Chapter 5

VALKYRIE

“Hit it harder!” Damian’s voice echoes from the sidelines.

A week has passed since I got better. Dimitri insisted I take it easy, but his overprotectiveness is starting to stress me out.

Living in a dragon’s den is still a terrifying thought. But as I’ve gotten to know them, I’ve realized they’re not all bad.

Still, there are moments when fear creeps in. Being a slave doesn’t help. Some of them don’t like me, but others do, especially the fighters, even though I’m just a human.

“Harder!” Damian’s voice rings out again.

Today marked the start of my training. Dimitri agreed that Damian would teach me how to defend myself. I’m not thrilled about it, but I’ll do whatever it takes to survive.

My life has been nothing but hardship. I’ve been tortured, treated like vermin, and confined within four walls, never seeing the sun.

Dimitri says I’m free to do as I wish, but that thought still scares me. All I’ve ever known is how to be a slave. All I’ve ever dreamed of is the hope that someone would come to my rescue.

I haven’t thanked Dimitri for saving me. But he never gives me a chance; he’s always angry, and if I even try to approach him, he gets even angrier.

“WATCH OUT, VALKYRIE!” Damian’s warning comes too late as I’m knocked off my feet. My vision blurs with black spots as I fall backward.

“WHAT THE HELL, MAN!” Damian’s voice is filled with anger. “Valkyrie, are you okay?”

I groan in pain, clutching my face—that really hurt. I’ve been punished many times, but never a hit to the face.

The metallic taste of blood fills my mouth, and I spit it out.

“Get the healer!” Damian orders.

“N-no… I’m okay,” I manage to say.

“No, you’re bleeding. And if Dimitri sees you like this, he’ll lose it,” Damian says, worry etched in his voice. “Please.”

“Fine,” I sigh in resignation.

Damian helps me up and guides me to a small bench. My face throbs with pain. He’s right; if Dimitri sees me like this, he’ll be furious. But if I want to learn how to fight, I need to endure the pain.

After a while, Michael arrives.

“It’s not too bad. Just a punch. Your nose will be okay,” Michael says, offering a comforting smile.

I thank him quickly and stand up.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Damian asks, blocking my path.

“Uh, back to training,” I say, pointing towards the training grounds.

“No way. You’re done for today,” Damian insists.

“But…,” I start to protest.

“No buts. Rest. That’s an order,” Damian says, drawing the attention of everyone around us.

I nod in agreement, excuse myself, and head back inside.

By now, I’ve memorized the key locations in the massive palace. The library, the dining hall, the chambers, and the kitchen.

Deciding to freshen up, I head back to Dimitri’s chambers. As I open the door and step inside, I freeze at the sight of Dimitri emerging from the bath, completely naked.

“Oh, my god!” I exclaim, covering my eyes.

“Valkyrie?” Dimitri’s voice is filled with surprise.

“P-put some clothes on!” I stammer, my face burning.

Dimitri doesn’t respond. I take a peek through my fingers.

“Damn it!” I curse when I see him standing right in front of me. “Back off!” I demand.

“What are you so shy about?” Dimitri teases, a smirk playing on his lips.

I quickly glance at him and then look away. Water droplets trickle down his body. His scent fills the room, making my knees weak.

“Valkyrie, look at me,” Dimitri whispers.

I can feel him standing dangerously close. His body heat makes me acutely aware of his nakedness pressed against my backside.

As his hand reaches for my waist, I try to pull away, but Dimitri pulls me back until my back is flush against his chest.

“What’s the matter?” Dimitri asks, his voice a low murmur in my ear. “I can smell your desire, woman.”

My legs tremble, and I grip his arm. He’s right; I am aroused.

“Tell me, Valkyrie, is there something you want?” Dimitri’s voice is seductive, his lips brushing against my earlobe.

He nips gently, then licks the spot. A soft moan escapes my lips as I tilt my head, giving him better access to my neck. My breath quickens, and I grip his arm tighter. What is this man doing to me?

Suddenly, he spins me around. Startled, I open my eyes and look up at him. His golden eyes sparkle, captivating me.

“Do you realize what you’re doing to me?” Dimitri whispers, his face inches from mine.

His presence is overwhelming but in a good way. Slowly, I reach up and touch his chest, my fingers tracing his muscles.

“I…I don’t know,” I admit, my voice barely a whisper.

As he leans in closer, I can feel his warm breath on my skin. A tingling sensation spreads through my stomach as he pulls me closer.

“Do you know how you’re making me feel?” Dimitri’s voice is barely audible.

He takes my hand and brings it to his lips, kissing it gently. I watch as he kisses each of my fingers, then moves down my wrist and up my arm. His soft kisses send delicious shivers down my spine.

