Chosen by the Beasts, Claimed by the Dragon-Chapter 18: Good luck charm

— ZORYN —

For the champion’s bracket, the fighting pit is split down the middle, creating two smaller arenas. The stands are high enough up that the audience can watch both fights at once.

This allows for two matches to be held simultaneously, while also increasing the difficulty for the contestants. It’s pretty efficient, because all the preliminary matches have to be completed by the next morning, when the finals are held.

Fortunately, I’m in the first set of contestants for the day, so I’ll finally get some fucking ACTION after being a sweet civilian for three days without a single duel.

And, from what it sounds like, Riven will also be fighting in this first round—just not against me. That means we’re in opposite brackets, and the only way we’ll get to fight each other... is if we both win every single one of our matches.

Our fight will have to be the one held for the Finals.

I smirk at the thought.

Hell yeah. Challenge accepted.

I’m standing in my entrance, waiting for my name to be called before I get out onto the sand. I hear chatter in the audience and various commotions from other contestants and elders.

Ugh, I’ll end up having to stand here forever if they’re having to clear a dispute before starting—

"Hey,"

When I hear the voice behind me, I turn around and throw a punch instinctively, but manage to stop it just before my knuckles meet Ren’s nose... he didn’t even flinch.

"Oh, it’s you. What the hell are you doing down here?" I ask. "Also, weren’t you going to dodge?"

Ren shrugs with a lazy smile, "I figured you’d have good enough reactions to stop in time, professional fighter you are—and if you didn’t stop, I deserve one good punch, anyway."

I blink a few times, completely dumbfounded, but I can’t help the amused chuckle that escapes my lips anyway. "Alright, fair enough—but you didn’t answer my first question. What the hell are you doing down here?"

"To wish you good luck," he answers simply. "I didn’t want to do it in front of all your... friends."

I cock a brow, "Oh? What did you have to say that couldn’t be said in front of them?"

"It’s not so much that it can’t be said, but that you might be embarrassed," Ren smirks, his brilliant violet eyes glowing slightly in the dark.

I cross my arms over my chest and narrow my eyes. "Hit me with it."

"Firstly, I want to infuse your rune," he says, then rubs the back of his neck a bit awkwardly. "Then I have something I want to give you for good luck."

"Oh," I look down at my hip, "I guess that would be kind of awkward in front of everyone... Well, hurry up. I’ll have to go out any minute now."

"As you wish," he answers as he kneels on one knee. He looks up at me, silently asking permission. Once I give him a nod, he proceeds.

He lifts the hem of my shirt to reveal it and starts to breathe his magic onto it slowly. I feel a shiver run down my spine—ugh, it’s such a stimulating feeling when he does this—

Then I feel a warm, wet sensation against my skin. My flesh immediately rises with goosebumps, and a small gasp escapes my lips. When I look down, he’s just finished giving the marking a soft lick.

"I don’t remember you doing that before—" I start, but he cuts me off.

"It’s not necessary, I just couldn’t help myself," he shrugs, clearly pleased with himself as he gets off the ground to stand again.

I want to be mad, but I can’t—I really liked it.

UGH! Why the hell is being a woman so fucking confusing? Why does some guy licking me make me feel... excited? This is unnecessarily complicated. I hate it.

Deflection time! "So, now that’s out of the way—what is it you wanted to give me?"

Ren looks at me knowingly, as if he can see into my thoughts and knows how confused I’m feeling. Fortunately, he doesn’t mention it.

He takes a step closer to me, closing the already-small gap that was between us until we are basically standing chest-to-chest. I’m overwhelmed by his scent, the warmth and spiciness of it is fucking intoxicating. I can’t help but inhale deeply.

Ren leans in, his silky, wine-red hair cascading down his shoulder. He glances at my lips and whispers, "Would you like a tongue-piercing?"

My eyes widen. Is he... is he really offering? Most dragons have a lot of piercings, but they aren’t arbitrary—they’re tokens of respect and... and affection. Dad has a lot of tattoos, ear piercings, and so on that my mother gave him when she was alive. His broodmates and grandsires gave some.

I’ve always wanted some, but I didn’t want to get pierced by a random person—it’s too culturally significant.

"A tongue piercing?" I echo, unsure. The tongue is a very intimate place, and usually only lovers give those to each other...

"I’ll let you give me one, too," he offers, his voice low and smooth in my ears. "It only takes a second—and it heals instantly, so there’s no need to worry."

...Fuck, he’s so hot. Shit!

Against my better judgment, I end up nodding. "Yeah. Let’s do it."

Ren grins victoriously, "Good."

He reaches into a pouch on his waist and pulls out a beautiful gem stud. It’s made of amethyst, which is a favored gem amongst dragons.

"Show me your tongue, Zoryn," he says.

I part my lips and allow my tongue freedom. I don’t fail to notice the way he stares at me a little too long, but I’m too thrilled to care. He takes my tongue between his two fingers, presses the stud to the center of my tongue, then whispers a spell beneath his breath.

There’s a slight pinch, but other than that, I don’t feel a thing. He releases my tongue, but I stick it out at him a bit longer so he can admire his handiwork.

"It looks perfect," he says, his eyes soft with adoration and a heat that mirrors my own.

The sensation of it being in my mouth is foreign, but... I like it. And there’s a familiar warmth emanating from it, probably because it belongs to Ren.

"I’ll give you yours when I win tomorrow," I declare proudly. I don’t know where this confidence is coming from, maybe his magic is getting to my head, but... "Until then... would you like to feel it once before I send you away?"

It almost looks like Ren’s brain completely malfunctions because he freezes for a moment, and he stares intently into my eyes to see if I’m messing with him or not. "Are you insinuating what I think?"

"If you’re thinking about snogging right before I go beat the shit out of some guy," I say, "then yes."

I can’t help myself. Ever since Sylas made out with me yesterday, the sensation has been burning in the back of my mind—I want to do it again.

Ren doesn’t bother speaking. He moves quickly, pressing me against the stone wall. One of his hands rests on top of the marking on my hip, squeezing it, and the other is behind my head, curled into my hair.

The moment his lips press against mine, I see stars. It’s hot, wet, and passionate as his tongue enters my mouth. He deliberately feels and caresses my new piercing with his tongue, the stimulation sending another shiver through my body.

Fuck, this is definitely better than Sylas—not that I’ll tell him that. It isn’t because of the technique, the serpent’s slow sensuality was delicious... but there’s something chemical about this. Something in the sparks that are exploding in my mind.

I follow his lead and kiss him until we’re both breathless. There’s an unignorable warmth between my legs, accompanied by a super strange wetness—but I don’t have time to think about that right now.

I pull away, panting, and look up at him. He looks just as disheveled as I feel, but incredibly satisfied. Ren presses his forehead against mine, and I can feel his hot breath against my skin.

"I can smell your arousal," he says quietly. "If you need help with it later... please tell me."

My eyes widen, but despite the embarrassment I feel, I can’t find it in me to act abashed. "I’ll see you after my last match tonight?"

Ren nods, stepping away from me. For some stupid reason, I already miss his presence.

Man, are he and Dad sure that he didn’t give me a proper mate mark? Is it supposed to feel like this? 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"Good luck, I’m excited for you to win," he says with a wink before disappearing in a thin cloud of red smoke.

...Ugh. Damn him and his charmingness. How annoying.

"FIRST MATCH OF THE CHAMPION’S BRACKET WILL BEGIN NOW!"

Alright, it’s fucking showtime.