Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The water is warm. 

Against his scales, it feels like a soft caress. A gentle hand. A lover calling him to bed, arms wide open. 

He is happy to comply. He sinks into the lake water. Down, down, even further down. Until he cannot see the surface, cannot even dream of the waters’ edge and the cold air outside. If he closes his eyes, lets his gills work, he can pretend like there is only this water. Nothing else in the world. 

If he puts his head down, he can sleep. Finally. No dreams, no thoughts. Just peace. His crystal hums contentedly in his chest. His skin prickles and his scales rise a bit, letting the water soak underneath. Total healing. Total comfort.

This lake is his true home. He can stay here forever. Wrapped in its embrace. Safely tucked away, far from the living world.

Maybe this time he should.

________________________________

“Hmm?” 

Eiden lifts his head. He smells the air a second time. “What’s that?” 

The cave walls echo his question back to him. He is alone, of course. No one else lives here. Talking is just for his own benefit. It helps keep his sanity intact.

Or…for the most part. 

It doesn’t matter though, because Eiden knows what he smelled. He could never mistake it! 

A human. That familiar scent sits heavily in the damp air. A human just walked into the cave! 

Oh, it’s been ages since Eiden last spoke with a human! How long exactly? A century? Maybe more? Something like that. Humans never come here anymore. They know this is a dragon cave, so they leave it the hell alone. It’s not exactly easy to get to. You have to cross a field of fire and brimstone, rocks crackling with molten lava running through them. If you make it past that, then there’s a whole mountain to climb. Sharp stones, treacherous. Unyielding to the human form. Deadly! 

Eiden chose this cave for a reason. He doesn’t want to invite contact with humans. Humans are…a lot. Eiden doesn’t want conflict or drama. He just wants to live in peace. If sitting on top of a mountain of death is what grants him peace, then this is where he needs to be.

Not much company, though. For that, Eiden has to wander out the back of the cave and into the dark forest behind. The dark forest is pretty cool. Some of the yokai and forest creatures are his friends. A few of them are almost as old as Eiden! (Almost.) They get along well.

But a human? Unheard of! How did they even make it this far?! 

“Wow…” Eiden can’t help being impressed.

He also can’t help the twinge of excitement in his belly. He should probably transform into a bigger, scary form and chase this person away, but. He won’t.

“Let’s see where this goes for now.”

So he changes into his most human form instead. Like this he appears almost fully human, except for the (graceful, thank you) set of blunt horns on his head, and a few patches of white scales crawling up and down his skin in random places. His neck, his shoulders. (There are more, but those are the only visible places when he’s wearing clothes!) And of course, his claws. Eiden is out of practice with this form. He used to be able to make these claws go away, but…not anymore, apparently. So his hands are vaguely dragon-like. Short talons instead of fingers or toes. 

His face is human at least. Bright eyes and a welcoming face. Fluffy brown hair, youthful skin. Normal human height and gait. He’s a young man at heart, and it shows.

Throwing on a silvery robe for decency, Eiden walks towards the front of the cave to meet this human head on. 

He should have expected what he finds. Who he finds. 

“Halt, dragon!” 

Ah, yeah. Right. 

A knight in shining armor. Encased head to toe in metal, brandishing a sharp sword in Eiden’s face. 

Quietly, Eiden sighs. Seriously? A knight like this? Kind of old fashioned, right? Eiden thought this brand of noble, valor-hungry weirdos died off decades ago! What is this guy doing? 

Rolling his eyes, he raises his hands in surrender. “Okay, I’m halting.”  

The knight, seeming not to expect this reaction, stops advancing. They stare at each other for a moment of silence. Eiden can’t make out the guy’s face because it’s covered in metal. The lack of eye contact feels strange…awkward. 

But this is what they’re doing.

After a moment, the knight clears his throat and raises his voice again. “Are you the dragon they call the Grand Sorcerer? Huey, Beast of a Thousand Colors? Slaughterer of Hordes?” 

“Ah jeez, come on, man…” Eiden winces at those names! Those are from, like, a thousand years ago!

Back then, when Eiden was a relatively young dragon, he harbored delusions of grandeur. Like most dragons at that age. He wanted creatures of the world to respect him. Warfare was rampant at that time, everywhere. Eiden took the name Huey (because his white scales shimmer many different hues depending on the light) and flaunted his magic over everyone. 

‘The Grand Sorcerer.’ Oooh, so scary. 

You know what happened? He hurt a lot of people for no reason! Everyone was scared shitless at the sight of him! Eiden had the power he wanted and he immediately realized it was worth absolutely nothing. Not if you don’t have even a single friend by your side. No one to spend time with at the end of a long day.

As an immortal dragon, Eiden has tons and tons of time. The only thing worth doing with time like that? Find companions. Enjoy being with others. Enjoy yourself! It makes the long days go faster.

So he abandoned those titles. That way of life. Disappeared for about eight hundred years. He went where he always goes when he needs to escape: Back to the warm crystalline lake where he was born. When he emerged again, ready to give life another go, he took the name Eiden in honor of the years he spent underwater. The stillness and the peace. Eiden wants to invoke those feelings in this life. Bring that vibe to the world.

He hates talking about the past. He regrets those days so much. 

Everyone goes through a cringe phase when they’re young, right? Give him a break! 

“My name is Eiden,” he calmly corrects the knight. “Nice to meet you. What’s your name?” 

The knight falters again. “Eiden…what? I thought…?” 

Huffing in anger, the knight lifts his metal visor. No doubt he wants to get a better look at Eiden to confirm his suspicions. Fortunately, this gives Eiden the chance to see the knight’s face for the first time. Pale white skin. Bright blue eyes, blue bangs matted to his forehead with sweat. Those eyes are intense! Even more intimidating than the sword in Eiden’s face! So full of anger Eiden can’t help flinching at the sight. 

“Enough nonsense,” the knight hisses. “Are you Huey or are you not?” 

Looks like Eiden needs to explain. “I was. I used to be Huey. But not anymore.” He smiles warmly at this frosty-eyed knight. “Now I’m just Eiden. I’ve been in this cave for a few hundred years, keeping to myself. Trying not to cause trouble.” He winks conspiratorially. 

The knight frowns in confusion.

“I know it sounds complicated,” Eiden rushes to say, “but it’s really not. People change, you know? I’m sure you’ve changed since you were a kid. Like maybe you used to be super into dolls or stuffed animals or something and now you—”

“C-cease your drivel!” Redness blooms across the bridge of the knight’s nose. Okay, then. “Do not attempt to obfuscate the point! I am wise to your conniving ways, dragon! If you try to cast a confounding spell on me, I’ll run you through where you stand!” 

“Alright, alright…” Eiden raises his hands higher. “Got it. No spells. That’s fair.” Not that he was going to cast one anyway!

“Hmph.” 

Better move on. “Anyway...” Eiden begins. “…what, uh, what brings you here? It’s not an easy trip from the human kingdom to my cave. That boiling field of dried-up magma. And that brutal climb! Aren’t you tired? Thirsty, maybe—” 

“I said no tricks!” The knight swings his sword threateningly. “You must know why I’m here!” 

Eiden blinks. “Umm…” If this were a thousand years ago, it would be easy to guess. A guy wanting revenge or valor! But with the way things are currently… “Sorry, I’m not sure. Can you just tell me so we don’t have to—” 

“I am here to slay you, beast!” 

Okay, yeah. That much Eiden assumed up front. 

“Now hurry up and transform into your true form so we can duel properly.” The knight snaps his visor shut. Ready as hell. 

“My true form?” Eiden is a little insulted! “This is my true form, you know? There’s nothing fake about it. I’m really me right now and it’s kind of rude to—” 

“I mean your dragon form! The one you used to terrorize the people back in the day. The reason you earned those titles!” 

“My dragon form…” Eiden sighs. “Look, man. That form is really big, far too big to change into here. Like honestly it’s the size of the mountain you just climbed, probably even bigger. It takes a lot of energy to use that form and I’m really not in the mood. So why don’t you explain why you want to slay me so badly?” 

Stunned, the knight says nothing.

“What’s the reason? You want to slay me, I get that. Totally clear. But why now? I haven’t killed a human in over a thousand years. Why did you come all the way out here? Did I kill your ancestors or something? Is it a valor quest? A knighthood hazing thing? They’re pulling your leg, buddy, valor isn’t won in a battle with a creature one million times your size—”

“Do not speak to me of valor.” The knight’s voice turns several degrees colder. Furious. “In fact, speak to me no more. Words will solve nothing. I need only to slay you.” In a quieter tone he adds, “So my kingdom can be free.”

Eiden’s ears prick up. “Free? Huh? What’s going on with your kingdom?”

“Do not feign ignorance! You monster! You have kept a cruel grip on my kingdom for far too long! That ends now. Today.” He assumes an offensive fighting stance. “Now transform!” 

A cruel grip? Eiden glances at his own hand in confusion. He doesn’t have a grip on anything! Much less a whole kingdom! 

It’s hard not to laugh. “I think you have a higher opinion of me than I deserve,” he admits. “But seriously, what are you talking about? I feel like we’re not on the same page. I haven’t done anything to your people in a millennia, like I said. If there’s something happening in the Light Kingdom, it’s got nothing to do with me.” 

For once, the knight hears Eiden’s words. Maybe it’s the way Eiden said them. With honesty and conviction. He can’t lie about this, because he has no idea what’s going on!

The knight doesn’t drop his stance all the way, but he lowers his sword a fraction. When he speaks again, he sounds much less certain. “But…my research revealed…” 

“You’ve done research on me? I’m flattered.” For real! Eiden tosses a smirk at the knight. “The thing is, any research you have available is all written by humans. Historians can keep records of events and stuff, but they’re bound to get some facts wrong. I don’t think any humans have ever interviewed dragons on what they’re capable of, or how things work for us. So, not to be rude, but there’s probably a lot of misinformation on your end.” 

He lets that settle for a moment. Then he adds, “Can we start at the beginning? What’s the problem in the Light Kingdom? If you tell me, maybe I can help.” 

Another tense moment passes. Balanced on the edge of the knight’s sword. Then, finally, his stance relents. His shoulders drop and he brings the sword to mid-height. Defensive, not offensive. 

“If you truly do not know, then…or if this is some kind of trick…” 

“No tricks. You have my word.” Eiden shrugs. “I think you just have to trust me for now.”

Solemnly, the knight nods. He lifts his visor and points towards the cave entrance. “Fine, then. It’s easier if I show you. Come.” 

Wow. Eiden finds himself impressed yet again. This knight—this valor obsessed human—actually listened to him. It’s obvious this guy still doesn’t trust Eiden all the way, but even so. Even so! He’s taking the time to explain himself instead of jumping right into a battle. 

Not because of fear, either. This knight was not afraid to initiate a battle (what he called a ‘duel’) even after Eiden explained how big his dragon form really is. He seemed prepared to fight to the death. Perhaps that’s nothing but foolishness, except for the fact the knight is taking Eiden’s words into account. Using logic instead of sheer brawn.

When was the last time a human ever listened to Eiden? Acknowledged that he uses human speech? Communicated? 

Never, is the answer. No human has ever spoken to Eiden like an equal. With humans, it’s always fear and false bravado. But with this human…

…Where did this guy say he’s from, again? 

Hmm. 

They arrive at the entrance. Holding his sword pointed down at his side, the knight gestures in the direction of the Light Kingdom. Many miles to the east. The castle spires are still visible even at this distance. 

It’s been years since Eiden looked eastward. He recently got out of another long rest in the lake water. That lasted about a decade. Since then, he’s only been out in the world for a few years. He spends all his time in the cave alone or wandering into the dark forest to mess around. He never looks towards the human kingdom. Why would he? Nothing there for him! 

Now that he is looking, he sees…

Dry land. Brown grass. Shriveled up, barren. Weren’t the fields on the other side of the brimstone ridge supposed to be green? Eiden remembers sprawling meadows. Farmland. 

What happened? 

Something has gone wrong here.

“Do you see?” The knight indicates the dismal display. “Our kingdom is in the midst of an exceptionally pervasive drought. No rains will come. No wizardry, or prayers, or folk ritual can make them come. Our crops have long withered and the people are starving.” He sighs. “Succumbing to their hunger, they have begun forming factions. Fighting amongst themselves like bandits, raiding each others’ stockpiles of grain. The Light Kingdom is on the brink of war with the other territories to amass more resources. So we can survive. But our prospects are…dismal, to say the least.” 

Eiden nods seriously. “That’s awful. How long has the drought been going on?” 

“Seven years.” 

“Wow.” Seven years with no rain at all? That’s a long time for humans! From what Eiden knows, humans need rain every month or so to maintain their food sources. They must really be suffering! 

“I’m sorry to hear about your troubles,” Eiden says sincerely. “I really am. But…what does this drought have to do with me?” 

The knight stares at Eiden. A line of distress creases his brow. The bags under his eyes are heavy. Eiden sees them clearly now. The veil of bravery has been lifted and the only thing left on the knight’s face is…

Suffering. 

“The royal wizard believes dragon magic may be the cause of the drought. It makes sense. After all, dragon magic is the strongest force known to our world.” 

That is true. “But why would a dragon expend their energy to mess with the humans like this?” 

The knight blinks slowly. “The wizard spoke of a dragon in the west that used to kill humans for sport. The history books reveal as much. He said that the only explanation—in the absence of any other—is that this dragon must be out for blood again. Crueler than before. Delighting in our pain.” 

“Tch! As if! That’s a new low. Not even back then would I have considered something like this. It’s just…!” It’s too cruel, for one. Starving the people. It takes too much ingenuity, for two, and Eiden doesn’t have the creativity to think of something like this out of the blue. And for three…

He would never. He has never, and could never. 

It’s as simple as that. 

He shakes his head. “So you thought that by coming here and slaying me, you’d be able to end the drought.” 

“Precisely.” 

Eiden curls his top lip into his mouth and thinks. After a moment he says, “That’s a pretty desperate plan, you know?” 

The knight sighs. “Yes. I am aware of that. However, our kingdom is out of options. In truth, even if I cannot find a solution here in this land of fire and brimstone, perhaps it would be better for me to die trying. So our people can have hope.” 

What a horrifying thought! Eiden balks. “But if they never learn the truth, then…” 

“Then they’ll never have to despair. They can look to the west and believe that perhaps I, their Lord Knight and Vice-Captain, am still out there somewhere. Finding a way to fix this.” 

Even as he says that, the knight shakes his head in disbelief. “It is a fruitless hope, I know. But maybe not meaningless. Our people have been without hope for so long. The kingdom is not what it once was. Now it is a grim and dangerous place. When I left on this journey however, I saw smiles on gaunt faces. Withered flowers thrown at my feet. The people had hope again, for the first time in however long. If…”

Swallowing hard, the knight faces Eiden. Full of determination. “If you are not the cause of this drought, if it is truly out of your hands, then I ask you to please kill me anyway. End my life. So my people can believe—”

“Okay, okay. Let’s slow down for a second.” Eiden pushes away the knight’s hand, which was offering his sword hilt in invitation. 

Nope! Not going there! 

“Like I said, I am not the one causing this drought of yours. And I don’t think any dragon is doing it either.” Of the few dragons still living, none of them would have any interest in something like this. “I don’t know what’s causing it. Even so, I’m pretty sure I can help.”

The knight’s blue eyes fly open wide. “You…can?” 

“Yeah. Your wizard was half right, at least. Dragons do have some control over the weather, depending on which element they associate with. Me? I’m an air and water dragon. Perfect for bringing rain, right?” 

The knight’s eyes widen even further, rimmed with desperation. “You’re…air and water? I thought you were fire, considering…” He gestures towards the field of fire and brimstone.

Eiden waves his hand in front of his face. “Um, yeah, forget about that. I just put that there so people would leave me alone.” 

With a sideways grin, Eiden extends his hand in the direction of the boiling magma. At once, the magma begins to cool. The bright red fades to black and a hiss of steam exhales over the field. A quick douse. 

The knight is in awe. Now he has proof of Eiden’s powers, but it’s still difficult for a human to believe. “How did you…?”  

“Air is pretty powerful. Water’s not bad either.” 

Extending his hand further, a trickle of water emerges from the ground and extends over the cooling magma. Where there was just lava, now there is a sulfuric swamp. From nothing more than a quick flick of Eiden’s hand. 

Dragon magic is definitely the most powerful force in the world.

“Both elements…I do not understand…” The knight is truly overwhelmed by the display. 

Maybe this part is confusing for humans. But it’s really not that difficult to understand! 

Eiden opens his robe. “See my crystal?” He points to the large gem embedded in his chest. “I was born with it. See how rainbow-like it is? Other dragons might have a ruby or a sapphire or a peridot or something. But I got this rainbow crystal. That means I have marginal control over all the elements, but I can choose which powers to cultivate. It’s true that I used to be into fire, but…” He cringes again. “Let’s not talk about that. The point is, the past few hundred years I’ve been cultivating my air and water powers. A gentle breeze and a nourishing river. Doesn’t that sound nice?” 

He closes his robe again. “Anyway. All that is to say, I can definitely make the rains come back to your kingdom. If I change into my full dragon form, I can fly above the clouds and adjust the air pressure. Whatever’s going on up there, I’m sure I can fix it.” 

The drought is probably the result of a particularly nasty warm front. Or something. Eiden can take care of that.

“I…” The knight is at a loss for words. He begins to say several things, then stops, closing his mouth. 

When he speaks again, he is entirely composed. Diplomatic. “Very well, dragon. Eiden, I should say. If you are able to mend this current predicament of ours, and from what I’ve just seen I believe you do have the ability, then please. Might we begin negotiations?” 

As Eiden watches, the knight sheaths his sword. He lifts his helmet over his head, releasing a cascade of silky blue locks that fall across his metal shoulders. He shakes his hair to un-mat it. His face is slim and smooth, pointed delicately around the nose and chin. 

He is beautiful. Much more striking than Eiden expected. 

Then again, this knight has already surprised him. The way he spoke to Eiden when they first met. His selfless determination to save his kingdom, even to the point of death! 

There’s something special about this human. Eiden is beyond impressed. 

He’s intrigued. 

Interested, even.

“My name is Edmond, Vice-Captain of the knights in service to His Royal Majesty of the Light Kingdom.” He holds a hand to his chest and bows. “I am honored to parlay with you. I hope that our negotiations can be earnest and fruitful.” 

Struck by Edmond’s decorum, Eiden bows in return. “Absolutely. The pleasure is all mine.” He pauses. “But um…I should tell you. There’s really no need to negotiate. I’ll do it, I’ll change the weather for you. No problem.” 

Edmond freezes. Stock still. “You…you will? Truly? Just like that?” 

“Mmhm. There’s no reason for me not to help you, since it seems like you guys are in dire straits. I hate to see people suffering, you know?” He sighs. “The only thing is—” 

“Yes? What is it?” Edmond is so eager he’s jumping all over Eiden’s words! 

“Well, I wasn’t lying before when I said it takes a lot of energy to change into that form. It’ll take me a few days at least to work up the strength to do it. And afterwards…” Eiden winces. “Ah, never mind. I guess you don’t care about what happens to me afterwards as long as your problem is fixed, right?”

Edmond narrows his eyes. “No. I would like to know the full terms of the arrangement on both our sides. So please go on. What will happen to you?” 

That’s…unexpected. But nice to hear! Edmond is something else! He’s serious—probably to a fault—and extremely cautious. He is not prone to the usual short-sightedness of mankind, a sad pitfall. 

He might even genuinely care about Eiden on some level. As one living creature cares for another on principle. 

Eiden smiles at him. He is touched by this earnestness and he wants Edmond to know. He takes a moment to size Edmond up from head to toe. The knight’s armor is not particularly flattering, but Eiden is having fun imagining the lithe body underneath. 

If you took off all his armor, left him naked as the day he was born, what would Edmond do? Would he blush and stammer, try to cover himself? Would he reach for his sword and chop Eiden’s head clean off? Would he cry? 

Or maybe…would he get turned on? 

Probably all of the above. Eiden’s smile turns into a grin.

He decides to change the subject. “Oh, don’t worry, it’s not that serious. It’ll just take me a while to regain my strength.” Putting out a few fires is one thing. Changing the flow of the entire planet’s air current? That’s a little harder! “Might have to go into hibernation. Nothing I haven’t done before!” 

Edmond tilts his head to one side. “Hibernation?” 

“Yeah, it’s actually pretty fun. The water is nice. Anyway! Come on! Come back inside, will you?” 

Eiden heads back into the cave. However, Edmond does not follow him. He is rooted to the ground. Guard up. 

“What’s wrong? Don’t want to come in?” He barged in so bravely before! Eiden wouldn’t think he was scared! 

Edmond grips his sword tighter. “Why would I want to do that?” 

“Okay, I guess that’s a fair question…” Eiden scratches his head. “I mean, you could go back down the mountain the way you came. It’s pretty treacherous, though. And it’ll be dark soon. Don’t humans have a hard time seeing at night?” 

Edmond glances at the harrowing trail he took to get up here. “That is true, however I…well…” 

“You might as well keep me company the next few days,” Eiden offers. “Just until I gather enough strength. When I change into my full form, I’ll carry you down the mountain. So you don’t have to worry about slipping and breaking your neck or something.” 

A horrified expression seizes Edmond’s face. “You mean I would…ride you?” 

“Yeah, why not?” 

Scoffing, Edmond whips his gaze away. “Absolutely not. Ridiculous.” 

What is there to get angry about? Why is Edmond so offended? Is it the juxtaposition of their powers, their sizes? Or is he embarrassed…? 

From the faint blush on his cheeks, it seems like embarrassment. But that only makes sense if…

Has Edmond been stealing glances at Eiden too? Well, he has eyes. Maybe he’s a little bit taken with Eiden’s charming good looks! 

Ah, there it is. Edmond’s gaze darts towards Eiden from the corner of his eye. He’s looking. The tiniest look, but still. It’s there. 

Super cute.

Doubling down, more excited than ever, Eiden shrugs and pretends not to notice. That would probably embarrass Edmond further. He looks like a hell of a shy one! “It’s up to you. I won’t force you into anything. Whatever you’re comfortable with. If you do decide to stay, though, there’s plenty of space here.” 

“No, no. There’s no need to extend your hospitality to the likes of me. I couldn’t intrude.” 

“You’re not intruding. I’m offering.” Eiden gives him a friendly smile. “Also, just saying, you look dead on your feet. Most humans would have collapsed by the time they reached the top of this mountain. I think the safest thing for you now is to rest and recover for a few days. We’ll both take it easy!” 

He chuckles. “I mean, now that you know I’m not a super scary dragon or anything. No slavering jaws and fire breath.” 

Edmond clicks his teeth in frustration. Then he takes a long breath, eyes closed. “Perhaps…you’re right. It would be foolish to attempt a journey home in this state.” 

For sure. The armor around Edmond’s wrists and knees is trembling. He can barely keep himself standing! 

“Definitely. So, come on. I’ll show you where you can rest.” 

This time, when Eiden goes inside, Edmond does follow him.

Nice.

____________________________________

“This is where I live.” 

Eiden demonstrates. It is a wide open area towards the very back of the cave. There are some fur coverings here and there for comfort. An indentation in the middle where Eiden sleeps, almost like a nest. On the far side, there is a small hot spring. Eiden keeps it warm all day and night in case he misses home. It’s good for a quick soak.

And on the opposite side of the wading pool, there is a cavern etched into the cave wall that opens into Eiden’s hall of treasure. His precious hoard. The thing that helps him pass the time around here when he’s not out playing with the wood creatures. (Or when he is.)

Edmond glances around the living space. He nods cautiously. There’s nothing alarming about this space after all. Nothing to be scared of.

“Over here…perhaps I could rest in this area?” Edmond found the small cavern. The hall of treasure.

