Dragonborn: Mated to the Dragon king

Aria's eyes snapped open, realizing she was still being carried through the air by Emberclaw. Night had fallen over the land, and the only source of light was the full moon. When had she fallen asleep? She couldn't recall.

What surprised her even more was how she had managed to drift off in such an uncomfortable situation. It must have happened after they had flown far beyond Eldoria, the only place where humanity lived.

The rest of the world laid barren and desolate, with nature slowly reclaiming lands untouched by the dragonborns. As Aria glanced downward, she noticed some peculiar rock formations that appeared unnaturally structured.

It took her a moment to realize that they were soaring above a huge mountain. The strange formations were massive rocks carved with beautiful caves, their exteriors shaped to resemble grand homes, castles, or mansions. They had arrived at the heart of Scalethorne, far away from the mainland.

Scalethorne was the domain of the dragons who had conquered the earth, situated on a vast island several hundred kilometers from the continent where Eldoria laid. Everything beyond Eldoria's borders was called Scalethorne because it now belonged to the dragons.

Aria's heart pounded as the realization hit her. She was far from home and her people, in a land where she was regarded as prey and would likely be treated as such.

The four dragons circled a particularly enormous rock formation which appeared to be a castle.

'That must be where the dragon king lives...' Aria thought to herself.

Moments later, the dragons descended, landing before the castle and Aria felt solid ground beneath her feet for the first time in several hours. She lifted her gaze toward the towering structure, and her eyes widened with every passing second.

It was the largest and tallest castle she had ever seen. The only other castle Aria knew was her father's in Eldoria, where she had lived her entire life. But this was far beyond comparison; dark, foreboding, and entirely alien in its design. Even the Eldorian palace paled in comparison to this colossal fortress. Its towering spires stretched so high that not even the dragons could eclipse them.

"Welcome to Scalethorne," Emrys's voice came from behind her. He had returned to his human form, as had the other three dragons who now stood by his side.

Steelhide had transformed into a towering, broad-shouldered man with metallic-gray skin that glimmered faintly in the moonlight. His piercing slate-gray eyes were as sharp as his spiked, steel-like hair, and his armored coat reflected the faint glow of the night.

Verdanscale appeared as a rugged man with sun-kissed skin, deep black hair streaked with earthy brown, and glowing emerald eyes that seemed to pierce through the shadows.

Obsidianwing, now in his human form, gave an air of sleek elegance. His dark skin was streaked with charcoal gray, and his waist-length dreadlocks, interwoven with gray fabric, perfectly matched the texture of his dragon scales.

"Where... in Scalethorne is this?" Aria asked softly, her voice tinged with both curiosity and unease.

"The palace of our king," Orin, formerly Verdanscale, replied in a deep, gravelly tone that carried a stern edge. "We will take you to meet him now."

Without hesitation, Emrys produced a cuff from his pocket. He took hold of Aria's hands and secured the locks, ensuring she wouldn't attempt something reckless, like trying to escape.

Before she could voice her protests, Emrys gripped her arm firmly and began leading her toward the castle. Behind them, Orin, Silas (Steelhide), and Xavi (Obsidianwing) followed closely, with Xavi carrying the box containing the Drakoryte.

The castle's interior structure was unlike anything Aria had ever seen. The massive stone walls seemed to shimmer subtly from within, creating an almost otherworldly glow.

The decor was undeniably luxurious, yet it carried an ominous undertone. Deep red, black, gray, gold, and touches of silver dominated the color scheme, giving the castle a grim elegance. The towering walls stretched so high into the vaulted ceiling, clearly designed with the dragonborns true form in mind.

Strangely, the castle felt even larger inside than it appeared from the outside. This was likely due to the sprawling chambers that extended deep underground, adding to the overwhelming sense of vastness.

After a long walk through grand, empty hallways, they finally reached the main chamber, the largest in the entire castle. Here stood the dragon king's throne; a masterpiece of carved gold adorned with rich, red cushioning for comfort. The throne's size was extraordinary, larger than any Aria had ever seen. The dragons, it seemed, had an excessive preference for grandeur.

As they stepped into the chamber, a figure entered through a side doorway. The young dragonborn man stopped abruptly upon seeing them, his thick eyebrows arching in question. He was impressively tall, with a sharp scar etched beneath his right eye.

"Where's the king?" Emrys asked firmly.

"How should I know?" the young dragon, Ares, responded with a defiant edge in his voice.

His gaze shifted to Aria, and he instantly knew she was human. His eyes narrowed as he recognized her.

"You..." he growled lowly, his voice laced with contempt as he fixed his piercing stare on her.

Aria, confused, stared back blankly, unsure of what was happening.

"So, we meet again, after your little attempt to blind me!" Ares snarled.

Aria's eyes widened in shock as the realization struck her. This was the same dragon she and Livia had encountered during their ill-fated adventure across the border just the day before!

Aria stood frozen, her mind blank and

unable to form words.

"I... I..." She stammered uncontrollably.

"I made sure that King Rhysann brought you here so I can punish you severely for what you did to me!" Ares sneered with a cruel smile as he climbed down the stairs and approached her.

Aria's heart skipped a beat as she stared helplessly at him. She glanced back at Emrys and the others, hoping for assistance, but they remained still, watching

without any intention of intervening. Her fingers brushed against the dragon's tooth hidden in her pocket. If he laid a hand on her, she wouldn't hesitate to use it in defense.

"I'm going to pluck out your eyes and make you grovel in the dirt beneath my feet!" Ares growled, raising his hand and poised to strike. "I—!"

The blow never came.

Aria, bracing herself for the strike, had squeezed her eyes shut, but the expected pain never arrived. Slowly, she opened her eyes, her breath hitching as her gaze shifted upward.

Then, her gaze fell on him.