“Well, Lord Titus… it’s not his eating that’s the issue. It’s more a matter of inactivity. He hasn’t been free-flying like normal—he’s been sleeping.” He hesitated. “I had him checked by the royal dragon mender several times. They found nothing wrong.”
“So my dragon—the High Lord’s dragon, the largest dragon that has ever existed—is lazy and getting fat?”
The keeper looked to the ground.
“It would seem so,” he said politely, “…yes.”
“Take him back to the keep. I’ll deal with him later.” I pointed at the saddle. “Bring me a different dragon with a double saddle that—” I turned toward my big, lazy beast and yelled “—FITS!”
Draxxinar groaned like he was mocking me.
The keeper winced. “My Lord… there are no dragons left at the castle keep. Aurelius ordered them all to fly to Dragon’s Maw after the SkyGuard presentation for rest and training. We held Draxxinar back for your excursion today.”
Flames rolled off my shoulders. I pinched the bridge of my nose between thumb and forefinger.
“Might I make a suggestion, My Lord?” the keeper asked, hesitant.
I gave him a sardonic nod.
“Your single saddle was constructed when we didn’t know how large Draxxinar would be full-grown,” he said, too optimistic for his own safety. “It’s an adjustable saddle and still fits. When I take my grandson flying, I secure him on my lap, and it’s honestly safer than a double saddle. Your companion seems small enough that it might work.”
“NO,” we both shouted in unison. The keeper flinched at our outburst.
There was no fucking way I could keep her in my lap for a two-hour ride and not get aroused—but at this point, I didn’t have another
choice. I needed those crystals before the supply chain collapsed and my dragon army started supplementing their hunger with my citizens.
I gave Delilah an exasperated look.
She side-eyed me. “Fine. Let’s get this over with. This shirt is making me itch.”
I gave the order to affix my single saddle to Draxxinar’s back. After a few minutes, the keepers had it safely secured.
Delilah walked beside me as we greeted my beast. Draxxinar studied her and rumbled nervously, hot steam flaring from his nostrils.
“Don’t be intimidated by the size,” I told her with a wicked grin. “I promise… you’ll enjoy it.”
She narrowed her eyes at me, not missing a beat and refusing to take the bait.
“I highly doubt that,” she said flatly and walked past me toward my dragon. She slowly reached out her palm to him.
Draxxinar growled—a gentle sound, but with a stern warning under it.
“I wouldn’t do that,” I warned.
She pulled her hand back and looked at me. “He’s not friendly,” I added.
It wasn’t a lie. He was moody and unpredictable.
“That book about dragons you wanted me to read said dragons only bond themselves to riders who have the same personality traits,” she said.
“So?” I asked, not seeing the relevance.
Her eyes widened and sparkled with mischief. “So, watch this.”
She turned to Draxxinar and, in an obnoxiously exaggerated voice, began praising him. “Oh, Draxxinar… you are thebiiiiiiiggestdragon I’ve ever seen! I bet you’re the largest in the entire realm!”
His mood softened instantly. The corners of his horrifying mouth turned up. His eyes opened wider. His breathing turned heavier— almost like panting, and his massive tail started swishing back and forth, sending keepers scrambling for safety.