“Um, actually, I don’t think there’s enough space for you there.” Eiden can’t keep his grin to himself. He is so proud of these treasures! How could he not want to show them off? “But feel free to take a look around if you want!” 

Edmond glances warily at Eiden, but he inspects the cavern nonetheless. He’s looking for a private space, no doubt. Somewhere secluded. 

“Hm? What are these?” He has discovered the hoard. He goes in to take a closer look. He touches something. “I’ve never seen anything like this. But this, wait…is this—oh!” 

Throwing down the object in his hand—a particularly glamorous butt plug of magicked stone—Edmond finally realizes the nature of Eiden’s hoard. It’s a mountain—a literal mountain—of sex toys. Things Eiden found out there in the wide world over the last thousand years. Things he made himself.

Eiden has not used all of these sex toys. Not on himself, at least. Most of them have been put to use at one time or another with his partners. But there are definitely a few things in here that have not yet seen any action. Eiden’s fascination with these objects is pure in a way. He admires the creativity of the design. He likes to challenge himself to create new things, pleasurable things, that he can really have fun with. It’s what brings him joy in life. 

Of course, the root of the obsession is entirely hedonistic. And Eiden is fine with that too. 

“Do you like it?” he asks, preening. “That butt plug you picked out is a particular favorite.” When Edmond threw it on the floor, it began to buzz. Spell activated. This design has been used by many of Eiden’s partners. But this specific plug has not. It hasn’t found a partner yet. 

Edmond must have picked it up for a reason. It must be fate! 

And oh, this lapis lazuli stone plug would look so cute in Edmond’s butt! This guy must have a really pretty ass. He’d probably gasp like a virgin if you plugged him full. Mouth open, unhindered sounds coming out. Or maybe, mouth closed. Trying and failing to hold it in. 

In fact…

Well, Eiden has a pretty good nose for these things. The smell coming from Edmond…

“Obscene! Unreal! What in the world—disgusting!” Bright red, Edmond stomps out of the treasure hall, furiously wiping his hand on his armored leg. “You foul dragon!”

Eiden lovingly places the plug back on the pile. There are so many awesome things in here, but. Edmond is definitely not ready yet. If Eiden’s nose is to be believed. 

If it is, then holy shit. Eiden has not met a virgin in many, many years. 

This guy really is something special.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you.” Eiden hurries to the well to get Edmond a fresh drink of water. “It’s my hoard, you know? All dragons have treasures. Different kinds of things. Mine are sex toys. It’s just my thing.” 

Armor clanking with shivers, Edmond accepts the jug of water. He takes a long drink, emptying it in one go. “Are you some kind of sexual deviant? Amassing perverted objects of that nature?” 

Eiden fights down another laugh. “And if I say that I am?” 

Edmond takes a few steps backwards. He reaches for his sword again.

“Don’t worry!” Eiden throws his hands up in surrender. “I’m not a mindless weirdo, promise! When I offered to let you stay the night, it wasn’t for that.” 

Now Edmond unsheathes his sword. Ready to fight. He is not swayed in the least by Eiden’s promise.

Frightened, Eiden desperately tries to walk it back. “Hold on a minute! Calm down! You can’t judge my character solely based on my hoard! That’s unfair! You’ve been talking to me this whole time, right? Don’t I seem normal to you? Just like an ordinary person?” 

Edmond squints at Eiden. Unsure. After several anxious moments, he finally relents. Puts away his sword.

He seems to agree that Eiden is trustworthy on face value. Nonetheless, he growls lowly, “There is nothing ordinary about you.” 

“Heh…mm, well…” Eiden rubs the back of his neck. “I guess you’re right.” 

Saying nothing else, Eiden faces a blank wall towards the front of his living space. He smooths his hand across the stone. It yields to him. (Having control over all the elements comes in handy!) With a dull rumble, the stone fashions itself into a small room. An empty cavern. Eiden takes a sheet from his nest and hangs it over the front, so Edmond can have his privacy. He also carries in a few fur blankets. A place for Edmond to rest.

“All yours,” he says brightly. “Make yourself comfortable.”

Edmond looks quite surprised. On several fronts. It must be disorienting to see such a bold display of magic. Human wizards would need to study for decades to make a stone move even a little bit, so Edmond has definitely never seen anything like this before. 

Not only that…

“Thank you for your hospitality.” The words come from tight lips, but they are sincere enough. 

With that, he pushes past Eiden and closes the curtain behind him. Eiden hears armor clinking. Evidence that Edmond is getting undressed. It must be unbearably hot in all that metal! And exhausting! 

Eiden fetches another pail of fresh water, a towel, and a robe. He leaves them outside Edmond’s room and informs him that they’ll be there if he wants to freshen up.

However, the only sound he can hear on the other side of the curtain is even breathing. Soft snoring. Edmond is already asleep. 

Poor guy. Eiden feels genuinely bad for him. Who knows what kind of horrible things have happened to Edmond in his kingdom, which is falling apart at the seams it sounds like. Then he made the grueling journey all the way here, ready to offer himself up to death.

He’s been through a lot. Eiden will let him rest as long as he needs to. 

Meanwhile, Eiden should focus on procuring some human food from the dark forest. So Edmond can have something to eat when he wakes up. 

It will be exciting though. The next few days. 

Plenty of excitement to keep Eiden entertained for a while. 

Chapter Text

Eiden has no idea how long humans usually sleep. For him, a nap can last a few hours, a week, or a year if he’s not careful.

Best to let the knight sleep as long as he needs to. 

Eiden has prepared a nice meal for him. Warmed up and ready to go. While he waits for Edmond to wake up and enjoy it, he’ll take a look at the dildo he’s been working on. He’s trying to perfect the angle so it reaches inside just such a way…he examines the base. The material is reconstituted shells and ceramic. Very, very smooth to the touch. Thick. Should he make it thicker…? 

“Ahem.” 

He looks up from his work. “Oh! Edmond! You’re awake. How are you feeling?” 

Apparently Edmond found the robe Eiden left for him. Silver silk with a few patches of glittery thread. It’s one of Eiden’s own robes, but he hasn’t worn it for a while. Oh man, it looks so good on Edmond! His lithe, curvy body is accentuated by the flowy material. And the pale color makes his cold, stark features more prominent. 

Beautiful. Eiden is once again taken aback. This man is really…

“Ah…better, thank you.” Edmond closes the robe tighter around the collar. Does he notice Eiden staring (Eiden thought he was being discreet!) or is he just shy? Hard to say. “How long was I asleep?” 

“About a day. Little longer. It’s just after daybreak on the second day since you’ve been here.” 

Edmond’s jaw drops. “Wh-what? That long?!” 

“Yup. You must have been totally worn out.” Eiden sees the scandalized, embarrassed look on the knight’s face. “But don’t worry! You didn’t miss anything.” He gestures around the empty cave with a smile.

Edmond scratches his eyebrow self-consciously. “Still, I…my apologies for being such a layabout.” 

Eiden bursts out laughing. “That’s not how I would describe you. I’ve only just met you and I can already tell you’re the kind of person who works himself into the ground. Am I right?” 

“Tch.” Edmond shakes his head. “I only do what’s necessary to keep the kingdom safe and orderly. Whatever is in my power.” 

The picture of who Edmond is has started to become clear. Eiden knows these types of people pretty well. Super serious folks. Workaholics. In the old days, some dragons had this same mentality. They upheld the Old Ways of asceticism, kept out of sight, and honed their magic to benefit the natural order of the world. Eiden ran with that crowd when he was first born, but it never kept his interest. 

He wants to be out in the world. See things, do things. Have experiences! 

At his worst, Eiden was a heretic who used the magic he learned from the dragon ascetics to become a ‘grand sorcerer’ that lorded himself above humans. He went from one extreme to the other. 

The best path, Eiden thinks, is all about balance. Dedication, fun, and passion. All mixed together. 

Not that balance is easy to achieve.

“Right, yeah,” he says vaguely, moving on. He turns to the pot of stew on the fire. “Interested in something to eat? Sit down, I’ll pour you a bowl.” 

Hesitantly, Edmond sits on the floor in front of the tiny stone table where Eiden is working. He sidesteps the nest in the middle of the room on instinct. He is right to do so, by dragon culture. Dragons don’t let anyone get their scent on their nest unless they are a current or potential mate. But, Edmond probably doesn’t know anything about dragon culture! He’s just being cautious. 

Eiden hands him a bowl of stew and a stone spoon. “Here. Let me know how it tastes.” He turns back to his work to give Edmond some privacy while he eats.

Edmond quietly sips the soup. As he goes on, his sips get bolder and he eats in earnest. The taste must be fine then!

After draining the last drop, Edmond wipes his mouth on his hand. He gulps down some water. “That was delicious, thank you.” 

“Great. Glad I’m not too out of practice.” Eiden passes over a bowl of cut up honey melonberries. “For dessert.” 

Immediately, Edmond grabs the fruit. “My word! Where on earth did you get these?” 

“The dark forest. It’s a short way north from here.” 

“The…dark forest.” Edmond scrutinizes a melonberry. “That’s…is it…safe for me to…?” 

“Of course.” Do humans think the area is poisonous or something? “The forest has plenty of things that are perfectly safe for anyone to eat. Humans are the ones who gave it the name ‘dark.’ I don’t really know why, personally. Thought it had something to do with the fact that the forest gets almost no direct sunlight. It feels like nighttime there no matter what time of day it is.” 

Edmond nods. “Well, yes. That is part of the reason for the name.” A tiny nibble on the fruit and his eyes pop in wonder. “I-incredible! So ripe and decadent!” 

He eats the melonberries with relish. Savoring every bite. Eyes closed in delight.

At first, Eiden is a little surprised by this reaction. Then it dawns on him.

“Oh, right. Your people have been in a drought for a while. So you probably haven’t been able to enjoy sweet things. Fruit doesn’t grow if it’s too dry.” 

Edmond nods, swallowing a mouthful of fruit. “That’s correct. I haven’t enjoyed honey melonberries, nor any sweet treats like this, in…many years. Fruit production in the Light Kingdom has completely stopped. Sugarcane and beets are extinct. The bees have all died out or migrated elsewhere, so our stockpile of honey has grown alarmingly thin. Sweets in the Light Kingdom are reserved for once yearly celebrations. And last year we couldn’t even afford that.” 

“Man, that’s rough.” A world without sugar! Sounds pretty sad. “Even the king’s stockpiles are running out?” 

“Yes.” Edmond uses his fingers to mop up the juice at the bottom of the bowl. He sucks on them without hesitation, throwing caution to the wind. “After three years of the drought, the king opened the royal stockpiles to the people. It would have been unconscionable not to, since we were already in starvation times. With careful rationing, we’ve managed to make it this long. But…” He shakes his head. “Now even the king is starving.” 

With that, Edmond suddenly remembers himself. He realizes he’s been sucking his fingers in front of Eiden this whole time. Ashamed, he forces himself to put down the bowl and curl his fists into his sleeves. “I…apologize for the uncouth display. I do not want you to think people from the Light Kingdom are barbarians. It’s just that nothing sweet has passed my lips in several years now and I…” 

He squeezes his eyes shut to school himself. “Well. There is no excuse. Pardon me.” 

Wow, this guy really is hard on himself. That picture is clearer than ever! 

Eiden gentles his voice. “Not at all. You’ve been starving, Edmond. Please, don’t be self-conscious around me. Eat as much as you want.” Without asking, he takes Edmond’s bowl and refills it with stew. “I can get you more of those melonberries too in a little bit.” 

Edmond’s eyes narrow. He stares at Eiden with scrutiny, trying to read his generosity for what else it could be. Fortunately, there is nothing else! Eiden is just trying his best to help. 

Edmond, it seems, is wise enough to discern that.

He bows politely. “Thank you,” he says in a quiet, deeply sincere voice. “Thank you very much.” Controlling himself, he lifts his spoon again to eat the rest of the stew.

“Don’t mention it. You’re very welcome.” It satisfies Eiden to see Edmond eat. He wishes he could feed all the people in the Light Kingdom, but…

Well, in a short time, Eiden will bring the rains back so they can harvest produce again. Then everything can go back to normal in the Light Kingdom! 

Pleased, Eiden stretches his scaly, talon-like hands. He’s been working too hard on the dildo. Better take a break. He lays down on the floor, propping his head up on one arm. He closes his eyes and thinks deeply about the Light Kingdom’s predicament. 

“I don’t get it…” he wonders aloud. “Can’t the Light Kingdom trade with the other kingdoms for resources? Like aren’t there ways to prevent this kind of thing?” 

“Mm, of course.” Edmond is eating much slower. Trying to settle his system. “We used to have a very good trade agreement with the Water Territory. The Water Consul was a close friend of my parents’, in fact.” He takes a measured bite. “However, after a few years of trade, the drought spread to the Water Territory as well. Now they are in a similar—in some ways even worse—situation. And the rest of the territories came to believe that the Light Kingdom is cursed. They refuse to trade with us, lest the drought spread to their lands as well.” 

For real?! “That’s ridiculous! That’s not how weather works! It’s not a curse. Are humans that superstitious?” 

Edmond tilts his head thoughtfully. “I admit, it is unexpected to hear a dragon speak ill of superstition. A magical creature such as yourself.” 

Okay, fair point.

“Besides, you cannot blame the other territories for trying to protect their people. They’re doing what they feel is best.” Edmond puts down the bowl with some soup still left in it. “Unfortunately, we are out of options. The king is ready to declare war on the Wood Territories to expand westward into more fertile ground. Expanding, or simply leaving, is the only way we might survive.” He heaves a sigh. “But war is…unfavorable. To say the least.” 

To that, Eiden agrees. “Yeah, no kidding. You’re going to lose a lot of people if you go to war. Especially since your kingdom is already weak….uh, no offense.” 

“None taken. You’ve described it precisely. We are not in any position to go to war right now. Our soldiers are frail, our supplies are shoddy. The king is hungry; he’s not thinking clearly anymore. The only thing we have on our side is…desperation.”

Mm, yeah. Desperation is a kind of weapon. But on the battlefield, it could go either way. It could boost the soldiers’ willpower and strength, or it could make them erratic. Not listening to commands, no cohesion. 

Eiden doesn’t say that, however. “Well, you don’t have to worry about that anymore! I’m going to bring the rains back, you’ll see. Then everything will be fixed! Right?” 

Edmond blinks slowly. He is not smiling. Nor does he agree. He only says, “Speaking of, are you ready to change into your full form now?” 

“Hey, slow down! It’s only been a day.” Eiden nods towards the bowl of soup. “Is my food really so bad that you’re ready to bounce so soon?” 

Unsurprisingly, Edmond doesn’t take Eiden’s teasing well. He waves both hands in front of his face. “No, no, not at all! I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be impatient, nor to insult your hospitality. I just…” 

Eiden chuckles. “Relax, Edmond. I’m only kidding.” 

“Kidding…?” Edmond echoes the word with a dubious expression. He doesn’t seem to understand.

Jeez, okay. Obviously Eiden should take these things more seriously, especially when it comes to Edmond’s mission. Eiden is not used to being serious—he hasn’t actually been serious about anything in the last 800 years—but okay. Out of respect for Edmond, he will try. 

“I know you need to get back to your kingdom,” Eiden adds. “The people are counting on you. I get it! Just try to be patient a little longer. It takes a while for my magic to gather…” He taps the crystal in his chest. “…here. You can probably see the progress for yourself.” The crystal is already starting to show more hues. Neon blue, orange, pink, and red. Reflecting in the light. “While we rest and talk, I’m centering all my magic here in the crystal. That’ll help me change into that huge form.”  

Curious, Edmond nods. “I…see. Thank you for understanding my sense of urgency. I appreciate all the things you’re doing to take this on.” He gestures towards Eiden’s chest with a loose, unconfident hand. “As far as… that goes. Or…well, um…” He averts his gaze with a blush. 

Edmond must be uncomfortable talking about magic. That makes sense! He’s never been exposed to something this powerful, this far outside the realm of normal for humans. 

There is also a chance, however, that Edmond is blushing not because of the magic, but because Eiden’s chest is on full display. Eiden has to slip his robe open to show Edmond the crystal. He’s bare from the neck down to his pectoral muscles. Is this show of skin making Edmond blush? 

Hmm. Maybe if he does a little more…

Eiden raises his hands to stretch again. Loudly, of course. Just to get attention. In the process, he slips the robe off one shoulder, opening it even more. Now his shoulder is exposed, and he’s naked down to his belly button. More scales. Shiny white crescents that look like pretty pearls against Eiden’s human skin.

Sure enough, Edmond sneaks another glance in Eiden’s direction. When he spies the display—(it’s nothing too lewd! Eiden just got a little clumsy with his robes, that’s all!)—he blushes harder and swallows a mouthful of air. 

There is no hiding from Eiden, though.

Eiden’s sensitive ears can hear that swallow. He can smell Edmond’s blood inside his veins, beating from his heart, powered by his life force energy. His ‘essence,’ is how the dragon ascetics would describe it. Edmond’s essence is quite weak because he’s been struggling with famine, but it’s slightly stronger now than before. The food is helping. 

It is sweeter, too. All of a sudden. Edmond’s essence is sweet due to the rushing blood flow from his increased heart rate. That blood is moving in a southerly direction. His mouth is drier, too. He can’t stop swallowing.

Ah. Okay, then. 

Eiden can work with that! He licks his lips, and his teeth sharpen themselves ever so slightly against his tongue. Edmond is so, so cute. So beautiful and undeniably strong! (Not only did he make it up that mountain, he did it under starvation conditions!) Eiden would love nothing more than to play with him a little. He had this desire the moment he first laid eyes on Edmond, and it doesn’t seem like it’s going anywhere! 

The thing is…

No, it’s too soon. 

If only Edmond’s essence were a little stronger! Eiden doesn’t think it’s fair to play with him like this. When he’s so weak! Edmond needs time to get his strength back before they can really have some fun together. In this state, Edmond might not be able to handle Eiden at all.

If it weren’t for that…well, Eiden would slink up behind him right now and kiss his neck. Is Edmond’s neck sensitive? Bet it is…

No, no. Take it easy. Slow down.

Now who’s being impatient?

It’s rude to assume that someone wants to fuck just because they’re attracted to you. Edmond’s essence is definitely inexperienced—possibly even untouched—and he seems like a very private person. He does everything the proper way, maybe even too proper! People like that…it’s better to give them time. 

Time. Right, time. Just a little bit of time.

They have time.

Fixing his robes, Eiden rises to his feet. “You should get some more rest,” he says to Edmond. “Your body is still recovering from the long trip. I’ll head over to the dark forest to get you more berries and stuff, okay?” 

With those words, the moment passes. Edmond remembers how tired his body really is. He hides a yawn behind one hand. “Alright, then. If you insist.” 

Eiden is not insisting. But sure. 

“Just…use caution in the dark forest,” Edmond says warily. “I’ve heard…strange things.”

Is he telling him to be careful? That’s hilarious! Eiden is by far the strongest thing for a hundred miles in any direction! Nothing in the dark forest could even lay a scratch on him. Not only that, they wouldn’t! The nature, animals, and yokai that live there are nice. 

“Nah, it’s pretty chill in the forest,” Eiden explains. “There’s nothing to be afraid of. I don’t think anything in there would hurt a human, nonetheless a dragon like myself.” 

“Really? That’s good to hear. That means I was right to…ah, never mind.” 

Eiden stops in his tracks. “Huh? What do you mean?” He has a bad feeling about this, knowing what he knows about humans and their general treatment of magical creatures.

Edmond winces. “No, it’s nothing. I don’t want you to be…” He sucks in air through his teeth. “…soured towards my people in any way.” 

Right. Well, Eiden can pretty much guess the rest. “Uh-huh. So there’s more to the name ‘dark forest’ than just the fact that it’s not too bright in there.”

“…Indeed.” Edmond looks at the floor. Regretful. “It is well-known that all manner of fae creatures live in the woods. When times got tough, there were many suggestions of how we could use the forest. Most in the royal court were far too afraid to go in and search for resources. The loudest suggestion was to burn the forest to the ground and destroy the fae altogether, since they might be using their powers to put a curse on us.” 

Eiden’s ears get hot with rage. “Are you kidding me…?” 

His claws sharpen themselves, horns grow bigger. When he gets mad, or too excited, his human form warps a little. His legs bind together at the top of his thighs, morphing into his long, snake-like body. He wants to whip out his tail and thrash it against the floor. It’ll make him feel better!

Humans are so ignorant when it comes to magic! Things they don’t understand! How could they want to burn down the forest? That’s just cruel! Those fae and yokai are innocent! 

Edmond raises a hand to stop Eiden’s boiling anger. “Do not think too much of it. That is human fear at its very worst. I advocated strongly to leave the forest alone, since we have no true understanding of its powers. I was able to garner a faction of like-minded individuals and we lobbied our position. Fortunately, in the end, cooler heads prevailed. There is no such proposition to burn down the woods anymore.”

Oh, that’s good. Sounds like Edmond was able to convince those foolhardy humans what needed to be done! 

Instantly, Eiden’s rage subsides. His human form returns to normal. 

Edmond is a good guy. He has a strong sense of morals, which extends even to creatures he does not fully understand.

That’s really, really refreshing.  

Forgetting about his momentary outburst (it’s just part of who he is), Eiden smiles warmly at Edmond. “Glad you were there to steer them in the right direction.” 

For once, Edmond returns the smile. “I’m glad my intuitions about the forest were correct.” 

They share a few seconds of this good-natured feeling. The iciness from their first encounter has thawed. Now their intentions are aligned. They’ve managed to scrub away the stone bricks of the obvious wall that came up when they first met. Surprisingly, it didn’t take much! A conversation. A deal. A plan of action. A meal and some melonberries.

They have seen a bit of each other’s true selves. 

Not as much as Eiden would like, of course. 

But he shouldn’t be too greedy.

__________________________________________

After another day passes, the two of them feel out a routine. Edmond is much stronger after several meals and another whole day of sleep. He does not intend to spend his stay in this cave behind the curtain alone. 

Every morning, he emerges from his makeshift room to practice sword training. He stands towards the back of the cave, far away from where Eiden works on his ‘foul-minded’ crafts, and swings his blade through the air in metered strikes. Over and over again. 

“You, uh…you seem to have gotten the hang of it…” Eiden doesn’t want to insult him, but his brain is going numb watching Edmond do the same thing a thousand times! Don’t humans ever get bored? Come on! 

Edmond continues swinging. “Yes, my technique is masterful after many, many years of practice. But that is all the more reason to keep practicing. Or else my technique will surely diminish.”

Will it, though? Eiden is pretty sure Edmond knows what he’s doing by now! 

Oh well. Humans are humans and Edmond is Edmond. Eiden won’t tell him what to do. 

Every time Eiden tries to make sex toys, though, Edmond’s face gets red. If he sees Eiden taking out his tools, he immediately stomps over to the back of the cave to swing his sword. He can’t even look at the materials! 

“Does it bother you?” Eiden asks, addressing the elephant in the room.

“Yes.” 

Okay, that was a succinct response. Eiden scratches the back of his neck. “Why? I mean they’re just toys, right? People use them to have fun. Chances are these might not even get used. It’s just fun to think about—”

“I try not to sully my mind with such things.” Edmond keeps his eyes trained on the stone wall. Automated. Strict. 

Could a person really be that offended by sex? “What do you mean?” Eiden cannot stop himself from asking. “What’s so wrong about fantasies?” 

Edmond shakes his head. “They’re a diversion. Useless, in the end. Even worse, they could be a distraction. I cannot afford to lose concentration.”  

“Well, letting go of your concentration from time to time can be healthy,” Eiden argues. “If you try to keep yourself too focused for too long, you’ll end up making mistakes anyway. Your brain needs a break, you know?” 

That earns a tart scoff from Edmond. “Nonsense.” 

