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Kaiser roamed the streets of the nearby duchy market in his casual riding clothing, a sword strapped at his waist, and Ness lagging behind at a shop selling shiny gold trinkets that caught the eye of the dragon. It was by nature that dragons were easily seduced by the twinkle and glimmer of gold, which is why so many merchants fancied covering their trinkets in gold—to attract the attention of the shapeshifters and therefore pressure their riders into buying them a load of treasures. Kaiser allowed Ness the luxury of staying at that stall and eyeing the gold, but he refused to go back and pay a silver for anything useless. Ness could lay on piles of gold at the palace if he so pleased.
As he strolled through the market, human peasants avoided him, giving him a wide space to roam and sending him wary looks as if he’d suddenly draw his sword and massacre them all or summon his magic to attack them. The only excuse he would need was that they were normal, pathetic humans, while he was a human descended from dragon riders, and he would be free to laugh to his heart’s content as they bled out in front of him. However, he wasn’t as cruel as they hoped, and he rather liked the quaint atmosphere of the marketplace, humming and abuzz with simple life and dirty money. As the abandoned first prince and heir, he had grown up on streets far worse than this and now took comfort in strolling unfamiliar places like these as an escape from the overly lavish royal life. Not that he disliked it at all. If it were possible, he would like to bathe in his money and fame, and he enjoyed having obscene power over others, enough to manipulate and abuse them. But it was what he deserved after living a hellish life for the first decade of his life. It was divine retribution.
A weight crashing into him startled him out of his thoughts and brought him back to the peasant marketplace. He didn’t stumble back quite like the little thing that ran into him, but the creature was admittedly strong enough to throw him off. It must be a dragon shifter.
The little thing had a crown of midnight blue hair and a few wayward strands sticking straight up at the top of its head. When it looked up, Kaiser affirmed that it was indeed a shifter. Probably an Asian breed, supposedly Japanese, like most humans around here and their Grand Duke Itoshi. His blue eyes blazed, emitting a mystical glow like smoke as it wisped outward from his slitted eyes. His aura felt like pure power pressing against Kaiser like a blanket of death covering him and promising vengeance. It was so strong he could almost taste it—the taste of unbridled potential.
“Have you the eyes of a blind bat?” the shifter spat, brushing off his vest. He dressed nicely, as all shifters did, clad in a button-up and a blue vest to match his eyes. The eyes now narrowed in anger at him. “Take care if you insist on walking with your head up your arse, sir.”
The crowds around them held their breaths, the chatter dying down and the bustle slowing to a stop. The shifter might have physical power, but Kaiser had power. He straightened until he was blatantly looking down at the shifter, looming threateningly and smirking dangerously like a proper spoiled prince. “Do you know my lineage? Shall I have you put down for this affront? Or beheaded?” Kaiser rested one hand against the hilt of his sword while the other came up to grip the shifter’s chin harshly. He recoiled in Kaiser’s grasp, but he remained firm, pulling the other back by his chin and inspecting his face. Admittedly, the shifter was rather pretty. Wide, slitted eyes, attractive features, and soft lips. Their human forms were often majestic, as their dragon forms also were, but this one was exceptionally alluring. “I would quite like your head on my wall.”
The shifter smacked his hand away and stepped back, attempting to put space between them. Kaiser couldn’t allow that. This shifter was unique and some greedy part of his rider’s instinct kept demanding he stake a claim. The boy looked annoyed now, rubbing soothingly at his chin, eyes fixated on the noble in front of him. “You dare utter such words to my face in front of witnesses?” He swiped once more at his chin before glaring fiercely in Kaiser’s direction and pointing at the ground. “On your knees. I’ll give you one chance to repair this circumstance.”
No matter what social agreement he was breaking, Kaiser refused to kneel before anyone, even a dragon as magnificent as this one. “It seems you know not who you speak to, dragon.” Kaiser grabbed the shifter’s wrists and pulled him forward violently, causing him to lose balance and snarl. As those delectable lips pulled back to reveal mini fangs, Kaiser smirked, zeroing in on the adorable sight. “I should teach you a lesson.”
