Chapter One

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Tabitha

The doors swing outward, and the stench of men assaults my nose. Such a sharp and masculine scent. The unfamiliarity of it is quite attractive, if I'm being honest.

"How do you tolerate the smell?" I ask as I lift my chin and step into the room, trying to play the part of snobby rich girl. It's who I have to be today.

"You get used to it," Luparia, the dark fairy who owns this particular Draven breeding center, responds.

The room is longer than it is wide. There are cells on either side, all closed in behind steel bars coated in shimmering magic, the insides decorated as comfortable living rooms or relaxing bedrooms. Lights along the ceiling illuminate the hall, but the cells are even brighter, allowing me to see every nook and cranny.

The first thing I note is how clean everything is. Not only the rooms the Dravens are in, but the bars locking them in are so shiny I can see my reflection. There isn't a speck of dust gathered in the corners or a stray hair floating about.

Each cell has white floors, walls, and ceiling, but there are pops of color in the furniture. A red chaise, a blue quilt on the bed, a yellow armchair.

"Do you have someone who decorates?" I question, walking deeper into the room.

Luparia nods. "There are two decorators. They change up the themes now and then, and set up the rooms in such a way that the men look their best."

"They've done an excellent job."

The men are quiet as we pass them, each sitting in a chair in the center of their small rooms, as they were no doubt instructed to do. None of them wear a single piece of clothing to ensure I get to view every inch of them. Though, Dravens are bred to look relatively the same when it comes to certain things—dicks and muscles being at the top of that list. They are made to please, and their forms have been perfected over many generations. Of course, there are slight variations with some, as not everyone who buys them likes the same thing.

"It isn't often I do the tours, Jezza. You're a special case," Luparia comments. Her tone is soft, but I hear the seriousness there.

I smirk, taking in the men as we walk. I'll know the right ones when I see them.

"I appreciate you taking the time to do this. I don't do well with salesmen."

Luparia laughs. "Probably one of the most hated people in this realm, that's for sure. However, my women are trained to not sell for the sake of it. We make sure you're getting exactly what you want. Dealing with returns is too much trouble."

"Which is precisely why I came to you and not Ramir across town."

She scoffs. "I don't know how that man keeps up business with the trash he sells. Half the Dravens can't even hold a sword or shoot a target that's five feet in front of their face." She waves a dainty hand, straightening her spine as we keep going.

Luparia is a gorgeous woman. Thick black hair, full lips, long lashes. She's curvy in all the right places, and her wings are a beautiful silver that shimmer black in the light. Dark fairies are one of the most stunning creatures to behold.

"You assure me yours can?" I sneak a side glance at her, folding my hands together in front of my waist to hide the trembling.

I'm so hungry.

"I assure you any Draven in this room could take out a handful of men while blindfolded and outrunning a Hellhound."

I stop, raising a brow. "Is that right?"

She stops beside me, nodding once. "I breed only the best. They get training as early as four. And I don't just train them in combat, like some others. They get schooling, they're well fed, and we even get them medically evaluated, which is not standard procedure or required by law. I sell quality Dravens here." She gestures around, and I take a look at the one behind her, sitting on his blue armchair, staring straight ahead as if he cannot see me. His posture is good, body well built, but he isn't the one for me. "There isn't a single one in this room who can't do what you need—whatever that may be, since you are still being so hush-hush about it."

She raises a brow, wanting information that I can't give her. Or rather—won't. It's too dangerous.

I chew on the inside of my cheek as I take another look around, then meet Luparia's purple eyes. She's a good foot shorter than me, but fairy are on the shorter side. They're smaller than most other beings, but no less dangerous. Especially the dark ones who have the ability to use dark magic without repercussions. They're one of the only species who can. Even dark witches have to pay for using their dark magic.

"Money is no issue." I raise a hand, gesturing around slightly. "Is this all you have?"