So that’s how it is.

Eiden lays against the stone floor and watches Edmond swing that sword. What is he swinging at, Eiden wonders. His own sexual urges? If he swings hard enough, can he make them go away?

Definitely not. 

It’s almost cute to watch him try, though. If it weren’t so antithetical to proper care. Edmond has a seriously strong sword hand! Those muscles are so finely trained. Those legs are like solid saplings. How would they feel wrapped around Eiden’s waist…? 

“Is there a reason you’re staring at me?” 

Whoops! Got caught! 

“Heheheh….” Eiden grins goofily. “No, I was just, uh….thinking. This and that. Um. Gathering energy in my crystal. Dragon stuff, you know? Haha!” 

He doesn’t sound convincing at all. And Edmond hardly believes him. He huffs and continues swinging, ignoring Eiden completely. 

That could have gone better. A lot of these accidental missteps will leave Eiden iced out for a while. Edmond has no problem putting Eiden in timeout. So, Eiden has to find ways around the icy patches. Learn to skate. 

Fortunately, he’s a good skater. He can adapt. 

“I’m going to get more supplies from the dark forest. Won’t be long!” 

“Mm.” 

Right, right. Nothing can break his concentration. Eiden smirks to himself. He knows a few things that might, though.

_________________________________________

One day, when he returns to the cave after another run to the dark forest, Eiden finds something extraordinary waiting for him.

Edmond has taken his arms out of the robe to train. Maybe it’s too hot in the cave; Eiden left the fire burning too strong. Or maybe Edmond overexerted himself and now he’s sweating. Either way, Edmond is standing there naked to the waist. Swinging that sword like always. 

And, oh yes. The sight is everything Eiden hoped for! Edmond’s shoulder muscles are perfectly shaped. Not too beefy, just toned to perfection! Those pectorals are fucking beautiful, too. Sculpted from stone! His waist is tiny (perhaps too tiny) and his back is…hmm?

Actually, Eiden sees something he did not expect on Edmond’s body. A few things.

He should have probably assumed this, considering the things Edmond has already told him about his life in the Light Kingdom. But for whatever reason, Eiden never imagined Edmond having….

“Oh! M-my apologies!” 

As soon as Edmond sees Eiden, his sword clatters to the ground in surprise. For a trained sword hand, that is unheard of! Flabbergasted, Edmond rushes to cover himself. In his haste, his robe nearly unties in the front, and Edmond has to turn away in a fit of red-faced scrambling. 

“It’s okay, it’s okay!” Eiden pointedly looks away, giving Edmond much-needed privacy. “Don’t worry, it’s only me.” He lays the satchel of provisions on the table and begins to sort them, assuming their normal routine. 

Edmond says nothing. When he is fully reclothed again, he stands with his back to Eiden, rooted to the floor. Stuck in a cycle of humiliation. 

He stays like that for a while. The moment stretches on, getting more and more uncomfortable. 

“It’s really fine,” Eiden offers again. He prepares a bowl of lavender buds in sweet cream. One of Edmond’s favorites (he definitely has a sweet tooth, judging by the frequency and speed he devours all the sugary things Eiden procures from the forest). “No harm done.” 

“No, I…I shouldn’t have…” Edmond covers his face with both hands.

“You’re allowed to be comfortable here. There’s no need to be self-conscious—”

“No, it’s not alright.” Edmond’s long hair is draped across his shoulders. A curtain to hide him. “I…I am sorry you had to see that…” 

In a flash, Eiden is on his feet. Hearing those words, the despondency and self-hatred…he can’t stand it! 

He lays his clawed hand Edmond’s shoulder. This is the first time Eiden has touched Edmond on purpose. They need to pass through. Edmond flinches hard, almost squirming away, but not quite. He is shivering.

“Please don’t apologize,” Eiden says softly, parting Edmond’s hair to one side so he can see the side of his face. Whatever Edmond will let him see. “You didn’t do anything wrong.” 

Edmond allows Eiden to touch his hair, but he turns his face away. Still not able to look at him. “I know the sight is…unpleasant. Forgive me—”

“Edmond.” 

The serious way Eiden says his name makes Edmond finally turn around. His face is pink, but gaunt. There are deep hollows underneath his eyes. Marks of memories that live on Edmond’s skin and in his mind. 

They stare at each other. Now that they are looking, Edmond stares as deeply into Eiden’s eyes as he can. Trying to see the very soul of him. As if, by seeing Edmond’s bare torso, Eiden has already seen all there is to see. And now Edmond wants to even the playing field. To know everything there is about Eiden.  Most importantly, his reaction. What he must think after seeing the marks that Edmond certainly wasn’t born with?

Gently, Eiden takes Edmond by the hand. “Come on. Will you sit down with me and enjoy some dessert?” 

Edmond swallows hard. He lets Eiden hold his hand. Lets himself be taken to the table, where he sits. He holds the collar of his robe closed, still wincing at the thought of being exposed. But he also looks at the flowers in milk. He picks up his spoon and begins to eat.

Phew. They got through it. 

That was a close call. Eiden thought for a second that Edmond might run out of the cave and never return! Or else, he would have stayed rooted to that spot forever. Like he’d been turned to stone.

Eiden sighs in relief. Now that the first thorny moment has passed, he has to say what’s on his mind. Eiden has a ton of ideas how to help! “You know, I have something that will help you with those rashes.” 

Edmond tenses as soon as Eiden mentions them.

“They’re because you haven’t been eating enough,” Eiden explains. “You’re dehydrated, so your skin is too dry. That’s why you have those flaky red patches—” 

“I know what they’re from.” Edmond keeps his head down. “Many people in my kingdom have this same affliction. Much worse, as well. This is…how it starts.” 

Eiden nods. “It’s because of the famine. You need more nutrition. And some lotion. Here, will you let me—”

“The rashes are the least of our concerns.” Edmond snaps in irritation. “I suppose I don’t need to tell you about the loss of life and the mass graves—”

“You don’t need to tell me.” Eiden has seen it before. Many, many years ago. The way humans bury their dead when there are too many to count. “But, you still can. If you want to. I’ll listen.” 

At the offer to be heard, Edmond is taken aback. He doesn’t have a quick reply. Just a surprised look on his face.

“I’ll always listen, Edmond. You don’t need to be polite around me. I’ve lived a very, very long time. Longer than humans can understand. There’s not much I haven’t heard before.” 

Eiden pulls out a small earthenware vessel of soap from his tools. He melts the soap with a flick of fire from his fingers. 

“And also because, I care about you.”

Edmond gasps. He wasn’t expecting that! 

“What? Don’t act so surprised.” Eiden grins at him, shadows dancing on his face from the flame in his hand. “We’ve had many conversations since you’ve been here. We’ve talked and listened to each other. I care about you, Edmond, and the suffering of your people. So can you trust me when I say something? Even just a little bit, for now?” 

Edmond blinks rapidly. Clears his throat. When he speaks again, he is much more levelheaded. “I trust you, Eiden. I do. The kindness you’ve shown me these past few days has been…unexpected. But very…pleasant.” 

Pleasant, eh? Eiden likes the sound of that. 

“But please understand. Too much has happened these past seven years. Too much to explain to someone like yourself, who lives above the world without knowing the day-to-day suffering of the people.” 

Eiden bounces his eyebrows in surprise. 

Wow. That’s harsh, but fair.

Genuine criticism. And valid criticism at that! 

It makes sense. How can Eiden hope to understand Edmond’s suffering when he lives the way he does? Popping in and out of existence. Living for whole stretches of time in the crystal lake, closing his eyes for hundreds of years when living in the physical world feels impossible…

Maybe Eiden was being naive when he said the problems in the Light Kingdom can be fixed just like that. With a snap of the fingers, then everything will be fine again. 

That is naive. Even if the rains come, the people of the Light Kingdom have been marred by the tragedies brought by the drought. That kind of pain never goes away. 

Eiden understands now.

“I’m sorry.” That’s the first thing he wants to say. “I’m sorry for giving you the impression that I’m too far removed from the world to care. But trust me, that’s not true.” 

He opens his own robe, showing Edmond the scaly patches he has as well. His are bright and shiny though, dazzling to the eye. While Edmond watches, mesmerized, Eiden plucks out several scales in a row. He lays them on the table, where they sparkle a bit, before going dull. 

“What on earth are you doing…?” 

Without answering, Eiden finishes what he wanted to say. “I’ve been alive more than four thousand years. Still relatively young in dragon time, but even so.” 

“Four thousand…?” Edmond’s jaw hangs open in disbelief.

Eiden nods. “Yeah. The way I remember things…” He picks up a hammer and crushes his plucked scales under the head. “…it’s complicated. I remember everything. Every creature, every war, every day. But sometimes, that’s too much. My soul starts to hurt. When that happens, I have to go to the lake where I was born. A lake as clear and quiet as a mirror. It’s a long way north. When I go there, sometimes…” 

Eiden closes his eyes at the memory. “It makes me feel better. The water is my true home, it rejuvenates me. My crystal feels brand new. But when I close my eyes, sometimes I don’t want to get out. I just want to keep my eyes closed and drift. Stay there forever. Until I sink to the bottom.”

“What happens if you sink?” 

“I go to sleep. For a very long time. Hundreds of years.” He shrugs. “If I stay too long, I start thinking about being in the lake for eternity. Choosing to sleep instead of living.” 

Edmond looks impressed. “You could do that?” 

“Yeah. It’s the closest thing we dragons have to death. My body will naturally decompose and stuff. I’ll be able to feel it, be aware of what’s happening and the time passing, but only slightly. It won’t hurt.” Eiden blinks. “I think.” 

“So you would choose to die.” Edmond seems to understand now.

“Maybe,” Eiden counters. “My parents are in that lake. And their parents, and their parents’ parents. That’s where everyone in my blood line goes eventually. It’s where our bodies rest, the bones and scales and dust. I just have to decide when it’s my time.” 

Somehow, Edmond is deeply touched by this. It is so opposite from the human experience, but he doesn’t register that. He is engrossed in Eiden’s story. “When will you know? That it’s your time, I mean?” 

Eiden shrugs. “Who knows? Maybe when I’ve seen too much? Or too little, I guess. When things start to lose their meaning.” 

He sprinkles the crushed scales into the melted soap. He mixes it altogether with one of his claws. Swirling, swirling. Watching the fat of the soap coagulate against his dragon essence. 

“What I’m saying is,” he continues, “the world is full of suffering. Not even dragons can escape it, you know? Our immortality is great and all, but it’s a curse our souls succumb to in the end. Which makes me think—and I could be wrong about this—human suffering and dragon suffering are not too far off from each other. Does that make any sense?” 

Slowly, Edmond nods. “…In a way, yes. Though I admit I’m ignorant about the ways of dragons. From what you’ve just told me, however…” 

His blue eyes shine with a kind of respect. Understanding that was not there before. To hear about the lake—the beauty of that place, how much Eiden loves it, but also how much it scares him, thinking about his fate—is key to this mysterious dragon.  

Edmond has seen more of him. A lot more. The soul underneath. 

It is a bright, shining soul. Edmond sees that now. “Well, you’ve given me a lot to think about,” he concedes. “Thank you.” 

“Uh, sure. And hey, while you’re thinking, can you use this on your rashes?” 

Eiden offers him the finished product. A waxy mixture of herbal soap and dragon scales. It smells like a meadow on a sunny afternoon. 

Of course, dragon scales have many natural curative properties. Eiden quickly explains all this to Edmond. Applied to human skin, dragon scales can invigorate the cells underneath. Enlivening them, reminding them of their old qualities. It’s like turning back the hands of time for the skin cells. This lotion will make Edmond’s skin bright and youthful, as it surely once was.

“And it’ll help with the scars too.” 

Besides rashes, Edmond has several scars in various places on his body. He has a particularly nasty one across the middle of his back. It looks like the strike of a sword, incurred just a few years ago. The vitriol of that scar is unmistakable. It must have hurt like hell! The way it’s positioned, and its depth, some people may not have recovered from such a strike. 

But Edmond is Edmond. He can will his way through anything.

However, he blushes when Eiden mentions the scars. 

“You don’t have to tell me where they’re from,” Eiden rushes to say. “I get it. Just use this cream at least once a day, okay? If you apply it directly I’m sure the scars will heal in time.” 

Carefully, Edmond takes the vessel of cream from Eiden’s hand. “…Thank you. I…will attempt it.” 

“Great! Let me know if you need help reaching the spots.” He winks at Edmond in a flirty way.

As if he’s been struck by a whip, instead of a wink, Edmond jolts. “R-ridiculous!” 

Eiden laughs. He could say he was kidding…

…but that wouldn’t be true. Actually, Eiden would love to slather Edmond in cream. He can’t think of a better way to spend an afternoon! 

So he says, “Well that the scar on your back must be hard to reach. You might need help getting the cream where it needs to be.” 

Edmond sputters, choking on his own tongue. He shakes his head vehemently. “Enough. I’m sure I can manage.” 

“Okay.” 

They sit in silence for a long time after that. Eiden makes himself a bowl of lavender cream. He doesn’t usually eat—dragons can subsist on air and water—but he likes to sometimes. For fun, if it tastes good. He’s getting better at making desserts for Edmond. This is pretty good! 

Then, breaking the silence, Edmond begins to speak. A quiet murmur. He tells Eiden everything. Where he got those scars. The true depths of the turmoil in the Light Kingdom.

After a few years of drought, the people’s grain storages were totally depleted. Unfortunately, the royal capitol was slow to respond to the crisis. People were starving while the ruling class and the nobility class were almost entirely unaffected. As this went on, naturally, people began to riot. They raided noble houses, taking whatever food and water they could find. Slaughtering the nobles in their wake.

“My parents…were murdered in such a riot.” 

A crack runs through Eiden’s heart. Edmond is from the nobility class, of course. The knights were deployed to stop the riots. That’s where he got those scars. But, even worse, it was personal for Edmond because his parents…

Eiden covers Edmond’s hands with both of his own. He squeezes them gently, careful of his claws. “I’m so sorry, Edmond. That’s awful. The people…”

Edmond shakes his head. “No, the people are not to blame. They were starving. The fault lies with the ruling and noble classes. The knights warned them that things were getting out of hand, but the nobles wouldn’t listen. Until it was too late.”

That…sounds accurate. Though it’s amazing that Edmond, whose parents were murdered in these riots, would have such a clear understanding of the factors at play. He listens. He pays attention to the people he serves. He knows. 

Eiden squeezes his hands again.

Edmond is surprisingly calm as he recites this. He does not cry. He just looks…weary. So, so tired. The hallows in his cheeks and the bags under his eyes are more frightful than any of his rashes or scars. 

Without thinking, Eiden reaches up and brushes the bangs out of Edmond’s face. He traces the bags under Edmond’s eye with the blunt side of his claw. Edmond’s face twitches, not used to such close personal contact.

But he doesn’t move away. 

Taking this as license to continue, Eiden tucks Edmond’s hair behind his ear. He trails his thumb down Edmond’s cheek. He rubs soft circles into the hollows there. A gentle caress. 

Edmond exhales breathily. Shuddering. Just this gentle touch and his heart is beating like crazy! Eiden thought Edmond would be yelling at him by now, stomping away to his corner of the cave. But he isn’t. He’s letting Eiden touch him.

Maybe they’ve passed through another hurdle. 

“Four thousand years…” Edmond says in bewilderment. “How…? How does someone survive that? The mundane trials of everyday life must add up. The losses and the injustices. How can you…?” 

Eiden smiles. He cups Edmond’s delicate face. Surprisingly, Edmond presses his cheek into Eiden’s hand. Returning the contact. 

He is so shy. So fragile when it comes to physical touch. But he likes it. He wants it. From the other side of his unscalable walls, Edmond is trying to reciprocate. 

“You know how I live? It’s easy.” Eiden smirks. “One day at a time. That’s it. I find joy where I can. Hold it close, so I can remember it forever.” 

He nods in the direction of his treasure trove. “That’s what those are for. Those toys help me enjoy my days. It’s nothing special, but it works.” 

Edmond glances at that room, hidden in plain sight. “How could that…?”

“Hm? Go on.”

With a sigh, Edmond forces himself to ask it. “How could those… things …help you so much? They’re just vulgar distractions. Fleeting pleasure. It’s a waste of time.”

Eiden laughs quietly. “Well, it’s not exactly ‘fleeting,’ you know?” 

Slowly, Edmond lifts his head. His brow creases, confused. His eyes are working to understand…but then he quickly banishes the idea with a blush and another shake of his head. 

“Edmond, let me ask you.” They’ve covered a lot of ground today. Might as well keep going. “Have you ever had sex before?” 

At that, Edmond audibly gasps. “Y-you!” He pulls away from Eiden’s hands. “Why are you asking me such a thing? Shameless!” 

“We’re just talking,” Eiden soothes. “It’s not that serious. You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I’m asking because it sounds like you have all these assumptions about sex and pleasure, but I’m wondering…well, how much experience do you have? You can’t have that strong of an opinion if you’ve never done it, right?” 

For once, Edmond hears him. He’s getting used to listening to Eiden, taking his words into account. He appreciates Eiden’s story. The life this dragon has lived. So Edmond thinks for a moment and he says…

“…Perhaps you have a point.” 

Hell of a concession! Eiden’s face lights up. “Yeah, right? I mean, you can’t knock it if you haven’t tried it, you know? So, um…” He lowers his voice gently. “…have you?” 

After a tense moment, two hearts beating fast, Edmond finally relents. He shakes his head softly. Barely there. Then he says, “Of course not. When would I have the time to engage in sordid acts of gratification…?” 

Shit, Eiden was right! He knew it! His nose doesn’t lie! He knew what he smelled from the moment they met! 

A virgin. For sure.

But…

Well, as much as that turns Eiden on (he has a reptilian brain after all; his tongue is already growing long inside his mouth), he’s also…a little sad for Edmond. What kind of life has he lived? All work, no pleasure? At least he gratifies himself with sweets, but. The kingdom has been devoid of treats for years now. 

So does that mean Edmond has nothing that makes him happy? His world is crumbling around him and he has no outlet for self-soothing? 

Eiden wants to wrap Edmond in his arms and kiss his brains out. He feels so bad for him! He wants to build a tower, lock Edmond inside the highest room, and never let him come out. He wants to envelop him in a state of constant pleasure, constantly stimulated, always a hair’s breadth from orgasm. So he can live his life ensconced in nothing but joy. Physical satisfaction. Smiling, gaining weight. Reaching for Eiden, moaning with abandon when Eiden enters him. Lost to happiness. Forever. 

That’s the world Eiden wants for Edmond.

And uh…wow. That’s…

Well, Eiden has never had a fantasy quite like that before. He’s played with a lot of people. But that fantasy went beyond just playing. 

He was fantasizing about a life.

Okay, okay. Slow down. Slow the fuck down! Eiden shakes his head to clear it. He’s getting way ahead of himself! What is he doing, imagining something as crazy as that? Edmond would never…! Besides, Eiden is not that kind of dragon! Keeping someone locked in a tower like that! 

That’s just his lizard instincts rearing their head. The desire to protect. To mate. To coddle and please. 

Eiden is more than just his lizard brain. He’s been alive for a long time. He can do better.

…Although, he can’t deny that the instincts themselves are strong. 

Very strong.

Swallowing hard, refocusing, Eiden combs his claws through Edmond’s hair. Calming him after that deeply personal admission. “Okay. I understand. So you haven’t done it before. That’s fine! Everyone’s different. Maybe you don’t have those urges, or…?” 

He knows Edmond has a sex drive. But he doesn’t want to be rude by assuming, or relying too much on his dragon senses. Edmond should be allowed to explain in his own words.

 Edmond clicks his tongue. “Of course I have…” he lowers his voice. “…desires…from time to time. My body is flesh and blood like everyone else. But those desires are not insurmountable. Nothing I am compelled to give in to.”

 “Got it.” Eiden is learning a lot! “So you have desires, but you haven’t acted on them. Maybe you just haven’t met the right person yet.” 

“I suppose that’s possible.” Edmond sighs. “But I can’t imagine myself ever…actually giving in.”

I can imagine it, Eiden wants to say. I can imagine it really well.

He manages to bite his tongue against those words.. Instead he says, “Sure, I can see how you’d feel that way. If it hasn’t happened yet, it’s hard to imagine.” 

“Mm.” 

“What if…?” Eiden trails off.

Edmond stares at him. “Go on. What if, what?” 

“Well…” Eiden wants to be careful with this. “What if you started with small things? Like not all the way at first. Just to experience it, then see how you feel.” 

Edmond seems dubious about this. He narrows his eyes. “What are the ‘small things’?” 

“Oh, you know. Easy stuff. Kissing, touching. Like that.” 

Edmond blushes deeply. “I see no point in kissing. A messy brush of the lips. Disgusting.” 

Okay, so he’s never done that either! Eiden nods. “I see. You’ve never been kissed, huh.” 

Hearing the tone in Eiden’s voice, Edmond sputters. “You—! How dare you? Don’t look at me like that! You foul-minded dragon—!” 

“Relax, relax.” Eiden raises his hands to show he means no harm. “No one is judging you, man. It’s just the two of us right now. No need to get defensive.” 

“Hmph.” 

Eiden lets that sit for a second. Then he asks, point blank, “Can I kiss you?” 

Edmond turns red to his ears. “W-what!” 

“Can I kiss you?” Eiden rises to his feet, and slowly kneels in front of Edmond. “I want to show you how it feels. Then you can decide if it’s something you like or don’t like. Okay?” 

Staring at Eiden, nervousness flying up to his eyes, Edmond wavers. He keeps glancing at Eiden’s lips. Every time he does, he stares at them a little longer. He must be imagining…

“Why would I…agree to…kiss you?” he asks. His resolve is already shattered, though. Eiden can tell by the breathiness of his voice.

Edmond’s imagination is getting the better of him. He squeezes his legs together. Hiding something.

“Because you’re curious,” Eiden provides. “Or maybe, you just want to. And that’s okay too.” He smiles, burying his claw in Edmond’s hair, coiling his whole hand around the back of his head. “I want to. I’ll be honest. I’ve wanted to kiss you for a while, but I was holding back because I didn’t know how you felt.” 

“You…?” 

Edmond’s eyebrows slide upwards in the middle. He’s confused. And deeply turned on. 

“You…I knew you were a fiend.” 

“Ha, yeah. You got me there.” 

Eiden closes the distance between their faces. He presses their foreheads together. Edmond sighs into the touch. Sensitive in the extreme. Unused to being so close to another person.

“So can I?” Eiden asks. “Can I kiss you now?” 

Edmond breathes shallowly for several seconds. His whole body is tense, muscles taut as a bowstring. His essence is going crazy. Sweet and sour all at once! Filled with desire but also fear. Sharp and genuine.

Which one will win out?

“Just…” Edmond whispers. “…just a little bit. A brief moment. Understood?” 

Eiden’s grin widens. To an inhuman level. Now he’s grinning like the devil he is. “Okay. I’ll be brief, then.” 

Taking all the time in the world, letting Edmond get used to every marvelous new sensation, Eiden finally does it. He presses his lips against Edmond’s. He kisses him lightly. 

“Mmh…” A quiet sound in the back of Edmond’s throat. Eiden was planning on stopping here, just a brush of the lips, but with that sound…

He keeps going. He kisses Edmond again. A little harder this time. More force, more movement in the lips. A line of saliva passes between them and Edmond’s whole body trembles.

“Ah—!” Edmond presses a fist to his own chest. Withstanding the feelings coursing through him. “It…tingles…!”

Eiden chuckles. “I know, right?” He pecks him on the lips again, holding Edmond’s shoulders to keep him in place. “Can I keep going for a bit?” 

“Unh…” Wordlessly, Edmond nods.

“Great.”

