My brothers never ceased bickering because Blade despised Void’s sadistic treatment of humans. And he wasn’t alone. But I was considered the leader among leaders. I couldn’t take a side without it deciding everything. I grounded the other two and their extremism, neither of which the previous leader wanted to rule alone, if at all.
Over the years, Blade had grown unnaturally attached to the females he claimed. He'd been fond of one in particular. Even pledged himself to her over the last decade, but that female died in childbirth a few months prior. A commonality these days.
Very few humans carried our dragon type to term, and even less survived the birth. He’d been a raving lunatic ever since. He and Iris had become insufferable about humans after his female’s death, and his disruptive behavior was another fucking fire I was expected to put out.
“First, you aren’t allowed. Second, every human you’ve claimed has died within a week or two. You’re not even trying to keep them alive. You make them sufferon purposeno matter who they are the second you get your claws into them, and even the strongest humans fail to live long against the torture you devise for them. And what, we’re just supposed to let you send another one to their grave, huh, asshole?” Blade spat, his words gravelly with his dragon voice.
The humans at Void’s feet shuddered violently when he growled. His hands gripped the arms of his chair, and they cowered in fear. I caught them sneaking a glance at each other, their hands touching briefly, before they were quick to separate.
I’d need to speak to Boris to find out who Void pawned them off of. They weren’t criminals, that much I could tell. I’d need to get them to Iris before Void killed them.
Another headache I didn’t need.
Humans were weak and entirely useless creatures. I couldn’t fathom how they managed to force my kind into hiding centuries ago. How these powerless things nearly wiped us out at one point in history, I’d never understand. Without their technology, they were helplessly fragile.
Humans were selfish creatures, but they were helpless against us. Their bones broke easily and their spirits even easier.Unfortunately, my kind needed them for more than we would ever say.
The dragons in my faction kept a secret that humans would exploit if it were ever discovered, so the dragons of old subjugated them and kept them in the dark. Used their greed against them. Exploited their desire to live their pointless existence because killing a dragon was difficult. But as a population, our weakness was the simplest of them all.
“This is the first Tribute in decades to be brought to our throne room. I’m owed it as much as you.” Void’s lips lifted violently, his dragon pupils thin and narrowed on our brother. “But sure, I’ll let it go if Onyx decides he wants her.”
Blade threw his head back and groaned. “How fucking sneaky of you. Our no-nonsense brother barely looks at humans within these stone walls, let alone touches them, and you want him to lay claim to one? He hasn’t taken a single human for himself in all the fucking years we’ve reigned as this faction’s leaders. Not even to breed.”
I didn’t engage the two. The battle they waged was never-ending and over a half-century old. The outcome would be the same regardless of their bickering. I’d rather get back to the issues sprouting up at our borders than humor another troublesome Tribute.
Leading the Sky Demons brought me to this very chamber every decade or so to distribute human sacrifices to the dragons within our ranks. It was how the dragons of old boosted morale. The Tributes repaid our most loyal dragons for their service to the faction. They were given as slaves to breed or work until they were either dead or no longer of use. It'd been that way since we claimed this land.
I might despise humans and their infinite list of weaknesses and flaws, but I never agreed with the enslavement of their kind. There were other ways to ensure breeding. Perhaps thedragons of old felt it necessary after securing our territory, but it was fracturing our faction in two the longer humans integrated within our society.
At one side, the newer dragons who were against human enslavement. At the other, the influential dragon families who wanted to keep the old ways. I’d been called too many times to settle disputes.
The dragons against enslavement had taken it upon themselves to become human protectors within our borders. I allowed it because females were being harmed, and chipping away at enslavement was less messy than eradication. Ending it would weaken us with a possible insurrection.
The dragons who preferred the old ways, mostly the lineage families, grew angrier every year over our dwindling slave numbers and my clear favoritism of dragons looking to protect rather than enslave.
Eventually, I’d need to address the growing divide. I’d need to choose a side. But any vulnerability detected within our leadership and ranks could make us a target for other dragon factions. With how eager the other factions had been to start something, I refused to give them the opportunity.
The oversized doors leading to our chamber opened, and I sighed, preparing myself for hours of bickering from the two beside me because there was only one human deemed satisfactory based on the impossible list I’d made. In truth, there should’ve been none. I’d need to look deeper into why one made it through and punish the dragons responsible, but the looming issues with the other factions took priority.
What trouble could one Tribute cause, really?
If the human was truly female, I’d give her to Blade, but only because he’d permit the human access to more. He and Iris would keep her safe. Depending on her sector, he’d be careful. If nothing else, Blade for all his playboy antics was kind tohumans, particularly females. A female sent to Void was a fate worse than death, and it wouldn’t happen. Not after what I’d seen in the first few decades of our reign.
Void would have to accept that he was here as a formality and nothing more. He was already on my shite list for the two he’d stolen. If our issues with the other factions continued, he’d be busy with interrogation and forget all about today, anyway.
If it was male, I’d pass him off to another. Maybe Boris.
He hadn’t received a Tribute in a few decades. He wouldn’t be unkind. Cold, but certainly not unkind. The human wouldn’t be tormented, and Boris would never force himself on anyone. The warrior might not like humans, but he didn’t find joy in harming them. He’d only put the human to work on miscellaneous chores.
But when my blue eyes slid down to the cage Boris carried in and I caught sight of the imprisoned Tribute, lightning struck my body. Electricity seared my flesh. Transformation nearly took me, and I hadn’t spontaneously shifted since I was a young drake.
Her icy blues rose—fearless, violent, hateful, lusting for blood—and I couldn’t breathe. I’d never seen a human like her. I’d never smelled someone so delicious.
My body thrummed and pulsed, fighting the beast within who was already reacting to her mere gaze. The dragon roared and clawed at my chest, demanding I free it. Demanding I claim her here so no one else could. My beast was ready to do whatever it took to have her.
Mine.
Boris dropped the cage on the floor, and her growl did something to my blood. Sent every fucking drop rushing to my cock. I fixed my posture and bent forward with my eyes on the human awkwardly crowded inside a much-too-small prison.
