Chapter Six
Olivia followed behind Wes as he gave her a quick tour of the castle, showing her the throne room and the dining area, as well many other various chambers used for a wide assortment of reasons. She quickly lost track and simply nodded, keeping silent. She’d been a human slave on Terranovum for such a long time now, and she knew the proper behavior that was expected of her. Wes wandered the halls, showing her one room and then another, and still she followed, her mind lost to other thoughts.
Finally, after what seemed like forever, he brought her outside into the fresh and slightly chilly air. He took her into the market, buying her a warm breakfast, a Terranovum specialty of a pancake-like pastry stuffed with fruits that reminded her of the many berries from Earth. When she had smiled to him her thanks, she had seen a crack in his icy demeanor, only to see him look away, falling farther out of her reach than before. She didn’t dare touch him either.
Instead, she moved a little closer to him and opened her lips close to his ear, speaking in a low whisper so that only he could hear.
“Thank you, master. I was very hungry after the lovely time we shared this morning.”
He pulled back and his hard and unforgiving eyes found hers, making her instantly regret saying anything at all. His mouth formed a firm line as the war within him nearly brewed to the surface. “It was nothing. Simply training. It didn’t mean anything more than that.”
His words hit her like a bucket of icy cold water, and she had to look away, fighting tears that prickled at her vision. The fruity pancake, once warm, wholesome, and delicious, turned to ash in her mouth. After much difficulty swallowing, she wrapped the breakfast back up so that she could finish it later.
If he noticed her reaction, he didn’t say a word. Instead, he walked on, and she followed. Her eyes on the ground, she didn’t pay attention to where they were going. She didn’t even contemplate trying to run, knowing she would simply be caught and brought back to him. When he finally stopped, she noticed they had reached a stable of sorts, except not only were there horses, but massive wolves and lions that dwarfed even the largest stallion visible.
One male lion sat off to the side, his tail swishing back and forth, his mane a glorious golden color that swayed gently in the breeze. She noticed that he was watching them with curiosity and a hint of suspicion.
For the first time in what seemed like hours, a small smile hinted at Wes’ lips. With purpose, he strode up to the giant beast and ran a hand down its back. Cautiously, she approached the animal, trembling slightly with nerves. Although she’d seen large animals like this before, she’d never been up close to one. Only members of royalty of the Legearian military trained with beasts such as a lion or a wolf. Common folk most certainly did not.
“Olivia, meet my steed Asad. He’s a companion worthy of a commander, and is as loyal and courageous as they come. I couldn’t ask for anything more of him.”
“Pleased to meet you, Olivia.”
Startled at the gentle warm voice that sounded in her head, she took a momentary step backwards before she was able to gather herself. Standing up straight, she told herself to be brave and bowed her head in respect.
“Likewise, Asad. How is it that you can speak in my mind?” she asked, her curiosity getting the best of her.
“It’s an ability we evolved long ago so that we could communicate with those we were loyal to. What I say to you is only audible to you, likewise with what I say to Wes here beside me.”
“That is good to know.”
“How is he, truly? This is the first time he’s come to visit me in a long while. He’s taken her loss very hard. In fact, I’m surprised to see another with him.”
“Wes is a kind master. He’s decided that I need training before he sells me at auction. I’ll probably be gone before you know it.” She was as careful with her words as she could be, not wanting to give away the majestic lion’s concerns for his companion, or her true feelings that were burning away at her insides.
Asad’s eyes deliberately narrowed, and his look assessed Wes up and down. The animal looked back at her pointedly, told her to wait there, and Wes followed after him. The two strode off a short ways away, and she noticed that Wes looked extremely unhappy about it. She didn’t know what Asad was saying, but whatever it was, Wes was not pleased to hear it.
“Trouble in paradise?” a soft feminine voice asked behind her, and Olivia turned to see Morgana, the fiery redhead who had been hiding behind the curtain in Wes’ room this morning. The woman stood before her, looking regal in a lavender-colored gown that emphasized her tiny waist, flaring out over her curvy hips and trailing down to the ground.
“So it would seem,” she responded, a bit cautiously.
“Morgana, and you are?”
“Olivia. Wait, you’re the one with the dragon, aren’t you?” she asked.
