FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

***Important note from author: Be aware, only Ch 1 of this story will have a public release. The rest of this story will only be seen by Discord beta readers. Access to that is free and takes like 5 minutes to do, so just lmk if you want to be part of the beta team for this project. (Other than that, can always wait for the publishing, as I'm already 6 chapters in.) Be aware, formatting did not paste, so italics are missing.

Discord link.

Content Warning: Human/Dragon, Initial Reluctance (Not in sex), Marking/Branding, Death.

Other Tags: M/M, Grumpy/Sunshine, Enemies to Lovers, Conquered Kingdom, War Violence.

Breath of Storm

^ ^

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?. .?

I slip through the castle in the silence between night and dawn. I'd have to beat the sunlight.

I'll have to stay ahead of the storm. I muse to ease my nerves, listening for any sound of our guests. I hear a few of them in the dining hall, so I hug the wall until I slip into the foyer. A bag shifts on my waist, and the gold clinks within. I pause, breathing heavily. The instructions were quite clear for the 4 royal children. We were not to leave the castle. I linger long enough to know I was unnoticed before I adjust my cloak and slip through the broken front door.

In the gardens, I dart to the large hedges, skirting past as I followed their line of cover. Flashes of moonlight pass me by with every gap in the brush. I am almost to the broken gates when I see one of them leaning against the guardhouse. I stop before I sprint past the last of my cover, sacks of gold clinking in protest.

“Who's there?" I hear it call in that throaty tone all dragons seemed to bear.

My back is to the shrub, my heart pounding as I hear it approach.

It turns the corner, finding nothing as I slip further towards the western side. I reach a break in the wall that was never fixed; a perk to having home advantage. Within seconds I am free from the palace and on my way into town unnoticed.

I ensure I return before dawn breaks. I slip through the garden wall, righting myself just before a dark-blue dragon turns the corner.

“Ah. There you are. We were wondering where you were. Did you forget The Stormbreather's summon this morning?"

“I just needed some air, so I came to walk the gardens. Time must've slipped away from me…" My heart races. I was always a terrible liar.

He glances me up and down. He opens his maw to say something, but closes it before asking. He turns, walking towards the castle. “Come, you are the last to arrive. It is unwise to make him wait."

I want to heave, my stomach feeling hot from the near discovery. Instead, I follow the beast. I had already accepted there was no getting out of this.

^ ^

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?. .?

I am led through the ruined entry hall of our castle, the ivory marble now blackened by soot. A cold draft blows in from the missing doors, chasing me into the wreckage.

The soldier before me turns, taking the crumbling stairway. I follow him, stepping over a bust of my fallen father. I linger.

“Hurry up, unless you want to share his fate."

I turn to the soldier, staring into his diamond-shaped eyes. He narrows them, and I look away. “…Sorry." I hurry after him.

I am led into the waiting chamber, finding my three surviving half-siblings present and accounted for.

Robin spits her usual venom. “Tch. I see they've summoned both the mutts. Glad to see you're dressing more to your true class."

I look down, cursing my attire. I'd forgotten to remove the ratty cloak. My heart returned to thumping.

This is why I hate lying, there's no way he didn't notice this... I pull the disguise off of me and toss it to the side. It didn't really matter if I broke the rules, as long as they didn't learn why.

Hawk chimes in, feigning support. “Now, now, Sister. Even Father's bastards may have some use… Like for dragon food."

Robin turns on him. “Bold words for the son that wasn't in the war."

“So I could end up like Father and Sparrow? No thanks. I'd rather stay alive as the next heir in line."

“They have barely been dead for a week… You should show some respect.“ Starling speaks from her corner.

“Hawk, the maid-spawn is talking to us again." Robin rolls her eyes.

“Mind your business, brat. Doesn't concern you." Hawk threatens.

Starling buries her face back into her dress, hiding her puffy eyes.

I walk over to my little sister, placing a hand at her back. “You don't have to be so heartless towards her." I finally say.

Robin scoffs. “Oh great, the brown one has opinions too. Mother never should've stood for either of you staying here.

Hawk snickers.

Starling balls her fist.

“Luckily, it was never her decision." I snap back, turning to Star. “Ignore them. We'll be alright." My lie feels more convincing this time…

“That's what you think." Hawk gloats. “Father isn't here to protect you two anymore. When I'm king, I won't have such rodents scurrying about."

I laugh to myself, knowing none of us would survive this. A conqueror didn't summon all the blood of a bested king for nothing.

“Where were you?" Starling whispers, trying to ignore the others.

“Sorry. Had to take care of something before all of this…"

The door opens, a familiar dragon walking in. “The Stormbreather awaits."

“Finally." Robin chides.

