A Show Of Ownership

Visenya made a beeline for the stables, eager to secure a horse and a small wagon for her hunt. Inside, she noticed three horses that were visibly anxious, and she knew exactly why. Approaching her own horse, she hoped he would be more at ease upon seeing her, but even he was on edge, practically ready to leap out of his own skin. Animals had a keen instinct for sensing imminent danger, and they could smell a dragon from miles away. It was only natural for them to have the urge to flee, a sentiment Visenya could relate to.

She pondered how far she would need to travel to find animals to hunt, and then it dawned on her: Lucian knew precisely what he was doing when he assigned her the task of hunting. What other creature could cover a large radius of land in such a short amount of time, like a Lycan in its wolf form? She let out a long sigh, knowing that she had her work cut out for her.

She grabbed a large sack to carry her kill and headed towards the serene lake nestled behind the castle. It was the perfect opportunity to wash her clothes, as she anticipated they would be dry by the time she returned from her hunt. After washing her clothes and draping them across a sturdy branch to catch the sun's rays, she took her wolf form and set out on her hunt.

About an hour later, Visenya returned with elk and venison. She hurried back to the lake and bathed as quickly as possible, wishing she could relax there all day. However, she had to deliver the kill to the butcher without delay. After putting her clothes back on, she made her way back into the castle. In the kitchen, she hung on Emi's every word, eager to absorb every cooking tip. Josiah, a young and kind slave, also did his best to guide her through her tasks.

The slaves understood the importance of timeliness, especially when it came to serving Lucian's meals. Three hours past sunrise marked the time when Lucian expected his first meal to be ready, and they were extremely careful not to be even a minute late. They knew all too well that a dragon's appetite was not to be taken lightly.

Visenya followed Emi into the dining room, where Lucian awaited at the head of the table. Emi placed his meal in front of him and stood in the corner, ready to assist if needed. Visenya initially stood beside Emi, but Lucian called her to his side, and she obediently knelt on the floor next to him.

"Where's my dog's breakfast?" He asked with a condescending tone.

Emi looked at Visenya with sorrow in her eyes, her heart heavy with sympathy. "My apologies, Dragon Lord. Allow me to fetch that for her," she said softly.

Visenya, determined to maintain her dignity, fought to keep her composure as the degrading dog dish was placed before her. Despite the gnawing hunger and the growling of her empty stomach, she refused to give Lucian the satisfaction of seeing her brought so low. His relentless attempts to break her only fueled her resolve, and she remained confident that she would not be defeated, not now or ever.

Visenya was relieved when he promptly dismissed her after finishing his meal, but it didn't mean she had the luxury of sitting around all day. He immediately assigned her a multitude of chores to keep her occupied while he ventured off to an undisclosed location, leaving everyone to wonder about his whereabouts.

Upon his return, several hours later, he appeared disheveled and covered in layers of dirt. Visenya couldn't help but notice the soot nestled beneath his fingernails, prompting her curiosity about his activities. After cleansing himself in a shower, Emi had prepared his second meal of the day, and once again, Visenya was forced to kneel on the ground beside him and expected to chow down like a dog.

It was the same for his last meal of the day, and that's when Visenya realized that he wouldn't allow her to eat unless she bent to his will first. In that moment, she made a firm decision - she would rather starve to death than give in. With her head held high and a regal poise, she remained seated on her heels, embodying the queen that she was.

Meanwhile, Cylis sat at the table with Lucian, kissing his ass to no end. Every now and then, Cylis would steal a glance at Visenya, relishing in her evident misery. He couldn't contain his amusement when he heard her stomach rumble with hunger, and he laughed with delight.

Rising from his seat, he hovered over her, reveling in the satisfaction of looking down upon her. "How does it feel to be the one starving now, bitch?" Cylis asked, wearing a smug and contented smirk on his face.

Visenya's gaze bore into Cylis with sheer disgust, igniting a deep anger within him. The audacity of a lowly slave to look upon him with such disrespect was unfathomable. In a fit of rage, he seized her by the throat, hoisting her up onto her knees. But before he could utter a single word, Lucian's fist thundered onto the table, causing both their hearts to leap within their chests.

"Take your fucking hands off her!" Lucian's voice boomed.

Cylis dropped Visenya like a hot skillet, backstepping as Lucian stalked towards him.

Lucian looked beyond furious, as if he was ready to rip Cylis' head clear from his body. "Does that look like the slave that I gave you?"

"No, My Lord," Cylis stammered, his voice filled with trepidation.

"That's because that right there... is my slave!" Lucian bellowed.

"With all due respect, My Lord, but they're all your slaves," Cylis replied.

Lucian loomed over him, his menacing stare bringing Cylis to his knees, paralyzing him with fear. "I can understand how someone as dimwitted as you might be confused. So, let me spell it out for you. Do not touch this slave... ever. If I catch your hands where they don't belong again, I will set you on fire and piss on your corpse. Can your feeble mind comprehend that?"

"Yes, My Lord. I understand... please forgive my transgression," Cylis pleaded.

Lucian looked down at Cylis as if he were a complete waste of space. "Get up and attend to your duties."

"Yes, Dragon Lord," Cylis responded obediently.

Cylis rose to his feet and hurried off to supervise the other slaves, while Lucian dismissed Visenya and sent her back to her cell. She remained unmoved by Lucian's display of power. She didn't think he had it in that cold, blackened heart of his to ever do her any favors. She believed that she was nothing more than a piece of property to him, and his treatment of Cylis was simply a way to assert his authority.

Visenya lay down on the hard, cold floor of her cell, trying to find some semblance of comfort. Thankfully, exhaustion overwhelmed her, temporarily distracting her from her hunger. If it weren't for Emi secretly providing her with food throughout the day, her hunger would have kept her awake all night. She quickly drifted into a deep sleep, thankful that she had survived yet another day.