So Eiden holds Edmond closer. He latches onto the back of his head to guide him through the movements. He kisses him again and again, at last opening their mouths to slide his tongue inside. 

Edmond moans with his whole throat when Eiden’s tongue invades him. He melts into goo in Eiden’s hands, holding onto his shoulders for dear life. Eiden goes slowly, even slower than before. He licks every surface inside Edmond’s mouth. Tasting him, coating him in saliva. He licks his teeth, his tongue, the roof of his mouth. Everywhere. He makes the tips of their tongues dance together, then he licks underneath.

Eiden loves the taste of him! Edmond’s saliva is dense with essence. So, so sweet. Cloyingly sweet! For a battle-hardened knight that has lived through famine and turmoil, Edmond is the sweetest thing Eiden has ever tasted. By far.

He slides his hand down Edmond’s neck, parting the silver robe to take a peek. Edmond can’t stop shivering. He might not even notice that hand, the way Eiden pries his clothes open. Stealing glances at Edmond’s gorgeous chest and stomach. 

Eiden wants to fondle that chest so badly. Those cherry-sweet nipples, hidden inside! Eiden wants to massage Edmond until his inverted nipples pop out to say hello. He wants to taste him. To devour him. To know him intimately. To make Edmond’s body ripple with untold pleasure, unfolding for Eiden so he can have everything. 

But…he hasn’t asked permission yet. 

“Edmond…” Eiden breathes against his lips. “You are so hot. So fucking beautiful. Do you like this? Do you like kissing me?” 

The knight’s eyes are clouded and unfocused. He sways in his seat, bringing his own fingers to his lips to test the sensitivity. He shivers when he touches them. Those lips are plump and red, overstimulated from all the attention! 

“S-so sensitive…!” Edmond looks at Eiden helplessly. “What…did you do to me?” 

“Nothing, I swear.” Eiden pecks him on the cheek. “That’s what kissing feels like. Um, although…”

Yeah. He should probably come clean about this.

“Dragon saliva is especially potent to humans. If it comes in contact with your skin, there should be a kind of tingling effect. It’ll make you a little extra sensitive for a bit.”

“Grr—!” Edmond gives him a death glare. Filled with shame and anger. “I—! I knew it! You’ve…used your magic on me!”

“It’s not like that.” Eiden surreptitiously closes Edmond’s robe so he doesn’t get too embarrassed. “That’s not dragon magic. It’s just the way that I am. I can’t help it, you know?” 

It’s true. There’s nothing Eiden can do to change the magical properties of his spit. Coating Edmond’s whole mouth in the stuff…well, that was a choice. But he wanted Edmond to feel good! 

“I…see…” Edmond’s thighs squirm against each other. He is desperately trying to keep his hard-on hidden, although Eiden can see a bulge tenting those robes. “Then it can’t be helped, but…”

His eyes flutter closed. His hands hesitate around his mouth, unsure what to do. “My tongue is throbbing . What should I…?” 

Eiden is so happy to hear that. “Does it feel good?” 

“No!” Edmond thrashes his head side to side. “It’s…driving me crazy! I, ah…” His tongue slips out of his mouth, desperate for more stimulation. “I can’t…take it…nnnh, uh…” 

There are a few ways to handle this. The effects are brief, as it is. But Edmond, unfortunately, is not used to any stimulation at all. So it must be really hard for him to endure all these new feelings. In his mouth of all places.

“I can keep kissing you,” Eiden offers. “If that’s what you want.” 

Tears spring to Edmond’s eyes. “N…no m-more…” 

Alright. 

“In that case, here.” Eiden takes the glass of water on the table and offers it to Edmond. “Drink. The feeling should go away faster.” 

Edmond hastily grabs the glass and gulps it down. He holds the water in his mouth to cleanse it, then swallows it in one gulp. When he’s done, he’s left panting. Heart still beating. Blood pounding in his veins.

“There. Feel better?” Eiden rubs his back to help him calm down.

After catching his breath for a moment, Edmond slowly nods. “Yes, a little.” 

When his sanity returns, so does his vehemence. He slaps Eiden on the shoulder. “You miscreant. You absolute demon! Using your saliva on me like that…” 

Eiden kisses him on the forehead, making Edmond tremble in his arms.

“That’s how I kiss,” Eiden whispers. “I’m a dragon, remember? I can’t kiss like a regular human.” He holds up his claws hands. Points to the horns on his head. “Nothing about me is technically human.”

Edmond looks at all the parts Eiden is showing him. He heaves a sigh, realizing that yes, Eiden is precisely what he is. A dragon. A magical monster. No hiding it. No changing it. 

How does that make him feel?

Well, Eiden has one guess! “Anyway, it felt good, right?” 

“Of course, yes, but—!” 

Realizing what he just admitted, Edmond covers his mouth with a hand. He stands up abruptly and marches away to his makeshift room. 

Before he departs, he spares Eiden another glance. He doesn’t seem angry anymore. He seems more…curious. Thoughtful. He stares at Eiden hard, regarding him with a kind of secretive admission. Like he knows that the two of them have just shared something special. Something that Edmond has never experienced before, something that he can’t quite get with anyone else. 

Clearing his throat, he pushes past the curtain. Closing it behind him in a rush. 

Alone, moment gone, Eiden lays on the stone. He stretches out, changing into his smallish dragon form. Like a beautiful white snake with the snout of an ancient beast. Whiskers and sharp horns. He still has arms in this form, but they are covered in scales. His face is unrecognizable from his human form. It’s a smaller version of his full form. 

This is where he feels most comfortable. Sort of halfway between dragon and human. Long snake tail, a body of white scales and a beautiful neon gemstone on full display. Arms to hold people. Still capable of speech. If he had to give it a classification, this would be the middle ground. The way he likes to relax. 

He’s still riled up from that kiss. As good as it felt to Edmond, it felt fucking awesome to Eiden too. It’s been a while since he felt like this from nothing but a kiss! 

Edmond really is something else.

Chapter Text

The good news is, Edmond eventually comes out of his room. He makes a conscious choice to face Eiden again after the kiss. So that’s a relief.

But the air between them has changed since then. It is noticeably different. Heavier. Spiked with a hint of essence, all the time. 

“Are you done with your dinner?”

“Ah, yes, thank you.”

“Ready for some cooked honeycomb for dessert?”

“Very much, please.” 

Unfortunately, Edmond is not ready to talk about anything to do with the kiss. He pretends like nothing happened.

As a result, they spend long stretches of time in silence. Meals are quieter. They steal glances at each other over their bowls. Eiden offers a smile if their eyes make contact accidentally, but Edmond always blushes and looks away. 

The thing is, Eiden’s power grows every day. Soon, he will be able to change into his full form. And that means…their time together will be at an end. 

It’s a predicament. Because Eiden can’t help wanting to get closer to Edmond before they have to go their separate ways. 

He has to find a way to forge ahead. To break this new patch of ice that has formed between them, the memory of that blistering kiss which keeps them both awake at night.

“You know,” Eiden says one night, completely out of nowhere, “besides the elements, dragons also identify with different celestial bodies. Planets and stuff. If they lay underneath a certain planet, when the time is right, their powers can accumulate faster.”

He has Edmond’s attention with that. Since Edmond is very invested in Eiden’s crystal powers. “Oh? Is that so?”

“Yup!”

“So then, which celestial body do you identify with?”

Eiden smiles. For him, it’s easy! “The moon.” 

His neon gemstone is very versatile, he explains. For some dragons, their powers only unfold when Mars is visible in the night sky or when Mercury is in retrograde or whatever. For Eiden, because his gem is already so attached to the earth’s elements, he only needs to spend some time in the moonlight. With the moon’s glow reverberating between his pearly scales.

“It’s a clear night,” Eiden concludes. “And it will be a full moon. Perfect for me to gather some more energy.” 

Edmond is intrigued by this. For a human, he is very curious about dragon customs. Very polite and understanding when he learns something new. He nods. “Very well then.” 

Eiden just wishes he could take a hint.

“So…” He nods in the direction of the cave exit. “I’m going to relax outside for a bit. Would you care to join me?”

A glimpse of wariness flashes through Edmond’s eyes. Then, carefully, he agrees. “Fine. As it happens, I do not have any other engagements this evening.” 

Was that a joke? Eiden is about to laugh! Of course Edmond doesn’t have any other engagements, he’s been here in the cave for over a week! 

Their eyes slowly meet. When they do, Edmond breaks into a small smile. Telling Eiden that yes, in fact, he was joking. 

“Haha!” Eiden jumps at the chance to laugh. Finally, some levity! 

The frigid air between them begins to mellow. Edmond is smiling. That must mean he’s not still upset about the fact that Eiden kissed him. He is willing to let the awkwardness pass.

Because he is, in fact, not as stubborn as he seems. Thank goodness.

Even more interesting, the relief melting the air gives rise to something else: A note of the heat they felt that day. That feeling always stewing beneath the surface. 

“Ahem.” 

Clearing his throat, Edmond gestures towards the exit. 

Eagerly, Eiden leads the way. Edmond has not left the cave this past week—there is not much to do on the mountaintop itself—so he is not familiar with the surroundings.

Once they are out in the fresh air, Eiden points towards the dense trees to the north. “There. That’s the dark forest where I get all those treats for you.” 

“Ah. So it is.” Edmond follows his finger and looks. “I admit, I’ve never laid eyes on the dark forest in person until now.” 

“You should come with me the next time I go,” Eiden offers. “It’s a fun trip, for one. That forest is a whole different world. And maybe you’d enjoy meeting the fae creatures yourself. They’re not so scary in person!”

It takes Edmond a moment to answer. Though not as long as Eiden would have thought. After brief consideration, Edmond nods. “Yes, I see your point. I will accompany you then, if it’s not too much trouble.” 

Eiden’s heart bursts with appreciation for this guy. Edmond is so open minded when it comes to human-fae relations! There were no humans like this back 800 years ago! Eiden still can’t get over the fact that this kind of knight exists. 

Yet again, Eiden counts himself extremely lucky that Edmond walked into his life.

He longs to curl up against him and slather him with affection. But he can’t yet. 

Not yet, not yet. 

So he takes a deep breath. He gives Edmond a forced smile and says only, “Cool. Then we’ll do it.” 

It is impossible not to notice how beautiful Edmond is in the moonlight. How his blue eyes reflect the light. Every flick of those eyes, every movement, makes Eiden’s heart hurt. And Edmond’s hair seems brighter than ever. Mesmerizing. 

It doesn’t help that the moon is Eiden’s celestial body. His planet. Seeing Edmond’s beauty respond so well to the moonlight makes Eiden feel like Edmond is wearing his mark. Accepting him as a mate. Surrendering himself to Eiden’s claim.

As a dragon, it is hard not to feel that way. 

Saying nothing else, Eiden looks up at the night sky. The moon is so big! It’s perfect! His scales quiver with eagerness underneath his robe, hungry for freedom.

But if he’s going to do this, he has to let Edmond know first. Otherwise…well, Edmond’s sword hand is a little too strong for Eiden’s liking! 

“I have to take my robe off,” Eiden explains. “I can’t absorb the moonlight properly if I’m wearing clothes.” 

Edmond sucks in air. His essence suddenly spikes in sweetness. He instantly shields his eyes with both hands. “Y-you dirty—! Why didn’t you tell me this beforehand?” 

“Well, for dragons, being naked isn’t really a big deal. I know for humans it’s different, but for us nudity is pretty much an afterthought. The only reason I’m wearing a robe at all is because you’re here and I don’t want to be rude. But in our full forms, we’re naked all the time, you know?” 

Edmond squirms away until he’s facing the opposite direction. “I…s-suppose that makes sense, but…”

“I’m going to take it off now.” 

With that last warning, Eiden steps out of his robe, baring his body to the night sky. A rush of pure essence flits through his scales. His scales rise and shiver. He growls deep in his throat, twisting his neck in pleasure. 

It feels so good to be under the moon. Eiden would love to assume his halfway form, stretching out as far as he can to relax his muscles. But he doesn’t want to freak Edmond out just yet. (To be fair, out of all his forms, the halfway one is arguably the most…monstrous. Not entirely human nor dragon.) 

So he lets the moonlight run through him while holding onto his human form. Once he finds his equilibrium, he is consumed by fierce joy. Natural joy. The contented feeling of being underneath his celestial body, as nature intended. Sliding against the moon’s energy like easing into a comfortable hammock.

He lays on the ground with a happy sigh. His dick is getting hard, being in full view of the moon like this. But that’s fine. If he has to be a human, he’s going to let it all hang out. 

“You don’t have to look at me,” Eiden says, eyes closed, reveling. “But, I mean, you know. You can if you want to.” 

“Tch!” Edmond is still facing the opposite direction. “Why would I want to look at you?” 

Eiden giggles. “Lots of reasons. Curiosity, for one. I bet you’ve never seen a naked dragon before.”

“Shameless—! Foul miscreant…” 

Glowing with absorbed light from the moon, Eiden gazes longingly at Edmond. That stiff body. He smells so delicious right now. Blood pumping through his veins. Essence going wild. He wants to look so badly, otherwise he would have run away immediately.

He doesn’t have to fight his desires all the time. Why is he so afraid? Is it because Eiden is a dragon? Or because…?

Edmond is afraid of losing control.

Well, of course it’s the control thing. Edmond has never shown much hesitation around Eiden’s dragon-ness. But he is so incredibly strict with himself. With what he allows himself to feel. He’s stricter than the dragon ascetics even. He must think that if he lets himself indulge for even a second, he’ll be lost. 

It’s okay to get lost, Eiden wants to tell him. I’ll find you. I’d never let you stay lost forever. 

If there’s one thing Edmond desperately needs, it’s to let himself feel good once in a while.

“The moon is beautiful tonight,” Eiden says. “So, so beautiful.” 

But he’s not looking at the moon. He’s looking at Edmond. A sight which makes him so excited, he rumbles a low dragon’s croon. Snarling into the night air. 

Edmond flinches at the sound. Taking shallow breaths, legs pressed together, he glances up at the night sky. When he spies the moon, it takes his breath away. 

“Y-yes it is…” he stutters out. 

The moon is exceptionally pretty. There is not a single cloud in the sky. Also, Eiden’s dragon essence is reverberating back and forth between the moon and the earth. It makes the moon shine even brighter. Wreathed in mystical white light.

Forgetting himself, Edmond’s eyes inevitably stray towards Eiden. Perhaps he fell under the spell of the moon, or perhaps his deep-seated curiosity simply won out. Either way, Edmond finds himself stealing a peek at Eiden’s naked, reclining body. 

He gasps out loud. Choking on his own spit. He sputters, coughing loudly, covering his eyes with both hands.

Pride ripples through Eiden’s lizard brain. “I guess now you have seen a naked dragon. Nice job.” He chuckles. “So how was it?” 

“I-I…I’ve done no such thing!” 

Right. He can say whatever he wants, but the surging heart rate and the soaring essence speak for themselves. Edmond is processing the sight. Trying to fight the way it made him feel.

“Hey.” Eiden calls, sitting up. “It’s okay. I said you were allowed to look. Besides, we’re all alone out here. Nothing but fireflies for miles. No one ever has to know…” He grins. “No one ever has to know that you looked.” 

“…nnh.” Edmond grunts in frustration. He wrestles with himself for another long stretch of time.

Eiden lowers his voice. As gentle as the nighttime breeze. “It’ll be our secret.” 

At that, Edmond’s resolve finally withers. He mutters something under his breath, something Eiden hears loud and clear: “Well, if it’s just between us…” 

Slowly, stopping several times in uncertainty, Edmond lowers his hands. He stares at the ground first. Then, carefully, he raises his gaze to look at Eiden. 

His eyes immediately widen. Lips parting. Now that he’s chosen to look, he can’t stop staring. He rakes his gaze over every inch of Eiden’s magical body. From his shoulders to the tips of his fingers. The pearly scales sparkling like gems. The fine details of his chest. And of course, the thick thing between his legs. Already swollen, twitching proudly under Edmond’s bashful gaze.

There’s something special about Eiden’s cock. In shape and size, it is very similar to a human penis (at least, in this form it is). But the shaft is ridged with scales. Iridescent petals that travel from mid-shaft up to the bulbous head. The tip is lined with small nodules. Little pearls stuck underneath the skin. The pearls can swell and grow depending on how aroused Eiden is. They hum with energy and warmth on command. Right now, they’re on the smaller side. Since Eiden is trying to behave. 

He likes the way Edmond is unabashedly staring at him though. That poor virgin knight, who refuses to entertain the idea of a simple sex toy, has definitely never seen anything like this. His cute reactions…

Edmond gulps instinctively. His mouth, instead of being dry and nervous, has suddenly started to water.

“Not too shabby, right? Pretty different from yours, I bet.” Eiden spreads his legs wide, giving Edmond a better view. “What do you think?” 

He knows what Edmond thinks, obviously. He’s just crowing. 

Unsurprisingly, Edmond doesn’t answer. The sound of his mouth working to continuously swallow is answer enough. 

“Well, you can look as much as you want. Take your time.” Eiden stretches his arms over his head languorously. “I’ll stay out here for a little while longer. Then I’m going inside to take a bath.” 

He lays on the ground again, this time with Edmond’s eyes stuck to him like glue.

It feels really good to be watched. To know that Edmond is just as taken with him. Since Eiden was the one staring not a moment ago. 

After a few more moments, Edmond finds his voice. “You’re glowing. And your hair is white.” 

“Oh, yeah.” Eiden ruffles his own hair, which is now silvery white in hue. “That’s because of the moonlight. It means my powers are growing.” 

He looks over at Edmond, who has yet to even blink. “I’ll definitely be able to change into my full form soon. Good news for you, right?” 

Edmond slowly looks away. “Well, yes. I suppose it is.” 

Is that a hint of sadness in his voice? It can’t be, can it? This is the thing Edmond has been waiting for this whole time…?

Unless it has dawned on him too. Once Eiden is able to change into a full dragon, this brief moment of sanctuary they found together will be gone. Edmond will go back to his kingdom, try to set things right. Eiden will probably go into hibernation. He doesn’t know how much strength it will take to change the weather. So he can’t say how long he’ll need to be in the lake. A few years maybe?

Regardless, once he’s in the lake, these past few days will feel like a dream. A blip in time. A fantasy. 

A perfect moment. Like a precious piece of glass. Safely tucked away in the cabinet of memory, unable to be handled too roughly. Lest it will shatter and be lost to time. 

Eiden’s dragon instincts—his heart, always a rebellious thing—is telling him no .

No. Not. Yet.

He suddenly jumps to his feet, startling Edmond. “Come on!” he says, too loudly. “Let’s go take a bath. Might as well bathe together, yeah? You haven’t enjoyed my wading pool since you’ve been here.” 

Not waiting for an answer, Eiden marches back into the cave. He doesn’t bother redressing himself. He’ll let his nuts dangle, shoulders back, like the creature of raw nature he is.

For whatever reason, Edmond follows him inside. At a safe distance.

Eiden steps right into the hot spring. It’s been sitting there this whole time, untouched in the back of the cave. Since Eiden and Edmond were too tense around each other to bring up the subject. 

The water is perfect. Eiden hisses in pleasure when it touches his skin. He can’t help luxuriating in whatever standing water he finds, it’s part of his lineage! He created this little pool to make the cave livable. Such a good decision.

He sinks up to his shoulders and growls in extreme comfort. With his back against the stone, his legs float out in front of him. Then he smiles at Edmond. Inviting him. 

“Come on in,” he coos. “Don’t overthink it. You probably won’t ever get the chance to bathe in a dragon’s personal hot spring again. Not many humans in history can say they’ve had the pleasure. I think you should go for it. Totally.” 

Edmond stands there. He glances towards the exit, as if afraid some random stranger will come barging in and catch him in the act. 

Once again, he realizes it’s just the two of them. Isolated on top of this mountain. Dancing around the burning attraction they have for each other.

“Here.” Eiden holds out his hands to Edmond. “I’ll help you in, so you won’t slip.” 

“A-alright.” Edmond blushes up to his ears. “Only…turn around while I get undressed.” 

Heart soaring, Eiden can’t help laughing a little. “Why? You’ve already seen mine, right? Can’t I see yours?” 

“Tsk!” Edmond glares at him. Redder than before. “That’s not the point!” 

“What is it, then? I’ve seen the marks on your back before.” His grin turns into a coy smirk. “And from what I’ve seen, you have nothing to be embarrassed about. At all.”

Edmond gasps. He looks at Eiden with indignity, anger, and deep desire. Caught between the three. “You… pervert ….I’m…I’m not embarrassed in the slightest, I just…” 

Eiden waits for him to explain.

But Edmond doesn’t have an explanation. Because he’s bluffing. And they both know it.

Relenting, Edmond takes a deep breath. Tacitly admitting to his shame. “Alright, Eiden. If you insist on watching, then…don’t you dare make any comments. Not a word, you hear?” 

“Got it.” Eiden can control himself enough to agree to that. 

Probably.

Heart thundering so loud Eiden would be able to hear it from miles away, Edmond unties his robe. He opens it, turning slightly to the side to shield himself from view. With a soft gasp, he pushes his robe off his shoulders and lets it fall to the floor. 

He is naked. Finally. Exposed to the stone walls of the cave, and Eiden’s hungry eyes.

Those curvy hips. They flow into such a godly, splendid ass! A perfect globe. Ripe for the smacking, begging to be squeezed. Eiden chomps his jaws, tongue sliding around his mouth in eagerness. 

And that cock of Edmond’s. Somehow it’s as lean and proud as the man himself. Thin but strong. Throbbing with a little bit of blood already. So, so pink. So cute! 

Seeing that Eiden intends to stare shamelessly, Edmond crosses his legs, covering himself. He sighs in frustration. But he knows not to ask Eiden to stop. 

Fair is fair, after all. 

Even so, Eiden can give him a break. He offers his hands again. “Come on. Let me help you in.” 

Saying nothing, brimming with embarrassment, Edmond carefully takes Eiden’s hands. He steps into the pool, but it is much deeper than he thought. Eiden has to hold him under the armpits so Edmond doesn’t sink. 

“What kind of wading pool is this…?” Edmond tuts, holding onto Eiden’s shoulders.

“Ah, yeah. I sometimes like to dive down to the bottom in my half-dragon form, which is pretty big. So the pool stretches about half a mile under the surface.” 

Edmond’s grip tightens. “H-half a mile?!” 

“Don’t worry, I’ve got you.” Eiden carries him over to the side of the pool. “Just hold onto the sides and let your legs float. I won’t let you sink or anything.” 

Edmond clings to the stone floor to find his balance. Fortunately, the water is very buoyant. He is able to relax in no time, realizing that even though this pool is ludicrously deep, he is in fact quite safe. 

Namely because there is a dragon here that he trusts not to let him drown. Eiden sees the trust emblazoned in Edmond’s eyes. He doesn’t question it. 

Living with a dragon this past week, an immortal being of untold powers who does nothing but cook for him and give him magical lotions, Edmond has come to understand that Eiden does not wish him any harm. Not only that…

He will keep him safe.

“There. Nice, right?” Satisfied that Edmond is comfortable enough, Eiden floats away on his back. Frolicking as he is wont to do.

“Mm.” Edmond scoops up a handful of water. “This water is remarkable. So fresh, not a trace of brackishness. Crystal clear. I’ve never seen anything like it.” 

“Glad you like it!” Eiden dives underneath the surface and does a tiny flip, sneaking a peek at Edmond’s sweet ass. This water makes him want to fool around! 

When he surfaces again, he says, “But this is nothing compared to my family’s lake up north. That water is the clearest in Klein, I think. It’s like stepping into a mirror.” 

Edmond hums. “Fascinating. You’ve told me quite a bit about your lake. It sounds like a wondrous place.” 

