ri

ly so that she would have no chance of escaping. Good. I guess I do not have to take back my good favor from the village for somethin

eed to run a household worthy of a Dragon Prince. Without them, I'd have to g

errifying for the wingless. I expect a few screams of surprise, but she doesn't stop. She just keeps going, a long loud bellow that resonates and scratches the inside of my eard

need a maid this badly. I only asked for her to give me a reason to be benevolent. I would have never let the town starve. The problem was that they asked me directly, using formal channels. Unfortunately, that

k with this whining, sni

ended and it goes skidding, crashing into the

, blesse

nger in my left ear to stop the ri

me standing there, staring down at her. Using one of my razor-sharp nails, I cut the ropes that bind her, watching as the color returns to her hands and feet. She has the most beautiful brown skin, dark like mahogany or rich loamy soil. Her hair, a dandelion fluff fans out around her in a

hat color h

wer as two golden brown eyes, the color of wheat, open

ow, using my most

moving as far away from me as possible, holding up her hands as she notices th

the cart, wen

her corner, her whole

ened servant," I explain. "I

reaming, but I can hear a crystalline musicality to it. She looks up at me

simply, "And you are n

ebrow. "Is that what you c

ad spoken that way to my father, or any of my siblings, she

ike that," I warn her, all

llenging me as she steps out of the cart. "If you

omised pain into every movement. She takes a step back, her legs shaking almost imperc

n, my fangs elongating below my lip. I stand even closer, deep within her personal space, the pointed nose guard on my helm almost touching her face, as I bend down and ask, "But what does any of that matter to you, maid,

ift her face to mine and explain. "You bel

at my words, but her mouth i

d are yo

away, to cast her eyes down, but I force her

u th

. My memories started when I ente

dy pace of her heartbea

y. I needed to know I wasn't taki

etimes the very young or inexperienced can be confused about such thin

finish before answer

rip her chin tighter. She whimper

have al

er eyes. "I had no choice about what others did to me. I had

y sending me an ...impure offering. I prefer my belongings to be untouched. However," I pause, trying to figure out a way to keep this poor c

p at me she is sha

auty, will serve un