Dragon Boyfriend: Gryndren Part One (complete)

They say there aren’t many dragons left in the Ruby Empire, and that that is a sign of the end times. This is not because of the dragons that don’t exist, but because the ones that do are old and powerful. It isn’t just dragons that mercenaries like myself hunt these days. The whole Empire is filled with all sorts of dark creatures, ones that plague the land and the seas, ones that destroy and thirst for blood. But when there is word of a dragon somewhere, it is a call that is far too exciting to ignore.

I have been called up to the Polar. I am not used to the blinding cold there, but I am willing to take the offer. The Czar Gregori and his wife Katrina are growing increasingly worried, as part of their naval fleet has been decimated by something they refer to as a grey devil. Due to my expertise in hunting and killing large prey, and my sister’s reference to Queen Mythri, the Czar invites me to see if I can tackle this new menace. 

Katrina pours me a cup of rich, thick hot chocolate and sits back as I take a sip. The journey through the Polar has been a harsh one, hampered by an unexpected snowstorm. I arrived at the palace quite frozen, and have rested for a good portion of the day.

“Lady Evelyn,” Katrina says as she looks me over. She has a sly smile on her lips as she looks me over. “You are certainly not what I expected when you were referred. Although, Mythri spoke very highly of you.”

“My sister holds a good opinion of me, and Mythri holds her in such high esteem,” I chuckle. “But I stand by their words. I do my job well and I’ve yet to come across one I cannot finish.” I nod my head towards her. “Now tell me, what is this ‘grey devil’ you’re so eager to deal with?” I glance around. “And where is your husband?”

“Recuperating,” Katrina’s smile becomes a dangerous one of smug pride. “I’ll handle things for now.” She takes out a scroll from beside her chair. “Our naval fleet have been doing patrols off the coast. There are a few islands between us and the Reptilia, and they have been subjected to some unfortunate weather. We’ve been patrolling in order to protect the islands and deliver supplies, and assess whether we need to take in refugees.” She unfurls the scroll, letting the end fall to the floor to reveal the painting on its surface. 

“Turns out, the islands had to take in our own men - or at least the ones that survived. Because this,” she shakes the scroll, “has attacked any ship that has come close to the islands in that last few months.”

I take the scroll into my hand, looking over the silvery-gray dragon painted there. The shape is slender and long, with massive wings that disappear into storm clouds. 

“The men say it creates a storm that swallows up the ships, and grinds them up like grain,” Katrina seethes. “Those ships are some of the biggest and most powerful in all the Empire, and that creature turns them into flour!” She shakes her head, pressing her fingertips to her temple.

“I know of your Navy’s might,” I murmur, and furrow my brow. “What makes you think I can conquer this beast when your trained and prepared military cannot?”

Katrina sighs. “The beast has delivered an ultimatum, decreeing it will destroy any and all ships that pass through its territory. It will only allow individuals to pass though. One by one, it will allow willing combatants into its lair. After it defeats five it will take my daughter as sacrifice.”

“Oh,” I gasp softly. 

Katrina scoffs. “Mila is very headstrong. She has offered to go and kill it herself now. But I had decided to try and see what this dragon has planned before I let my heir do something reckless.”

“What does the dragon intend to do to those who come to battle it?” I ask.

Katrina stands up from her chair. “Apparently the thing is bored.” She moves over to the table, pouring herself a cup of hot chocolate. “It either wants to meet its match, or mate.” She takes a long drink before sighing and turning back towards me. “Personally, I would prefer Mila to decide her mate for herself. I also don’t think she would like a dragon groom.” She tilts her head to the side. “I suggest you either kill it or give it what it wants. Either way you will be rewarded.”

I am uncertain of this challenge. This dragon obviously has something more than a simple game up its sleeve. Regardless, I am eager to meet it head-on. Ever since I was little, it was always my dream to meet a dragon, in conquest or as a friend. Conquest it is.

“Before I agree to anything, I would like to know what my reward would be.” I stand to be level with Katrina. “”Do you offer gold? Land? Tell me, what will I receive when I return?”

“Name your price,” Katrina says with a smirk. “Not many mercenaries ask for land as a payment, so I’m quite surprised.”

“I want property along the coast of Rakshasa country, and a house there as well. Something comfortable. It doesn’t need to be too big, but I do not want anything small either.” I stiffen my shoulders. “I also know that the Polar is famous for its Seraphinite.” I take three empty bags from my belt and lay them on the table. “I would like these filled with the gemstones.”

Katrina looks down at the bags. She places her hand over them and pulls them close. “I will send word to Mythri and discuss the land with her.” She holds up the bags. “Would you like the gems now or when you return?”