“I know well who you are, human.” The shifter yanked his arms back, curling his lip in disgust. “The new noble Prince of the High Riders…” He trailed off as he purposefully raked his gaze up and down Kaiser’s form. Kaiser felt an excited thrill run through him at having those gorgeous eyes dissect him so openly. “You may serve a place in the court of humanity, but you are comparable to a bug beneath the claws of my kin.” The shifter stepped forward and leaned dangerously into his space, yet it was the most alive Kaiser had ever felt. The shifter’s eyes were dark and the flame-like energy leaving the pupils only intensified as his anger grew. His heart pounded and his mouth felt dry, looking at this ravishing dragon in front of him. He didn’t even care for the treasonous words leaving the shifter’s mouth since Kaiser’s eyes were drawn to those pink lips and their glossy appearance. “We are capable of burning your fragile body until nothing—not even the ashes of your burnt flesh and bones—remains to see hell.” Rather than fear at the dragon’s lethal, predatory glare, a tingle of exhilaration rushed through his body. He licked his lips. “Do not delude yourself into the notion that you are of any importance to the dragon hierarchy.” Gods above, that might be the hottest thing he’s ever experienced in his life. Who knew getting threatened by a powerful dragon shifter would be hot?
He knows not what he would’ve done had the shifter’s rider not appeared right then and there. Perhaps, he would’ve collared the wild dragon and dragged him back to his palace to tame and command for himself. He was simply dying to see the shifter transform into a dragon.
The rider, unfortunately, was a familiar face. The Second Son of the Itoshi Family, Itoshi Rin. As he wasn’t the heir to the duchy, Kaiser wasn’t concerned about politics and who would emerge victorious should he attempt to steal away the shifter and Rin resist. But it did make it more troublesome that his brother was a trusted ally to the kingdom, so he had to play nice with Sae’s brother.
Rin stalked up, grabbed the shifter by the collar of his shirt, and pulled him back. “Considerable words for a dragon who hails from nothing,” the young lord spat venomously, glaring at his dragon. Rin observed him and his relaxed, amused posture and narrowed his eyes. “Stand down, lukewarm. I’ll deal with this.”
The shifter blatantly ignored his rider’s commands. Kaiser didn’t know if that made him more attractive or if he himself just had a kink for disobedient little shits. “I may be a no-name dragon in blood, but I recognize filth in a soul when I lay my eyes upon it.” Kaiser physically had to stop himself from licking his lips again. The way this shifter insulted him got his blood pumping like nothing else. The sight of his flaming blue eyes consumed his vision and thoughts until he could experience nothing else but that pure power. “And I have little restraint in regard to wiping such filth from the face of the earth. I implore you to think critically before antagonizing another dragon, Your Highness.” The shifter practically spat his title out, making a mockery of the crown. Then he turned and faced Rin, completely ignoring Kaiser’s existence.
The cold shoulder only made him more enamored with the strange shifter. It also made his mind run wild with scenarios of pressing the shifter’s neck down and forcing him to comply. Unbidden, scenarios of taming the beast while he looked up at him with those angry, disgusted eyes ran through his head, only adding to his excitement.
The dragon and his rider whispered loudly, as Kaiser was still very well able to hear them. But perhaps that was also in part due to the silence of the crowd around them, the peasants still absorbed in this interaction, some looking at the shifter in awe. One day, Kaiser swore that they’d be looking at the shifter in the same way as he walked beside him obediently.
“Isagi,” Rin growled quietly. Kaiser smirked. Isagi? He’d have to research the name later. “You lukewarm dragon. Causing such trouble for me. Prince Kaiser is a formidable enemy to make.”