We follow the soldier into the throne room, surprised by what awaited. They were usually in their smaller forms…

We are met by the sight of the large dragon laying across the blackened spot where our father's throne used to sit. His gray and yellow scales dance beneath the torch-lit walls, his eyes of lightning aglow under the flickering shadows of embers. Webbed wings were folded neatly behind him. He raised his head, the two largest of his six ivory horns nearly scraping the high ceiling.

Starling reaches for my hand. I take hers, kneeling as I coax her to do the same. Robin curtsies beside us. Hawk doesn't even bow.

“Sir Stormbreather," Hawk begins. “Let me be the first to welcome you to our palace."

The dragon looks over to us and back towards Hawk. “But you did not welcome me. They did." He nods towards us. “I am not fond of your human lies, nor do I care to hear them."

“…You'll have to excuse me." Hawk finally bows

“I have to do no such thing." The dragon raises a spiked brow.

Robin saw her opportunity. “Please, pardon my foolish brother, Sir Storm—"

“I don't care for your titles, either. My name was not easily earned. You won't be muddying its worth with human terms."

“My apologies, Stormbreather."

The dragon disregards her. “I summoned you four today because you are the last of your father's line. Not to hear your pleasantries."

None of us answered. The dragon seemed sated by that. “I want to start by saying your sire was quite the fool, as most of your kind seem to be. However, as a drake who understands we are not all like our sires, I wanted to give each of you a chance."

We remain silent.

“My only demand is you stop mining the northern mountain."

“Preposterous!" Hawk injects. “Our family has mined that mountain for generations! It is our greatest source of wealth! We have a royal right to…."

Hawk's courage dissipates with his words. A snarl builds with a scaly glow.

“W-WAIT! I—"

—Zztoooom—

A flash of lightning blinds me, a tingling sensation rattling my bones as it strikes beside me. When my vision returns, I look up to see tendrils of smoke rising from Stormbreather's nostrils. I look over just as Hawk's blackened body crashes to the floor, his bones scattering on impact.

Starling shrieks, sobbing into my shirt. I hold her closely, my eyes affixed on the charred corpse until the dragon picks up from his interruption.

“A royal right? As if any man has such a claim to our mountain! The wealth you've hoarded matters not to me." He huffs out a lingering ring of smoke.

“So… what does matter to you?" Robin steps forth, always the opportunist. “How may we be of service, oh Stormbreather?"

“I have told you my only demand."

“Then, as the next in succession, I will do everything in my power to accommodate your request."

“Power?" He laughs. “You think you have any power here? You think yourself worthy to rule by blood alone?"

“I am more than my blood, oh Stormbreather. I am a lady of results."

“Blood? I don't think you know the meaning of blood, nor the weight of shedding it. You are a vulture, letting others do the work so you may pick your fill from the scraps. You're far too eager to feast on your own flight."

“I-I…" Robin realizes our true situation a little too late.

I thought I'd enjoy watching her finally figure it out… but I only feel sympathy.

Stormbreather thunders on. “Do you think I haven't kept eyes on you? On all of you?"

My blood runs cold. Robin seems to feel the same.

“Did you think all of your plotting was truly a secret to me? All your ceaseless unkindness? Why do you think I gave you all a week? I wanted to see what each of you were, what you would do when left to your own devices. I saw that you, tiny Robin, are a parasite; not unlike most of man." Stormbreather starts to inhale, the roar of thunder rising in the room as his throat scales begin to glow.

“B-but…" Robin takes a step back. Spinning, she races toward the entrance.

I hold Starling close to me, averting our eyes.

—Zztoooom—

My ears are left ringing when the bolt looses. I don't dare look back this time, I simply stare up at our executioner in a cold sweat after, wondering how closely he'd been watching me…

His luminescent gaze falls to my own, narrowing. “And you, little thief."

Starling bawls out fresh waves of tears, clinging to me. I whisper softly to her. “Hey… You need to let go of me."

“I DON'T WANNA DIE ALONE!" Her pleading makes my throat ache.

“I do not harm hatchlings. Certainly not innocent ones." Stormbreather huffs.

I look up to him, seizing the chance. “You will spare her?"

He pauses, nodding once.

“Will you do so now? So she doesn't watch me…" I glance at Robin's smoldering remains.

“Frostbite." Stormbreather turns to the blue soldier that showed us in. “Escort the Starling back to her nest."

“You need to go, Star." I hug her tightly.

“F-Falcon… I don't—"

“Shhh. It's ok. You're safe."

“But, you—"

“I have done something very stupid, little sister, and I need to go face that very stupid decision. It's alright…"

“Falcon…" Frostbite plucks her from my arms, carrying her past Robin's corpse and back towards the entrance. “FALCO—!"

The door slams shut. I exhale, falling forward as I let the tears finally come.

“Do not think tears will sway me."