Closing my eyes, I surrender to his touch.

He moves to my neck, kissing and sucking gently.

“Do you think I can control myself?” Dimitri murmurs, planting a soft kiss just below my ear. I let out a moan. My legs are about to buckle, so I brace myself against his strong arms.

With a low growl, he lifts my right leg. A gasp escapes my lips, and I open my eyes. I can feel his hardness pressed against my wetness. It’s hot and throbbing.

My face flushes with embarrassment, and I look away. “C-can you please l-let go?” I mumble.

He growls softly and nips gently at my jaw. The sensation makes me gasp. I want to feel him.

Suddenly, Dimitri lifts me up. I let out a surprised yelp and instinctively wrap my legs around him.

“What’s going on?” I ask, puzzled.

His eyes are dark with desire.

“I’m—” Dimitri starts, but then he falls silent. His gaze is fixed on my face.

~Oh no~, I think. I’d forgotten about the wound, the faint scent of blood still clinging to my skin.

“What happened to your face?” Dimitri asks, his voice a low growl.

“It’s nothing,” I lie quickly. “I took a tumble during training and got a bit banged up, but Michael patched me up.”

“Are you lying to me?” Dimitri questions.

My heart starts to race. I need to get away from him.

“Tell me, what really happened?” Dimitri demands, a warning edge to his voice.

“Nothing. You can ask Damian,” I say, my voice rising in panic.

Dimitri sets me down, pulls me towards the bed, and tosses me onto it.

“Fucking lies!” Dimitri roars.

His shout must have echoed through the entire floor. I wince at his proximity. His face is twisted with anger. Fear creeps in, and I start to back away. He looks monstrous.

“I-I’m not lying!” I stammer, terrified. His eyes are blazing with fury.

“DAMIAN!!!” Dimitri bellows, the room seeming to vibrate with the force of his voice.

Tears well up in my eyes.

“Don’t you dare cry!” Dimitri snaps, gripping my arm. “Stop acting like a child.”

Damian bursts through the doors, looking both confused and worried as he takes in the sight of Dimitri holding me in anger.

“Is everything okay, Your Majesty?” Damian asks, his gaze darting between us.

“What happened to Valkyrie?” Dimitri demands, his grip on my arm tightening.

“You’re hurting me!” I protest, trying to wriggle free from his grasp.

“I asked, what happened to her face!” Dimitri shouts, causing me to cry out in pain.

“You’re hurting her, Dimitri!” Damian snaps, glaring at his brother.

“Answer me, Damian!” Dimitri insists.

I look at Damian, pleading with my eyes for him to lie. To tell Dimitri I fell, anything. Dimitri is livid.

“She fell,” Damian says, his face serious. “Let her go.”

Dimitri growls and releases my arm. A faint bruise begins to form where he’d held me. I back away, scramble off the bed, and bolt from the room.

How could he treat me like that? Will his temper always be a threat to me? I feel like I’m in for a world of hurt if I stay close to him.

As I rush down the grand staircase, I collide with someone and fall flat on my butt.

“Ow,” I mutter, rubbing my sore back.

“Fucking watch where you’re going,” a female voice snaps.

I open my eyes to see a woman standing over me, her silver eyes glaring at me furiously.

“Fucking pest, apologize!” the woman demands.

I get to my feet, scoff, and walk past her.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” the woman snaps, grabbing my arm. Her nails dig into my skin.

“Please let go,” I say calmly.

“Ha, not until you apologize, bitch. Now kneel and say sorry,” the woman orders.

“Enough, Lilly!” a voice calls from behind.

I look past her to see Leo, frowning at her.

“Don’t forget who she is,” Leo warns. “Let her go.”

Lilly scoffs, yanks me towards her, and growls. She spins me around, pulls out a dagger, and presses it to my throat.

“Who? This slave, you mean?” Lilly sneers. “She’s just a slave!”

“Lilly!” Leo growls. “Fucking let her go!”

“And if I don’t want to? What will you do?” Lilly challenges, the dagger piercing my skin slightly.

“If you don’t let her go, I will kill you!” a deadly voice threatens.

Dimitri and Damian appear at the top of the stairs. Dimitri’s face darkens at the sight before him, a vein throbbing on his forehead.

“She’s just a fucking slave, Dimitri,” Lilly taunts with a smirk. “Let’s just kill her. Or what, you’re keeping her as a pet?”

Dimitri snaps. He strides over and strikes her across the face. As I fall backward, Damian rushes forward and catches me. Unfortunately, the sudden movement causes Lilly’s dagger to cut me deeper. I’m bleeding.

“Fuck,” Leo curses. “I’ll get Michael.”