Rin emphasized his title as if Isagi did not know, to which the shifter rolled his eyes. He very well knew who he was and still went to insult him. What a dragon. “Then I will raze his every possession into the ground.” With this declaration, Isagi glared over his shoulder at him, convinced that he heard and understood. Kaiser smiled and waved, making the shifter shudder and turn away. “And you, my lord-” Kaiser noticed the way that he recited Rin’s address was rather mocking. “-would do well to remember who the current rider of this lukewarm dragon is. It is a privilege, not a right to have a dragon, Rin.” From this angle, Kaiser had the pleasure of seeing Rin’s face rapidly twist to anger at the dragon’s words. The downside was that he could not see the shifter’s bewitching face.
“Quiet,” Rin hissed. He was mad enough that Kaiser could see his magic rolling off of him in waves and scaring off the peasants. “Do not speak so boldly in front of a human prince. Now I must repair the damage you caused. Leave.”
Rin fumed, pointing his dragon to the duchy estate. Kaiser supposed that it was a nice place, but he had never wanted to visit past the gates. And Sae was not one for entertaining guests he could not pretend to like, so they only saw each other when business was involved or when Kaiser threw a gilded party at the castle.
Isagi visibly vibrated with anger. “Fine. As you wish,” he spat, turning around and walking past Kaiser like they were strangers and not just threatening to kill each other a few minutes prior. Kaiser thought about reaching out to grab his waist, but he didn’t fancy actually dying. Based on the hard line of Isagi’s lips and the tense curve of his shoulder, he might actually get burnt to a crisp if he tried anything. “I will await you at the estate, my lord.” Even that sounded mocking. Rin also thought so, if Kaiser was to go by his deepening scowl.
“What a fine specimen,” Kaiser remarked, watching Isagi leave, eyes following his swaying hips. “What’s your price?”
“I beg your pardon, Your Highness,” Rin slowly said, but his anger was still palpable in his short, cutting words. Sae had to teach him better. “Do you not have a dragon of your own?” Kaiser could also sense a twinge of possessiveness. “Regaled one of the mightiest creatures in the world and descended from the esteemed German Spiketail Lineage.”
Kaiser absentmindedly rubbed the hilt of his sword. “Ness is indeed a marvelous dragon. However, I fear he’s grown complacent in his subservience. As a result, his abilities are lacking for this era. Hence I should insist you name your price for that dragon.”
Rin’s eye twitched tellingly. Kaiser could almost laugh. It was way too easy to read him and get on his nerves. “He is not for sale. If you have an issue, you may take it up with the Academy.” Rin may deny caring for that shifter, as he had noticed from their interaction, but it was clear that Rin already thought of him as his dragon. The Academy randomly assigned matches then narrowed down preferences until they found a compatible match between a rider and a dragon. Since they weren’t already matched, Rin must care deeply for that shifter. It was kind of pathetic, considering trial pairs were only matched up for about 4 months to train and then were evaluated on their compatibility. “You must know that they will never bend to your request. After graduation, you can attempt to sway him, but even then, with all due respect, I doubt Isagi would accept your proposal, considering his behavior toward you… Your Highness.” It seemed like it pained Rin to treat him respectfully. Knowing who his brother was, Kaiser didn’t fault him for his horrible attitude. Sae was oftentimes worse, just more subtle about it.
“A shame,” Kaiser lamented, but he wouldn’t dare give up so easily. He would get his time with that shifter, even if he had to use shady means. “I shall do my best to convince him once he is free from the burden of the Academy.”
“Why does a dragon like him attract your attention?” Rin looked constipated, not seeming to comprehend the sheer energy his little shifter radiated. “Ness may not live up to your impossible standards, but I fear Isagi fails to hold a candle to Ness’ success.” For now, Kaiser relented that that was true. Isagi hadn’t done much to surpass Ness. Ness was renowned and famous for a reason, and Kaiser had never heard of Isagi before this. But that power… If Kaiser had his hands on that, Isagi would be known across the entire world.
