No Rest For The Weary

At the end of the night, Visenya lay on the cold, hard ground of her room, utterly exhausted from the relentless sleep deprivation she had endured for the past couple of weeks. Her eyelids weighed heavy, and every muscle in her weary body throbbed from the day's arduous chores. She had to bear it all, just like any ordinary human, for she wasn't permitted to shift until her next hunt.

"Why not just shift quickly? He's out cold... he'll never suspect a thing," Delilah suggested.

"Knowing my luck, that devil of a dragon has someone watching me from a crack in the wall. He'll find out that I shifted without his permission and put me in the hole for insubordination," Visenya sighed, her voice tinged with frustration. "I can't chance it... I'll be alright, I just need sleep... by the way, your idea with the hypnotic leaf was brilliant."

“I’m surprised he drank the tea with the amount you put in it; he had to have smelled the leaf,” Delilah remarked.

“Maybe he needed sleep just as much as I do,” Visenya pondered.

“Well, get some rest... you really need it,” Delilah advised.

Visenya let out a long yawn as she stretched out on the hard floor, trying to find a comfortable position. “Delilah?”

“Yes?” Delilah responded.

“I am truly grateful to have you by my side; I don't think I could survive this life without you,” Visenya confessed.

“You're much stronger than you give yourself credit for, Visenya,” Delilah reassured.

“I'm strong because of you...” Visenya trailed off, succumbing to sleep.
———

The next day, Visenya was rudely awakened by Lucian's favorite wake-up call. Her eyes flew open, and she found herself drenched in ice-cold water. Anger and frustration surged through her veins as she sat up, her gaze meeting Lucian’s smug expression.

In that moment, a fiery rage burned within her, envisioning herself transforming into her wolf and tearing his throat out. However, before the anger could manifest on her face, she closed her eyes and took several deep breaths, attempting to regain her composure.

"Do you know what hour it is?" Lucian's voice cut through the silence, dripping with annoyance.

"No, Master... It seems that a clock is the only missing piece in this otherwise lovely room you've provided me," Visenya retorted.

"Don't be a smartass!" Lucian snapped.

Visenya quickly changed her tune, not wanting to provoke him any further. "I'm sorry, Master... no, I am not aware of the hour. However, I always wake up around sunrise, so I assume it's barely past dawn," she stammered.

"Well, your assumption is wrong as it's already past noon," Lucian revealed, his voice brimming with irritation.

"Noon?!" Visenya exclaimed in disbelief, her eyes widening.

"Yes, noon! And if it weren't for you drugging me with your tea, I wouldn't have slept the entire morning away! Due to your carelessness, I'm doubling your workload today! You better get up and prepare my meal because I expect everything done by sundown!" He barked, his anger boiling over as he stormed towards the exit.

"But, that's not fair!" She protested, her voice filled with frustration.

He shot her a warning look, his eyes piercing into hers. "Are you arguing with me?"

She desperately wanted to release her frustration, to let out a scream that would echo through the world. But instead, she chose to close her eyes, concealing the deep-seated hatred within them. "No, Master," she responded, her voice tinged with resignation.

"That's what I thought... now, get moving, mutt," he grumbled, his words dripping with contempt as he exited the room.

"Oh, if only I had some black zaphynite." Visenya remarked grudgingly.

Delilah joined in, adding wistfully, "Or if we could be a dragon, just for a day."

Visenya nodded in agreement, "Oh, right... only a dragon can slay another dragon. But I'd never want to be one of those winged demons, not even for a day."

Delilah's snicker filled the air, "Well, just long enough to end his misery."

Visenya countered, her voice laced with sarcasm, "His misery? Or mine?"

"What's the difference?" Delilah retorted.

Taking a deep breath, Visenya rose to her feet and gently rotated her neck, trying to ease the tension. "I better get up; it's going to be a long day."

She immediately started on Lucian's meal and proceeded to tackle the first of numerous chores he had assigned her as punishment for oversleeping. With determination, she embarked on a laundry marathon, followed by ironing, scrubbing pots and pans, sweeping and washing the floors, cleaning the lavatories, dusting every surface, and tending to the stables. And let's not forget the pressure of having Lucian's dinner ready by sundown.

