Chapter 7

CHAPTER7

Larkin didn’t sleep.

All he could think about was the three men who had taken him against his will, who had used him while he’d been bound—because of Jade. Jade, who had tied him up and left him naked and plugged, completely defenseless.

Jade, who had rescued him by dismembering the humans, who had had blood dripping down his maw from where he’d eaten them.

Every time he closed his eyes, he saw it all over again, felt it all over again, and it was like he was never going to escape from the horrible reality of it. He needed to get free, to get home and find out what had really happened and warn his brother, but there was no way to escape Jade. Even if he got a head start, it wouldn’t matter. Jade would be on him in minutes.

He was still lying there, staring at the ceiling, when Jade woke. The dragon was curled around him, arms protectively cradling Larkin against his chest, and he clutched him a little more tightly as he woke.

Larkin squirmed, not in the mood to be handled or touched, but as usual, Jade got what he wanted, and that was more depressing than anything else.

“Morning,” he mumbled.

“Good morning, my jewel,” Jade answered, nuzzling the back of Larkin’s neck. He rolled his hips, rubbing his—mercifully soft—cocks against Larkin’s ass. “What shall we do today?”

It was clear what Jade wanted to do, but Larkin wasn’t in the mood to be fucked again. The past few days, Jade had been doing his best to keep Larkin in a fucked-out haze. Larkin couldn’t think like that.

“I want to go to the village with you,” Larkin blurted out. He didn’t have a plan yet, or at least, not a fully realized one, but surely if they were out of the cave, he’d have more of a chance to escape.

Jade’s movements stopped. “What? Why? You’re safer here.”

It didn’t feel like it, not anymore.

It took a bit of maneuvering, but Larkin managed to turn around so he was facing Jade. “Because… because I want to go shopping too. Maybe I’ll find something new to add to your treasures? But I can’t do that if I’m always cooped up here.”

Jade’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “I appreciate the sentiment, but I can find my own treasures.”

“Please?” Larkin rubbed the scales on Jade’s back. “I just want to see a slightly different landscape again. Your den is lovely, but it’s the same every single day. Please. I’ll even let you cling to me the entire time we’re there. You can let everybody know that we’re together.”

Jade grinned widely. “I would do that even without your permission.” He kissed Larkin briefly, running his tongue over Larkin’s lower lip.

The spit immediately made Larkin’s lips tingle, but he kissed Jade’s shoulder to wipe as much of it off as he could.

“I suppose. It wouldn’t be bad to go on a trip together, and I need to pick up a few things anyway.” Jade pulled Larkin closer. “But stick close to me, all right? I don’t want a repeat of the other day.”

Larkin shuddered, wishing Jade hadn’t mentioned it. He knew, logically, that it was Jade’s hands on him, but part of his mind couldn’t help but insist he was being violated all over again. Gods, maybe he was. The spit and cum made it seem like he wasn’t, but…

No, he wasn’t going to think that way.

“I’ll stay close,” he promised. It was a small price to pay for the chance to get out of the cave for a little bit, to be beneath the sun instead of a cave’s tall ceiling with little more than magical lights and a hole to make it possible to see.

Mercifully, Jade let go of Larkin to go prepare breakfast for them. They washed up, and Jade even gave Larkin a new set of clothes to wear, which fit him perfectly. It wasn’t as fine as what he was used to wearing at home, but for traveling, it would do.

“I’ll have to carry you,” Jade said, smiling with all his teeth. “That’ll be fun.”

* * *

It was not fun.

Larkin was bitterly cold by the time they descended in the forest near the village. The flight had been long, and the wind had been brutal to him. Never mind that being clutched in Jade’s large talons had been terrifying, the idea that he could plummet to his death staying at the forefront of his mind the entire time they’d been traveling.

He was glad they were finally on the ground, and he could’ve gotten on his hands and knees to kiss the dirt if he wasn’t so aware of who and what he was. A prince. A prince who was being controlled by a dragon, currently, but a prince nonetheless.

Jade transformed back into his human form, going even further with his illusion than Larkin was used to. There was no hint of scales on him anymore, and his hair was a simple black now, without any horns set into those tresses. Still long and beautiful, but less… strange.

“Your… your clothes,” Larkin said, handing the travel bag to Jade. He watched in strange fascination as Jade donned a simple, yet still elegant, set of clothes. The coat was deep green, almost a nod to his name and dragon scales. After he’d pulled on trousers and boots, Jade began braiding his hair deftly.

“How do you know how to do that?” Larkin asked. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to braid hair, especially not so neatly. He had attendants to groom him, most of the time.

Or Jade, who’d been very thorough in shaving Larkin before they’d left.

“Hmm?” Jade looked at him in confusion. “Do what?”

“Braid your hair. You don’t even have hair in your other form.”

Jade smiled at him, and Larkin couldn’t tell if it was mocking or not. “I’ve been alive a very long time. I might as well get good at something like this. And with hair this long, if I don’t tie it up it gets everywhere.”

