Keeping Him Company
1329 Words
Allen went back to his men. They were supposed to be testing out new weapons per the Dragon King's orders. Usually, he enjoyed handling weapons, but he was no longer in the mood—not after that brief encounter with her. It didn’t help that his d**k was still hard for her. The whole situation was messed up.
“Allen, what’s wrong with you?” Dominic, his closest ally and friend, noticed his sour mood. He could even pick up on Allen’s emotions through his scent, including the faint tinge of arousal. When Allen glared at him, Dominic rolled his eyes. “No need to be a p***y just because you’re horny. Why don’t we stop at that brothel Sebastian likes so much?”
Allen was about to turn down the offer—he wasn’t like the commander, who only thought with his d**k. But then again, it had been quite a while since he’d had any. Yeah, that must be why I’m getting hard for that rabid dog. The thought made him feel a little better. “Fine, let’s go.”
---
Sabrina returned to the palace, unaware of Allen’s attraction to her. Leyla, who had been anxiously waiting for her return, quickly approached.
“My lady, the Dragon King requests your company at dinner tonight.”
“Tonight?” Sabrina struggled not to show her shock at the sudden invitation. If he had requested her presence during the day, she would have been fine with it. But at night? He probably wanted her to warm his bed, using dinner as an excuse. But wait—wasn’t this what she’d been aiming for? No, she didn’t want to sleep with the King, but if that’s what it took to achieve her goals, she would. Besides, Alaric was far from unattractive. Many women would kill to keep him company.
“My lady, no other woman aside from Princess Rose has dined with the King before. This shows how highly he thinks of you. You must seize this opportunity to strengthen your closeness to him. Before long, you’ll be promoted to concubine.”
Leyla was thrilled about the development. Though it was still daytime, she began sorting out the dress and jewelry Sabrina would wear. Sabrina nodded at whatever her maid was saying, though Leyla’s advice on how to grab the King’s attention went in one ear and out the other.
Sabrina was more focused on how to execute her plan. On one hand, sleeping with Alaric could bring them closer. On the other, she knew nothing about s*x. What if she seemed clumsy and turned him off? Worse, what if he got bored of her afterward? If he was the type to pamper a woman and then discard her after bedding her, what would she do then?
How was she supposed to make him fall in love with her? Especially with women like Rosaline around, who she could never hope to compete with. Was Alaric even capable of love? If he were a werewolf, there might be a one-in-a-million chance they could be mates. But he wasn’t a wolf—he was a dragon: hot-blooded, cruel, and obsessed with shiny things. That’s why Rosaline always dressed in gold—dragons loved gold and treasures. Sabrina had no treasure to offer.
“Leyla… do dragons have mates?”
“Huh?” Leyla paused, confused by the sudden question. “It’s... complicated. Most dragons don’t, but the few who do can only ever love their soulmates. If one dies, the other follows—at least for dragons. There have been cases where dragons had non-dragon mates, but in such instances, only the dragon feels the bond. They often fall into depression when their feelings aren’t reciprocated.”
“Oh. Then for dragons without soulmates, is it possible to fall in love with someone else?”
“Some claim to feel love, but it’s rare. Dragons are hot-blooded; they care about power, war, and status. For them, love is fleeting—a sentiment they can discard at any moment.”
There went Sabrina’s chances. No wonder most dragon lords practiced polygamy. They had multiple wives and consorts because they felt no emotional attachment to any one person. Even if she managed to make Alaric “love” her, it wouldn’t be enough for him to start a war on her behalf. She’d always be disposable.
She felt discouraged. For the first time, she wondered if she’d have been better off staying in the brothel. At least there, she had the freedom to run away. The palace was a gilded cage, confining and suffocating her.
---
When night fell, Leyla stayed behind to help Sabrina dress. Sabrina stared at her reflection in the mirror as her maid worked. She smiled bitterly, thinking she’d never put this much effort into her appearance before. Now, it seemed to be all that mattered. Looking good for that man had become her life’s purpose.
Leyla noticed her mood and asked worriedly, “My lady, don’t you like the makeup? You’re already so beautiful, so I only added a light blush and rouge. I can tone it down if you’d like.”
“It’s beautiful. Thank you, Leyla. You’re very kind to me.”
“It is my duty,” Leyla replied with a smile.
Sabrina wore a milky-white dress that accentuated her small waist and round hips. Her dark hair fell down her back, adorned with golden clips, and she wore the gold earrings Rose had gifted her. She looked beautiful—like a noble princess full of elegance and grace. It was so unlike her that she felt like crying. Once a powerful Luna, she was now a dolled-up pawn. Perhaps it would’ve been better if Eleanor had killed her along with their father.
Leyla offered to escort her to Alaric’s dining chambers, but Sabrina declined. She walked there alone, the weight of her shame heavy on her shoulders.
To her surprise, Alaric wasn’t alone. He sat with a handsome young man so pale his skin was nearly translucent. His dark suit blended with the dimly lit room, illuminated only by moonlight streaming through half-drawn curtains.
“Your Majesty,” Sabrina greeted, bowing slightly.
Alaric looked up from the stack of papers on the table and took in her appearance. “You look beautiful, Sabrina.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Sit.”
Sabrina obeyed, taking the seat beside the King. The young man didn’t glance at her once. He appeared to be her age but radiated a cold aura that made him seem detached from the world.
“I want you to meet Prince Adrian of Fyn. He will be spending the night here.”
Sabrina greeted him politely. Adrian glanced at her briefly, muttering an acknowledgment.
“What do you think, Alaric? Isn’t Sabrina the most beautiful woman you’ve seen?”
“You’re dramatic,” Adrian replied, glancing at her again. “Pretty, but far from deserving the title you’ve given her.”
“She’s pure,” Alaric murmured, brushing a strand of hair from her face. Leaning closer, he inhaled her scent. Sabrina clenched her fists under the table, suppressing the urge to claw his face. “Pretty and pure.”
“She smells of mud and dirt,” Adrian said dryly.
“And you smell like a corpse drenched in perfume. You don’t get to complain,” Alaric retorted.
Adrian groaned. “Fine, I’ll manage.”
“Good.” Alaric smiled at Sabrina. “Pretty Luna, you’ll keep Prince Adrian company tonight.”
“What?”
“He doesn’t sleep—no vampire does. And I’m afraid he’ll get bored easily. Entertain him, and I’ll reward you tomorrow.”
Sabrina stared at him in stunned silence. When Alaric evaded her sudden swipe, he didn’t even seem surprised. Adrian took a sip from his glass, watching with mild amusement.
“You motherfucker! Who the f**k do you think you are?!”
- Writer