Luparia does not know who I really am. There aren't many who do, and I've kept it that way on purpose. I need to keep my identity hidden to ensure my safety… just for a little while longer. Thankfully, my best and most trusted friend, Dahlia, was able to call in a favor to Luparia, who gratefully accepted when she heard the amount of gold I had to spend here. Dahlia and I decided it would be best for me to use a pseudonym, which is why Luparia believes my name to be Jezza. Dark fairies aren't typically trusting, but Dahlia got her out of some trouble a while back, so she owed her a favor. Dahlia called in that favor for me.

The dark fairy narrows her eyes at me for a moment, then jerks her head to the side, and we continue on.

"As you know, Dravens follow their own laws, and their number one rule is to obey their master's command, no matter what. Of course, there have been issues in the past, but those have been written off as bad breeding."

"You've never had that issue here?"

"Not even once."

We stop at the end of the hall, and Luparia presses her small hand to a screen on the wall to the right, and a hidden door slides open with an airy whoosh.

"Dare I ask?" I raise a brow at her.

"I take my higher quality products very seriously."

She smiles but doesn't explain further. We walk into a short hallway that smells of cleaning products. The floor, walls, and ceiling are all white—it makes me nauseous. There isn't a single splash of color in this room.

"As for the men following orders? We go the extra mile here by telling them a harmless lie," she adds with a smirk.

We stop when we reach the end, a set of tall double doors in front of us. There is a number pad on one of the handles, but she doesn't enter anything into it. Instead, she turns to me, as if waiting for me to ask for more information. So, I do.

"What kind of lie?"

She smirks at me. "They think if they don't follow orders, their dicks will fall off."

My eyes widen, and I hold in my laugh. "Smart," I comment.

"I thought so. It's only right, though, as there have been many reports of women cutting off their Draven's cocks when they don't follow orders, so perhaps it isn't entirely a lie but a mere stretch of truth."

"Seems a bit harsh."

"I agree, but unfortunately, I can't worry about what happens to them once they leave here. My job is to make sure the breeding is done properly, not that they are treated kindly after. There are laws for that."

She quickly enters the numbers on the pin pad, something close to ten digits, that I couldn't remember or catch even if I wanted to. When it beeps, she grasps the handle, turns, and pushes it open.

As we step in, I'm once again hit with the masculine scent of men, only it isn't as musky as the last one. This one holds a hint of sweetness to it, which I find to be rather curious. And damn near breathtaking. I've never smelt something so tempting.

The doors fall closed behind us, and Luparia stops in front of a cell that is slightly bigger than the previous ones, only the lights are off as there is no Draven inside. It is set up like a cozy bedroom with a mock fireplace against the far wall.

She really does go to great lengths to sell these Dravens.

"The Dravens in this room are a great deal more expensive. They've been bred from the highest quality of Dravens—only those who have proven themselves over a minimum of three generations. There is absolutely no chance of having an issue with them. They receive more training than most, in all areas." She gives me a little waggle of her eyebrows, and I know what she means.

Dravens aren't only purchased for protection, some purchase them for other things too—things of the sexual variety.

"I need your best," I comment.

"And you said you need three?"

"Three should suffice. Certainly no less."

She purses her lips, then nods again. "I believe I have the perfect three in mind. They've worked well together over the years, and I've had it in mind to sell them together, but it isn't often three are wanted together. They have excelled at just about everything."

"Just about?"

She smirks. "You know how this goes, don't you?"

"Pretend I don't."

"All Dravens are scored by a surveyor before being available for purchase. The higher the score, the better they are. No one, in the history of Dravens, has had a perfect score, but these three have come close."

She waves me forward, and we move further down the hall. The first ten or so rooms we pass are dark and with different set ups inside. None of them has a Draven. When I spot the first one, I come to a halt, my mouth dropping open.

"Are they part giant?" I ask on a disbelieving laugh, staring at the man sitting in the chair that looks much too small for his large frame.

Luparia frowns. "Of course not. I told you; they're bred from the best. The best just so happen to have big muscles and big cocks. They're worth your money," she reiterates.

She places her hand on my lower back and ushers me forward.

