Chapter 9

CHAPTER9

When the attendant knocked on the door to tell them she had their food, Jade wanted to send her away. He was comfortably warm, with his treasure lapping at his spent cock, desperate for the remnants of his seed.

“Come back in…” Jade started, but Larkin pulled himself away from Jade and off the bed.

“One moment,” Larkin shouted, sounding remarkably clear-headed. He threw the blanket over Jade, then grabbed Jade’s long coat to wrap around himself.

Now that was a very pretty sight, the coat too large on his gem, almost embracing him. What would Larkin look like wearing Jade’s other clothes?

Unaware of Jade’s thoughts, Larkin went to open the door. “We’ll eat by the sofa,” Larkin said.

Did Larkin know that his tone of voice was completely different when he talked to servants? Jade had noticed it sometimes, how humans changed how they spoke depending on their relative standing to each other. A dragon would never have accepted that level of condescension, but that was why dragons rarely lived near each other.

The attendant bowed to Larkin and entered the room with the heavy tray, taking it to the table next to the sofa. “Here you are, sir,” she said politely. If she was bothered by Larkin’s tone, she didn’t show it. She was probably used to the guests here talking down to her because of her position.

She set the tray down and bowed again, leaving the room and quietly closing the door behind herself.

Larkin sighed, looking down at himself. “Somehow, despite taking a bath, I’m still a bit of a mess,” he said ruefully. There was something in his voice that sounded a little off, something shaky, but Jade attributed it to the cum Larkin had just taken in. “Will you get a damp washcloth for me, please?”

“Of course, pet.” Jade got out of the bed, not bothering to pull the sheet around himself, and wandered over to the bath. They really had left everything soaking wet. Jade dipped one of the still clean washcloths into the pool and cleaned his own cocks first.

He grabbed another washcloth for Larkin and wandered back to the sofa, where Larkin had arranged all the food on the low table.

Larkin was also wearing a shirt, and he had a pair of pants hanging over one arm.

Jade frowned at him. “Why are you getting dressed?”

Larkin jumped, looking guiltily at him. “It feels strange to eat naked,” he said. “I thought I’d be more comfortable wearing my undershirt and pants. Do you mind?”

“I liked you in my coat,” Jade said, but he supposed he’d gotten enough concessions out of his treasure for the day. He handed over the washcloth and watched with disappointment as Larkin cleaned himself off and finished dressing.

For a moment, they both simply watched each other, a strange tension in the air. Jade couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong, because he thought they’d had a lovely time together.

“Here,” Larkin said, his voice a bit shaky. “I once read… that is, um. Could we sit together? And I could… maybe… feed you?”

Jade smiled at him, though he didn’t like the uncertainty in Larkin’s voice. Why was his jewel being so nervous around him? Had he done something wrong? “I would love to have you feed me,” he purred, going to sit on the sofa. He patted the spot next to him for Larkin to join him.

Larkin went to him, kissing him briefly on the mouth, but Jade caught his chin in his hand and deepened the kiss. He only wanted the human to relax, so he was careful not to let too much of his saliva get into Larkin’s mouth, but it felt good to kiss him.

Larkin whimpered and shook his head a bit. “We’ll never eat like this,” Larkin murmured. “Please, I actually am hungry.”

“Since you’re asking so nicely,” Jade answered, pressing one final kiss to the corner of Larkin’s mouth. “Oh, they really outdid themselves with the food. This is much nicer than the last time I was here.”

The trays contained little plates of separate dishes. Slivers of steak and ham, little cheeses, berries and other fruits, bread and crackers, thick spreads…

“Have you tried olives before?” Larkin asked, holding up a green berry.

Jade flicked his tongue out to scent the fruit. His nose immediately scrunched up in disgust. “That doesn’t smell right.”

Larkin laughed. “They’re a little bit of an acquired taste. But they’re nice. They’re salty and a little briny. You should try one just so you can say you have. Don’t you like new experiences? I’m sure you’ve experienced so much that it’s hard to surprise you.”