I smirk at her. “One bag now, and the other two when I get back.”

“I will work on that as well.” Katrina tilts her chin up. “Are you planning to start a family, Lady Evelyn?”

“I already have one,” I chuckle. “My sister is pregnant, and I want to be a good aunt.”

“I see,” Katrina murmurs. “I’ll have things ready for you come morning - if you wish to leave then, that is.”

“The sooner the better,” I say with a nod. 

Come morning, after a hearty meal, I am taken to the coast and placed in a small boat with some of the Polar’s best knights. The ship is smaller than their Navy vessels, and is is loaded with a sailing skiff to allow me to travel alone to my destination. The knights will stand guard, and act if needed. 

Also on the ship is the young prince, Nicolai, barely seventeen and training under the knights. I would have thought he was a knight himself, considering his size. He towers over me, and I consider myself to be quite tall. 

“What sort of creatures have you fought against?” Nicolai asks. His voice gives away his age, as do his big eyes, one blue and one brown. 

“Oh, many things,” I chuckle. “I’ve been at this since I was your age.”

Nicolai’s eyes go wider. “What was your first?”

I think for a moment. “It was a Mortabulus, near the mountains of Charbagne. They call them bone eaters, and they usually pester places like tombs and graveyards. This one had lost its mind and was taking the bones right from people’s bodies.”

Nicolai’s mouth is agape, and he hunches up in his seat.

“I joined a hunting party that was tasked with killing it.” I lift up my sleeve, showing him the ghastly scar on my forearm. “It bit into me, and I somehow managed to shoot it with my free hand while I was panicking!”

“What did you do?” Nicolai stares starry-eyed at me.

I look at the horrible scar briefly before pushing my sleeve down again. “Crossbow,” I murmur. “I still can’t figure out how I did it with one hand.” I chuckle. “I’ve always been told that I have been cursed with remarkable luck. My sister is the same way.”

“Cursed with luck?” Nicolai furrows his brow low. “How is that possible?”

“Well, luck swings,” I reply. “It can either go very well or very wrong, and I am cursed with the most remarkable, so-” I shrug and click my tongue. “I suppose my pendulum swings a little harder than most.”

“Ah,” Nicolai gasps. “Well, how has it been swinging lately? Perhaps that will be a sign as to how things will go for you.”

I bite down on the tip of my tongue. Things haven’t really been swinging lately. It is as if the pendulum has gone still and is waiting on me to move. “That’s the thing. It never goes how you want it to.”

Nicolai nods. “Okay, I see, I see,” he nods. He falls silent and looks around. “Have you ever gone up against anything as big as a dragon?”

I smile at him. “A few, but never a dragon. This will be my first.”

We come to an arch made of ice, and that is where we stop. The others lower the skiff and place me in it. Once I am cast off, I venture off towards a craggy opening in the ice that is supposed to lead to the dragon’s lair. 

The air is crisp and cold, and icicles hang heavy from the rocks around me. In the distance I can see the island that Katrina told me about. The world seems gray here. Even the sky is heavy with clouds that shift silver as the dull light touches them. I brace myself, preparing for the dragon at any moment. 

The boat stalls, hitting against something. I look over the edge, expecting a rock or a chunk of ice to be in my way. As I lean over the side though, I see something glowing beneath the icy waters. I gasp softly as the radiant blue comes closer to the surface. A great claw braces against the bow, pushing against it and sinking its claws into the wood.

The dragon emerges from the water, rising up and moving it’s great head towards me, sapphire eyes glowing bright in the sockets. It’s scales are dark gray around its face, fading into paler shades all the way down its neck until it becomes silver-white on its chest. Large spikes jut out from the face like bone, and two curl backwards like ram’s horns at the top of its head.

“I was expecting posturing knights and braggart men,” the dragon whispers, its voice a low, calm rasp. “I was not prepared for a woman of any kind.” I take a step back as the dragon curls it’s long body around the ship. “I am a bit thrown off, but I am not unprepared.”

“I’m the same as any man,” I scoff at him. “What does it matter?”

“I suppose it doesn’t,” the dragon chuckles. “But my senses dull around women. I must confess it has been a long time since my last one.” He breathes in deep, his nostrils flaring out. “I have forgotten how good women smell,” he groans.

I grimace. “Well. That’s off-putting.”

He chuckles, rapping his black talons on the boards of the ship. “Women used to throw themselves at me all the time. They learned of my skills and wanted me.”

“Still off-putting,” I growl. “I’d much rather you were trying to eat me right now.”

The dragon licks his chops. “So would I. I can’t remember the last time I tasted a ripe, wet, woman.”