Morgana nodded, her shiny red waves bouncing. The woman put her fingers between her lips and blew a high-pitched whistle. Moments later, a loud roar responded, and off in the distance, Olivia saw a dark spot in the sky. The longer she watched it, the larger it grew until she could discern some sort of shape. Large wings outstretched from either side, lifting a massive body frame high into the air. A beautiful blood red color met her eyes, becoming more and more stunning and magnificent with every passing second.
“Wes wasn’t kidding. He is big.”
“Who, Ragoth? He’s as gentle as a puppy.”
The dragon roared and shook his head in defiance as he flew high overhead, flapping his wings slowly until he came to land on the ground beside them. It wasn’t until he landed that Olivia was able to fully appreciate the magnitude and beauty of the creature before her. He stood next to Morgana and was double her height. His wings spread out the length of four grown men, both massive and incredible at the same time. Golden eyes stared down at her, fierce as a cat, yet proud like a lion. Two cream-colored horns jutted out of the top of his head, curling inward at the tips. His body was layered with iron-like scales, the color of freshly spilt blood. Terrifying spikes rose upward all the way down his spine. His nostrils flared in and out with every breath as little jets of steam escaped out into the air before him. Sharp teeth poked out from his rolled lip, in something like a snarl, or maybe even a smile if she looked close enough. If Morgana hadn’t stood there as calm and confident as she was, Olivia probably would have run for the hills at the frightening sight.
“Good afternoon, Ragoth,” Morgana said softly, as the mighty dragon nudged her shoulder with his nose. “I know, I know, you’re much too big to perch on my shoulder now.”
The dragon growled his displeasure and curled his tail around her body. The redhead laughed as he picked her up and deposited her down on his own shoulder, which was easily ten or twelve feet up in the air. Morgana just giggled and hugged the great dragon’s neck.
“Olivia, come closer, dear. This is Ragoth. Maybe if he likes you, one day you can fly with me on him. It’s a great honor to fly on the back of such an amazing creature. “
Tentatively, Olivia moved nearer, one agonizingly slow step at a time. When the dragon’s head moved toward her, it took everything for her not to jump away, but through sheer will, she stayed still. Instead she lifted her hands, palms to the sky, as his giant head moved closer to her. She’d hate to think what would happen if he ever came at her in anger, in order to protect Morgana or those he loved.
Instead, the big creature nuzzled against her hands, his fierce eyes softening as he gazed down at her. If she hadn’t heard wrong, she could have sworn the beast purred in delight.
“He likes you!”
“Really?”
“Oh, yes! He tells me that he senses magic in you.”
“Impossible, I’ve been on Terranovum for years now and have never developed any magical abilities.”
“Don’t ignore the word of a dragon, Olivia, they understand much more of this world than we ever could. He tells me it’s still a young magic, a form even he hasn’t seen or heard about before.”
“I’ll take note, I promise. Something weird did happen earlier today, but it was only for a second. I didn’t think anything of it.”
“Keep an eye out, it could be important,” Morgana remarked, her voice soft and understanding.
Olivia nodded and ran her palm down Ragoth’s throat. His scales were tough as steel, one overlapping the next in the most impressive armor she’d ever seen. She watched as he breathed, his rib bones expanding and contracting in a steady cadence.
“That grimy beast just thinks it knows everything,” a strong male voice rose up beside her, and she knew Wes had come over to see Morgana and her dragon.
“Oh, you’re just jealous, Wes, and you know it.”
“Of your grumbly dragon? I think not.”
Ragoth huffed, a soft growl emerging from his mouth as he bared his teeth at the man. Olivia couldn’t help but laugh as even Wes, the mighty dangerous man that he was, took a step back at the ferocious look on the dragon’s face.
“You might want to rethink that, Wes,” Morgana teased, her expression bright with her amusement. “Ragoth might eat you for dinner instead.”
“I’d like to see him try,” Wes grumbled as he shoved his hands in his pockets. “Olivia, I’m going to leave you here with Morgana while I find Kade and the king. I have some things to discuss with them, including tonight’s dinner show.” He looked back at her with a coldness that sent shivers up her spine, and she looked away, her face flushing with heat.
“Yes, master,” she replied, her voice low and her eyes firmly staring at her feet. She heard his footsteps on the white stones of the road not far from her, and could not help but be a little comforted at his departure. Breathing a sigh of relief, she jumped when soft fur brushed up against her arm. Looking up, she realizing Asad had come to her side, and sat on his haunches next to her.