“It is!” Eiden couldn’t be happier that a still-living creature seems to appreciate his lake! “I’ll take you there someday. You can see how great it is for yourself!” He pauses, remembering the morbid truth he revealed to Edmond before. “If you want to go, I mean.” 

Surprisingly, Edmond acquiesces. “Yes, I would certainly like to see it.” He makes pointed eye contact with Eiden. “Under…favorable circumstances, that is.” 

Eiden smiles. There is more to the lake than just finality and death. It is a place of healing. A place of history and unshakeable family bonds. A place of love, a cradle of existence. The most perfect, magical place in the world. 

He would love to share it with Edmond. 

“Definitely.” 

From the look they share, a spark of that familiar heat rises between them again. 

Eiden swims closer to Edmond. Close enough to imply his drumming feelings. The things he wants to do. 

Edmond lowers his gaze shyly, but he allows Eiden to be close to him. 

The cave is very quiet. The only sounds are water sloshing around the cave floor and a faint drip coming from the well. 

Eiden runs his fingertips across the back of Edmond’s hand. Just a touch. Barely there. 

Edmond shivers under Eiden’s touch. After a few gentle strokes, he turns his hand over. Like this, Eiden can intertwine their fingers and stroke his knuckles with his claws.

Eiden wants to kiss him again so, so badly. Those fresh pink lips. Moist from the pool water. 

He presses his lips to Edmond’s cheek. Letting him know what he wants to do. Edmond doesn’t pull away. He tilts his head closer to Eiden’s lips, giving the signal that he’s alright with it. 

So Eiden kisses him on the cheek. Just a peck. Then he moves on to the other cheek and does the same. Then the forehead, the nose. Everywhere but the lips. 

Edmond stares at him expectantly. But Eiden just smiles. He cups his face and says, “Show me your back. I want to see if the cream is doing its job.” 

Disappointed, Edmond lets out a tight breath. He closes his eyes in exasperation, but ultimately he does as Eiden asks. He turns around to give Eiden a nice view of his back.

“Oh wow!” Okay, even Eiden is impressed! “Edmond, your rashes are almost fully healed!” He runs his hands over the faint brown patches where just a few days again there were angry red splotches. All that flaky, peeling skin is healed over!

“Are they?” Edmond glances over his shoulder. “I wasn’t certain. There are no mirrors here. However, I did notice that the itchiness significantly lessened once I started applying your cream. Immediately, in fact.” 

“Right, I’m sure. And your scars look a lot better too.” That one in the middle is not as…angry as it was.

Eiden can’t help himself anymore. He’s gone to the limits of whatever control he has over his dragon instincts. Seeing Edmond’s body like this. Bare for him. Offered up in the delicate waters of his lake, recovering nicely after being slathered with his scales.

Mine. 

Eiden kisses Edmond’s shoulder blades. Worshipful and loving. He presses his lips to all the brown marks where the rashes once were. He kisses the length of that long, angry scar as well. Leaving Edmond breathless and trembling. 

His clawed hands snake downwards. He has to do this. He grabs a handful of Edmond’s ass cheeks, massaging them with a thorough squeeze. 

Edmond jolts. “Exactly where are you touching—?” 

“Oh, Edmond. You have a great butt. Like, come on, man. Where were you hiding this sweet thing?” 

His tongue unfurls from his mouth like a rolled up carpet. As long as a human hand, even longer. He licks the shell of Edmond’s ear, coiling an arm around his waist to keep him in place. His hand doesn’t stop squeezing Edmond’s ass for even a second.

“Ooh…mm!” Very weak to his tongue, and his saliva, Edmond leans back. He rests against Eiden’s chest, unable to raise any resistance as Eiden licks clean the inside of his ear. 

While Edmond moans, head lolling, Eiden’s tongue slithers downward. Across his neck. Over to his jugular vein, where the blood is throbbing so hard. Eiden teases that vein with his tongue, licking the underside of Edmond’s chin as well. Then he moves back to admire his handiwork. The goosebumps rising across Edmond’s sensitive flesh from that tingling saliva. He trails his claws across the wet skin.

“Ah—!” Edmond jerks, pressing closer to Eiden so he doesn’t lose his grip and fall into the pool.

A quick glance downward tells Eiden that Edmond is fully hard. His dick curves sweetly in the middle when erect, reaching up like a begging hand. Adorable.

“Edmond…” Eiden whispers. His voice caresses the heavily licked shell of Edmond’s ear, making Edmond’s hair stand on end. “This might be our last night together. Can I…?” He kisses his cheek. “Will you let me have you tonight? All the way? The thing you’ve never given anyone else?” 

Moaning quietly, Edmond’s head flops against Eiden’s shoulder. He is not surprised by the question, of course. They’ve been hinting at this all night. Imagining it. Naturally Edmond has been fantasizing about it, too. What little he allows.

Steadying himself in the water, Edmond lets go of the side. He wraps his arms around Eiden’s neck, giving himself to his embrace. 

“Will it…?” he whispers in Eiden’s ear. “Will it be especially painful? Damaging in some way? Since you’re a…dragon?” 

“Not at all.” Eiden rubs his back in reassurance. “It won’t hurt a bit. I’ll make it feel so good, babe. We’ll take it super slow. One thing at a time. Until you can’t feel anything but pleasure. Okay?” 

Edmond considers that. When he arrives at an answer, he strokes the side of Eiden’s face, looking into his eyes with deep affection. 

“Okay.” He pecks Eiden on the cheek to seal the deal.

Done. Locked. Like a key turned decisively in the right direction. 

Not needing to be told twice, Eiden holds Edmond tight and creates a long tentacle of water that wraps around them both. The water carries them out of the pool, across the floor, to the middle of the cave where Eiden’s nest is. 

The water flows away and Eiden deposits Edmond squarely in the center of his nest. He has accumulated branches, cotton, silk, smooth igneous rocks, and many bed sheets. This is the place where he will bed his mate for the night. 

Edmond is flabbergasted by the magical display. The water and everything. He lays on his back, staring up at Eiden with trepidation. What he finds, of course, is simply Eiden. The man he has come to know very well. That he cannot be afraid of, even though his horns are much longer than they typically are and his hands are transforming into dragon talons before his eyes.

One more thing. Before he forgets to mention…

“Wait, but, I should warn you. Since you’re a human.” Eiden winces. “The thing is, ah. Certain dragon parts act like aphrodisiacs during sex. It can sometimes be…addictive.” 

Edmond’s face hardens warily. He covers his chest with one arm. “You mean…? You’ll get addicted to my body and crave me like a drug?” 

Is he hearing what he wants to hear? Eiden snorts. “No, no. I mean you can get addicted to me .”

At that, Edmond scoffs. He shakes his head imperiously. “Nonsense. I’ve never been addicted to anything in my whole life. Don’t flatter yourself prematurely, dragon.” 

Eiden’s laughter turns into a sly grin. “So it’s okay, then? We can keep going?” 

Self-conscious, but confident, Edmond nods.  

He is so…

Mine! 

Eiden descends on Edmond’s body with a long huff. Smoke puffs out of his nostrils. He kisses Edmond on the mouth. Long and hard, barely letting him breathe.

“Mm—mmh!” A shy leg wraps around Eiden’s waist. Edmond is so susceptible to kissing. It’s his weak spot, for sure.

When Eiden finally pulls away, Edmond is very out of breath. His cheeks are red and he can’t stop panting. His mouth must be tingling so bad.

“I…” he says in a tremulous voice. “I don’t know why I’m doing this.” 

Eiden barks a laugh. “Because it feels good? Because you have needs like everyone else and it’s okay to give into those needs sometimes?” 

Edmond shakes his head, still panting. “I’ve had needs before, but never…like this . My body…cannot resist you, Eiden, I…” 

That’s exactly what Eiden wants to hear. He kisses the life out of him again, sneaking his tongue all the way down Edmond’s throat. Teasing him by fucking the tip of his tongue as deep as it will go.

He pulls out carefully. Edmond’s eyes are so sweetly trying to cross themselves. He is already overwhelmed with pleasure. 

“Buh…but…” Edmond babbles, only loosely able to form words. “I-I’m a kn…knight…I shuh…should not—” 

“You should.” Eiden cages Edmond’s head between his talons. “You absolutely should, Edmond.” He kisses his forehead, imbuing him with all the love inside his heart. “You deserve to be treated like somebody’s treasure.”

“…!” Those words destroy whatever ability Edmond has left to speak. He stares at Eiden with confusion and searing lust. 

“Let me treasure you,” Eiden implores. He pushes Edmond’s legs further apart, exposing his body down to the last detail. The fluttering little hole in back of him. “Let me treasure every inch of you, my sweet knight. Precious human treasure mate….mmm.” His teeth turn into fangs. “Please?” 

Now, Edmond must be able to see the changes in Eiden. His deteriorating coherency. His lengthening snout. The fangs and the talons. The smoke and visible heat rising off him. Edmond must be able to see all these things. But even so, he holds his arms open wide.

“Yes, Eiden. Yes .”

From here, Eiden knows exactly what to do.

He starts at his face. He licks Edmond’s face from forehead to chin, rubbing his personal scent deep into Edmond’s skin. His neck, front and back. Down to his clavicle. Eiden wants Edmond to wear him like a perfume. So that the knight won’t be able to step foot amongst any dragons or yokai or fae creatures without everyone knowing exactly who he belongs to. He rubs his tongue against the hollow of Edmond’s throat. Hard. So hard, it’ll take months for the scent to wash out. Maybe even a year. Edmond won’t be able to smell it on himself, probably, but Eiden will. 

He keeps going. He licks Edmond’s voluptuous chest. Those secretive nipples. Eiden digs his tongue in, pushing the nipples out from behind. Dragging them out of hiding. Making them rock hard, deep red, puffy and trembling. 

“Oh!” Edmond shouts gutturally. His hips thrust upwards. Searching for contact. He’s really horny already. His cock is leaking against his stomach.

But Eiden promised to take his time. 

He licks his stomach, lapping the pre-cum to get a taste of Edmond’s essence straight from the source. Oh shit, it’s too good! Eiden loses control of his human form right away after he tastes it. His legs transform into his thick, snake-like body. Coiling around Edmond in an unbreakable grip. 

“Nnh?” Edmond rubs his hands over the sudden scaly tail he finds himself trapped within. The pearlescent scales. They are surprisingly soft to the touch. Softer than snake-skin or even silk. Addictive to the feel. Like running his hands across liquid buttermilk, instead of a solid body. 

Eiden’s dragon body cannot stay still. He unrolls himself into coil after coil, raising them both up towards the ceiling. Edmond’s legs dangle high above the ground. He wants to hold onto something, but he can’t find purchase against the impossibly smooth scales.

“Ei…Eiden—!” 

But Eiden won’t give him any time to be scared. How could he possibly let his precious human treasure mate fall? That’s ridiculous! 

Besides, he doesn’t want Edmond to look at or think about anything but him. 

Mine, mine, mine. Only me.

So he licks him again. This time his legs. Those two solid saplings that have tantalized Eiden so much these past few days. Eiden gets a fresh taste of both legs, down to the feet, where he massages the soles and muscles. Until Edmond is kicking, toes arching. Tenderized to his soft tissue.

Chuckling, a thunderous boom, Eiden flips Edmond over onto his stomach. It takes nothing but a ripple of muscle from his dragon body. He holds Edmond around the waist and begins working his tongue against his back. Sliding it in between his shoulder blades. The same motion he would use to fuck him. Creating the most delightful, torturous sensation across a part of Edmond’s body that has never gotten the attention it deserves. This beautiful, war-torn back.

Eiden is extremely careful not to touch Edmond’s cock. Not with his tongue or his body. Not a single touch, not even by accident. He knows Edmond’s whole body is tingling and throbbing out of control. Any attention to that sweet little cock might make him cum too soon.

Eiden wants to worship him properly first. 

He laps heavy stripes across Edmond’s ass cheeks. The flesh here is even more delicious than it looks! And a warm, sensitizing little muscle in that area makes Edmond go wild.

“Eiden!” He squirms in Eiden’s grasp, arms and legs thrashing in the air. “Eiden—wait! I’ll—!” 

“Mm?” 

Eiden doesn’t know why, but he was told to wait. So he stops. He peers at Edmond’s face, sniffing and rubbing him with his snout. Nuzzling him to reassure him.

“Eiden, if you, kuh…keep licking me, I’ll…I’ll go crazy, I…” 

Pleased, Eiden chomps his jaws next to Edmond’s ears. In dragon language, it means he is overcome with joy. Although, it is hard to know how Edmond interprets the loud sound of a snapping maw so near to his face.

Eiden brings his snout back to Edmond’s ass. This delectable peach. He fits one claw into the crack and carefully pries the cheeks apart. Now he can get a full, luxurious view of the winking entrance. It quivers in such an adorable way! So excited to be penetrated.

Eiden gives it a long lick. From the taint to the small of Edmond’s back. Unbelievably good! The sweetest of any hole Eiden has ever known. He burrows his tongue against that hole and licks over and over and over.

Every muscle in Edmond’s body clenches. He moans with abandon. His high-pitched voice echoes around the stone walls, creating a beautiful soundtrack to their mating. The more furiously Eiden licks, the more those tight muscles begin to tremble. Losing their strength. All the carefully honed muscularity Edmond has trained his whole life. All that strength evaporates with each slide of Eiden’s tongue.

The knight’s legs turn to jelly. Loose, uncontrolled. Flopping this way and that. His core is weak, stomach undulating with each heaving breath. He throws his head back, squealing with pleasure, hands uselessly scrambling against Eiden’s dragon body. 

He is totally malleable now. When Eiden buries his face in Edmond’s ass, sticking his long tongue inside, Edmond shoots a small load against Eiden’s scales.

“Hm?” Eiden feels the cum running down his body. He can’t believe it! He was so careful not to lay a single finger on that cock. Yet Edmond…? 

“I see, I see,” he chuckles. His voice is deep and impossibly loud. 

This hole is Edmond’s sweetest spot. Even more sensitive than his cock. If he is weak to Eiden’s tongue—and he very much is—then licking this hole is the hot trigger that will set Edmond off no matter what. He must be tingling all the way inside now. The muscles and flesh are so ready to be properly violated. 

Eiden flips him over again. Edmond is still cumming a little, his hole deeply sensitized by the licking. Eiden doesn’t touch him. Just watches as Edmond cums in mid-air, his load trickling down to the cave floor far below. He wonders how long Edmond can go on like this. Cumming against nothing. Unable to ride out the pulses with friction like he longs to do.

Edmond is crying. Clenching his teeth hard. Tears and spit drip down his face, eyes staring fruitlessly upwards. Straining to see something in the back of his own head.

He looks like he’s trying to stop cumming. Desperately trying to get some control back. 

“Edmond.” Eiden calls to him, trying to help him refocus. 

“Gah…huh!” 

It must be hard for him. Every inch of his body is highly sensitized right now. The waves of pleasure won’t let up for a while.

He needs help. This poor precious treasure.

So Eiden will help him.

He brings his face down to Edmond’s spurting cock. He nuzzles it lovingly, wanting this little cock to feel special and appreciated. Then he cradles it on his tongue. Covering it from base to tip all at once. 

Another wave of orgasm overtakes Edmond. He cums in Eiden’s face, bucking his hips into Eiden’s snout to find friction. Eiden happily lets him. He lets Edmond rut against his nose, his dragon snout and lips, until Edmond finds the satisfaction he craves. He lets him rut until his hips give out (it’s not easy to move his hips so rigorously in mid-air!).

When Edmond is finally done, Eiden licks the cum off his face. His scaly arms and body hold Edmond close.

“Feeling better?” 

Edmond blinks, highly confused. He stares at Eiden with wonderment. This is the first time he is seeing Eiden’s halfway form, after all. It must be larger than he expected. 

That’s understandable. In a way, it’s like they’re meeting for the first time. 

In that case, Eiden should introduce him to another friend of his. A little brother. So they can make a proper acquaintance. 

In this form, Eiden’s cock is about as long as an adult male’s forearm. Somewhat thinner in girth, but not much. The saliva should be working its way deep inside Edmond to make him nice and pliable. Able to receive him. 

Just to be safe, though, Eiden draws a quick incantation onto Edmond’s lower abdomen. A magical mark. Something that should help him relax. Help him feel nothing but pleasure, so he can enjoy himself and recover quickly after the act.

With an excited growl, Eiden lowers Edmond’s body to his monster cock. The pearly tip kisses Edmond’s sensitized hole.

“Nyah-ah!” Edmond trembles from head to toe. Squealing, wide-eyed. 

“It’s okay,” Eiden tells him. “It’s only me. I told you it won’t hurt, right? I promised.” 

Edmond pants rapidly. He shakes his head. “…Ei-Eiden!” 

Eiden gives his face a reassuring lick, bringing their faces closer together. “Hold onto my horns, sweetheart.”

Without hesitation, Edmond complies. 

He doesn’t tell Edmond that his horns are a place of manly pride for dragons. An erogenous zone. That Edmond’s long-fingered hands in that place thoroughly arouse him. Turn him ravenous.

But his deep-chested snarl might tell Edmond all he needs to know.

Filled with the most grandiose sense of completion and victory he’s ever felt—even more than he felt conquering kingdoms back in the day—Eiden buries the tip of his cock inside Edmond. Massaging his walls with the pearls.

“Nnngh…i-it…s-so…big!” 

The mark on Edmond’s stomach glows iridescent white. In an instant, Edmond’s hole unclenches. Every muscle in his lower body relaxes. Riled to excitement, plush and soft. Very ready for more.

Eiden fits his cock halfway in without any resistance at all. 

“God! Ooh—oh god—!” Edmond clings to Eiden’s horns. His stomach is already bulging. He cannot feel his legs. His eyes are as wide as dinner plates and a thin puddle of drool forms in the corner of his mouth.

Is he praying? Is Edmond talking to his god, the human God of Klein? 

That works for Eiden. He doesn’t know much about the God of Klein, but that’s fine. He doesn’t mind if Edmond calls down his god to join them. Maybe that guy would like to get in on the action.

Then again…Eiden doesn’t want to have to share Edmond with anyone. God or mortal. 

Seething with greed, he plunges the rest of his cock all the way inside. 

“Eee—!” With a pitiful gasp, Edmond faints. He blacks out for a brief moment, before the mark on his abdomen glows again. Stirring up his insides. Exaggerating the pleasure he feels from Eiden’s dragon cock.

All of a sudden, Edmond is wide awake. He gulps for air, wringing the life out of Eiden’s horns. His hole contracts around Eiden’s cock, the outline of which can be seen clearly through Edmond’s stomach. Deep, deep inside. Deeper than any human ever could be. Deep enough to ruin Edmond’s expectations for any other man.

Good. All mine.

He rocks his cock in a tight circle inside. Edmond immediately cums again. This time his load is huge. A fountain! He must have emptied everything he had left inside his balls. Or maybe…well, only one way to find out. 

The pearls and scales along the ridge of Eiden’s cock create a maddening sense of friction inside Edmond’s hungry body. On the way in, it feels like being impaled on silk. On the way out, little pinpricks flutter against the hole in all directions. Making Edmond’s body undulate in pleasure. 

He fucks Edmond on his cock like this for a few thrusts. He is pretty surprised when Edmond manages to cum again. Another huge load.

“So much spunk…” he comments. “Incredible, sir knight.” 

Edmond must have been saving himself! Doesn’t he masturbate at all? How does he have this much?!

Not that Eiden minds! Far from it. He loves to see Edmond dripping with his own fluids. Mind gone, feet kicking weakly in the air. 

He fucks Edmond for a long, long time. Another two hours. Maybe three. Eiden can go a long time before he needs to cum. He can stave off his pleasure for days if he needs to. 

He drives Edmond to orgasm countless times in those hours. Again and again and again. Despite his formidable sperm supply, Edmond quickly runs out of spunk. He’s cumming dry, contracting helplessly every few thrusts. He cannot take more than five thrusts of Eiden’s monster cock before he cums. It’s really so, so cute! 

When Eiden finally lets himself cum, he makes sure to fill Edmond up as much as he can. Dragon semen has longevity properties. With a load this size, Eiden probably added ten years onto Edmond’s natural lifespan.

And no one deserves it more than him! Edmond is the best. Klein’s greatest treasure by far. 

It’s kind of funny. All those dragons obsessed with treasure and power. Who would have thought the world’s greatest treasure would just waltz into Eiden’s humble cavern one day? Ready to fight him tooth and nail, instead getting nothing but the best dicking of his mortal life.

The world is a mysterious place! 

There are still wonders left. Even after four thousand years.

___________________________________________________

“Edmond…” 

Hearing his voice, Edmond lifts his head from the nest. 

“Look what I brought for you.” 

It has been two days since Eiden bedded him. After the first round of fucking, Edmond completely lost himself. He has passed into total incoherency; deeply, helplessly addicted to Eiden in all his forms. It’s what was bound to happen. Eiden tried to warn him. 

They have spent the last two days in a hazy mess of constant love-making. Only pausing for the essentials, staving off as long as they can before Edmond desperately needs to be fucked again. 

To be honest, not even Eiden predicted how quickly Edmond would lose his mind. He expected a little more resistance from the knight, considering how hard Edmond tried to fight it beforehand.

This just goes to show: The harder you fight it, the more susceptible you are in the long run.

Smiling vaguely, eyes clouded with pleasure, Edmond scoots closer to Eiden. He was just napping, since Eiden went out to the dark forest to get food for him. Naps give him strength to endure another round of sex when Eiden returns. 

When he sees Eiden again, smells him, Edmond instantly holds his arms out. Begging to be held. 

Eiden helps himself to a seat inside the nest, which is now covered in their combined scents and the unique smell of their mating. Once he’s comfortable, he opens his arms to Edmond and lets the knight crawl into his lap. 

He kisses Edmond’s adorable face in greeting, licking the hollow of his throat to solidify his claiming scent. It hasn’t even been an hour, but Eiden just wants to be sure. His instincts demand it. 

Edmond mewls happily in Eiden’s lap. He straddles one of Eiden’s legs and rocks his asshole against Eiden’s thigh. Smiling cutely, full of hope. Knowing that he will certainly entice his dragon to pleasure him. He never has to worry about that.

“How are you?” Eiden asks, though he knows he won’t get an answer in words. Edmond has forgotten most speech. His mind is far too scattered with pleasure. 

So, Eiden will see for himself. He reaches behind Edmond to check on the plug in his ass. It’s the same lapis lazuli plug Edmond picked out when he first arrived. It looks just as adorable inside that ass as Eiden knew it would! Whenever he has to leave Edmond alone, even to go outside for provisions for a few minutes, Eiden makes sure to plug Edmond up properly. This way, Edmond never has to feel empty.

Eiden doesn’t want him to get anxious all alone.

Sure enough, that plug is nestled in tight. Same as it was when Eiden left. Perfect. Edmond has been good; he hasn’t touched the plug at all. Not even to play with himself. He was resting like Eiden told him to do.

“Good job,” Eiden hums. He nuzzles Edmond in praise. “You’re so good at following orders, sir knight.” 

Edmond beams. He can mostly understand the things Eiden says. But he can’t focus for very long before he needs to be fucked into oblivion. Conversation is generally impossible.

It’s…well, the fact that he’s like this is kind of Eiden’s fault. 

No, no. It’s both their faults! They went into this too recklessly! Edmond thought Eiden was being too cocky. And Eiden, after falling head over heels for the guy, somehow decided to tattoo him with an incantation that turned Edmond’s body into a pleasure-seeking cock sleeve. That was a stupid, rookie mistake! 

He holds Edmond to his chest. Hugging him close, letting Edmond bounce the base of the plug against his thigh. This precious treasure is thirsty for friction and affection in equal measure.

Eiden is a little embarrassed that he let things get to this point. He’s not a kid anymore, you know? He should have more restraint with his lovers! 

