Riley took off his top to expose a skinny scarecrow. He was far too embarrassed to show off his non-existent abs, so he used it to wipe away his sweat and shame.
"Fine, My Lord," he said, voice hoarse but steady. "Let's just…get it over with before I lose my nerve."
Kael's faint smirk didn't fade. "Wise choice."
And maybe he should close his eyes while he's at it.
Oh, but how many people would ever get to witness a dragon doing virtually anything, right?
Also, it hurt like a son of a bitch.
Who'd be able to keep their eyes shut like this?
When the dragon lord's claws touched his shoulder, Riley thought the room had gotten hotter.
Then hotter still.
And by the time the first line of the sigil burned into his skin, it became obvious that this was no ordinary heat; he was being etched with dragon fire.
Ideally, he shouldn't be seeing this, but the reflection on all the shiny surfaces this dragon was obsessed with was forcing him to see Kael's movements.
His breath hitched as golden liquid bloomed at Kael's fingertips, as if molten and alive as it was drawn like ribbons straight from the source.
The dragon didn't even flinch. Instead, his claws moved in precise strokes, dragging that liquid fire onto his flesh.
And it was a contrasting sight. Kael had this cold, quiet, and unreadable expression while Riley was just trying to keep it together.
He clamped his jaw shut.
No way was he going to scream even when those claws were literally carving and branding his flesh.
Eventually, just when his eyes had gone cloudy and he was clenching his fists more than they could possibly be clenched, a clear pattern spread over his shoulder.
Geometric lines that somehow looked like a dragon coiled around a single flame.
His vision swam, but Riley couldn't help but wonder if he could've used those simple symbols instead. Like, what if he just drew a circle and not something as elaborate as this?
Won't that hurt less?
However, there was no point in thinking this because it looked like it was done already.
Or so he thought.
For when the last stroke was etched, the whole design pulsed, before it flared into this blinding gold that forced Riley to squint.
Until every nerve in his body screamed.
There was no holding it now, Riley let out a strangled noise and felt like death was coming the moment he tasted copper. There was blood.
And this time it was from him.
It fucking hurt.
Right until the pulsing sigil sank into his skin, dimming to a faint gold and red glow as if it's always been there.
The "victim" sat there, dazed. The burning feeling was gone, but the warmth remained, the pulsing was faint but steady, and it felt like it was following the rhythm of his own heartbeat.
Lord Kael finally straightened and said nothing, only staring at the mark as if to judge his own work.
"My Lord, is it done?"
The dragon's gaze cut into him, sharp enough to make him flinch.
Was it a good idea to get this sigil? Or is he going to keep on looking so sour because of it?
"Mn. When danger comes, you'll likely get a warning. It'll burn."
"And if you're lucky, you could escape before you have to use it. Maybe that way you'll stay alive longer."
Suddenly, the warmth under his skin sharpened, the sting making him yelp in surprise.
"Good," Kael said. "It works."
"But unless you want everyone to know you have a warning device with you, I suggest you practice getting used to it."
Wow.
As if suddenly getting singed was easy to get used to.
But he was right, if he flinched every time, wouldn't that be a dead giveaway?
"I feel like a branded cow," he muttered as he slumped back to catch his breath.
Kael's claws flexed at his side, and the poor aide instantly shut up and found his manners.
"My Lord, I apologize. Thank you for this. Uhm…Very nice sigil."
"Really. Top quality." He said with a small thumbs up.
The Dragon Lord said nothing. Riley only caught a faint spark of gold in his eyes as he turned away, unaware that the mark on his shoulder glowed just a little brighter.
___
Riley woke with a start, head snapping up from his folded arms.
The first thing he noticed was drool. A small, shiny, incriminating puddle that he hoped no one saw.
The second thing he noticed was the faint golden warmth pulsing under his skin. The sigil was still there. Still alive.
And the third thing he noticed, and promptly panicked over, was Kael.
The Dragon Lord was just there.
Just…sitting there. Elegantly. Quietly. His long fingers held a stack of papers as he worked, completely unbothered.
Oh no.
He was deadmeat.
How long had he been asleep? How long had Kael been sitting there watching him?!
He sat up straighter, clutching the edge of his desk as if to support his fragile life. "I— My Lord, I—"
Kael finally glanced at him, the faintest spark of gold in his eyes.
"Hmm. Good." he said simply. "Still alive. And awake."
"???"
Somehow, it didn't make Riley feel better.
He internally gasped, staring at Kael like he'd just sprouted another head.
Alive? Was that something that had been in question?
Kael returned his gaze to the papers in his hands, speaking almost idly.
"I wasn't entirely sure the sigil would take."
Riley froze.
Oh.
Oh, that's great news, isn't it?
So apparently he wasn't just a branded cow.
He was an experimental branded cow.
Riley didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He settled for swallowing his feelings and letting out a weak little chuckle.
"Haha. Right. Great that it worked. How comforting."
Kael's golden eyes lifted to him, unimpressed. "You're alive. That's what matters."
Riley decided not to argue with that logic.
Instead, he hesitated before blurting out the question nagging at him.
"My Lord. Should I…be wary of something? I mean, like with the amulet? Is there anything else I should…avoid?"
Kael studied him for a beat before answering.
"Just what I mentioned earlier. Don't attempt to tap into it unless you need to."
That was it.
Riley nodded quickly. "Got it. Don't touch unless dying. Simple enough."
He repeated it in his head a few times just to be sure.
But as the words settled in, something else hit him.
His eyes darted to the clock on the far wall.
And his stomach sank all over again.
It was already midnight.
Midnight?!
He shot up from his chair, startling even himself. "Ah—! The schedule! I'm late! I—"
His voice cut off as the full horror of the situation dawned on him.
Just how long had he been sleeping?
And had he been doing that in front of his boss this entire time?
Riley felt his soul leave his body a little as he slowly turned back toward Kael, who was still calmly reviewing his papers.
Kael didn't even look up.
Which, somehow, was worse.
Riley stood there awkwardly, hoping that maybe this sigil would protect him from its creator.
Or is that too much to hope for?