“Oh my gods, please stop!” I cup my hands around my ears. “You’re a fucking pervert, aren’t you?”

The dragon lowers his head down towards me. “I was once treated as a god of fertility in these lands. But you take one decades-long nap and people forget all about you.” He tugs my hand away from my ear. “I used to protect these lands, and then I woke up to see them under the control of those disgusting bears.”

“You have a thing against fur?” I scoff, yanking my hand away from him.

He licks his chops again. 

“Don’t!” I raise my hand up to him. “I’m not here for that. I’m only here so I can be your combatant.”

The dragon sighs. “Is that so?” He looks me over with those bright blue eyes. His black tongue presses into the corner of his mouth before slipping back behind his rows of sharp teeth, which gleam in a massive grin. “Then this should be fun.”

He reaches out, grabbing me around the waist. His wings snap open and he pushes off against the boat, flying with me straight up into the air. I let out a scream as we break through the clouds. As he shudders to a stop I gasp loudly and turn towards him. “That wasn’t funny!”

He chuckles darkly. “I thought it was.”

“Put me back down on the ship!” I kick and wriggle in his grasp. “All my supplies are down there!”

“You won’t be needing any of that,” the dragon replies. “From now on, I will be taking care of you.”

“Not until I kill you,” I growl.

“Trust me, you won’t,” the dragon smirks. “This will be our little game.”

I grunt and struggle against his hand, which only tightens around me. I finally give up and lean back into his palm. “Is this how you would treat any of the posturing knights or braggart men who would try to challenge you?”

“No, of course not. Men are disgusting,” he grimaces. “I only intended to bat them around until I got bored. My true goal was to get a suitable mate. I much prefer the company of lovely women.”

I scowl at him, shuddering as a piercing wind cuts against my cheeks. “How unfortunate for you. I am no lovely lady, I am a vile woman!”

“I will take you just the same. I have a fondness for any woman.” He turns, going down through the clouds and landing on a snow-covered cliff. He slips into the narrow cave there, holding me close to his chest as the opening seems to get narrower and narrower, until we squeeze out into a cavern. The walls glow with magma, which streams down the sides and into massive pools surrounded by towering stones that look like glass.

He walks across a beach of black sand and carries me into a chamber filled with fabrics and pillows. He sets me down in the center, and I sink down into the fluff of the blankets. 

“You seemed cold. You can warm up here.” He lays down beside me, curling himself up as I struggle to escape the sinking pit of comfort. I finally find my footing, and rise up to scoff and glare at him.

“I came here to fight you, not to indulge in a slumber party!” I toss a pillow at him, and it just falls off his neck.

“I can imagine all the horrible things you wanted to do to my body.” He stretches out, almost posing. “But I am here to change your mind.”

“Ugh,” I grimace. “I have changed my mind. I’d rather slay myself at this point.”

The dragon laughs, a dark look coming into his eyes. “Give it a few days,” he replies. “If, at the end of them, you still wish to put a sword to my throat, I’ll offer you the chance. Until then, I plan to play with you in other ways.”

I shudder and wrap my arms around myself.

“Don’t worry, I am not some savage. I ask before I partake of anything. A ‘no’ does not make for a good time.” He lowers his head. “Now tell me, what is your name?”

I glare up at him. “Evelyn,” I reply coldly.

“A pleasure,” he whispers to me. “I am Gryndren.”

“No pleasure here,” I huff. “As far as I am concerned, you’ve taken me captive and I will find my way out. Once I do I will fetch my weapons and come back to skin you and offer the hide to Katrina.”

Gryndren widens his eyes. “My, my. Vicious little thing, aren’t you?” He grins. “I like that.”

“You’d probably like a warm melon,” I growl at him.

Gryndren chuckles, his tail swinging idly behind himself. “I used to enjoy when women would take control of me. Tie me up. Force me down. Take from me what the men in their lives could not give.” He licks his lips, his black tongue gliding across his teeth. “Strong, forceful women, with minds of their own, made up and defined. They were always my favorite.”

“How progressive,” I grumble. I feel sweat trickle down the nape of my neck and I wipe at my forehead.

“If you are warm, Lady Evelyn, I suggest you take off that coat. It’s warm and cozy here, you won’t be needing it.”

I don’t want to give him the satisfaction, but my discomfort wins out. I remove the heavy coat, letting him see my arms flex and the strength they hold. I’ve always had muscle - years of training and hunting will do that. Not very many liked that on a woman like me, but I enjoyed the power I saw in myself.

“There.” Gryndren picks up the coat and tosses it aide. “Much better, don’t you think?”