As I clutch my wound, I hear growling. The hall trembles. Damian scoops me up in his arms and runs in the opposite direction.

“Don’t look back,” Damian instructs.

I don’t care about what’s happening behind me. I’m more concerned about the blood flowing freely from my neck.

Damian races down a set of stairs and turns left where Leo is waiting with Michael.

“For fuck’s sake, what happened?” Michael asks, looking at me in alarm.

“It was Lilly,” Damian spits out.

Michael lays me down on a bed and gently removes my hand from my neck.

I start to cough. My neck burns. As I watch Michael’s hands move, I notice a faint blue glow.

“You’ll be okay. Don’t worry,” Michael reassures me.

***

Ten minutes later, I’m lying down with a small cloth pressed to my neck.

“Will she be okay?” Leo asks.

My eyes are closed. The shaking of the palace had stopped a few minutes ago.

“Yes, the wound was superficial, but it nicked some important veins,” Michael explains.

“Damian hasn’t come back,” Leo murmurs, his gaze fixed on the door.

“He must be trying to calm Dimitri down,” Michael suggests.

I sit up carefully, holding my neck.

“Easy, Valkyrie,” Michael cautions, helping me sit up. “Just lie down for a while.”

“No…,” I manage to say.

“Stop being stubborn and listen to Michael,” Leo snaps suddenly.

“It’s just a cut, and you healed it,” I argue.

“Yeah, you got lucky,” Michael says, letting out a sigh. “What went down out there?” he asks.

“Nothing,” I reply, avoiding his gaze.

“Nothing?” Leo shoots back. “Lilly was totally out of line with you!”

His words make me flinch, and I look away.

“No, she wasn’t,” I argue. “It was all on me.”

“Really?” Michael questions, sitting down next to me on the bed. “You know, it seems like you still don’t get your role here.”

“Michael’s right,” Leo chimes in, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall.

“I’m just a slave,” I mumble. “This is how they’ve always treated me.”

I hear Leo scoff. Michael just looks at me, not saying a word.

I can’t figure out why they think I’m anything more than a slave. Dimitri said I was his mate, his woman, his.

Thinking about what he said, I let out a curse.

“Looks like you remember,” Leo says, a smirk on his face.

“N-no way!” I stammer, confused. “I’m just a slave,” I repeat.

“No, you’re not just a slave,” a voice filled with anger says.

I jerk my head up to see Dimitri standing at the entrance of the chamber, a cut on his chest, glaring at me. Small scales start to cover the wound.

“You seem to have forgotten your place,” Dimitri says, walking over. He stops when his eyes land on my neck. He frowns, looking at Michael.

“She got cut by the dagger. But she’ll be okay, Your Majesty,” Michael says, bowing.

I lower my gaze, fiddling with my hands. The tension in the air is palpable. My hands start to shake.

“Go to the chambers, Valkyrie,” Dimitri says in a low voice. A shiver runs up my spine.

“Don’t!” Leo steps in as I rise to my feet.

“Move, Leo,” Dimitri growls.

“No, listen. Valkyrie didn’t do anything wrong,” Leo argues, defending me. “She’s our queen, so there’s no reason for her to be punished,” Leo snaps, making Dimitri growl in anger.

“I-it’s okay,” I say, grabbing his raised arm and gently lowering it with trembling fingers.

I bow and rush out of the room. I run up the stairs and head back to Dimitri’s chambers. He looked furious. Hearing a loud growl, I silently let the tears fall. I knew he wouldn’t let me off the hook this time.

Once I reach the rooms, I close the door and sit on a wooden chair. After a few minutes, the door swings open and slams shut. I don’t dare to move.

Then I feel it, the pain in my scalp.

“Looks like you need a lesson!” Dimitri says, yanking my hair and making me yelp in pain.

“I’m sorry…,” I sob.

“Stop crying!” Dimitri snaps. “I can’t stand seeing you cry. Is that all you’re good at?”

I try to get him to let go of my hair, but he pulls harder.

“I’m so sorry,” I stutter, holding back my tears.

“Listen up, Valkyrie. This better be the last time you let anyone treat you like shit. I don’t want a weak queen. I need someone who knows her place, and you are my queen.

“That means you’re the future queen of this den! We dragons despise weakness,” Dimitri spits out angrily. “So stop being useless.”

With that, Dimitri tosses me onto the floor.

I pull my legs close to my chest, staying silent, watching him. He’s livid. His face is a mix of beast and man. His chest rises and falls with each deep breath he takes.

“If I wanted a useless woman, I would have kept you tied up like the slave you think you are,” Dimitri says, flinging open the chamber doors and leaving me alone in the mess.