As she neared the end of her day, engrossed in the final task of cleaning the stables, Lucian returned and decided to assess her progress. Turning the corner towards the stables, he caught sight of his outdoor slaves, who were all male, fixated on Visenya as she effortlessly handled bales of hay. The unmistakable desire in their eyes ignited a boiling rage within him.

"Is this how you occupy yourselves in my absence?!" He bellowed, sending them all into a startled frenzy. "What the hell are you all standing around for?! Get back to work!"

The slaves immediately returned to their duties, heads down in fear of the deathly chill emanating from Lucian's cold stare. He strode directly towards Visenya, who kept to her work, pretending not to notice the scene he had just caused.

"What do you think you're doing?" He griped.

A flicker of hesitation crossed Visenya's face as she glanced around, unsure if he was addressing someone else. "I'm doing as you instructed, Master. I'm cleaning the stables."

His eyebrows furrowed in irritation at her response. "Why didn't you cover up more? The temperature is dropping, and the last thing I need is for you to catch a cold and be unable to fulfill your duties."

"Lycans don't catch colds, Master. Nor do we chill easily... we're warm-blooded," she reminded him, struggling to contain her exasperation at his absurd remark.

"Well... I know you saw these slaves standing around doing nothing! Why didn't you instruct them to resume their work?!" Lucian demanded.

"I honestly didn't notice, Master. Besides, who am I to give orders? I'm just a slave myself," Visenya replied.

Lucian's anger only intensified as he stalked closer, his larger-than-life form towering over Visenya. "You are really testing my patience today, dog," he growled.

Intimidation washed over Visenya as she felt the weight of Lucian's current demeanor. "I have done nothing wrong, Master. I have faithfully carried out everything you've assigned me to do. I don't understand why you are angry with me right now.”

Lucian wasn't angry with her per se; he was furious at the men who had been undressing her with their eyes and entertaining perverse thoughts. He wanted to set each and every one of them on fire right then and there. But instead, Lucian redirected his feelings of possessiveness onto poor Visenya, placing all the blame on her. They stood there, engaged in a silent staring match as Lucian grappled with his emotions.

"I'm hungry," he finally said, breaking the tension. "Go prepare my things so that I can have a wash and get started on my dinner."

"But I haven't finished cleaning out the stables, and the nettle moss will wear off soon... the horses will wake up and run off," Visenya said, her voice filled with urgency.

Lucian scanned the area until his eyes landed on the first slave in his line of sight. "You, over there! Finish cleaning out these stables and make sure these horses are put inside the second they wake," he commanded, his tone firm and authoritative.

"Yes, Dragon Lord," the slave immediately complied, rushing over to take on the duty without hesitation.

Visenya couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the young man who now had to shoulder her unfinished task. She understood that the bales of hay were incredibly heavy, and he would need assistance to load them back into the stables. What felt like a mere burden to a Lycan must feel like a ton to a human.

"What are you waiting for?" Lucian snapped impatiently.

Visenya gathered her resolve and forced her legs into motion, scurrying back into the castle with Lucian closely trailing behind. As they walked past the other slaves, Lucian's gaze bore into them with a deadly intensity, ensuring that none of them dared to raise their eyes from their work.

After finishing his dinner, Lucian burst through the kitchen door while Visenya was tidying up the dining area.

"Go and clean yourself up, then meet me in my bedchamber in ten minutes," he ordered abruptly.

Visenya knew exactly what that meant. There was only one reason for her to be summoned to his chambers at this hour, "Would you like me to bring you some tea?" Her insistence was evident.

He slowly scanned her from head to toe, his gaze lingering. "No... I won't be having any tea tonight.”

As soon as Lucian left the kitchen, Visenya couldn't help but release an exasperated grunt, battling an internal tantrum. She was utterly drained, lacking any ounce of strength to indulge his sexual urges. Nevertheless, as always, she obediently followed his command.

She hurriedly took a bath and changed into fresh clothing. Reluctantly, she ascended the stairs to the highest floor, where he awaited her inside his bedchamber. She hesitantly knocked on the door, secretly hoping that he would change his mind and send her away. However, to her dismay, he promptly granted her entry.

He stood there, gazing out of the window in nothing but his undershorts. As she closed the door behind her, she gracefully moved to the center of the room, patiently awaiting his acknowledgment.