The Dragon's Kiss

Lucy's alterations to Kel's dance outfit had left practically nothing behind.

The undergarments covering Kel's waist and thighs had been sliced until most of her body was clearly visible.

It was the most exposed she'd ever been in her life, but she marched out that way--nothing but two pieces of pink taffeta draped over either side of her chest (held together by a knot Lucy tied behind her back) and a tiny piece of fabric that had once been proper underclothes, covering only the very important parts of her pelvis.

The stuffy nobles filling the ballroom had probably never seen something so scandalous before.

And under any other circumstances, Kel would have been far too embarrassed to show such an appearance.

But in that moment, when Calix had pushed her nearly to the edge without giving her any room to breathe, all she could think about was the joy she would derive from his horrified face.

In hindsight, appearing as the future Empress in such a garment was a horrible decision.

Later on, Kel and Lucy would occasionally shake their heads in shame at their juvenile revenge plot. (Though, sometimes they would also giggle uncontrollably at the cringeworthy memory.)

Still, despite all of the many, many reasons not to, Kel stepped proudly out onto the dance floor, wearing the horrendous concoction that came from Lucy's hands in between maliciously polite head bows and 'Your Highness'es.

Not everyone in the room had frozen, fortunately, and the music for the cursed dance began playing right on cue.

Kel smirked as she bent one knee and raised her hands over her head in the starting position. When she messed up, it would be far more obvious thanks to her.. eye-catching.. attire, but also far less memorable.

More than likely, she'd pull all the attention away from Calix's needlessly skilled dance movements as well.

You wanted a memorable engagement ceremony, and you'll get one, Kel chuckled internally.

On beat with the music, she swept her arms down, pivoting on her heel to face the Emperor who would be mirroring the same movement.

She could hardly contain her excitement at finally seeing his expr-

Except, the Emperor was not in position.

He had never even stepped onto the dance floor.

Instead, he was standing on the side, his lips pressed together in an unreadable expression.

Wait.

No.

This isn't how it was supposed to go.

Being the only one dancing would only make her look foolish!

What should I do?! Kel panicked.

Should she stop dancing? Should she keep going?

Fortunately, she didn't have long to agonize over her options.

With a glare and flick of his hand, the Emperor quickly silenced the entire room.

Kel also came to a halt with the music, suddenly feeling heat rising in her cheeks.

"This ceremony is over."

Calix had hissed the words quietly, but they echoed loudly through the hall.

With everyone still frozen in fear, he then stomped over to Kel, grabbed her by the waist, and hoisted her over his shoulder.

"Hey! P-Put me down!" Kel whispered, her voice somehow sounding deafening in the large silent room.

Calix ignored her pleas and trudged out of the ballroom, toward what Kel assumed had been his dressing room.

Without stopping, he kicked the door open and immediately threw Kel down on the single sofa inside.

"Urk!"

Kel's breath caught in her chest as she landed.

The Dragon Emperor was mad.

No, the Dragon Emperor was livid.

Just as she had wanted.. Right?

"Are you so starved for my touch?!" Calix boomed, looming over her.

"No," Kel's voice cracked as she tried to shrug casually.

Calix was as angry as she'd wished for, but she never imagined he would act like this.

She knew he wouldn't be happy with her showing her whole body that way, but what about all the revealing clothes he'd gotten for her back in Serin, based on some silly misunderstanding that she preferred to dress that way?

He seemed to have no qualms about the amount of her chest that was exposed back then, so why had he become a complete madman now?

"This isn't what I intended," Kel said softly.

Lucy was a mature and seasoned warrior, so how come the plan still backfired so horrifically?

"Oh, it's not?" Calix's voice was dark. "Then tell me what exactly you did expect to accomplish?"

Without waiting for an answer, he lowered himself over her, straddling her body with his knees and holding her hands firmly above her head.

"Hmm? Tell me!" he repeated, growing louder. "Tell me what you were trying to do!"

Kel struggled futilely to break free, unable to get any leverage against the man.

"I-I just.. I just wanted-" Kel stammered, wincing as the Emperor tightened his grip on her wrists.

"Just wanted what?" he snarled. "You wanted everyone in the room to lose their eyes? You wanted to show the world what a tyrant your husband is?"

"Of course not!" Kel shrieked. "I just wanted to get back at you!"

"Get back at me?" Calix snorted. "For what?"

"You took my only friend away!" Kel fired back. "Lucy won't even talk to me anymore! I know it's your fault!"

Calix scoffed again, looking genuinely amused.

"That's what this is about?"

He licked his lips, leaning closer to her.

"Well, I suppose you've accomplished your goal, then."

Kel inhaled sharply as he grabbed the taffeta tied over her shoulder and tugged.

The soft material easily came loose from the knot, and Kel shivered as it slithered up her back.

"Congratulations. You made me angry." Calix lowered his voice, tossing the long trails of blush material to the ground.

Kel gasped again as his fingers brushed over her bare chest and then stomach.

"But you should have thought harder about the consequences first," he hissed, gripping the top of what was left of her undergarments.

"N-No," Kel protested feebly. "I didn't want.. I didn't mean.."

"Yes," Calix buried his nose in Kel's hair, caressing her ear with his hot, wet tongue.

"Ah! Mmph!" Kel flinched.

Pleased by her reaction, the Emperor paused momentarily.

"You are mine."