The Fox And The Last Dragon

Kane's mind raced. The karmic bond throbbed with Cyrus's fury. He needed to defuse this situation fast.

One sentence wasn't much to work with.

He could claim curiosity, blame the karmic bond, or pretend he was sleepwalking—all terrible options against a dragon who could probably smell lies.

Wait. The security system. The door.

Kane straightened his shoulders and met Cyrus's burning gaze directly.

"I found the bookshelf door ajar and thought someone had broken in, so I came to investigate and got trapped by your security system."

The lie hung between them, brittle as glass.

Cyrus's eyes narrowed further, the glow intensifying as he took a measured step forward, backing Kane against the plush leather sofa.

Kane scrambled backward, his foot catching on the edge of an ornate rug.

He toppled, nearly falling—until Cyrus's hand shot out and caught his wrist with inhuman speed.

"That was almost convincing," Cyrus said, his voice dangerously soft as he steadied Kane.

The dragon's fingers remained wrapped around Kane's wrist, his touch surprisingly warm.

"If I didn't know the exact position I left that door in or feel your curiosity through our bond, I might have believed you."

Kane swallowed hard, acutely aware of how close they stood.

Cyrus released Kane's wrist, his fingers uncurling slowly as if reluctant to let go. The space between them crackled with tension.

"I... fine. I was curious," Kane admitted, his ears flattening against his head.

"But can you blame me? You're practically a myth walking around in designer suits.

And this—" he gestured around the room, "—isn't exactly what I expected from the last black dragon."

Cyrus's jaw tightened. "What did you expect? A cave filled with gold and bones?"

"Well, yeah, kind of." Kane's eyes darted to the shelf of romance novels.

"Definitely not 'Learning to Love: Finding Your Inner Flame.'"

Cyrus's eyes flashed dangerously, but Kane pressed on, picking up the romance novel with genuine interest.

"Actually, this is pretty great. I've read this one—the scene where Marek confesses to Eliana under the aurora lights?" Kane whistled.

"Got me right here." He tapped his chest.

Something flickered across Cyrus's face—embarrassment, perhaps—before his expression hardened again.

"My private interests are none of your concern," he said coldly. "Also, the romance novels are strategic emotional studies, not entertainment."

"I didn't invite you into my home to be scrutinized like some curiosity." Cyrus continued.

"Actually, you kind of did," Kane countered. "The whole karmic bond thing means we're stuck together, and I can't exactly pretend you don't exist."

Cyrus closed his eyes briefly, as if summoning patience from some ancient reservoir.

"Just... ask next time," he finally said, his voice tight with restraint.

Kane blinked, bracing for the dragon's wrath that never came.

"That's it? No threats? No dragon fire?" Kane's tail swished behind him in confusion.

Cyrus reached past Kane to straighten a slightly askew romance novel, his expression unreadable.

"It's late, and we have a long day tomorrow." He checked his watch.

"Besides, I'll have plenty of time to torment you as I see fit. We are bound together, after all."

The casual way he delivered the threat sent a chill down Kane's spine.

"Right. Looking forward to it," Kane muttered, backing toward the door.

Cyrus blinked, momentarily speechless. The fox was either incredibly brave or profoundly stupid. Perhaps both. Either way, it was... unexpected.

As they were about to leave, Kane paused at the gaming setup. "You know, Cyrus, for what it's worth, your man cave is super cool."

He picked up the controller, gesturing to the paused fantasy RPG.

"Stuck on the Obsidian Wyrm, huh? That boss is brutal—took me three weeks to beat him."

Cyrus stiffened, his expression shifting almost imperceptibly.

"You've played it?"

"Platinum trophy," Kane said with a hint of pride. "The trick is targeting his left wing joint during the second phase. Most players target the obvious weak spot on his belly."

Something that might have been respect flickered across Cyrus's face.

"I'll... consider that approach."

"I could show you sometime," Kane offered, then quickly added, "if that wouldn't violate any dragon privacy protocols."

Cyrus's mouth twitched, not quite a smile but close.

"Perhaps. If you manage to survive tomorrow's workday."

Kane's face lit up, his tail swishing with undisguised excitement.

Cyrus said nothing, his expression unreadable as he stepped aside to let Kane exit the secret room first.

The dragon followed silently, watching Kane's animated gestures as he continued chattering about optimal boss strategies.

He hadn't actually agreed to anything but found himself oddly reluctant to correct Kane's assumption.

Cyrus pressed his palm against a hidden panel.

The bookshelf swung shut with a soft click, sealing away the unexpected glimpse into the dragon's private world.

They walked through the darkened penthouse, the city lights painting shifting patterns across the hardwood floors.

At the hallway that led to the master bedroom, Cyrus paused.

"Goodnight, Kane," he said simply, then turned and disappeared into his room without waiting for a response.

"Sweet dreams, scale-face." returned Kane.

Kane stood alone in the hallway, wondering what other surprises the dragon was hiding behind that stoic facade.

He went back to the living room, his mind replaying the unexpected encounter with Cyrus.

The plush sofa beckoned, and he sank into its cushioned embrace with a weary sigh.

Only when his head landed on the decorative pillow did he realize the depth of his exhaustion.

His eyelids grew heavy as he stared at the city lights twinkling through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Just five minutes to gather my thoughts, he told himself, curling his tail around his body.

The gentle hum of the penthouse's climate control system lulled him deeper into relaxation.

Before he knew it, Kane drifted off.

Morning light streamed through the windows when Cyrus emerged from his bedroom.

He stopped abruptly, nostrils flaring at an unexpected scent wafting through the penthouse.

Fresh coffee, cooked meat, and something sweet.

His gaze landed on Kane's empty spot on the sofa, just rumpled cushions and a throw blanket he didn't remember leaving there.

Following the enticing aromas, Cyrus found himself drawn to his rarely used kitchen, where an impossible sight awaited him.