“Fine, fine.” Jade opened his mouth so that Larkin could feed him, as he’d promised.

The blush that spread across Larkin’s cheeks was adorable, but he did bring the olive up to Jade’s lips. Jade closed his lips around the fruit—and Larkin’s fingers—before Larkin could pull away.

The fruit tasted as terrible as it smelled, salty with a hint of a sweet aftertaste. Very juicy too. Jade licked Larkin’s fingers to chase some of the taste away, and he opted to swallow the olive whole rather than risk more of its flavor spreading across his tongue.

“Wait. Did you just… swallow? Without chewing?” Larkin asked, withdrawing his hand.

“Yes? It was only a grape,” Jade answered. “I don’t usually chew when I hunt, anyway.”

Larkin blinked at him. “I’m not sure if that’s convenient or a little disturbing,” he remarked. A smile briefly flicked across his lips, a little mischievous and a lot charming. “Another olive?”

“Isn’t there anything a bit more palatable on that plate?” Jade reached for a slice of ham, thin enough to be almost see-through. This one was incredibly salty too, but far better than the grape. Olive. Whatever.

He didn’t see a need to chew this one either, though, and he enjoyed the look for horror on Larkin’s face.

“If you don’t even have a gag reflex, how come you rarely…” Larkin trailed off, his face getting even redder. “No, never mind. Just eat this.” He shoved another oil-coated olive into Jade’s mouth.

It didn’t escape Jade’s notice that Larkin wasn’t eating any olives himself, opting instead for the cheeses, breads, and spreads.

“You don’t like olives?” Jade asked after the fourth he’d swallowed.

“Oh, uh. I do. But I had one of these earlier, they’re a bit different from what I’m used to. I just want the olives we make back home.” Larkin chewed on his cheese-and-bread. “I didn’t realize how much I missed actual flavor though. This is so good.”

A pang of guilt hit Jade. He’d been doing his best to provide, but he didn’t understand human fascination with flavors. The cheese tasted like all other cheeses. The olives were salty, but that was the main thing distinguishing them from the thin ham. Their scents helped him distinguish them more than their tastes.

“We’ll visit more often,” Jade promised. “I’ll find other villages and towns, too. My sister lives near Priyana. We could travel there some day. I hear they’re renowned for their spices.” He wrapped his arm around Larkin’s waist and yawned. “There are so many places we could go.”

“I’d like that,” Larkin said softly. He pressed another olive against Jade’s lips, and Jade swallowed it like he had the rest.

He preferred things simple, raw or even charred meat, but maybe he’d see about getting some spices to bring back home with them. Then Larkin could season his own food, and maybe he’d be happier without visiting the human village. Not that Jade wanted to leave him alone any time soon.

Larkin took a gulp from his goblet, the fruity scent of the wine briefly filling the air. “This is really good,” he remarked. He tore off another bit of bread and smeared a red jam over it, humming in satisfaction as he ate. “Thank you for eating the olives. I didn’t want to waste any of the food.”

“Not a…” Jade yawned again, his jaw stretching uncomfortably wide. “Not a problem…”

He blinked against the sudden tiredness. When he tried to lift his arm, it only fell back to his side.

He didn’t think he’d expended that much energy. Just a short flight, and a lot of fucking.

“Let’s… let’s go to bed…” Jade suggested. He wanted to fall asleep with Larkin in his arms. “It’s been… a long…”

“Sure,” Larkin said.

Jade felt Larkin’s lips against his cheek before his eyes slid closed.

* * *

The warmth of the morning sun woke Jade. He grumbled and shifted to pull Larkin closer, already imagining the lovely sex they could have in the nice, spacious bed—

—only for his hand to drop lower than expected.

Jade opened his eyes, trying to shake off the grogginess. He wasn’t in bed. He was on the couch. One of the blankets from the bed had been thrown over him, but, as a quick flick of his tongue determined, he was alone in the room.

