Chapter 13: The Princess’s New Pet

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The twilight over the dusty swamp enveloped the decaying deadwood and muddy pools, the air thick with the acrid stench of sulfur and humus. Onyxia unfurled her jet-black dragon wings and circled low once before thundering down onto the rocky platform at the entrance to her lair. Her scales shimmered with a molten, dark crimson glow in the fading sunlight, her dragon eyes burning like twin wheels of gold as they swept over the dragonkin and hatchlings rushing toward her at the sound.

“The princess has returned!” A hulking dragonkin guard dropped to one knee, his rough voice tinged with reverence.

The young dragons flapped their underdeveloped wings excitedly, flooding out from every corner of the nest, their shrill screeches rising in chorus. One particularly reckless black hatchling suddenly flared its nostrils, its slit pupils locking onto Duren, the human standing beside Onyxia—he covered his mouth and nose, evidently overwhelmed by the swamp’s foul odor.

“Snack time!” the hatchling cried gleefully, pushing off with its hind legs as it lunged at Duren, corrosive saliva dripping from its fangs.

Onyxia’s pupils suddenly contracted into razor-thin slits.

A piercing screech rent the air as dragon claws tore through it.

In the next instant, the hatchling exploded into a cloud of blood mist midair; shards of flesh and bone rained down onto the mire, sizzling upon contact. Onyxia’s right claw hovered before Duren, dark red dragon blood dripping from its tips, etching small pits into the ground.

The lair fell into immediate, suffocating silence.

“Listen carefully, you vermin,” Onyxia’s voice was hauntingly soft, yet her dragon authority weighed down on every dragonkin like a tangible force, forcing them to bow low. “This human is my pet.” Her tail slowly curled around Duren’s waist, lifting him until he was eye-level with her. “Anyone who dares touch a single hair—”

Her claws suddenly slashed into the rock wall, causing the entire lair to tremble.

“I will tear them apart just like that hatchling.”

Suspended midair by Onyxia’s tail, Duren wore a composed smile. He even straightened his collar, stained with dragon blood, and nodded to the trembling dragonkin below. “Good evening, gentlemen. I’m Duren, here to manage some... special affairs for Her Highness the Princess.”

An elder dragonkin raised his head nervously. “P-Princess, Lord Deathwing has commanded that no humans set foot in the lair...”

From deep within Onyxia’s throat came a low, rumbling dragon roar. The dragonkin’s face flushed as if an invisible hand gripped his throat. “If Father asks, just say I’m taming a new toy.” She flicked her tail, gently setting Duren on a protruding rock, sparks flying from the friction of her scales. “Now, clear out the East Cave. There will be ‘goods’ arriving soon.”

The dragonkin hurriedly withdrew.

Onyxia snorted coldly, shifting back into her high elf form, dragging Duren’s collar as she strode deeper into the lair. “Well done, pet.” Her pointed ears trembled with anger. “These vermin have grown even more lax in my absence. Time to remind them who rules here.”

Duren let himself be pulled along, a growing grin tugging at his lips. After rounding a ravine, he suddenly lowered his voice: “Did you notice? The dragonkin guard in the third row—his eyes kept wandering.”

Onyxia halted. “Father’s spy.”

“I don’t care,” Duren said indifferently. “Even if he reports back, it’s no big deal. The Black Dragon Princess has grown bored of noble games; a little change of pace won’t hurt.”

A flicker of approval glimmered in the Black Dragon Princess’s eyes. Suddenly, she pressed Duren against the scorching rock wall, her dragon claw deliberately brushing his cheek, leaving five scorched streaks. “Pet,” she hissed loudly, “you’re still somewhat useful now. Don’t anger me, or I’ll toss you to the hatchlings for dinner!”

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In the shadows, something seemed to twist and warp before vanishing.

Once sure there were no more lurking eyes, Onyxia suddenly waved her hand, and a silent shadow barrier enveloped the entire inner lair. Dark crimson light flickered along the stone walls, casting half-lit shadows across her profile.

Duren squatted on the ground, organizing his belongings. The clatter of items sounded particularly crisp in the sudden stillness. Without looking up, he said, “Can you add soundproofing to the barrier? I don’t want to be woken at midnight by the hatchlings gnawing on bones.”

“Silence, human.” Onyxia’s fingertips ignited with black flame, though she delayed casting. Her dragon tail restlessly swept the floor, scraping sparks from the rock.

Duren finally sensed something amiss and set down his fur sleeping bag. In the flickering firelight, he saw the Black Dragon Princess standing tall—the same proud dragon who once stood majestic before Prince Gariveks. Now, the fabric over her shoulder blades tightened slightly with each breath.

“You’re worried.” Not a question.

Onyxia spun around, her dragon eyes narrowing into golden slits in the darkness. “I tore apart a hatchling! Right in front of you!” Her voice rasped with an eerie hiss. “And you’re calmly fiddling with your luggage, preparing to sleep?”

Duren leisurely brushed dust from his hands with a velvet cloth, then laughed softly. “So that’s it.” He stepped forward, crushing a charred bone fragment beneath his boot. “Did you think I’d scream and run? Or kneel, begging the Black Dragon Princess for mercy?”