"One-zero-one-seven-three, please stand," Luparia calls out. She stops in front of a cell and turns toward it. I stop beside her and look inside.

The first thing I notice is how attractive the man is. Not just in his physique, but his overall looks. Dark curly hair, bright grey eyes, a jaw so sharp it could cut through the bars on the cell. His shoulders are broad, chest defined, tapered waist, long and thick cock, even soft. The man is built to perfection. It's impressive.

"Do they have names?" I question as I take him in, unable to pull my eyes away.

She nods. "Tell her your name, One-zero-one-seven-three."

"Raisi, my lady." His voice is rich and smooth.

I raise a brow and turn to Luparia. "He's polite."

"Best scores," she says with a smile.

"I'll take him."

Luparia nods, then looks back at Raisi. "You may sit to await your departure."

He does exactly as she says, no question asked. No hesitation. No change of expression on his perfect face. We continue down the hall.

"One-zero-five-two-three, please stand." We stop at a cell about five down from where we were.

This man is built almost exactly like the previous one, only his hair is dirty blond, long and wavy, and his eyes are like two sapphires.

"Name?" I question again. This time, it's only because I want to hear the man's voice.

"Speak," she tells him.

"Theodas," he responds strongly. Though, not quite as polite as the previous, there is no harshness to his tone either.

"Do these Dravens have the elf-like ears?" I question as I look the man over. His body is just as impressive as the last, only slightly leaner.

"That is how you can tell a pureblooded Draven. Well, one of them. The slightly pointy ears are much shorter than an elf's. They are similar to ours, but you will find a slight curving tip at the top."

"And the other ways?"

"They will have a mark somewhere on their body. Similar coloring to a scar, only it'll be in the shape of a triangle, and about the size of your thumbnail. And the final is their teeth."

"Their teeth?"

Luparia narrows her eyes at me. "Do you know anything about Dravens at all?"

"Just the basics, I suppose. I only know they are what I need, and you are the best place to get them from."

"And how do you know this?" She raises a brow.

I smile at her and say, "A dear friend whom I trust with every part of my being."

"Dahlia."

I nod.

"Smart. Though she should have told you what to look out for. Pureblooded Dravens will have fangs, similar to a vampire's or a werewolf's, only they are retractable. If they do not retract, they are not pureblooded."

"This is wonderful information, Luparia. Thank you for sharing this with me."

She purses her lips, her gaze skeptical. I expect her to call me out. On what? I'm not entirely sure, but she seems to not believe me over something. While her eyes stay on mine, she says, "One-zero-five-two-three, please stand by the bars and show your ears."

The man gets up and moves toward us, stopping at the bars after only two strides. He grasps his hair, and pulls it back, slowly turning his head from side to side and showing off the elf-like ears, along with his sharp jaw, which must be a Draven thing. It's extremely attractive.

"Your mark," Luparia says next, and he turns his torso to show me the area above his elbow, on the back of his bicep, where there is a small scar in the shape of a triangle.

"Teeth," Luparia says sharply.

The man straightens himself to face me again, then bares his teeth, opening his mouth. At first, his teeth are normal, the same as mine look, but after a second, the canines grow long and sharp and could easily pierce skin, which is the most exciting thing about them yet. I run my tongue along my teeth… I'm still getting used to them.

"Well?" Luparia asks.

"He's mine," I answer.

"Sit and wait for your departure," she tells him with a flick of her wrist, then we continue on. "And last but certainly not least…"

We walk to the very end of the hallway, stopping and facing the cell on the left.

"Nine-zero-zero-seven, please stand."

He moves toward us. This one is slightly bigger than the other two, but not by much. His skin is tanner, hair black, and his eyes are a light honey brown, almost reptilian. They're beautiful.

"Name?"

"Tell her your name," Luparia says.

"Kozzanth," he answers in a deep, baritone voice.

"May I see the mark?" I question, wanting to see more of him.

"Show her your mark."

He steps to the bars, turns to the side, and presses his ear forward to show me the area behind it, where I find the small triangle.

I smile and glance at Luparia. "I'll take him."

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