“Larkin?” Jade called out, sitting up. The sheet fell away from him, leaving him exposed. The door to the garden was closed now too. The trays of food were gone, replaced with a small box and an envelope.

Maybe Larkin had simply stepped out to tour the village some more.

Jade’s hands shook as he picked up the box and opened it. Two large, beautiful earrings sat inside, their design reminiscent of a bird. Small diamonds and emeralds dotted the earrings, making them shimmer in the morning light.

The earrings should have made Jade happy. It was a treasure, handpicked for him by Larkin. But why wasn’t Larkin here?

He clutched the earrings tightly as he reached for the envelope. One claw made quick work of the hasty wax seal.

Inside was a short letter, written in well-practiced calligraphy. Jade felt dread pooling in his stomach, but he forced himself to read the words.

Jade,

Our time together has been precious, and I am truly sorry for it to come to an end. My brother and my kingdom need me now more than ever, and I must return home to perform my duties. Thank you for all that you’ve taught me. I will cherish these memories forever.

Please do not follow me.

Larkin

That couldn’t be right. Jade read and reread the short letter, until a few drops of water landed on it and the ink bloomed.

Jade touched the water-stained paper. He’d have to tell the staff they had a leak somewhere. It wasn’t good for important documents to…

He blinked, and more water landed on the paper.

Oh.

Jade barked a sad, pathetic laugh as more tears spilled out.

Who’d ever heard of a dragon crying? He hadn’t even known he could.

It hurt. It hurt a lot. Why were humans crying all the time? This was unpleasant, and disgusting, and pathetic.

Jade carefully folded up the letter and put it back into the envelope. He took the earrings and letter and packed everything up. His clothes were still where he’d left them. It was harder to get dressed with his body shaking and the tears blurring his eyes, but he had to leave. He couldn’t stay here anymore, not with Larkin’s scent lingering in the room.

Lingering, but not present.

It was early still, the sun only just having risen. If Jade hurried, he’d easily catch up to Larkin. There was only one place Larkin would go, after all, and no matter how many soldiers or guards were amassed in the capital, Jade would easily be able to defeat them.

He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, for all the good that did.

Please do not follow me.

As soon as he had Larkin back, he’d build a cage for him, and keep him fed with a steady supply of cum, and… and never listen to Larkin laugh again, or hear his own interpretations of the stories, or spend a lovely day out shopping, or…

Without meaning to, Jade let out a long, mournful roar that shook the entire building. Almost immediately after, he heard screams and shouts, people who’d been woken from their own slumber and the attendants that were already hard at work.

Jade couldn’t let anyone see him like this. He dropped his purse on the table before hurrying out of the room.

He kept his head down, avoiding the other guests who’d come out into the hallway, curious about the suffering cry they’d heard.

“Are we under attack?” a woman asked, while some man reassured her that they were perfectly safe.

Jade wanted to laugh. They weren’t safe. Apparently it was possible to completely destroy a heart with nothing more than a few words.

His back itched as soon as he was outdoors, his wings already demanding to be let out.

The town gates. He had to get to the town gates, and leave Vanea, and then he could… he could…

He heard the fabric of his coat rip, his arms growing. He tried to run, to stave off the transformation, but it was too late. His feet became talons, his tail destroyed his pants, and the next step had him so large that he destroyed the nearby market stand.

People around him screamed.

Their words were meaningless chatter, the noises of insignificant pests that he never should have given the time of day.

Jade roared again, tossing his head, and fire shot out from his throat. A nearby roof erupted into flame.

Burn it all. Destroy everything. Maybe that would stop the pain in his chest.

He clutched his bag close to his chest and leapt up into the sky. His tail caught more buildings as he took flight. A few arrows bounced off his scales, but a small village like this didn’t stand a chance against him.

Don’t follow me.

Then what was he meant to do? Jade bellowed again, sending more fire across the rooftops. How was he supposed to deal with these feelings?

And even as he worked to raze this town that had destroyed everything, the tears continued to flow.