Chapter 2

Onyx had no idea what was going on, but he did as he was told and climbed off me first. Thrilled that all my years of effort were finally about to pay off, I glanced at the giant golden python coiled around its owner. The snake was staring at Onyx with eager eyes.

"Onyx, you're staying here for the next few days. I'll come pick you up once the fertilization is successful."

For some reason, the confused look on Onyx's face made a flicker of guilt rise in my chest.

The golden python seemed very pleased with him and immediately started winding around him, clearly trying to get closer. Onyx instantly tried to dodge and climb back onto me. By the time he turned around, though, I was already gone.

While Onyx was still trying to figure out what was happening, I had disappeared without a trace. My mind was filled with dreams of getting rich, and I did not feel the slightest reluctance about leaving him behind.

On the way home, a sudden shiver ran through me.

It felt as though something had fixed its gaze on me.

I could not explain why, but I had a strange feeling that something big was about to happen.

The feeling was quickly buried beneath my excitement at the thought of striking it rich. After all, what could be more important than getting rich overnight?

That night, I happily turned off the lights, closed my eyes, and drifted off to sleep.

For some reason, though, I kept feeling as if something was squeezing me so tightly that I could barely breathe. Just as I was about to switch on the light to see what was happening, a soft, silky voice whispered beside my ear.

"Master, am I not enough for you? Is that why you're giving me away?"

The scent beside me was familiar.

It was the new body wash I had bought not long ago.

The unfamiliar voice, however, instantly made me break out in a cold sweat.

I vaguely felt the grip around me tighten. The voice continued in a hurt tone.

"If there's something I'm not doing well enough, Master, just tell me and I'll change. Please don't make me mate with another beast, okay?"

The head buried itself deeper into the crook of my neck, as though it were genuinely upset.

"O-Onyx?" I said carefully. "Can you let go for a second? I can barely breathe. Let me turn on the light first."

Onyx sounded even more aggrieved.

"No. If I let go, Master might give me to someone else again."

I fell silent.

After a long moment, I slowly accepted the fact that Onyx could talk.

Then I let out a helpless sigh.

"Let me go first. If you keep squeezing me like this, I'll be strangled to death before you ever get a chance to mate."

Only then did Onyx gradually loosen his grip.

He did not let go completely, but it was enough for me to finally catch my breath.

I reached over and switched on the light.

I could not see clearly in the darkness before, but now I immediately noticed that Onyx looked much the same as always. The only difference was that his scales had somehow turned emerald green.

Anger suddenly flared inside me.

Frustrated that my plan to get rich had fallen apart, I grabbed the scales at the back of his neck.

"I only told you to go mate. I never said I didn't want you anymore!

"And look at you getting upset over something like that. My big payday is gone. The money I spent buying you has gone to waste, and I'm not even complaining!"

Onyx looked puzzled and clearly did not understand what I meant. Even so, he stubbornly repeated himself.

"Still no."

I stared at him.

"No to what?"

Onyx immediately started whining again. He rubbed against me as he spoke, nuzzling into my shoulder.

"We emerald dragons are good dragons. We can only have one mate in our entire lives, and I already have you, Master."