“Don’t let him get to you, he’s lost a lot to Nero, and he needs time to heal.”
“What happened, Asad?” she asked, curling into his warmth, the question that burned inside her eating away at her thoughts.
“You know of Lord Nero, yes?”
“I do. He kept me as his captive for some time. He was terrifying, cruel, and caused me terrible anguish and pain. He tortured me, often.”
“I’m sorry for what you experienced under that monster’s hand. In relation to what happened with Wes, last year, he took a submissive by the name of Emma. She was very sweet, and Wes fell hard for her. He felt the need to protect her, and did everything he could to keep her safe. Unfortunately, one night she wandered off without his permission, and Lord Nero came upon her. Using his powers as a Soul Eater, he took over her body and took everything from her to fuel his own ambitions, so that he could escape Eridell and return to D’Lormere. Lord Nero killed her, and it was awful. Wes wasn’t there to save her, and he blames himself for her death. He thinks he should have been there to protect her, when the truth is, he couldn’t have done anything to save her. Soul Eaters are not fully understood, even today, and we do not fully grasp what he is capable of. All we know is that he is true evil, and that we must not underestimate him at any cost.”
“Wes is in a difficult place right now; he’s adamant about taking his revenge on Lord Nero, and until I saw him with you this morning, I had thought him unbreakable. Asad will most certainly agree with me, as we have discussed it before. But with you, there’s something about you that melts a part of him, softens him, and opens his heart. I can see it, and from what Asad has seen, he can see it too,” Morgana offered, her expression soft and understanding.
“I find that hard to believe. As soon as I dressed in the human slave outfit, he’s treated me like he couldn’t get far enough away from me, like he hated me.”
“Believe me, honey, I’ve seen that look before in his eyes. And I most certainly have not seen it as strong as it is with you before.”
“You think so?” Olivia asked, not daring to look into the woman’s eyes.
“I have all the faith in the world that you will break through that door he keeps locked to his heart. He’s had the time to work though her loss, now he just needs the right motivation to accept it, and be able to move on.”
“Any ideas as to what I need to do in order to do that?” she asked, finally looking up at Morgana. The woman smiled at her stiffly and shook her head.
“No, I don’t know what it’ll take, I really don’t, but I have faith that you’re the one to put a smile back on that man’s face.” She looked out up at the sky, noticing the sun was beginning its rapid descent. “Come, say your goodbyes to Asad and Ragoth. I have a dinner to attend. Kade’s going to really give it to me when he finds out that Lana and I snuck into your chambers this morning. King Dante isn’t going to be all that happy either, with Lana of course.”
“Aren’t you scared?”
“Nervous, yes, but Kade ensures that I spend plenty of time over his knee for various reasons. He’ll spank me hard, but I know that I’m safe in his hands. I just hope he leaves that wretched wooden paddle in the medical bay where it belongs.”
“Wes has spanked me a few times too,” she offered shyly, feeling her cheeks heat at her admission.
“He certainly enjoys it. He was never shy about spanking Emma in public. I’m sure I’ll have the pleasure of seeing your bare backside dance under his punishing palm sometime soon.” She turned away and looked down at the dragon beneath her. “Ragoth, put me down now, I’m getting hungry, and I’d rather not keep Kade waiting. The longer he waits, the more time I get to spend bare bottomed getting spanked,” she said softly with a small laugh. The dragon growled, almost as if he was protesting the demise of her curvy backside. Olivia couldn’t help but smile at his reaction. The big scary dragon growing on her by the second.
“Someday, you’ll have to tell me how you found this ferocious beast, Morgana.”
Ragoth threw his head up into the sky and shot a puff of flames high into the air. Olivia gasped in shock, feeling the heat radiating off the flames above.
“Don’t worry, Olivia, I’m sure you and I will have plenty of time together in the near future to discuss all sorts of things. Now let’s get to dinner, so that you have the opportunity to see my bare backside spanked so much so that it matches the red of my hair. It’s one of Kade’s favorite things to do,” she said with a smirk that told Olivia that she didn’t really hate the idea of the whole thing; in fact, it seemed she was looking forward to it.