I don’t give him any answer. I simply try to keep myself from falling back into the blankets and pillows around me.

Gryndren tilts his head to the side, then rises up and moves out of the chamber. 

“Wait!” I call after him. “Where are you going?”

“To hunt,” he says simply. “After all, I have company now that I need to take care of. You rest, relax, and take care of yourself. Because tomorrow I do not plan for you to be so still.” He looks back over his shoulder. “Tomorrow will be a challenge.” He extends his wings and flies back towards the mouth of the cave near the ceiling.

I manage to swim out of the room of pillows and blankets and land on the black sand, where I nearly slip and fall into the lake. I find that the water is warm from the volcanic flow. I stand up, looking around my new surroundings. The cave is lit by the volcano, casting everything in a hazy glow like candlelight. The black sand is as fine as powder, and there is a scent in the air I cannot place, sweet and spicy. The walls of the cave have the same glassy appearance as the jagged rocks. There are a few more openings into chambers nearby, and more across the lake. I can see that in one chamber the floor is glossy black, reflective as water. The room seems completely empty, but I have a feeling that there is more to this place than I assume.

Beside that is a smaller chamber filled with treasure - gold, gems, everything you could imagine - so that assures me he is close to being a normal dragon. I return to the black beach and sit there as I tried to figure out how I can escape and get to the mouth of the cave. Traveling through it, it didn’t seem that long, but I was being held by a dragon going as fast as the wind. Not only that, it is very high up on the cave wall, and from what I can tell I would have to climb a nearly vertical wall of stone to get to it. 

I sigh heavily, rubbing my face in my hands. Maybe this is the challenge he wants. He wants to see me struggle and flail to escape this place. He did say he was bored, and what would be funnier than watching someone fail repeatedly at trying to escape?

I lean back against the glassy stones and watch the magma rumble and move through the wall. The stones make it warp and swirl, and the sound of it is comforting. I soon drift to sleep. 

When I wake, I am tucked into the sea of pillows again. I sit up with a start, gasping as I gaze through the candlelight glow, trying to see if Gryndren is there. I sit up, pushing away a warm blanket, when I feel a cold breeze above me. I shudder, looking up to see a slim beam of moonlight above me.

There is another way out! Somehow, above me, there is a way to escape besides the mouth of the cave. 

I turn as I hear breathing. Gryndren’s eyes glow from the shadows. 

“Did you sleep well?” His voice is low and eerie.

I keep my mouth shut tight.

“I’ve never seen such a sleeping beauty before,” he murmurs. “I was quite captivated.” He lifts his head from the pillows, and I can see the glow reflecting off his scales. “It gave me an idea.”

“Idea?” I whisper.

“A game,” he chuckles. “I had another one planned, but you are such a lovely creature, I have changed my mind.” He leans in closer. “I will give you three days to try to escape. If you do, you can kill me or ask me to leave this place - your call.”

“And if I can’t?” I scoff.

“If you fail to escape,” Gryndren chuckles, “then you will stay three more days.”

I furrow my brow. “What for? Why?”

Grendryn licks his chops. “For those three days you will indulge me. We will make love, share pleasure, indulge in fantasies. After those three days, I will let you try for your freedom again. And the cycle will continue.”

“So every time I fail-?” I whisper.

“You’ll be mine.” Gryndren nods his head. “What do you say?”

I grimace at the thought, but I can’t deny that the offer is tempting. Even if I fail, I get another chance at the end of three days. After all, he did say hearing ‘no’ was no fun at all. If I reject any of his advances, perhaps he would respect that.

“Fine,” I agree. “Three days to escape, or three days to fuck.” I wonder how long the cycle will take me. Hopefully the three days will be enough. Even so, the more days I have the more I will learn from this place, even if there is a dragon’s tongue inside me.

Grydren hisses. “I prefer to think of it as passion. Fucking seems too crude.” He extends his clawed hand out to me. “Then do we have a deal?”

I chuckle and shake my head. It won’t be so bad, I assure myself. Surely I can withstand the lust of a dragon. I have withstood far worse. “Sure.” I place my palm in his. “I’ll play your game.” I say, smiling confidently up at him.

“Wonderful.” Gryndren squeezes my hand tight. “I have faith that you will disappoint my expectations, Lady Evelyn.” He sinks back and curls up amongst the pillows. “And I promise to be a tender and affectionate lover.”

I grimace. “I hate that word.”

“Which one?” He laughs. “I said quite a few.”

“Tender,” I stick my tongue out. “I would rather you be a rough and intense lover than ever be tender.”

A grin breaks across his face. “Well then,” he breathes, “I will do whatever the lady commands of me.”