It’s just…Edmond is so perfect! How could he not want to make him his , totally his ?

How could he not want to let his dream last a little longer?

All in all, everything is okay. Many of Eiden’s lovers have gotten to this point in the past. Even worse, really, for some of the ones that weren’t ready to handle him. Fortunately, Edmond’s essence was strong from the meals and rest he had before the sex. So he’s not in any serious danger. Eiden knows how to bring him back.

And he will. He’ll fix this. For sure! Very soon!  

…Just a little while longer like this first.

“Here, I found something special for you.” Eiden takes a pouch of something sticky out of his robes. He squeezes it and smears golden liquid all over his palm.

Edmond’s eyes widen at the familiar smell. He stops moving.

“It’s honey! Some bee yokai were in a good mood today. They decided to be nice to me.” Eiden offers his hand to Edmond, for him to enjoy. “Go ahead, help yourself.” 

“Mmmm…” Cooing in pleasure, Edmond holds Eiden’s wrist and avidly laps at his palm. Licking, sucking. That cute, kittenish tongue scarfs down every trace of the honey. Suckling hungrily on Eiden’s thumb.

Eiden has been sure to make Edmond eat every few hours. Drink water. He takes him to the pool to stay clean and hygienic. He doesn’t want Edmond to get weak or sick because of this. He wants Edmond to come out of this sexual reverie feeling refreshed.

As it is now, Edmond looks healthier than he ever has. His complexion is divine. His skin is practically glowing! He has gained a few pounds, since he’s not constantly swinging that sword all day. Eiden continued applying the cream to his back so Edmond’s rashes are totally healed. His scars are faint. His hair is voluminous and shiny. 

He is a well-cared-for treasure. Happy to be near Eiden at all times.

Never once has Eiden ever denied his insatiable appetite for sex. He gives Edmond everything he wants. Always. 

After Edmond is finished lapping up the honey Eiden brought, Eiden helps him drink a glass of water. He says something about how Edmond can live like an ant, subsisting on sugar rather than water. It’s the truth! But Edmond doesn’t register it. He just smiles and wraps his arms around Eiden’s neck. 

Eiden sees the way that butt plug twitches. Edmond’s hole must be clenching. The plug is nice and all, perfect for Edmond, but it can’t compare to Eiden’s dragon cock. 

Even so…

Eiden flicks his finger in the air and the vibrating stone inside the plug turns on. Edmond moans openly, sliding down Eiden’s body to get on all fours. He likes this position. He likes to be fucked on his hands and knees. 

While his hips gyrate in mid-air, responding to the plug, Edmond kisses a trail down Eiden’s torso. His face quickly arrives at the true prize, Eiden’s hard dick. Edmond grins in pure joy, inhaling deeply over and over. Getting his fill of the scent. 

Dragon cocks are curious things. Their scent is specifically designed to attract mates, since dragons frequently mate with creatures outside their species. So their cock-scent will take the form of whatever smell their mate loves the most. It could be a place, a perfume, or a food. A scent with deep roots to their mate’s psyche. The thing they absolutely cannot resist in this world.

Eiden has asked Edmond a few times what his cock smells like to him, but Edmond is never able to answer. He gets lost in the smell as soon as he inhales. From there, he is compelled to stuff Eiden’s cock as deep inside his mouth as he can. Sucking on it with total, unselfconscious relish. 

Edmond sucks cock so well. His mouth is untrained—or it was, two days ago. Eiden has gotten a chance to really take his time with Edmond’s mouth since then. Because Edmond was so eager to learn. At this point, Edmond needs to suck Eiden’s cock every hour or so. Otherwise he gets impatient, whining and swatting Eiden’s hands away on his quest to bring that cock directly into his mouth.

So Eiden doesn’t fight him. If this is what Edmond wants, then sure. Eiden is happy to get blowjobs on the hour like this.

He tries not to cum in Edmond’s mouth, though. He can’t let Edmond swallow too much of his cum. Otherwise…well, it’ll be harder to bring him out of this brainless state. Then they might have a problem. 

He came in Edmond’s mouth the first time, totally by accident. He wasn’t being careful! But that was the only time. You can’t hold it against him! Edmond’s mouth is an ascension! Eiden definitely learned his lesson after that first time. ‘Fool me once’ and all. 

So usually, Eiden fucks Edmond’s face until Edmond cums. Typically on the plug, which Eiden tugs in and out of his hole to get him off. Or, sometimes, Edmond touches himself while he sucks, bringing himself to completion. A special treat! Eiden has seared into his brain the memory of Edmond masturbating (he barely even knew how to do it at first!) with Eiden’s cock in his mouth. It is something he intends to ruminate on while he hibernates in the lake. 

“Taste good, Edmond?” He asks, thrusting his cock in and out of Edmond’s mouth. 

A muffled moan is his only answer. 

“Yeah, I know it does. Here, let me help you.” He increases the vibrations of the plug, which is pressed so precisely against Edmond’s sweet spot. Then he grabs the base and moves it in wide, slow circles. A weak spot of Edmond’s. It really, really gets him off to be fucked like this.

Sure enough, Edmond sucks harder on Eiden’s cock. Deep-throating him, moaning with each thrust. His eyes roll back in his head and his hips undulate in the air. Reaching, straining for the release he wants so badly. 

“You’ll get there, baby, don’t worry. I’ll bring you there.” Of course, he’s going to bring Edmond to orgasm. There’s no need to rush. He’s going to make sure Edmond gets exactly what he wants, the exact way he wants, until he’s cumming and crying all over himself.

“Just take your time.” 

…If only. If only they had a little bit more time…

The thing is, they really don’t. 

Eiden has been ready to change into his full form for a day already. If he drags this out any longer, Edmond will never forgive him.

Yes, it’s true. Eiden could keep Edmond like this forever. It is unlikely Edmond will be able to come out of this daze on his own, unless Eiden cruelly abandons him in the cave with no way for Edmond to follow him. Which of course, he would never do. Barring that, Edmond can stay in this pleasure fog for the rest of his natural life if Eiden lets him. The perfect human treasure. His knight, princess, and wife. All wrapped up in one. 

But that’s not what Edmond wants. 

Obviously. 

In his right mind, Edmond would never choose that life for himself. He is loyal to the kingdom, to a fault! He will always, always choose to serve the people—(who are genuinely suffering out there, every second they delay)—rather than live out this hedonistic dream. There’s no question of that.

And, Eiden really loves Edmond. He loves who he is. Not just his body, how delicious he is in bed. Eiden loves Edmond as a person.

So, of course, Eiden won’t keep him like this. He’ll make sure Edmond can live the life he wants. Even if it hurts to let him go. 

It will be alright. From all the loads Eiden shot inside him, Edmond will live a long, healthy life. Much longer than most humans. Resistant to disease and decay. He’ll be a legend among men. Just as he deserves.

Yes.

It’s time. 

Enough now.

Because he loves him so much, Eiden makes Edmond cum two times on the plug. Once Edmond is well and truly spent, cuddled in Eiden’s arms and dozing sweetly, Eiden kisses his forehead and explains.

“Edmond, guess what? Look at my gemstone.” 

He points to his chest, where the neon gem is bursting with light and color. Every hue of the rainbow, dazzling in a mini-light show. 

Edmond is too muddled to remember what this means, but he appreciates the prettiness. He hums and rubs his face against the crystal.

“Now, come on, none of that.” If Edmond doesn’t stop being cute, this is only going to be harder! 

He gently pushes Edmond away. For the first time. Edmond looks up at him, confused. 

With a deep sigh and a weary smile, Eiden does what he needs to do. He brushes his thumb from the top of Edmond’s forehead to the bridge of his nose. A straight line, over and over. He is imbuing him with a mind-clearing spell. It will clear his senses, make him remember who he is. He rubs a cleansing hand over Edmond’s abdomen, wiping away the magical mark he gave him. Leaving him exactly as he was before.

The fog in Edmond’s eyes slowly dissipates.

While Eiden sets him straight, he also does him a favor. He suppresses Edmond’s memories of the last few days. Not all the way. He pushes the memories just below the surface, where Edmond will have to sit and think if he wants to remember. This way he won’t be immediately bombarded by all the things he’s done the past two days, which would certainly mortify him. 

A few more strokes…

There he is.

Edmond blinks rapidly, holding a hand to his head. “Mm…Eiden? What…what’s going on?” 

“Oh, hey, you’re awake,” Eiden says, as if he wasn’t just fucking Edmond’s throat and titillating him with a vibrator. “How are you feeling?” 

He took the liberty of removing the plug and redressing Edmond. Making sure he’s spick and span, totally clean and covered. So he doesn’t have to go through any harsh realizations right away. 

“I feel…wonderful, actually. Very refreshed. Just…a little confused.” He rubs his face, trying to wake up. “Was I asleep for a while?”

“Yeah you’ve been napping on and off the past two days,” Eiden explains. Not technically a lie! Edmond would always slip into a doze after a round of sex. He has been getting plenty of sleep. “I think I wore you out when we did it.” 

“We…?” Edmond can remember everything clearly up until Eiden tossed him into his nest. He remembers agreeing to sex, how he held Eiden and told him he wanted it—

Blushing at that (relatively benign) memory, Edmond clears his throat. He closes the collar of his robe tightly, suddenly embarrassed. (As if he hasn’t been splayed over every surface of this cave, naked as the day he was born, in every position imaginable…) 

“I…suppose that must be what happened,” he hurries to say. “Well. Allow me to apologize for my indolence.” 

“Not at all. You needed rest. And hey, I have great news.” He points to his gemstone again. “See? It’s all ready to go!”

Now that his mind is back, Edmond realizes what that means. “Oh! Are you able to change into your full form now?” 

Eiden grins. “Yup. I’m ready any time.” 

He leaps to his feet, putting on a veneer of optimism that isn’t quite genuine. And Eiden is a shit actor. He’s not sure if he’s selling this at all.

Either way, he keeps going.

“Let’s go save your kingdom, yeah? Better bring your raincoat! This drought ends today!” 

For all his bravado and determination, Edmond hesitates. Whatever is in his heart, he hesitates.

Eiden allows himself to get his hopes up. 

Like an idiot.

“Ahem, that’s wonderful.” Sure enough, Edmond soon rises to his feet with a schooled expression of duty on his face. “Then, let us hurry.” 

Right.

Of course.

Eiden knew Edmond would always make this choice. It’s a no brainer! Of course he would. The kingdom is his only priority. The past few days were just a long, super fun one night stand. Some happy memories to keep them going. Edmond should be able to remember everything soon if he wants to. Or not, if he doesn’t. If he fights it, like he usually does, he doesn’t have to remember it at all.

That’s his choice. 

Eiden gave him a good time. A great time. He gave Edmond everything and now…

He’ll help him put his kingdom back together.

Chapter Text

Eiden’s full dragon form is…formidable, to say the least. 

His head is the size of the cave entrance. His body is as long as the mountain itself, rippling with pearl-like scales and gentle tufts of wispy white fur along the spine. When Eiden lowers his face to look at Edmond, one single lizard-like eye encompasses Edmond’s entire face. 

Without thinking, Edmond takes a step back. He recognizes the gentle creature alighting on the ground outside the back exit of the cave, whose tail stretches all the way to the dark forest. Edmond recognizes him, but…

The fangs behind those reptilian lips are half as long as Edmond himself. He wonders…

“...Eiden?” 

Does Eiden recognize Edmond in this form? 

Heat puffs from Eiden’s nostrils. He sniffs Edmond’s face; the force of that gust lifts Edmond’s hair from his shoulders. Edmond should be terrified, but…the breeze is gentle. The eyes are familiar. Warm, unthreatening. They blink slowly, an inch away from Edmond’s face. He sees himself reflected in those eyes and he knows…

Yes. This is Eiden. The very same. 

He is gentle. Even as a towering dragon of immeasurable power. Eiden will not hurt him.

Never.

Edmond’s expression relaxes into a smile. He pets Eiden’s head, a loving gesture. He buries his hand in the soft fur, scratching the area at the base of his horns. Eiden croons in pleasure, eyes turning into slits. He nuzzles Edmond’s body, lowering his head for more attention. 

What a relief. The form Edmond has been imagining all this time—Eiden’s full form—is not as frightening as he thought. It is, however, as wondrous as he hoped. In this form, Eiden must be capable of anything. 

They must save the kingdom. 

Edmond puts on his helmet. Now he is covered in iron again, as he was when he first came here. 

Eiden blinks and stretches his neck in front of Edmond. Clearly he is implying…

An image flashes through Edmond’s mind. Put there intentionally. Edmond sees himself sitting on top of Eiden’s dragon form, riding him through the air.

Oh. Is this how Eiden communicates in this form? He must not be capable of human speech, so he uses magic to pass images into the minds of others. Edmond understands.

Alright then.

Steeling himself, Edmond grabs Eiden’s horn and hoists himself onto his neck. He straddles the dragon body—not tall enough to fit his legs on either side, just to bury his knees into the grooves behind Eiden’s head (where that massive dragon skull meets his body). 

Eiden blinks again. An image of a tight, iron-fisted grip in the dragon fur appears in Edmond’s mind. 

He is telling him to hold on tight. 

“Ah, yes…” Edmond tightens his grip to show he has heard.

With that, Eiden whips his tail into motion. They lift into the air, together, as smoothly as if they are riding the crest of a wave. There is no wind underneath them. Eiden floats on the breeze like a giant dandelion. His tail steers them wherever they need to be. 

They plummet down the mountainside. Edmond flattens himself against Eiden’s head—afraid for his life! His stomach is in his feet, his hands are shaking from how hard he’s holding on! The view of the ground rapidly rising to meet him is one of the most terrifying things Edmond has ever seen—

However, when Eiden straightens out, missing the ground by a comfortable distance, righting their path, Edmond feels a rush of adrenaline. A…thrill. To come so close to death and avoid it…this is madness! 

But it is exciting in its own right. Edmond has to admit that, if only to himself. 

In awe, he clings to Eiden and marvels at the scenery flying by. The kingdom, which Edmond has never seen from this angle. A bird’s eye view. Incredible.

They reach the outskirts of the royal capitol. The peasant farmland. Eiden lands on the dry brown grass and lowers his head. Edmond knows what to do. 

He detangles himself from Eiden and steps onto the ground. His legs falter for a moment as they re-stabilize. 

By the time he looks up again, Eiden is high in the sky. Higher, higher. Flying into the clouds. A dot. A sliver, like a loose flag taken by the wind, until he disappears. Past the point Edmond can see. 

“Sir Edmond!”

A crowd of peasants run from their huts to greet him. Edmond should acknowledge them, but he cannot take his eyes away from the clouds.

Eiden is up there. Working his magic. Can he do it? Will he be able to change the air currents like he promised?

Edmond cannot breathe. His heart is racing. 

“Sir Edmond, it’s been weeks since you left! We have been greatly looking forward to your return! Was that…ah?” 

The words die on their lips. The clouds above their heads darken. A gathering storm—the likes of which they have not seen in seven years! 

Pit. Pat. Pit pat. Pit pat…

Raindrops fall. One at a time. Then a cascade. All at once. 

The farmers erupt into wordless cries of joy. Families run out of their houses, looking up at the sky in wonderment. Couples dance in the rain, hollering loudly, throwing their hands to the sky. Some of the youngest children are afraid—they’ve never seen water fall from the sky! But from the joy on their parents’ faces, they quickly realize there is nothing to be afraid of. So they run into the rain and begin to play. 

Edmond looks at the rain falling on his kingdom. The relief of the people. The sudden burst of happiness. 

He takes off his helmet and lets the rain fall onto his face. It is cool. Refreshing. It runs through his hair and makes him feel…clean. 

He did it. Eiden did it. 

That dragon saved them. 

The tears on Edmond’s face mix with the rain. A beautiful release.

_______________________________________

The doors of the palace open for him as soon as he presents himself to the guards.

“Sir Edmond…please, er, come in…” The people of the city are discombobulated. The rain has caused cacophony. Several knights have abandoned their posts to join the townspeople in celebration, holding their helmets upside down to catch the rain and take a drink. Of the knights that remain, none of them know what to make of Edmond. Contrary to the chaos, their Vice-captain is as calm and collected as ever. Which is unnerving in itself.

Word has spread of the dragon in the sky seen moments before the clouds erupted in rain. Everyone in the city knows there’s a connection between the dragon and the rain.

And Edmond.

Of course there is a perfectly logical explanation. Edmond will explain it to the king himself. 

He enters the royal waiting chamber, where several guards stare at him like he has three heads. Historically, younger knights tend to be afraid of Edmond. The faction of knights under his own command like him well enough. Outside of that, he is known for being exceedingly strict and orderly.  

When he announced he was going to fight a dragon, the knights did not know what to make of him. The king asked for volunteers and Edmond was the only one who came forward. For one man to face a dragon alone was surely suicide, yet Edmond accepted it like it was any other mission. Composed. Forthright. Dutiful.

The knights did not expect him to return.

Now here he is. 

Finally, the captain enters the waiting chamber. “Edmond!” He exclaims. “Are you alright?” 

“Captain.” Edmond bows with a hand to his chest. “Yes, I am unharmed. More importantly, how has the kingdom fared in my absence?” 

The captain holds Edmond by the shoulders, sizing him up. This man has known him since Edmond was a greenhorn recruit. He watched him grow. He has become something of a family figure as well, since Edmond was good friends with his son Lucien, who unfortunately was killed during a riot. Edmond personally presented the captain with his son’s body, apologizing that he could not do more to save him. 

Since then, the captain has looked after Edmond with a careful eye. Quiet, but protective, especially once Edmond’s parents died. He disagreed with Edmond volunteering for the mission to slay the dragon and he told him so privately. However in the end, the captain had no choice but to respect his wishes. 

Once Edmond makes up his mind, there is no stopping him.

Seeing him now, tall and strong, on his own two legs, nary a scratch on him…the captain’s eyes fill with tears. 

He gestures towards the window and the pouring rain. “We find ourselves quite well, Edmond. Look at the bounty you have brought us.” 

Before Edmond can get a word in, the captain pulls him in for a tight hug. Their armor crashes together, making a loud metallic sound. The captain doesn’t care. He holds Edmond to his chest, overwhelmed by the realness of him. 

This is a moment the captain never thought he would get. Seeing Edmond again, alive and well. He thought he would mark a small stone next to his son’s gravesite. Where he could pay his respects in lieu of ever finding Edmond’s body. 

“Here you are,” the captain says through his tears. “Here you stand. My boy. You’ve done so well…”

Edmond hears the emotion in the captain’s voice. It shocks him! He has never seen his captain overcome by sentiment, even at Lucien’s funeral. The captain shed some tears behind a hand, then faced the other knights with pride and conviction. Tough as nails, the strongest of the strong. He delivered a rallying speech to save everyone’s morale. Edmond’s respect for the captain doubled that day. He renewed his vow to become more like him.

Now, Edmond sees the captain’s face, red from emotion and free-flowing tears. The sight strikes a chord. Edmond’s accumulated anxieties, and the immense, uncountable relief he has now, seeing his work come to fruition…it all rises to the surface. 

His nose turns red. He claps the captain on the shoulder. “Long live the kingdom,” he recites. “We will see this through.” 

The captain squeezes his eyes shut, composing himself. He nods. He opens his mouth to say something else—

Just then, the door flies open. The king himself bursts through the door. Running at full speed—an exceedingly rare thing to see.

“Edmond!” The king pushes past the captain to wrap Edmond in a full-body hug as well. “You did it! My god, Edmond, you actually did it! You’ve saved us all!” 

The king, erratic, thin-faced and wide-eyed, holds Edmond’s face in both hands and kisses him on the forehead. Loud and extremely inappropriate! 

Edmond gasps. What in the world?! The king is never this poorly composed in front of his subjects! 

“Y-your highness!” Edmond clears his throat and pulls away. He scrambles into a low bow. 

“Never mind that nonsense!” The king ignores that and once again pulls Edmond in for an embrace. He grabs him by the hand and dances around the chamber for a few turns, humming a tune. 

Far from being shocked, the captain and the royal advisors in the room chuckle at the display. They are glad to see their king—who has been suffering horribly in this famine—in such good spirits. The mood is light and joyous, played against the backdrop of the pouring rain. 

“Ah, my good man! My virtuous Edmond!” The king ceases dancing and pats Edmond on the cheek. “You are a diamond in the rough. Our kingdom’s savior! Pray, tell me everything. How did you defeat that monstrous dragon? I saw it fly into the sky not a moment ago! Tail between its legs!” 

He laughs, tugging Edmond into a chair, where they can sit and talk. “You must regale us with the tale. Spare not a single detail for I wish to hear it all!” 

Everyone else helps themselves to a seat as well. They all want to hear what has happened with the dragon.

“Ah, well…” 

A memory floats to the surface. Edmond remembers being on all fours. Face down, rear end high in the air. He remembers presenting his ass to Eiden’s face, pulling his cheeks apart to beg Eiden to lick him there. Moaning incoherently, suddenly desperate to be licked. Craving that tongue deep inside him. He was itchy from the waist down, needing his dragon’s touch like water on a hot day—

Edmond’s breath catches in his throat. What the…? 

Did that happen?

Impossible, no. What was that filthy image? Edmond would never! Did that dragon do something to his head…? 

Well, no matter! The king and the captain are staring at him! Waiting for an answer! Edmond cannot possibly entertain these sordid thoughts for even a moment! 

That filthy, degenerate dragon. Edmond pushes those memories below the surface once more.

“There is not much to the story,” Edmond bluffs, fighting back a blush. “In fact the dragon was quite reasonable. Negotiations went smoothly.” 

“Negotiations?” The king exchanges glances with the others. “You don’t say! There was no duel? That dragon was willing to bargain with you in exchange for releasing his hold on us?” 

“No, no.” Edmond needs to be direct. He needs to clear Eiden’s name so that everyone can understand the truth about him. His good nature. “The dragon is not the one responsible for imposing the drought. That was most likely an unfortunate act of nature.” 

Gasps echo around the table. 

Edmond nods. “Yes. Far from being the guilty party, the dragon was moved by our plight and saw fit to help us.” He explains about the full form, and the magic to change the weather. “That is what you saw earlier, your highness.” 

More murmurs of disbelief pass back and forth. “My word…” the king shakes his head, at a loss. “How extraordinary!” 

“What did you say to convince him, Edmond?” the captain asks. “How did you move him to use his powers to help us?” 

Edmond shakes his head succinctly. “Nothing. He did not need convincing. Eiden—that’s the name he has chosen to use—decided to help us of his own accord. He said he hates to see people suffer.” 

“Unbelievable!” The royal wizard points to the catalog of history books against the wall. “Is that truly the same dragon as in days of old? Huey, Slaughter of Hordes? The Grand Sorcerer?” 

“It is…complicated,” Edmond says with caution. “The short answer is, yes. It’s the same dragon. But he has had many years to reflect on his actions and change his ways. The dragon he is now no longer wishes for conflict. He wishes for the people to live peacefully. That’s why he agreed to save us.” 

Dubious expressions appear on everyone’s faces. It is one thing to believe that a dragon can be coerced. But a kind-hearted dragon? That is unheard of in the Light Kingdom, where stories of the Grand Sorcerer’s menacing ways are fairy tales told from birth. 

Edmond understands. If he had not met Eiden himself, perhaps he wouldn’t believe it either.

But it is the truth. Eiden is good. Whatever happened in the past is long over. Edmond believes Eiden’s goodness with all his heart. 

He has proof! Eiden gave Edmond nutritious meals and coveted desserts. Lotions for the marks on his back. 

Not only that, Eiden is the one who cared for Edmond when he was beyond the power of speech. Eiden held him close and fed him by hand, cooing gently in Edmond’s ear. Telling him to wait patiently for another round of love making. Almost time, he said. Just eat a little more. Then I’ll fuck you silly like you want, okay? He kept Edmond’s avaricious hole plugged soothingly every time he went out, so Edmond didn’t have to feel alone…!