“How long have you been alive?” Larkin asked, and he had the bizarre thought that Jade would outlive him by a long time. What would happen when he started to age? Would Jade lose his strange obsession with Larkin as he got older?

“Hmm… I’ve lost track. Somewhere between two and three hundred years? But the first fifty years barely count. I couldn’t even take human form back then.” Jade finished tying his hair and came over to give Larkin a brief kiss. “All right, we’ll reach the village in under an hour. I’d bring us closer, but we don’t want to spook the villagers.”

Two to three hundred years. That seemed like an eternity to Larkin, especially considering the first fifty years apparently didn’t even count. How long would Jade live? He was afraid to ask, but it would likely be a very long time. He’d survive through so many changes in the world, and he’d see them all from afar.

“I…” Larkin blushed. “How should I act, when we get to the village?” he asked. “Normally I have a whole procession with me…”

“It’s just us. The villagers know me, so they might ask a few questions. I’ll tell them you’re my betrothed,” Jade said. He took Larkin’s hand and started leading him through the forest to the nearby road.

Larkin stopped short with a strange squawking sound that sounded utterly at odds with the prince he was. “...betrothed?” This was news to him, and he didn’t know how he felt about it. He already knew Jade was obsessed with keeping him, but this put a new dimension on things. “You can’t be my betrothed. We can’t marry. You’re a dragon. You’ll outlive me by hundreds of years.”

Jade tugged on his hand, but Larkin refused to move.

“Does that matter? Oh, I like this story though. I’ll mention I rescued you on my travels, and you were so thankful you agreed to wed me right then and there.” Jade licked his lips. “Let’s rent a room for the night. I don’t think I’ve ever had sex on a human bed.”

“But I can’t actually marry you. My mother and my brother… they determine who I’m matched to. I might have to marry for the good of the kingdom,” Larkin said, shaking his head. Now that he had a preliminary plan to get home, all of the harsh realities of the world were starting to crush him. “Besides, I’ll get old and ugly, and you won’t want to be with me.” Why did that hurt?

“Ugly? How could you get ugly? You’re my treasure.” Jade let go of Larkin’s hand and rubbed his shoulders. “As for the other stuff… You don’t have to worry about what your mother and brother want. Not ever again.”

“Yes, I do,” Larkin insisted. “Jade, you don’t—” He made a frustrated sound. Was there anything worse than arguing with a dragon? “You can’t say I’m your betrothed. If anyone recognizes me, it’ll cause a great deal of chaos. Please stop trying to distract me and listen to me,” he pleaded.

But Jade only laughed. “Nobody is going to recognize you, my treasure. We’re far enough away from the capital that these people have never seen you, and even if they did… well, that’s why I’ve placed an obscuring spell on you. They’ll only remember you as my beautiful betrothed.”

“You can’t just pretend we’re engaged,” Larkin said, beyond exasperated. “Why are you doing all of this?”

“Because you’re mine,” Jade answered, still completely cheery. “Now stop worrying about inconsequential things. The village has so many nice little shops. They attract many visitors thanks to their hot springs, and while their springs don’t compare to the one in my den…”

Jade kept rambling on, completely ignoring any of Larkin’s protests.

Larkin resigned himself to it at last, and soon, they came to the outskirts of the village. It was protected by large wooden walls with sharpened tips, which was nothing in comparison to the massive gates of the city he’d grown up in. But it was something.

Guards had been posted at the entrance, and they smiled at Jade, clearly recognizing him.

How often did he come to this village, anyway? What did they think of him?

Larkin fell uncomfortably quiet, not wanting to draw attention to himself. They obviously didn’t know they were standing beside a massive dragon who could snap his jaws and bite them in half, or they’d have been running away screaming.

Jade handed a coin to each of the guards as they walked into the village.

Well, “village” might have been underselling it. The walls were only made of wood, but it was far larger than Larkin had expected. The streets were bustling, and everywhere he looked he saw shops and stalls, merchants hawking their wares. Things only got busier as they closed in on the center of Vanea, with a large central square that had more stalls set up around a large fountain.

“I thought you said Vanea was a village? How many people live here?” Larkin asked, walking a bit closer to Jade.

“Hmm? Oh, I suppose I’m still used to how it looked several decades ago. They grew a lot after some noble told everybody about the hot springs here.” Jade paused in front of a merchant selling thick tapestries. “What do you think, my gem? A nice Priyanese carpet for the front entrance?”

“Sure,” he said absently, too busy looking at everything. It felt overwhelming. He wasn’t used to being in large public places without a full entourage keeping everyone at bay. Here, he was jostled to the side and glared at. No one would’ve dared do that in the city!

But no one knew who he was here.

“If you’re having trouble sleeping, the new apothecary has a draught for that,” somebody beside him said.

Larkin turned around, but of course the person wasn’t talking to him. Two women browsing the stall next to them were simply chatting with each other.

“That’s the sorceress next to the tailor, right? Actual magic potions, not like the simple herbal brews the one across town sells?” the woman holding the baby asked. “I don’t think I should, though. If I sleep through the baby’s cries, my husband…”

The two of them wandered away, their conversation lost in the din of the crowd.

