Chapter 4

Without looking back, Elaina ran out of the tavern into the cold night, pulling her hood tight as she hurried through the empty streets. Her boots clicked on the cobblestones, the sound too loud in the silence.

She stuck to the shadows, moving quickly past the market square and into the narrow alley near the guest house. When she got there, she slipped inside and bolted the door.

As usual, the guest house was empty. Every night, the residents always went out to get drunk and carry out some mischief. But most of them were girls who worked for Tyler at the tavern. They were only home in the daytime.

Elaina continued, climbing the creaking stairs to her small room. Shutting the door firmly behind her, she turned to find a hooded girl with a pick ax raised in the air staring at her.

"Arrrrgghhh!" They both yelled.

"You scared me, Elaina?" The other girl muttered.

"Scared you? Seriously Laura? You're the one with the man slaughtering weapon pointed at me!"

Laura looked at the tool in her axe, and then they both ended up laughing.

"I wasn't expecting anyone this early."

"Same here." Elaina looked at the satchel on the bed. "I never saw you at the tavern today, Tyler isn't going to be happy about that."

Laura noticed where Elaina was looking at. She crouched over, stuffing the rest of her clothes into the satchel. "I won't be here when he returns."

Tears rolled down her eyes as she forced her clothes into the leather bag furiously. Elaina moved forward, holding her arm and pulling her up.

"Hey." She held her cheeks, making Laura look at her. "What happened?"

"He... Tyler... He found out about me and Nathan and had him..." She covered her mouth, sitting on the bed as a new wave of tears rolled down her eyes.

"That bastard." Elaina sat next to her. "So where is Nathan now?"

"He sold him off to the Groths. He sold him off to those... Cannibals," She muttered. "I can't stay here anymore, Elaina. I have to leave."

"So where will you go?"

Laura sniffled. "To the castle."

Elaina was shocked. She couldn't help but chuckle. "People like us don't survive in that kind of world, Laura."

"You mean someone like me. You are a talented, beautiful woman, you can survive anywhere." She wiped her tears. "But that's different because the King is searching for people like us now."

Elaina gave her a questioning look. "What do you mean by that?"

"The King is looking for brave ladies who would help him seduce the beast." She stood up and continued packing her bag. "To anyone who succeeds and ends up getting pregnant for it, she'll be given a huge reward and will be given a chance to stand before the King."

Elaina remembered hearing Tyler and the Knight talk about a beast. But she didn't think the ladies had to seduce it. "What beast exactly?"

"The dragon with the black scales."

Elaina's eyes widened, her heart skipping a beat. "But hold on, how do they plan on seducing a dragon that flies around the world?"

Laura paused, giving her a questioning look. "You don't know."

"Know what?"

"The dragon has been captured."

***

"Strip," Xavier commanded the ladies. Step by step, they took off the layers of their dress. He raised his hands, pointing towards them. "Too chubby... Not enough flesh... Too tall... But you, you are perfect."

The girl smiled. "Thank you, Mage."

In less than an hour, she was washed, adorned, and taken to the dungeon.

Xavier stopped at the gate before the stairs, handing the girl a torch. "From here onwards, you'll go on your own."

The girl's eyes widened as she trembled. "You want me to go to him... On my own?"

Xavier's brows creased. "Do you want me to go down, seduce the dragon, and get pregnant in your stead?"

The girl shook her head. "No my Lord, just that... I didn't think I would go to meet him alone, and... And in the dark," She muttered.

Xavier sighed. With his eyes closed he smacked his forehead lightly.

"Listen." He looked at her. "The dragon is rather shy. He wouldn't want to be with you if someone else escorts you."

"But... But I thought someone would..."

"Listen, little Damsel, you better go down there, or the deal is off."

***

(Few Minutes Later)

"Useless! Useless! A bunch of women who cannot even make a dragon on heat fall for them. And the ones you think can are too scared to even go down the stairs! Such useless...beings!" The Mage exclaimed, pacing. He turned to the stripped girls standing by the corner. "Leave! Get out right this instant!"

The girls scurried around, picking up their dresses and running away. When they left Xavier sat down.

A hooded girl walked in stealthily, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"You didn't tell me you were coming," he said as he leaned into the chair.

"Do I now have to take permission from you before coming?" She moaned against his ears, running her tongue along his earlobe. She pushed her hands through his shirt, grabbing hold of his nipples, but he pushed them away.

"If you do not have any news for me, then I suggest you leave. I do not have time for such frivolities," He commanded, but she didn't listen.

She turned around, crouching down before him. "Well, I always have good news for you, but first, you have to let me please you."

She pulled out his length, taking it into her mouth. Her lips ran up and down his skin. He moaned as he leaned in, finding her breast underneath her hood and dress.

All of a sudden, the window flew open. Xavier jerked up from his seat, as he saw a woman jump in through the window.

"Who are you?!" He questioned.

The girl looked at him and smiled, pointing towards his exposed length. "I'm the one who won't tell everyone in the Kingdom about how the Mage was pleasuring himself in his room."