….What? 

What in the name of Klein is going on? 

These memories—

“Well, regardless of the reasons, this dragon put its powers to good use! Look!” The king runs to the window to stare at the rain. It has begun to lighten somewhat (thankfully, so there will not be any flooding.) “We are saved!” 

“Thanks be to the God of Klein.” The wizard bows his head in prayer.

“Thanks be to Edmond!” The king has never been pious, especially once the famine set in. He runs to Edmond’s side again. Overcome with gratitude. “Oh, Edmond, I could get on my knees and kiss your feet! I really could—”

“Might I suggest instead, your highness,” the captain interrupts, “that we throw a banquet in Edmond’s honor. Invite the townspeople. Mark a royal holiday on the calendar. The people could certainly use a night of celebration, now that we finally have something to celebrate.”

Everyone around the table quickly agrees. “Splendid idea!”

However, the modesty inside Edmond balks. He frowns, averting his eyes timidly. 

Has he done anything worth celebrating? Eiden is the one who did all the work…

“Ah, perhaps…” Edmond folds his hands in his lap. “Ought we not celebrate the dragon instead? It is by his magic that we still live. We could feast in his honor and make offerings to his cave….” 

The king’s face goes slack. Then he bursts out laughing.

Once the king laughs, everyone else follows suit. As is customary. 

“Oh, Edmond, you never cease to amaze.” The king pats Edmond on the shoulder good-naturedly. “But let us speak seriously. Of course the banquet will be in your honor. Let the people come, let them see the majesty of the king’s knights. Let them have a national hero!” 

“Yes, of course, yes.” Everyone murmurs their assent. Even the captain.

The people in the Light Kingdom might be able to accept that dragon magic is responsible for the change in weather, but they are a long way from believing in dragon goodness. That will take time. Years, probably. Many more deeds. They would much prefer the narrative that Edmond saved the day with his knightly swordsmanship and bravado. That tale is easier to swallow. Aligned with tradition. Hero knights and penitent dragons. 

Slowly, Edmond nods. “As you wish, your highness.” 

“Then so it shall be!” The king claps his hands decisively. “On the morrow, we will have a banquet in the royal capitol. Spread word through the kingdom! Prepare accordingly.”

“I think, your highness, it will take longer to prepare for such a thing.” Ever the voice of reason, Edmond begins to make lists of things that need doing. “The knights will need to make use of pigeon relay service to spread word. Furthermore, it is more urgent that we recommence grain production immediately. I believe a large faction of knights should be deployed to the farms to help farmers till soil and lay grain. In addition, the aqueducts that feed into our water supply are in sore need of repair. Those will need to be fixed—”

“Yes, yes, Edmond.” Waving his hand, the king regards Edmond with a look of patience and familiarity. “We will do all that, of course. Let us hold the banquet in two days’ time, then.” 

Edmond still doesn’t think that will be enough time for preparations, but—

“Yes, your highness.” 

The table has spoken. So Edmond bows in acquiescence as well.

With that, the king takes his leave. His royal advisors exit with him. Edmond and the captain are left alone. 

“Sir.” Edmond rises to his feet. Eager to be put to work. “Let me partition the knights accordingly. I can think of several factions we may need—”

The captain lays a hearty hand on Edmond’s shoulder. “You need to get some rest, Edmond. The journey to the dragon cave alone must have been harrowing. It is a miracle you still have the strength to walk on your own two feet.” 

Actually, Edmond is far from exhausted. He feels rejuvenated. Full of energy. His steps are light, untroubled, in a way they have not been in years. His mind is clearer than ever. 

That’s because Eiden spent hours slathering him with lotion. Bathing him in the wading pool. His strong, taloned hands rubbed Edmond until he could no longer bear the teasing sensation. At that point, Edmond would roll onto his stomach and beg to be fucked. Or he would drop to his knees and suck Eiden’s delicious cock, hungry for penetration of any kind. Any hole that could take Eiden inside, into the aching places that longed for him.

And every thrust, every thick load of dragon semen released inside him, felt like being imbued with life itself…

Heat courses through Edmond. His breath comes rapidly and his face begins to sweat. 

The captain nods. “Yes, you do look exhausted, Edmond. Go rest. Let us handle the preparations.” 

Edmond’s entire body tingles. There is a sore spot inside of him, deep inside, that throbs …

Oh no! His knees are trembling and his cock is hard! 

Not here! Not in front of the captain! Dear god, what is happening to his body? Why is he like this—! 

“Ah, y-yes.” Edmond bows to hide his face. “I think perhaps…I should.” 

“Of course. Get as much rest as you require. When you’re done, there will be a banquet in your honor waiting for you. Alright?” 

Edmond nods. Afraid to look the captain in the eye, lest he see the truth that Edmond is trying to hide. The burning desire that he suddenly cannot control. 

With another swift hug—one that makes Edmond’s heart come to complete stop—the captain leaves Edmond to his own devices. At last.

Freed of obligation, Edmond hurries to his personal chambers. By the time he reaches his room, the heat has subsided somewhat. Thank goodness. However…

This is a problem. These flashes of half-remembered vulgarities. Like visions from a fever dream, except they feel so real. Something is amiss. Something Eiden did not tell him before he left. 

Edmond takes off his armor and dresses in his night clothes. Silk pajamas. He inspects his chest and stomach carefully (the places on his body that feel innocuous enough), looking for any signs of dragon mischief. Or anything out of the ordinary.

There is nothing. Edmond’s skin is unblemished—healthier than it was when he departed for his mission. The rashes are gone. His scars are faded. He looks like a young man again. Vigorous and spry. 

But his stomach…Edmond runs a hand over his abdomen. He remembers…

Was there a mark here? A glowing white light written in some illegible script? Edmond traces the pattern he almost remembers, and his skin sighs in recognition. 

How could that be? Glowing marks. These visions are becoming absurd! 

Shaking his head to clear it, Edmond washes his face with cold water and jumps into bed. He is not tired, but he knows he must be. Or else why is his mind playing tricks on him like this?

Tricks of the mind…

Edmond tosses and turns for hours. He thinks. And thinks.

The more he thinks, the more he realizes…

A sheet, stark white and blank, covers Edmond’s mind when he tries to remember the time he spent with Eiden. There is an illusory shroud in his mind, covering those memories as if out of dignity. Details escape from underneath the sheet at odd intervals. But the whole picture is still unclear. Unless Edmond lifts the sheet himself and uncovers everything.

Which he should not do. Certainly not. There might be things under that shroud that are…too unsavory to remember.

However, the visions themselves, the memories…they are no trick. These are things he could never come up with on his own. Too vivid to be fabricated. 

These memories are real.

___________________________________________

The following day, Edmond rises early to help the knights with preparations. They are, once again, surprised to see him on his feet. Several knights remind him that it is alright if he wants to spend the next few days simply recuperating instead of diving back into work.

“Nonsense.” Edmond waves his hand at the thought. “I’m perfectly capable of conducting myself as a functional member of society.” 

“Ah…yes. Whatever you say, sir.” 

Edmond busies himself giving orders. The rain is intermittent, stopping and starting as normal rainfall is meant to do, which leaves time for the knights and farmers to safely work. Fortunately, when the rain does fall, it is quite heavy. The ground has soaked up much moisture. 

“Sir Edmond, please look at this map of the aqueducts. Our knights have repaired the ones marked with an x. Which should we focus our attention on next?” 

Edmond peruses the map carefully. He has two immediate suggestions he thinks should take priority—

Suddenly he is rudely jostled from behind. 

“Ah, excuse me!” A greenhorn knight accidentally bumped into him on her way to deliver logging materials. She quickly apologizes, no harm done. 

Yet Edmond…

That unexpected push upset his equilibrium. He has been trying so hard to focus! Forget his body, forget the creeping needs under the skin that clamor for his attention. If Edmond lets himself feel those urges, if he acknowledges the things his body is trying to tell him, then the memories start coming back. So the simple solution is to force himself to forget! 

Of course there will be mistakes. Like accidentally being pushed. Now, suddenly, Edmond’s body is in disarray. 

Where do you like it, sweetheart? Right here?

Ahh! 

Edmond remembers the sweet slide of the lapis lazuli plug. Eiden was devious with it. He tortured Edmond’s sensitive entrance with the smooth rock, riling him up, making him crave more penetration. Then he slid the thing in as far as it would go. Just enough to brush the sweet spot inside that constantly demands stimulation. Eiden knew exactly where to find that spot. He would rub the vibrating plug in circles to make Edmond lose his whole mind…

“Oh…” 

A trickle of sweat slides down Edmond’s back. It pools in the crease of his ass, moistening the area and making it somehow greedier. Activating a response Edmond did not know he had—a readiness to be fucked. Eiden would always make sure Edmond’s entrance was sufficiently wet before entering him. Now the sensation of wetness in that spot is a trigger. 

Edmond bites his lip, holding the map far too tightly. 

“Are you alright, sir?” 

He is trying to fight the surge inside him. A need that is used to being quelled right away. All he had to do was moan and shake his hips a little and Eiden was right there, giving him exactly what he needed. No questions asked. Remarkably swift in determining the various things Edmond desired. Eiden had an intuition for that, since Edmond was unable to tell him in words.

How he longs for that swiftness now. That dragon’s intuition.

Edmond has grown fearful of his own body. These sudden, uncontrollable urges. Edmond has never experienced anything like this before and it is…frightening. He wishes Eiden were here to explain these changes. To help him. Since Eiden is so good at comforting his body…

“Uh, sir, perhaps you should retire to your chambers for a moment—”

“Yes, good idea.” 

Edmond dashes away from the knights the first chance he gets. On shaky legs, he tries to reach his bedchambers, but he only makes it as far as an empty stretch of hallway. At least somewhat private. He’s not out in the open anymore.

He just needs to catch his breath. He leans against the cool stone and focuses on breathing.

Breathe, babe. That’s it. Breathe for me. Just relax.

“Yes, I’m trying…” Edmond hardly realizes he is speaking aloud. His vivid memories are getting mixed up with reality. The more he tries to force the memories away, the harder they tug at the bridle. Calling and calling to him. Unable to be suppressed.

Because, oh god help him…it felt so good. 

It felt so wonderful to be at Eiden’s mercy like that! It was a kind of liberation Edmond never knew—never even considered! Before he met Eiden, Edmond had idle daydreams of sexual fulfillment every once in a while. The things he imagined were incredibly tame by comparison. A hug with a colleague that lasted too long. Shared nakedness. Hands in secret places. Boyish things! Edmond never dwelled on those fantasies long enough to expand upon them. So they never matured. 

Now…

The things he did with Eiden live in his skin. His mind struggles with the memories, but his body has no such trouble. 

His body can never forget. 

_____________________________________

Nonetheless, Edmond torments himself with the fruitless endeavor of attempting to forget. He refuses to give in. He believes if he continues to fight then his needs will lessen with time. 

That’s the best way to proceed, isn’t it? Trudging forward? Moving on?

Because his relationship with Eiden is over. That dragon must be in hibernation by now. Once there, Eiden will rejuvenate himself and likely forget all about Edmond. His immortal life will stretch before him and Edmond will become an inconsequential mirage. Passing scenery. 

And that’s fine. That’s completely fine. That is how it should be.

However, a spike of pain rises in Edmond’s chest. Thorny. Ruthless. 

He scowls at the wet mud around his feet.

“What do you think of these fields, Sir Edmond?” The knight points to the recently seeded farmland all around them. “We worked tirelessly through the night to seed every last inch.” 

Edmond takes a deep breath. He pushes his foul mood aside and regards the fields. “Yes, this is quite impressive. Well done.”

“Thank you, sir!” The knights and farmers exchange proud glances. They are enthused to be praised by the notoriously strict Edmond. The hero of Klein.

They whisper amongst themselves. Then, a bold young farmer raises his voice. “Lord Knight, is it true that you beat the dragon Huey into submission?”

“Hm?” Edmond frowns. “Where did you hear that?” 

The farmers have all gathered around. “Well, it’s what the crowds from the capitol are saying. We don’t know the details ourselves, of course! Would you…?” 

Edmond sighs. He knows what they are about to ask.

“Would you care to tell us the story, my lord? We’re thrilled to hear about how you saved the kingdom—”

“Save the regalements for the banquet,” Edmond snaps. More curt than necessary. “There are far more important matters at hand.” 

The farmer recoils from Edmond’s harsh tongue. 

Instantly, Edmond regrets his words. He said that without thinking. He has been so frustrated lately. So irrationally annoyed. His body is not heeding him, completely unruly. And his heart aches so pitifully…

But that is no excuse for poor form in front of the people.

Edmond bows from the waist. “My apologies. I didn't mean to be brusque. I am only concerned about our progress, since the rains will start again any moment and there is more seeding to be done.” 

Thankfully, the farmer breaks into a smile. Although the knights run hot and cold with Edmond, the people are enamored with him. Always have been. Edmond looks out for their welfare, in a way most other knights do not. It is quite something to have a Vice-captain who cares about the people. They have always recognized that (which is why Edmond was spared when the nobles were purged). It serves them well that he is now hailed as the kingdom’s savior. 

“You’re right, of course, my lord,” the farmer says. “We’ll wait for the banquet to hear the juicy bits. In the meantime, let’s get back to work! Come on, lads! Heave ho!” 

The farmers raise their tools in unison and disperse amongst the fields. They are uncommonly eager to work, because they have been unable to do so for such a long time. Morale is at an all-time high. Nothing could dampen their spirits, especially not Edmond’s usual prickliness. 

 That is good. The people deserve this. They deserve to be happy. 

And Edmond…

On instinct, Edmond looks towards the sky. He remembers how Eiden looked, flying past the clouds. A tiny squiggle in the distance.

Is that the last time Edmond will ever see him?

Suddenly, the smiles around Edmond seem distant. The laughter and good will. Edmond wants to be happy for them. But his heart is buried somewhere in the mud. No matter how hard he tries, he cannot lift his spirits. 

What a frustrating thing. Silly, yet annoying.

Regardless, the knights are standing around waiting for orders. That, at least, Edmond can provide.

______________________________

Mid-morning daylight is the worst. Around ten o’clock in the morning, Edmond’s cravings are at their worst. 

He must stop whatever he’s doing and retreat to a private place. He cannot trust himself to be in front of anyone when he’s like this. When his body is…remembering.

What is it about the mornings? Edmond would like to know! Is there something special about this time? Some reason why his body is overwhelmed with pangs of desire precisely now instead of any other time…? 

He closes his eyes, breathing heavily. 

Well. It’s because right after breakfast, Eiden would give Edmond his first real fuck of the day. He insisted that Edmond eat, of course, always, and once that was over then anything was fair game. Truly anything.

Eiden would lay on his back and roll Edmond on top of him. He would guide Edmond’s hole to his monster cock, rocking the pearly tip against Edmond’s entrance. 

There it is, Edmond. That what you want? 

Nnnh! Edmond would nod his head, jaw dropped, like the filthiest thing!

Then go ahead. Take it. It’s all yours. 

In that state, Edmond had no problem fucking himself on Eiden’s perpetually hard dick. He would push Eiden inside and moan. Unable to move for a few moments, adjusting to the delicious sensation. By this point, Eiden would usually change into his half form, using his tail to manipulate Edmond accordingly. That rippling body. So deft and devilish. 

Those buttermilk scales felt incredible. Edmond’s skin breaks into goosebumps at the memory. He could reach completion rubbing himself against those scales, as embarrassing as that is to admit. If Edmond wrapped his arms and legs around Eiden’s thick body and… humped him…then…he was a goner. 

Not that Eiden allowed Edmond to degrade himself like that all the time. Only once, maybe twice. Most of the time Eiden preferred to engage in actual sex. More satisfying things. Things that reached the itch deep inside that never, ever went away…

“Everything alright, Edmond?” 

Eyes flying open, Edmond scrambles to cover himself. He has been standing here fantasizing for who knows how long! His cock is noticeably erect, though thankfully hidden behind his athletic cup. For now! If it gets any more swollen, then…it might…

“C-captain!” Edmond bows and straightens with automaticity. “What brings you here?” 

“Actually I was looking for you,” the captain says. “The knights said you had gone inside to rest, so I was headed to your personal chambers to find you.” He regards Edmond with a frown. “Yet here you are. Are you quite well?” 

Now, Edmond has no idea what he looks like at the moment. His face must be flushed. His eyes are hazy. He might be sweating. Who knows!

Edmond is losing more and more control of himself every passing day. Today his restraint is much weaker than yesterday and the day before that.

This is an addiction. That’s what it is. Eiden warned him. Edmond didn’t believe him at the time. 

But it is undeniably true that Edmond’s body has changed. Irrevocably so. There are things he desires now that he didn’t before. Things that will take a long time to dissipate. 

Things that may not ever fully go away.

“I am fine. No need to concern yourself with me.” Edmond brushes his hair away from his forehead self-consciously. “Tell me what message you came to deliver.” 

“Certainly.” The captain lifts his arm to reveal a small chest. “The royal tailors have prepared a special outfit for you, for tonight. You are to wear it to the banquet. King’s orders.” 

Speechless, Edmond takes the chest. He has never been on the receiving end of a special outfit! His Lord Knight initiation ceremony required nothing but a customary uniform. This is far too extravagant! 

“Is this entirely necessary, captain? Don’t the tailors have anything better to do with their time?”

“Not particularly, no.” The captain smirks. “It has been quite a while since the king commissioned them to create anything. Naturally, cotton is still in rare supply, so it’s not much. But I believe the tailors put their heart and soul into making this for you.”

Edmond blushes. In that case, he should be grateful. “Well then. Please let them know that I am in their debt. Although their efforts were unnecessary, I consider it an honor to wear something they worked so hard to make.” 

The captain nods. But his gaze lingers on Edmond. Too thoughtful for Edmond’s liking. Too…penetrating.

“…Is there anything else, sir?” Edmond is eager to be dismissed.

The captain thinks for another moment. Then he says, “Edmond, allow me to speak frankly for a moment, if I may.” 

Well. Here it comes. Edmond braces himself for the worst.

“I understand that you want to begin life as usual. Back to the way things were before the drought. As quickly as possible.” The captain smiles sadly and shakes his head. “But, son, believe me when I say that is folly. A fool’s errand.”

Edmond is shocked to be addressed as ‘son.’ He cannot remember the captain speaking to him in such a way before. Perhaps this is what he meant by speaking frankly. Then, is this the way the captain truly sees him? As a…son? 

“This is what the banquet tonight is all about,” the captain continues. “A celebration of survival. Looking towards the future. We must acknowledge the past before we can move forward. There is no other way to live. Otherwise, our hearts and minds will be forever clouded by the things we cannot help remembering. Does that make sense?” 

These words…

The captain is a wise man. His words ring truer than ever now.

Edmond is so torn. He longs to move on. He believes it is the only way. But he knows he cannot forget the life he had with Eiden. His heart and body won’t let him! It is foolish to try. 

He must make peace with the memories.

“…Thank you, sir. You’ve given me a lot to think about.” Edmond bows again. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need a few moments alone.” 

“Of course. Take that time, Edmond. I implore you.” With a knowing look, the captain departs. Leaving Edmond to his own devices.

For the rest of the day, Edmond resolves, he will be in his room. Setting his head straight.

___________________________________

Make peace with the memories.

That is easier said than done. 

So many awful things happened during the drought! The famine, the unmentionable hardship. The sickness. The violence. The death. Edmond dragged his parents’ corpses out of his burning childhood mansion. He laid them to rest in a secret place, performing the funerary rights himself. Back then, resentment against nobles had skyrocketed. Noble graves would be vandalized for sport. So, Edmond’s parents are buried somewhere only he knows about. It was his final act of filial piety. The last thing he could do for them. Perhaps the most important.

How can he make peace with a memory like that? That was years ago, and he has not even begun to try.  He prefers not to think about it. Not to touch upon the immense grief and mortal shock. If he lingers too long, then…he does not know what will happen to him.

This is how Edmond lives. Fighting the things he does not want to think about. Fighting for survival. Always fighting.

The one time in his life that Edmond did not have to fight was when…

He shudders a deep sigh. He is sitting naked in his bed. Curtains drawn. Entirely alone with his thoughts.

Edmond could never have prepared himself for Eiden. The person Eiden was. The unexpected kindness. His impossible attractiveness. From the moment they met, Edmond was attracted to him. He does not know what that says about him, what kind of morals he must have, but it’s the truth. Edmond was always attracted to Eiden. 

And when they made love…

Sighing again, Edmond lays down on his back. His body is spiraling out of control once more. Dozens of images pass through his mind. All the things he did with Eiden. This time, Edmond has decided he won’t fight. He will let them come. Consume him if they must. Pride be damned. Edmond must embrace the truth. 

He throws back the sheet shrouding those memories. Discards it. He has no need for cheap tricks! 

He remembers. Everything.

“Oh…” 

A sliver of heat trails from his forehead down to the pit of his stomach. His toes curl. His legs automatically open at the knees. His hands grip the sheets tight in a final holdout of will. 

Eiden was so good to him. 

To be clear, he did foul things! Unspeakable acts! The things that dragon did were obscene, without question, and the things he coaxed Edmond to do…ludicrous. Absolute madness! 

And yet, at the time, Edmond never felt unsafe. Not for a second. Not even when Eiden held him aloft twenty feet in the air and licked him senseless! Edmond knew he was in no danger. 

Once danger was taken out of the equation, it left so much space for…joy. For the deep pleasure of the experience. No holds barred. For the first time in his life, Edmond let himself enjoy it. Of course, once he did, he was immediately swept up in the waves of pleasure and drowned. He lost himself right away. 

But even that, even losing himself…

It was a release. To give everything up. To know without needing to ask that he would be cared for. Held close. Soothed. Protected. Loved.

“Eiden…” 

The memory of Eiden’s touch sears Edmond’s skin. All over. His hair—he brushed and washed his hair for him—his neck, his chest, his stomach…his ass, his cock. His back, nursed to health by Eiden’s miraculous creams. Even the soles of his feet! All these places were loved by Eiden in turn. 

His body writhes on the bed. No place on his body is free of that dragon! Everywhere burns. Aching. Yearning for his touch.

“Eiden, please…” 

Edmond never had to beg. But he begs now. He begs the empty air. Wishing with all his heat that he was not alone in this bed. 

He remembers…

That looks serious, Edmond. Looks like it really wants to be touched. 

That capricious voice curls around Edmond’s ears. He remembers so vividly how it felt when Eiden spoke to him, when he whispered sordid things. Lewd acts he wanted Edmond to perform.

Why don’t you touch it, babe? Go ahead. Give yourself a stroke for me. 

So Edmond did. And he does it now. He reaches down, between his legs, to a place he hardly ever touched before he met Eiden. He wraps a hand around his erect, weeping cock and gives himself a quick stroke.

“Oh!” Edmond eyes pop out in disbelief. It feels…incredible! Why does it feel this good? 

Is it because Eiden showed him what to do? How to touch himself to make it feel deliciously, absurdly good? 

There you go. Wrap your hand tighter. Yup, like that. Put your thumb at the tip. Rub yourself there, that’s it. Right at the slit. Doesn’t that feel good? 

Edmond’s legs thrash against the bed. His teeth clench. Heaven help him, it feels amazing. He traces circles around the head, like Eiden showed him, and presses hard against his slit. If he strokes himself faster, keeping his fingers in place, then…it won’t be long before he brings himself to orgasm. 

How could it be so simple? Edmond remembers long nights trying to coax an orgasm out of himself. It was hard work back then! Some nights it didn’t work at all and Edmond just gave up. Now it feels like his body is poised on the tip of a pin. Ready to plummet into ecstasy from a puff of breath at any moment! 