Kaiser sighed heavily. “It pains me to be a part of this species in the same category as riders like you, my lord.” They were both barely holding it together as it was, so Kaiser would prefer speaking plainly. It was too troublesome to act polite anymore. “If you lack the ability to see the power lurking in that dragon, you make a mockery of the Itoshi name.” Rin’s face contorted immediately. He may not get along the best with his brother for some odd reason, but he admired him an unhealthy amount from what Kaiser had seen. The way to irritate Rin was to insult his brother or his family name. “He may not descend from an elder line, but he was born to rule.” It was true. There was something overwhelmingly dominant about that shifter’s power that longed to be the best. “Remember, young Itoshi, that all great dragon lines were created from the random emergence of a formidable dragon. Their blood was originally worthless as well, but it was their bestowed power and strength that transformed their bloodline into gold.”
Kaiser was willing to bet that Isagi was as he described. The shifter had enough power to create a new respected dragon bloodline with his abilities. He would be there to witness it and to be part of its creation. And he would have the time of his life getting that shifter to kneel to him.
“Then you believe Isagi is one such dragon,” Rin ventured, a blank look on his face, but Kaiser could guess that he was itching to run to Isagi and train as hard as he could so that they could match up. Kaiser wouldn’t allow that to happen.
He walked forward until they were face to face and smiled deviously. “I do not believe, Rin. I know.” He patted him on the shoulder condescendingly then started walking away. “Pass my greetings onto Grand Duke Sae for me, will you?”
——————
Isagi was still slightly fuming when he reached the gates to the Itoshi estate. How dare that human so recklessly declare that he would behead him? In public? It was not just taboo, it was practically against the law. Dragon shifters were becoming so rare now due to the war and frantic training pace that killing one would probably lead to death. The king or the people would kill the murderer for daring to touch a sacred mystical beast. Sirens, centaurs, kitsunes—all these shifters were barely used in the war, so they were solely driving dragons extinct. Isagi hated that fact along with the entire political situation of the war, but he was bound by the governing dragon shifter body to aid the humans and riders with their silly war. If he had a choice, he’d be flying over the mountains alone right about now. But for a rider to threaten to kill him only to hang his head on the wall? It was unheard of. Not even being a high-rider prince would save him if he went through with it.
The gates opened for him, and Sae stood there, waiting for him to return. His eyes scanned over Isagi’s tense form and the empty space beside him. “Isagi,” he briefly greeted. “Where is my brother? Has he gotten himself in trouble again?”
Isagi felt a pang of regret strike him. He bowed his head. Sae was the only one who he’d willingly do that for. He had a lot of respect for the Grand Duke. “Apologies, Your Grace. It was my doing that he remains occupied with the Prince of the High Riders.” He bristled at the title, remembering Michael Kaiser’s smug, arrogant face. He wanted to rip his flesh to bits, overcome with the violent instinct to burn. “He wished that I remove myself so that I would not cause irreparable damage to the relationship between the duchy and the capitol.”
“Ah, Prince Kaiser,” Sae sighed. “A piece of work indeed. I don’t blame you.” Isagi looked back up, relieved that Sae was speaking less formally. It was exhausting to conform to human pleasantries. But it was probably polite to continue speaking formally with the Grand Duke. “Should I go help Rin?”
“With my knowledge, he may resent his brother coming to his aid,” Isagi replied. Rin would gnaw his wings off if he knew Isagi told Sae to go help him. He also did not want to hear him rant for hours about his brother again. “He is capable of resolving the situation.” Isagi didn’t have much confidence in him actually. But Kaiser probably wouldn’t kill him. Probably.
Sae hummed. “You are correct, as always.” He smiled slightly at Isagi, leading him into the grounds. They walked through the vast flower garden to get to the front of the estate. “When are the two of you due for your compatibility evaluation?”
