Elara knelt on the cold hard ground with a bucket of soapy water next to her, scrubbing vigorously at a stubborn wine coloured stain someone had left on the marble. But that stain was nothing compared to the sounds that emanated from behind those onyx doors that led to the king's private chambers. Loud feminine cries merged with low masculine groans.She focused intently on her task, willing her mind to go blank, a skill she had perfected over the past year in the obsidian palace, the art of being invisible. A very handy skill when you served under creatures whose mere gaze could reduce you to ashes.She was new and unnoticed and she was thankful for that. In a court filled with scaled draconians and voluptuous dryads a simple and dull human woman such as herself would always be overlooked.She was a small woman with silver blonde hair tied into a severe knot at the back of her head. Her features were delicate, soft plump lips, large violet blue doe eyes and pale skin. The drab greyi

Before he could respond a sharp knock echoed from the outer chamber followed by a male voice.Noticing his distraction she pushed herself away from him with all her might. She immediately stumbled back through the water putting distance between them."Your Majesty! The council meeting begins in Ten minutes"He released a frustrated growl that sounded more dragon than human."Luck seems to be on your side little mouse, but make no mistake, this is far from over."He emerged from the pool with grace, completely unbothered about his nakedness or his evident arousal."There's a dressing chamber through that door." He said, wrapping a towel around his waist. "Get changed and wait in my chambers till I return.""I need to return to my duties.." "Your duty is to me now." His voice cut through her protest. "You are my personal attendant, you will wait in my chambers and you will not speak a word of today's occurrence to anyone, understood?"It wasn't a question, it was a command."And Elara,

Draeven's POV____________________________*Flashback* 4 months agoHe found her in the gardens.He hadn't meant to, he'd been walking the place grounds, restless and irritable, when he'd suddenly heard humming, melodic and hauntingly beautiful.He traced it to the herb garden located at the east wall."And there she was."Kneeling among the plants, gathering stems into a basket. Her silver hair caught the afternoon sun, seeming to glow. She was humming something wordless and lovely, completely unaware of her surroundings.And the plants…When you looked closely it seemed they were leaning toward her, bending in her direction as if they were drawn to her very presence.That was not normal. Plants didn't do that.Draeven stayed hidden behind a marble pillar, watching. A minute passed, then ten, then twenty.What the hell am I even doing.She was just a girl doing her job. There was absolutely nothing remarkable about gathering herbs.But the way she moved, graceful, even as she perform

"I came so hard I nearly blacked out, and I was still hard after all that, still aching. Because apparently, my hand isn't what I need. Do you understand me, little mouse?" Her voice completely failed her. She had absolutely nothing to say to this shameless man. "You've bewitched me somehow." His nose traced along her neck. "And I don't appreciate being made to feel like a desperate teenage boy who can't control his own dick." "Your defiance yesterday has consequences," Dread and something hot coiled in her stomach. "Please,.." "You have a choice." I can assign guards to you, permanent ones. They'll follow you everywhere, the kitchens, washrooms, even when you sleep. You'll be locked in your chamber every night. No freedom until you learn obedience." Her eyes went wide with horror. "Or," his voice dropped lower, rougher, "you accept your punishment now. Here. Ten minutes where you let me prove exactly what you've been fleeing from. "Ten minutes, for thirty days where y

She’d barely swallowed two bites when another knock came at the door, this one sharp, aggressive. Not the quiet tap of a servant. “Come in.” Elara hesitantly called.The door swung open with force as a woman swept into the room as if she owned it.Elara recognized her immediately. How could she not.Lyria. The draconian dancer she’d seen leaving Draeven’s chambers just yesterday morning looking thoroughly satisfied and smug.She was even more striking up close. Tall, voluptuous with copper-colored scales dusting her temples, forearms and the curves of her breasts visible above her low-cut silk gown. Her amber eyes, with vertical slits like a dragon, fixed on Elara with pure venom.“So,” Lyria said, her voice dripping with contempt as she slammed the door shut. “You’re the filthy little slave everyone’s whispering about.”Elara stood quickly, instinctively backing away from the hostility radiating from the woman.“I don’t want any trouble…”“Trouble?” Lyria laughed, a cruel, cutting s