You wanna cum, sweetheart? Want to make yourself cum?

Nnnh! Nnh! Edmond’s tongue slides out. Dangling in the air. He wants to cum so badly! He needs to! He needs to let it out, or else he’ll lose his mind! 

He nods furiously. Letting the memories wash over him, what Eiden told him to do next. 

Why don’t you try this? Eiden took Edmond’s free hand and pressed it against his ass. Put your finger inside. That’s where you really want it, right?

At the time, Edmond had no idea what he was doing. He pushed a dry finger against his asshole, longing to follow directions properly but at a loss for how to do it. 

Not like that, silly. It needs to be wet first. Here, let me help you. Eiden stuck Edmond’s fingers in his mouth and slathered them with spit. He let his saliva pool against Edmond’s digits until they were dripping. Tingling, twitching against Eiden’s tongue.

In the present, Edmond stuffs his fingers into his own mouth. He sucks them the same way he would suck Eiden’s cock. Eyes rolling back, tongue exploring everything while his mouth works. He loved, loved sucking Eiden’s big dick. He doesn’t know why! Maybe because of the way it smelled. Like his favorite dessert, chocolate banana gâteau with a pound of sugar. So creamy and sweet! Edmond can never resist the smell of that cake, no matter what. Not only that, Eiden’s cock also smelled a little bit like his childhood home. Like the bed he slept in as a boy. Warm, safe, and comfortable. A place that no longer exists in this world.

There. Should be good now. Try again, sir knight. 

So Edmond does. 

He circles his wet finger against his entrance, massaging it open. He is a little afraid, because he knows it will feel good, and Edmond is scared of that power. The pleasure he could give himself.

Don’t be shy, sweetheart. Go on. Put it in. Give yourself what you want. 

Mmm… Edmond hesitates. Overwhelmingly shy, despite the circumstances. 

It’s okay, Eiden cooed. I’m here. I’m watching you. I can’t wait to see you finger yourself, babe. You’re really going to love it. I’ll make sure of that, okay? 

That is entirely the problem, but…Eiden’s voice, in that soft tone, is so convincing…

Edmond wiggles his finger inside. Right away, his entrance throbs in pleasure. Contracting. Sucking his finger further in, ready for more. 

Oh yeah! You did it! How’s that feel? 

“G-good…” Edmond stutters, pushing his fingers deeper in. His other hand strokes himself lazily, keeping it hard, right on the edge of orgasm.

Feel how soft you are inside? That’s because you want to be fucked. Your body is amazing, Edmond. So, so perfect. The perfect fuckhole for me. Can you feel it? 

Edmond can. His flesh and muscles are unbelievably soft here! Eiden must be right. His body must be dying to get fucked. Trained to accept Eiden’s monster cock at any moment. Every swipe of Edmond’s finger stirs him up, makes him long to be violated. 

That thick thing. It massaged Edmond’s insides so well. When Eiden used force, ramming Edmond’s brains out, it felt like Edmond’s soul was leaving his body…ascending straight to heaven. 

He wishes Eiden were here now to fuck him like that. He squirms his hips impatiently.

I know you want my dick, sweetheart. It’s okay. I’ll give it to you in a minute. Just make yourself cum first, okay? Then I’ll give you everything you want.

Right. Eiden won’t deny him. He would never. All Edmond has to do is bring himself to orgasm first, then Eiden promises to give it to him. 

In that case, Edmond has to work harder. 

He spreads his legs wider, planting both feet on the bed. He scoots his backside lower, lifting his ass upwards, giving himself more access. He slides another finger inside. Now there are two working in tandem. Edmond experiments with himself a bit. He moves them in opposite directions, which creates a wild, maddening sensation that makes him want to scream. As tantalizing as that is, it doesn’t bring him closer to release. He needs to focus on efficiency. 

The thing that will surely get him off is…

Edmond spears himself with both fingers. Deep and hard. He cries out in pleasure, throwing his head back. Just like that! He pistons his fingers in and out, searching for the right position. At this angle, he cannot quite reach his sweet spot, but the tips of his fingers almost brush it. He thinks that should be enough. 

 In order for that spot to get hammered properly, he’ll have to wait for Eiden to fuck him. 

This feels good, though. Very, very good. If he curls his fingers in just such a way…

“Ah! Y-yes!” Incredible! 

Looks like you found your rhythm. That’s great. Keeping going, you’re almost there. 

Yes, it won’t be long now…

Edmond strokes himself rapidly while he fucks himself on his fingers. He cannot even imagine the lewd display he is putting on, pleasuring himself like a sexual deviant. So clearly desperate for it. He cannot think about that right now. Because it feels too good to stop! Edmond wants to keep going. He wants to give himself a release.

There it is. The brink. A chasm of pleasure waiting to swallow him whole. Right there! His voice hitches and he whines every time he exhales. 

Yup, that’s it. Oh, you’re so close! Don’t stop. Let yourself have it. You’ve earned it. 

Yes, yes he has! He worked hard, now here is his reward.

Eiden wrapped his arms around Edmond and synchronized their breathing. Even though Edmond was only touching himself, he felt so close to Eiden in the moment. It felt like they were one. Sharing the same breath, experiencing the same pleasure. 

Arching his back, remembering the satisfying sensation of oneness, Edmond cums. He empties himself onto his hand, riding the contractions on his fingers. His orgasm comes in waves. He shoots load after load onto the bed. He really does have a lot of spunk. Eiden was right about that, too. Edmond knows he denied himself too much. He should have done this days ago. Spending like this feels as if he’s spilling part of his brains onto the sheets.

It takes a long time to catch his breath. His mind is hazy. His hands are shaking. He lies there in a puddle of his own fluids, knees knocking together futilely. 

“Eiden…” Edmond reaches behind himself to feel his dragon’s presence. He wants Eiden to hold him tighter…

His hand finds nothing but the mattress underneath him. 

…Oh. 

Edmond is alone. 

Indescribable sadness falls over him. His memories fade. He is rooted in the present now. His bedchambers. The kingdom. The fact that he and Eiden have parted from each other. Eiden is nowhere to be found. He said he was going to his lake in the north for hibernation and…Edmond has no idea where that might be. 

He clouded Edmond’s memories to help him forget. To help him live his regular life. 

Tears well in Edmond’s eyes. 

This is…hard. He didn’t think it would be this hard. He thought he would be able to walk away from Eiden without dwelling on their time together. He thought it would be a routine thing. 

But it isn’t. Edmond got used to Eiden’s specific brand of love. Not having it now is…

Difficult.

Wiping his eyes on the back of his wrist, Edmond wrestles himself into a sitting position. He knows he cannot rely on anyone else but himself. He has known that all his life. He knows it is foolish to place your well-being in the hands of others. In the end, you are responsible for your own happiness. That is the truth. 

But now Edmond knows how happy he was with Eiden. He will not be able to experience that same kind of happiness alone. He can make his life bearable, of course, it always is. However, that same kind of joy…

Impossible. 

Edmond lays a hand on his chest. Over his heart. 

If he faces his memories, if he recalls everything in great detail and lays out the evidence in front of himself, then the truth is inescapable. 

He fell in love with that dragon. 

His heart desires Eiden. 

______________________________________

The clothes prepared by the royal tailors are quite nice. The shirt is black silk with white trimming, white buttons around the high collar. The pants are stark white with some black ribbing along the thighs to accentuate his form. On the left breast of the shirt, the tailors embroidered the outline of a white dragon to commemorate Edmond’s accomplishments.

Hmph. Rather fitting. Right over the heart.

Servants come to fetch Edmond in the evening. They escort him to the banquet. And oh, what a sight it is! 

Lights are strung all over the city. The town square has been emptied and filled with long tables and seats. People—knights, farmers, civilians, nobles—sit around the tables drinking and eating. The spread is meager, they are still without many provisions. This is the last holdout of their storage. Along with some pheasants and pigs cooked especially for the occasion. 

A heavy tarp hangs over the town square, shielding it from the intermittent rain. The sound of rain sliding off the tarp is soothing; the raindrops look like a waterfall on all sides. It creates a wonderful effect. 

The entire crowd cheers when Edmond enters the square. The king, sitting at the head of the longest table, rises to his feet. Everyone follows suit. 

A standing ovation. Edmond blushes to the tips of his ears. He cannot think of anything to say. He merely bows in gratitude, hoping that his silence comes off sincere and heartfelt. 

He makes his way through the crowd. Everyone calls to him, touching him on the shoulder or arm as he passes. They offer their thanks for what he has done, how he has saved them. They call him a hero, truly deserving of the title of Lord Knight. Several people lay wreaths of flowers over his neck, adorning him like the heroes of old. 

Edmond has never felt like he deserved anything less. He is stealing credit for deeds not his own. Eiden is the one who…

Well. Edmond takes a breath and steadies himself. This banquet, though held in his honor, is not really about him. The people are in sore need of something to celebrate. The captain said this banquet is about making peace with the past and moving on to the future. It will be good for the kingdom to do this, no matter whose name is on their lips when they cheer. Edmond would do well to remember that. 

He humbly sits at the front table near the king. He is laden with flowers, petals strewn about his clothes and hair. A large helping of food and drink is spread before him.

“How about a speech, lad?” the king calls, raising his glass to Edmond. 

In unison, the entire town lifts their glasses as well. 

Speeches are not Edmond’s strongest suit. However, he was prepared for this. When called out by the king, of course Edmond must comply.

He raises his glass as well. “My fellow countrymen,” he says, standing tall in front of the crowd. “Tonight let us eat and drink our fill for the first time in far too long.” 

Several cheers ring out.

“This feast is a sign of our resilience as a nation,” Edmond continues. “We can survive through the hardest of times. And we will. Together.” He hoists his glass higher in the air. “Long live the Kingdom of Klein!” 

“Hurrah!” With a resounding cry, everyone drinks to that. 

A short speech, but earnest. And truthful. Edmond believes every word. The future of the Light Kingdom lies in their shared strength. Not turning against each other, but pooling their resources and helping one another. Edmond has always believed this.

The king gives him a gracious nod and wink. He is pleased with Edmond’s speech. Then, he turns to his food and continues eating. The captain, sitting across from Edmond, nods in acknowledgement. He seems relieved more than anything. 

This is a night of relief. Even though, in Edmond’s deepest places, in his heart of heart’s…he feels an emptiness that cannot be filled.

The night continues in merriment. Some dancers give performances. They brandish white tassels in looping circles, reminiscent of a dragon’s body. Another dancer in silver clothes representing armor. A knight. Yes, it seems knights and dragons will be the zeitgeist of the kingdom for some time after this.

“Oh, Edmond!” 

A familiar voice catches his attention. He scans the crowd and finds the source right away.

“Mariela!” He jumps to his feet to greet the woman. “How wonderful to see you—!” 

“Don’t get up, don’t get up. I’ll come to you.” Mariela waves him back down and pulls a chair next to him so they can talk. Immediately, their hands find each other. Squeezing tightly in recognition. 

Mariela is a middle-aged woman. The wife, well the widow, of the chocolate jam seller Edmond knew in his youth. That chocolate jam was his favorite treat as a child. You could not get it anywhere else in the Light Kingdom except that stall. Because of Edmond’s love for the treat, he developed a friendship with the owner and his family. Although they were humble townspeople, Edmond always considered them close enough to be part of his own family. 

Times have been hard on everyone. Two years ago, Edmond helped Mariela bury her husband. He died of illness made worse by the famine. A month later, they buried her oldest son, who died of the same thing. Now she is responsible for herself and their three other children of various ages. It has not been easy. 

Frankly, Edmond is happy to see she is still alive. It has been a few months since they last spoke. 

Mariela fawns over him. Straightening his collar, brushing some of the errant petals from his shirt. “My goodness, I cannot tell you how loudly we cheered when he heard the news. The children were beside themselves! It has been ages since any of us cheered like that. Dancing in the streets, we were! Rain on our backs!” 

Edmond smiles. “Good. I am glad you took the time to celebrate. We all needed this, I think.” 

“Oh yes. Definitely.” She looks him over once again. “My stars, Edmond, but look at you! You look fantastic! Your skin is practically glowing! And your hair…” She tucks a strand behind his ear. “…like spun silk! Where on earth is that dragon’s cave, then? Some kind of spa?” 

A blush fights its way onto Edmond’s cheeks. He will…spare her the details. For the love of god.

“Ahem. Thank you.” He looks away, very self-conscious. “I am only happy that I could serve the kingdom like I set out to do.” 

“Well, of course! We never doubted you for a second in our house.” Mariela winks at him. Then, a sad look overtakes her. “Edmond, my sweet lad. If only your mother could see you now. She would be so proud…” 

Edmond visibly bristles at the mention of his mother. He knows she and Mariela had a passable friendship despite their class difference. That’s who his mother was; she could make friends with anyone. It was her nature. 

These days, Edmond does everything in his power not to think about her. He cannot. Every time an image of her comes to mind, or someone says her name in passing, the stranglehold of grief inside him twitches painfully. Edmond cannot bear to think of her. He cannot allow himself to shed a single tear. Because grief like that…he is afraid of what it will do to him. Better to shut it out entirely. Never speak of her again.

In life, Edmond’s mother was his closest confidant. The person with whom he had the strongest relationship. He told her everything and she always listened. He felt stronger because of her, because she had unshakeable faith in his abilities. Always knowing he would succeed even when Edmond’s own confidence was weak. She was the smartest person he knew, with the greatest knack for political advancement. She could turn a disaster into a celebration, a dark night into a waiting dawn.

The absence of her is an indelible mark. Edmond knows he has to live with it, there is no other choice. But it is…too painful to dwell on.

“I’m sorry,” Mariela says, smoothing his shoulder. “I know you don’t like to talk about her. But I think tonight, on the night the entire kingdom celebrates in your honor, we should. Just this once. Don’t you think?” 

Edmond clicks his teeth. He doesn’t want to! 

Although…Mariela has a point. His mother would be beaming with pride if she could be here, celebrating with the kingdom. She never gushed, never said too much. But the look in her eyes. The brightness she cast whenever she looked upon Edmond. The pride of a mother. Edmond knew that look very well. 

And yes. That look would be bright tonight. 

“In her name, I must ask, Edmond.” Mariela leans closer. “Are you quite alright, dear? What happened up there in that cave? Magic, I suspect. Dragon magic. But what exactly did that dragon do to you?” 

“N-nothing…” Edmond stammers immediately. “Nothing at all. I am very well, I assure you.”

A long sigh escapes Mariela. However, she breaks into a smile. She expected this. Edmond is a very private person. There was always a good chance he would not feel comfortable telling her the details. 

“I understand. I don’t mean to pry.” She leans back in her seat and points to a nearby corner. “See that? They’re getting fireworks ready.”

Indeed they are. Edmond’s silk shirt feels scratchy against his skin. Hot under the collar. He cannot lie to Mariela. She knows he is not telling the whole truth. But he hopes…well, he thinks that she will be able to accept that. Edmond cannot tell her yet. Not until he’s ready. And he may never be ready.

On cue, the townspeople set off fireworks. How many years has it been since they had fireworks in the kingdom? Edmond doesn’t even remember the last time. Those sparkling explosions. They dazzle and fizz in the air. 

He thinks of Eiden again. Their truncated farewell in the field. The last time they will ever see each other…

“Mm? Edmond?” A soft hand on his back. “You seem sad. What’s wrong?” 

Edmond clears his throat. “Thank you for your concern. I assure you, I’m fine.” 

He is not. That much is obvious! Mariela would be able to tell even if she knew him half as well. As it is, she knows he is lying to her face. 

He hopes she is not insulted.

She rubs soft circles into his back. Like his mother used to do. Her touch was not the same as Mariela’s, her noblewoman’s hand was as delicate as a sparrow, but the motion was the same. A mother’s touch. 

Edmond’s nose turns red. If his mother were here now, he would want to tell her everything about Eiden. Not the…explicit details, of course. But he would tell her the truth about their relationship. The way Eiden makes him feel. He would gush everything to his mother—maybe in a letter, maybe out loud like he did as a boy—and wait for her to tell him what she thought. 

What would she say now? If she knew?

“You’ve got something on your mind,” Mariela says. “And maybe it’s not the right time to talk about it. But I will tell you this: Whatever you’re struggling with right now, I think you should see it through to the end.” 

Edmond lifts his face. “…The end? What do you mean?” 

“You’re not finished, are you, lad?” Mariela nods towards the west. The direction of the cave. “That dragon business. It’s not over, is it?” 

“Of course it’s over,” Edmond rushes to say. “The rains are back—”

“I’m not talking about the rains, am I.” Mariela fixes him with a serious look. “I’m talking about you. We’ve known each other a very long time, Edmond. I know that look on your face. You’re not finished yet. You haven’t done what you really need to do.” 

He…hasn’t…? 

He hasn’t. 

It’s true.

“Now, I don’t know what that is, mind you.” Mariela raises her hands in surrender. “I don’t know anything about magic or fae or whatnot. But I know you. There’s something else you need to do. And you won’t be able to let it rest until it’s done. I’m sure of it.” 

Something else…

Edmond closes his eyes. Yes. His mother would say the same thing if she were here now. She was always telling him to see things through to the end, even when he was a young boy. Edmond has a stubborn quality about him. He inherited it from her. He must finish a task completely before moving on to the next one. That has always been his way. His mother understood that. She always encouraged him to embrace that part of himself. To be thorough, forthright, and unflinching in the face of his duties.

His duty now is…

His duty now is to himself. And to Eiden. Edmond hates the way they parted from each other. It was no proper goodbye at all! Not only that, in his heart, Edmond is not ready to say goodbye. He doesn’t want to leave Eiden just yet. 

He’s not done with him. Their short time together. That fleeting taste of a life. Edmond is not done with it. He wants to see it through. He does not know what kind of life he can build with a dragon, what future they could possibly have together.

 But Edmond wants to find out.

In a flash, his mind is made up. He leaps to his feet. 

The lake. Eiden said it was to the north. How can Edmond get there quickly? Perhaps if he goes to the cave first, he might find some clues. Maybe Eiden left tracks to follow.

It’s his best shot. 

“Go on, lad. Go do what you need to do.” Mariela squeezes his elbow in reassurance. “We’ll be alright here in the meantime. You’ve given us more than enough already.” 

Flushed, driven by purpose, Edmond makes eye contact with his captain. Whether the captain heard their conversation or not, he lifts his glass. He nods in agreement, seeing the fierce look in Edmond’s eye. Then he takes a long sip of his drink. 

He is giving his permission. 

“Excuse me.” Edmond bows towards the king (who is shocked to see Edmond leaving so soon). He bows towards the people as well, who are deep enough in their cups that they cheer him on regardless. 

And he runs. He runs towards the stable to find a horse. It is past sunset, well into the night, and it will take until daybreak to reach the cave. 

Edmond must hurry.

___________________________________________

The crystal clear water of his lake. It would feel so nice against his scales! The cleansing hand of pure dragon essence. The source of his magic. A balm for his aching crystal.

If only he could get there! 

That lake is too far out of reach. Eiden doesn’t have the strength to fly there now. 

So he’ll just…rest here. Near the cave he calls home. He’ll lie in the dirt and assume his half form. For now.

Only for now.

____________________________

Altering air currents is no joke, huh. Eiden is honestly surprised! He’s never done it before, so he didn’t know what to expect. Reaching into the cosmos with every ounce of air elemental power he possesses, tugging the wet winds closer to the Light Kingdom. It wasn’t easy, you know?! 

Eiden definitely needs some time in the lake. Problem is, once he descended from the clouds, he ran out of energy. He used up most of what was stored in his crystal. It has gone white again. Not so colorful anymore. It will take a long time to refresh. 

Eiden doesn’t have the strength to fly all the way north to his lake. That really sucks! Also, it’s never happened before. He never exhausted himself to this extent.

It figures the thing that would do him in is trying to help humans. There is a reason the dragon ascetics said to stay away from humans altogether. Whether it be for power or even selfless aid, humans are more trouble than they’re worth.

But, well. Eiden doesn’t really believe that. 

He rolls onto his back and stares up at the fading night sky. The moon helped, at least. It felt nice. Now it will be dawn soon. Another day laying in the dirt behind his cave.

He remembers moon gazing with Edmond right before they ventured into a world of decadence. That was a magical night. Edmond was so pretty in the moonlight. So perfect.

Eiden doesn’t regret bringing the rains down. Even if it depleted him to this state, where he will need to sleep for at least a few weeks before he has the strength to travel north. It was worth it! Edmond deserves to be happy. Rain will save his kingdom. That should give Edmond something to live for. 

Although Eiden’s nest will surely be cold without him. But that was always going to happen.

If he closes his eyes and sleeps, maybe he’ll dream about all the fun they had together… 

“Eiden!” 

Ah, yeah. It’s like he can hear his voice.

“Eiden! What on earth—are you alright?”

Hm? That sounds too loud to be a fantasy! Is that…? 

Eiden pools some strength to lift his huge head. He squints in the direction of the voice…

A beautiful vision bathed in the early dawn. Edmond—and he’s all dressed up! He’s wearing a silk shirt and tight pants. Ooh, and he’s covered in flowers! Head to toe! He looks a little worse for wear, dirt stains here and there. He must have traveled a long way.

Did he climb the mountain like this? That’s no good! Eiden would have gone to get him if he knew Edmond wanted to come up…

Wait. Edmond wanted to come up?

Edmond is here! 

“Ed…muh…” 

“Hush.” Edmond wraps his strong, slender arms around Eiden’s dragon head. “Don’t try to talk. Save your strength. I’m here now.” 

Eiden nuzzles Edmond’s chest. So warm! This sweet, delicate smell. Covered in sweat. Blood pumping vigorously through his human veins. Edmond is here, for sure. This is real. Edmond is holding him. He came back because he wanted to.

Grinning like the devil, Eiden changes into his human form. Like this, he can nestle closer to Edmond and be comfortable.

He didn’t think Edmond would come back. He thought he was gone forever. But, secretly, part of him always hoped…in his foolish dragon heart…

He hoped Edmond would find him again someday. He didn’t think it would be this soon! Did Edmond really miss him that much?

Of course he did. Because Edmond is his mate. His precious treasure. It hurts to be separated for too long, doesn’t it? Eiden felt the burn too. 

He croons happily against Edmond’s chest. Oh, look. There’s a little dragon embroidered on the chest pocket. Is that a picture of Eiden? It kind of looks like him! How cute! Was Edmond making clothes to commemorate their time together? Do humans do that? 

By a dragon’s reckoning, with Edmond looking so pretty in the light of the sunrise, head to toe in flowers, with a dragon’s claiming scent on his neck…he looks like one thing and one thing alone.

“Br…”

“Shh, shh.” Edmond strokes Eiden’s human face. “Don’t strain yourself.”

No, Eiden has to say this. He has to! “Br…br…i…” 

“Hm?” Edmond lowers his ear to Eiden’s mouth to hear him properly. “What are you trying to say?” 

“Br…ide…?” 

“W-what?” 

“Be my bride?” 

With a harsh gasp, Edmond slaps Eiden’s shoulder. “You! Foul creature! That’s what you wasted your breath to ask? What nonsense! A true deviant, aren’t you…” 

Eiden doesn’t care. He needed to ask. It’s the question in his heart that he should have asked a long time ago. Even if Edmond slays him out of embarrassment, right here and now, Eiden can die happy. 

After some time of the usual tirade, Edmond fades to silence. Then, he clears his throat. 

“However…yes. Alright.” 

“Hm?” Suddenly bursting with energy, Eiden sits up. Clutching Edmond’s face in his talons. 

That adorable, blushing face. “Yes. I will…be your bride.” 

Eiden breaks into a slow, greedy grin. Overjoyed. He kisses Edmond’s cheek, coaxing him into another long kiss on the lips.

Hell yeah.

~~The end~~