Isagi dutifully straightened up. “We have two more weeks of training at the Academy before the test.” He glanced to the side where the flowers bloomed and nature was carefully tended to. Sae took good care of the greenery. “Sometimes…” He longingly looked at the sky. He wasn’t allowed to fly alone anymore since he was forced into the Academy. The only times he was let loose was when he was assigned temporary riders. They never lasted. No one could match up with him and tame his abilities. But he desperately wanted to be free. And for the era he was born into, that meant getting a benevolent rider that would allow him the freedom to fly. “I fear I may never find a decent match, Your Grace. I am already late in my third year, and still nothing…” They only had four years of standard learning. He wasn’t exactly sure what would happen to him if he hadn’t found anyone by then. “Your companionship with Shidou is a blessing and a sight to behold.” It was what Isagi wanted out of a match. Sae let Shidou do whatever he wanted, and Shidou was wild and free but listened when Sae ordered him around. He had watched once as the two flew together. They were beautiful, flipping and diving in the air, free to fly.
And Shidou could fly alone.
“You shouldn’t worry so much,” Sae responded casually. “The Academy has years of experience matching riders with dragons.” All of those years were years of destruction and war, Isagi thought bitterly. “They will find your rider, Isagi, just as they found my dragon.”
Isagi melted under Sae’s fond gaze. The Grand Duke always knew what to say to comfort him. A part of him was still worried, though. “You have a lot of faith in their system.” But Isagi decided to trust Sae and wait for his rider. “Your judgment is fair, though, as your match was an excellent success.”
Sae stroked his hair, smoothing down the stubborn strands at the top to no avail. “I do hope my brother trains well with you.” He brushed a stray strand of hair behind his ear, ignoring Isagi’s embarrassed expression. “You are by far more talented than the others that have walked through these gates with Rin.” Sae’s words were earnest as if he really wanted Isagi to stick around with Rin as his rider.
“Woo! Yoichi~!” Isagi’s mind halted. He blanched and wondered if it was too late to go back and drag Rin with him to the gates. It was much easier dealing with Shidou when he could just sic Rin onto him. The two of them fighting was much more bearable than Shidou’s incessant flirting. “Far sexier than the others, too!”
Shidou slung an arm over Isagi’s shoulder, almost making him crumple with the weight. The dragon’s human form was huge, and he hated it. He couldn’t understand why his human form had to be so small. Isagi sighed, allowing the annoying insect to hang off of him.
Sae clicked his tongue. “No matter how many times I lecture you, you never learn how to properly speak to guests.”
“Yoichi isn’t a guest! He’s practically family. Plus…” Shidou smirked, making eye contact. Isagi could already feel the incoming headache as he reluctantly stared back into the pink, slitted eyes. That only made Shidou’s grin wider. “If I fucked a kid into him-” Isagi choked on his spit.
“For the last time, Shidou-san, I’m not a female nor do I have a womb!” Isagi hurriedly squeaked out, trying to cover his red cheeks. “It’s impossible.”
“You don’t know ‘til we try,” Shidou sang happily, poking his red cheek. The shifter was constantly horny, Isagi didn’t even want to know why. They weren’t even in their season. “Either way, you’re family! But if we mate…”
Isagi avoided eye contact and ignored the wandering hands trailing down to the space in between his shoulder blades. He imploringly stared at the Grand Duke. “Sae-san.”
“Apologies, Isagi,” Sae started. Isagi pouted. “I personally am not opposed to it. Dragons regularly mate around this age, and as such, there are magical means to fix trivialities like… lacking a womb.” Isagi felt a bead of sweat roll down his temple. There was no way he was going to surrender himself to the horrors of childbirth. He thought he was safe from that as a male. He cursed inwardly. “However, Ryuusei.” Shidou stopped groping the skin where Isagi’s wings would be if he were to coax them out and looked up. Isagi’s body mourned the loss of that soothing circle motion, but his rational brain only felt relief. “You are doing a shit job at courting.” Shidou pouted but before he could defend himself, Sae continued. “Have you learned nothing from your species except transformation?”
“I prefer getting right into it,” Shidou responded cheekily, fingers lightly grazing over the skin under Isagi’s shoulder blades. Isagi violently shuddered at the touch, his body relaxing subconsciously into Shidou’s hold. Isagi cursed his shifter weak points.
“Charming,” Isagi bit out, but to his horror, it came out airily and like he had just flown all the way across the world.