Larkin glanced around the square until his gaze landed on the door of an apothecary’s shop, and he froze for a moment. The solution to all of his problems would be right inside. A sorceress would have potions and medicines and poisons, and they were sure to have something that could even put a dragon to sleep for a little while.

If he could send Jade into a deep enough slumber, he could escape. The thought filled him with a strange feeling of hope and dread all at once. He had to return home, but at the same time… He didn’t really want to leave Jade behind. He wasn’t sure when that had become the case, but he was reluctant to leave this life where he could relax all day without nobles and diplomats pestering him for attention.

It was selfish, though. His true duty was to his kingdom, where he needed to tell his brother about the scandalous lies men were telling. He needed to return home, where he would get engaged in reality for the good of the kingdom. He wasn’t privileged enough to have a life where he could choose his mate.

But how was he supposed to get a sleeping potion without Jade knowing about it? He didn’t have any money…

Jade put his hand on Larkin’s lower back. “They’ll deliver the carpet to the outpost for us, and we’ll pick it up on our way back. Is there anything else you’d like to see before we head to the inn?”

“I…” He looked at Jade, gathering up his courage. “I know I said we’d stay close, but I would really like to get you an… an engagement gift. I know it’ll be a little foolish, getting it for you with your own coin, but I’d still like to give you something from my heart.”

He felt guilty just saying the words.

But Jade smiled brightly at him. “That’s very sweet of you. I suppose…” He glanced around the square. “All right, I’ll get you something too. We’ll make it a little surprise for tonight. I’ll go arrange our lodgings, and I’ll meet you back at the fountain in an hour.” He took a handful of coins out of his purse and moved them to another purse from inside his coat. “Here. And don’t worry, it’s enchanted so that as long as it’s on your body, nobody can take it. Unfortunately, there are a few pickpockets around.” Jade snapped his jaws, which looked strange for him in human form. “If anything does happen, though, I’ll track them down.”

“Right,” Larkin said, feeling a little queasy at the idea of Jade going after a potential pickpocket. “I’ll see you soon then.” He turned to go, surprised when Jade caught his arm and pulled him close, into a kiss. His lips tingled, and his resolve to go straight to the apothecary wavered just a little.

But no. He had to do this. For the sake of his kingdom, he had to do this.

He smiled weakly at Jade as the dragon set out through the crowd, giving it a good count of fifty before hurrying over to the sorceress’s shop. He entered the brightly lit building, breathing in the scent of herbs and incense, and a woman his mother’s age glanced up at him with a smile.

“Good afternoon,” she greeted him. “Are you looking for something in particular?”

Larkin swallowed hard, wetting his lips with his tongue, and nodded. “I’ve been having trouble sleeping,” he said haltingly. “I heard you have strong sleeping draughts that will even chase away nightmares.”

She nodded to him, crossing the room and heading to one of the shelves. “Here you are,” she said, plucking a vial from it. “This is very strong. You only need a few drops to ensure a good night of rest. Careful, or you’ll end up sleeping for a week.” She smiled at him, and he felt queasy. Could he really do this?

He returned her smile, even though he was shaking internally. “I’ll be careful with it.”

He exchanged some of the coins for the vial, and he tucked it into the purse with the rest of the money Jade had given him. Waving in farewell to the sorceress, he emerged back into the town center.

Now he had to find a gift for the dragon. What sort of thing would Jade like? He already had jewels and rare scrolls and all manner of things, and Larkin had spent a good number of his coins on the sleeping potion he wasn’t even sure he’d have the nerve to use.

He had less than an hour to find something, so he turned, squinting against the sun, and started to look at the nearby shops. There was a jewelry shop not far down the road, and he stepped inside.

Jewelry was expensive, and he wasn’t sure how it would work when Jade shifted into dragon form. He’d probably have to take it off… No rings, then, or bracelets. Perhaps a set of earrings? He should be able to afford that.

He went to the counter to start to examine the wares, and a bulky man approached him. “Good day, lad.”

“Good day,” Larkin said, blushing as he thought about what he was there to do. He was only going to encourage Jade, and that was the last thing he wanted to do… but he had to keep up the facade. This had been his own idea, and he couldn’t just back out now. “I’m looking for a set of earrings,” he decided as he spoke. “A large set, for my… betrothed.”

The man’s lips stretched into a smile. “Ah, your betrothed. A lucky lady or gent, that one.”

Larkin smiled weakly. “I want to spoil him a little.”

The jeweler nodded. “Well, you know what I suggest? Getting a matching set.” He winked at Larkin. “I bet he’d love seeing you in similar earrings.”

Larkin blinked. His ears were pierced, of course, and he wore small stones in them. He’d never thought about wearing matching earrings to someone before. “Do you think so?” he asked cautiously.

“Of course!”

Maybe the man was just trying to sell more jewelry—actually, that seemed quite likely—but it seemed like something Jade would like.

“All right,” Larkin said, taking a deep breath. “Show me what you have.”