.

'Ancestors help me,' Faelyn prays silently, then cries out when the silence breaks.

The prisoner takes a deep breath, his nose flaring.

"So Jaelan sends a half-blood to serve me?" His deep voice makes the stone walls shake. Every part of Faelyn wants to run away.

'Maybe he hates half-bloods?' Hope flickers in her chest.

If he rejects her, maybe she can stay safe. It wouldn't be her fault then.

But her hope dies when those golden eyes look over her body. Her torn rags don't hide much, showing glimpses of pale skin through the holes.

Faelyn can't help shaking as those predator eyes watch her every move.

"I'm just here to bring you food," she whispers, her voice barely there.

"Come closer!"

The sharp command makes her legs wobble, but she obeys, trying to keep some distance between them.

"I heard Jaelan spoils his slaves. Guess that was a lie."

Faelyn's face burns with shame and anger at the disappointment in his voice.

She's been a slave her whole life, but never felt like such an object before.

'Rude beast, just like all dragons!' she thinks.

"Are you cursing me, little bird?"

Faelyn jumps. She didn't mean to say that out loud.

"A smart slave knows how to hide her feelings, or they'll be used against her."

"Your f_food is ready."

She puts the tray on the stone floor, staying as far away as possible.

"Do I have to eat from way over there?" She thinks she sees his lips twitch.

Reluctantly, Faelyn moves closer and sets the tray near him.

"Is it poisoned?" The question comes quietly but feels dangerous.

Panic shoots through her when she realizes he's moved. He's not against the wall anymore.

His chains let him move this far, and now he's right in front of her!

"N_no!" she gasps.

Those golden eyes burn darker, full of suspicion and something scarier.

"Don't lie to me!"

His presence crashes over her like a giant wave. That burning ember and molten steel scent gets so strong it's like being caught in a dragon's breath. She can barely breathe.

"I'm not lying!" she chokes out.

Pain tears through her body like she's being ripped apart from the inside. Her skin feels like it's going to burst. If he keeps releasing this overwhelming power, she'll die in seconds.

'Please…' she tries to speak but no words come. Something warm drips from her nose - blood.

Her ears ring strangely and tears pour down her face without her control.

'So this is what dying feels like,' she thinks as everything starts going dark.

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