Shidou smirked, pressing into a tight muscle in his back and making Isagi jolt. “But if you want a courting ritual, I can do that too, babe~.”
Isagi rolled his shoulders pointedly because he was starting to lose his grasp on reality with every sore muscle Shidou pressed on. “I’d rather fight to the death.” Fuck, he still sounded like he was in pain.
“Oooh~ so that’s your thing, Yoichi?” Shidou grinned, obnoxiously licking his lips. “Alright, let’s fight.”
Isagi scowled, planning to ignore him, but the sound of stomping footsteps distracted him.
“Fucking antenna freak, stop trying to fuck my dragon.”
Rin grabbed him by the back of his shirt (again) and pulled him away from Shidou. Isagi gracefully ignored Rin calling him ‘his’ dragon for Rin’s sake. The snarl he was faced with before when he caused trouble with Kaiser was back in full force but even angrier this time somehow.
Shidou laughed, pointing at him mockingly. “He’s only been ‘yours’ for like three months, Rinnie.”
“And that’s also how long you’ve known him. Lay off,” Rin spat, stalking forward to get all in his face.
Isagi looked to Sae to see if he would stop them, but as always, Sae seemed to revel in the fighting. He crossed his arms unhappily but watched every movement with a hidden glee. Isagi shivered.
Shidou growled, eyes starting to smoke dangerously. “Be thankful I’m not fucking your brother, under lashes.”
Rin grabbed a fistful of Shidou’s shirt and glared at the dragon, literally tempting fate. Isagi was also content to watch from beside Sae, but if this went on any longer, he might have to step in to save Rin’s life. Something primitive inside him wasn’t too happy at seeing this display, but whether it was from protectiveness over his ‘rider’ or a potential ‘mate’ he didn’t know. And didn’t want to know.
“I would love to see your lukewarm two-toned wings ripped right off your fucking back.” Rin glared over his shoulder at his nonchalant dragon, watching the two of them fight with disinterest. “And that would happen if Isagi would just fucking listen to me.”
Isagi scowled, feeling the anger from this familiar argument rise up in him again. He grabbed Rin’s hands and threw them off of Shidou’s shirt. Rin’s hands fell to his sides as Isagi shoved a finger to his chest angrily. “You’re literally the most selfish rider I’ve ever met. Go fuck yourself. You think you can do everything yourself with no consideration for your dragon? Learn some etiquette then come talk to me about obedience.”
Seeing Rin’s face was just too much for him right now, so he whipped around and walked away, willing his anger to calm down, lest he transform into a dragon right in the middle of Sae’s nice flower garden.
Shidou whistled appreciatively, and Isagi could hear him skip after him. “Yoichi~ You really need to do that more often. It’s so sexy.”
The two of them left, bickering the whole way. But it was telling how Shidou’s arm found its way to Isagi’s lower back, and Isagi’s head tilted ever so slightly into Shidou’s space. For all that resistance, Isagi definitely cared for Shidou as well.
Sae stared after the two shifters with an exasperated look, wondering if he really should get Isagi that magic pill. Once they disappeared from sight, he addressed his brother. “He’s right, you know. You should listen to your dragon more often. If you keep this solitary thing up, Rin, you won’t ever have a decent compatibility score.”
Rin gritted his teeth. “I don’t care. If they can’t listen to my instructions, then they don’t deserve my guidance.”
Sae wondered if that applied to Isagi. Even if they clashed a lot, and Isagi wasn't keen on following his directions, Rin was quite fond of the dragon shifter. If they scored well, they’d make a pretty good match. And he also hoped that was the outcome as Shidou’s rider. The dragon, though lighthearted and teasing, was serious in terms of mating. He’d hate to separate them if Isagi ended up with a rider far from their estate. Shidou would probably sulk forever and make it Sae’s problem.
Sae relented, dropping the topic. But for Shidou and Isagi’s sake, he hoped Rin was practicing as hard as he could for their evaluation. “They’re going to spar in the arena. Wanna watch?”
“... Fine.”