Sparks erupted from Onyxia’s fingertips, illuminating her slightly trembling pupils. She realized the human was dangerously close—close enough to see the shadow cast by the ridges on her scaled eyelids.

“You dragons always treat violence as your calling card,” Duren said without concern, “but it’s effective—the quickest lesson. You can’t teach people with words, but actions teach instantly. I feel very safe right now.”

“So?” She heard the shameful hesitation in her own voice.

Duren suddenly reached out, his fingertips brushing through her cascading black hair. This bold, reckless move froze the Black Dragon Princess’s blood—she should have burned that impudent hand to ashes, yet an inexplicable feeling held her in place.

“So I think your lair is tastefully decorated.” His fingers finally rested upon a glowing crystal embedded in the wall. “Using high-purity energy crystals as wall lamps? Far more lavish than the nobles in Stormwind.”

Onyxia’s tail snapped, shattering the corner of a stone bench. “I’m not asking for decorating advice!”

“What you really want to ask is—” Duren suddenly leaned in, his breath brushing the scales on her pointed ear, “’Does this human think I’m an uncivilized beast?’”

Onyxia’s gaze dimmed for a moment. She realized her claws were already gripping the human’s neck, but his steady pulse only fueled her irritation.

“You know what?” Duren even took the time to straighten the company badge pinned to his collar, “Civilized or savage doesn’t matter. It’s your position that counts. Stand with me, and that’s the greatest kindness.” He suddenly grabbed Onyxia’s wrist, guiding her to touch the items he pulled from his spatial pouch. “Look at this luggage. I’m ready to make this place home. Your home, and mine.”

Unconsciously, the Black Dragon Princess’s fingertips caressed the human’s possessions. She realized this was the first time a human had dared to guide her claws to touch something—rather than trembling and recoiling.

“I’ve seen many things in the Apocalypse, beyond your imagination. But since that night in the King’s Valley, our fates have been tightly intertwined.” Duren released her hand, stepping back and spreading his arms. “Either we live or die together. Of course, I hope we’ll be the pair laughing last.”

Onyxia’s dragon eyes widened slightly. She suddenly recalled that night when Duren coaxed and tricked her into a mutual aid pact under the watchful gaze of a bronze dragon. Though the dawn of success was now in sight, the unknown future stirred anxiety and fear.

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“...Smooth talk,” she finally snorted coldly, turning away as her black cloak billowed like night mist. But Duren keenly noticed the tip of her tail curling up and gently swaying, as if a little proud.

A knowing smile crept across Duren’s face.

Morning light slanted through the cave entrance, illuminating floating dust like scattered gold. When Onyxia opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was Duren sitting on a protruding rock, back turned to her, struggling to gnaw on a blackened loaf of bread—a rock-hard slab that crunched unpleasantly with every bite.

She frowned, suddenly realizing her lair lacked even a proper dining table, let alone food suitable for a human stomach. Duren had to survive on the provisions he brought with him.

“You really eat that?” Her voice was still husky from sleep, the dragon’s throat deeper than usual.

Duren turned, crumbs clinging to his lips. He casually wiped them away with the back of his hand. “Better than tree bark in the Western Wilds. At least there’s no sand in this. After some good days in Treasure Bay, I didn’t expect to be back on survival mode in the wilderness.”

Onyxia’s tail curled instinctively. She recalled the human farms she’d seen flying over Elwynn Forest centuries ago—emaciated peasants kneeling in scorched earth, digging up roots. Not much more dignified than her dragonkin slaves.

“I could send my servants to Theramore to buy some—”

“No need.” Duren broke off a small piece of bread, crumbling it between his fingers. “You know, back in the Western Wilds, I survived with three other refugee children. One was torn apart by gnoll men and eaten, another died from poisonous plants. Only me and one other survived on bark.”

He casually scattered the crumbs into the fire, sparking a string of tiny flames. “So now, every meal that fills me up is a blessing.”

The lair fell terrifyingly silent. Onyxia found her claws dug deeply into the rock wall—though she’d seen countless bloodier scenes, the image of Duren as a child struggling to survive in the wild kept flashing through her mind, stirring inexplicable irritation.

“Pretentious.” She abruptly stood, her black cloak billowing like storm clouds. “Tonight, I’ll have those vermin outside gather fresh fruit for the lair—after all, those foolish dragonkin need fruit regularly, too.”

Duren blinked. “Is that an order, Your Highness?”

“It’s a notification.” Onyxia’s pointed ears flushed slightly. “A ‘pet’ who faints from hunger can’t manage fertilizer formulas properly.”

As the Black Dragon Princess strode toward the cave entrance, her tail tip brushed the black bread in Duren’s hand. A precise fireball scorched it, and the rock-hard food suddenly warmed, becoming somewhat more palatable.

Duren looked at his suddenly “upgraded” breakfast, then glanced at Onyxia’s feigned indifference as she turned away, and he laughed aloud. He deliberately muttered loud enough for her to hear, “Dragon’s Breath Toast... opening a breakfast shop with this skill would be a sure hit.”

The fire suddenly flared three feet higher, bathing a certain smug face in a crimson glow.