“Thank you for letting her go…"

He ignores my gratitude. “Come, before me."

Gathering myself, I walk towards the dragon, my legs threatening to fail. I stand before him, gazing up, realizing how insignificantly small I truly am.

“My drakes saw you today."

Any hope left for me crumbles.

“The gold you stole from the palace is one thing, but you also left the grounds after I'd forbidden it."

My knees give way, dropping me to the stone. “…I know."

“Any final words?" He asks, the scales of his throat turning a lighter yellow as the lightning built within.

My face feels numb. My stomach churns under his threat. “Please…" I begin. “Allow our people to mine the mountain."

A charged snarl replies, “Retract my one demand? I didn't know you were such a blatant fool."

I press my head to the floor, begging to make some small difference in my final moment. “Our kingdom has survived by trade for generations. We have no bountiful fields to grow our food. We have no sea to fish from. We have no true forest to forage. We have nothing but the mountain between our lands and yours. We have no means to survive without that trade. Our people will starve this winter… The palace always took half of what they mined, so without that cut, the people won't have to mine near as much… but they will have to take some."

His growl rescinds. My breath hitches.

“And what of the riches of your palace?" He asks. “Can you not support your own flight? Your own people?"

“My father spent most on the war… We didn't have much left by the end."

Stormbreather scoffs. “So, you were already short on gold, yet you still gave four bags of it to those hatchings today?"

My head snatches up, realizing how many others I'd dragged into my mistake. “We four summoned were the blood of the vanquished king… I assumed we'd be killed off today. With so many men lost in the war, we now have an abundance of orphans left behind. I didn't want them to suffer from our choices after we were gone… That gold was the only thing I could offer them for the toll of my father's war."

My knuckles press white against the floor. “I stole from you, not them! Please… do not take it out on the children. They will return the gold if you tell them. They are good, they will listen. Please—"

“Enough. Look at me." He demands.

I raise my gaze with acceptance. His giant eyes were poised right before my own. I swear I could see the lightning crackling within them.

“You have given me more than I expected, little Falcon. You have given me something to think about. You may go, for now. You will be summoned again soon. Try not take any more midnight flights before I decide what to do with you.

The numbness washes over me, his words unregistered. I peer into his eyes, stupefied before I finally snap out of it. “I-I…" I bow, afraid my fumbling words would get me killed. I hover, feeling uncertain.

“You may go." He repeats, firmer this time.

I turn, dismissed in disbelief. I keep waiting for the crackle of thunder behind me as I walk towards the entrance; wanting to burst into a sprint. My ears ring in the silence until I reach the door. I falter for a moment, daring to take a final look behind me.

Eyes of brewing storms remained affixed on me. He huffs a smoldering spark.

I turn and close the door behind me before I lean against it, slinking to the floor to cradle my spinning head.

^ ^

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The dragon with scales of dark-blue stands in my doorway two days later.

I stare for a moment, rising from my seat after.

Starling reaches for my hand. I give hers a quick squeeze as I force a smile. “It's alright. I'll be back soon."

“Promise?" She gazes with those eyes full of hope.

“Promise." I lie, giving her a final reassurance before I follow the drake down to the throne room.

We stop just outside of the door. My voice breaks the silence. “Thank you, Frostbite."

The dragon turns to me with his icy stare. “For?"

I don't have a good answer, so I lower my eyes.

He places a hand against the door, pausing.

“When his fangs tear into your body, do not scream." He pushes it open before I can ask for clarification.

Six dragons of differing hues and builds are lined up on the elevated platform behind Stormbreather. I see no trace of my half-sibling's remains. Every dragon but the conqueror himself is in their smaller, human-like form, and each set of diamond-cut eyes are upon me. I avert my gaze immediately. I never was good with eye contact.

Frostbite leads me forward, prompting me to stop a few steps shy from the platform. He continues forward, moving to take the spot on the conqueror's right side.

Stormbreather starts right in with that booming voice that echoes off the walls. “The Falcon Prince of Nidovis. We have been waiting for you, as I am sure you have been waiting for my decision."

I kneel, ensuring I show him every respect and ceremony I know.

He continues, “I apologize for the wait, but this matter was one requiring great deliberation. I summoned my top champions to aid in my decision. It has taken hours, but we have agreed upon a solution to end our clash; one both I, and our customs can accept."

He pauses, a command following. “Rise."

I obey, clenching my sweating palms. I lift my head, staring up at the massive beast before me. It takes all I have not to start trembling again.

“Prince Falcon of Nidovis, you will become a worthy ruler to your people."

“…What?" I respond before I think any better.

Stormbreather huffs a smoke tendril, crooning his head until his gaze lingered before my own. “You had a chance to take the gold and run, but you did not. I'd know, Frostbite trailed you the entire way. You treat all the hatchlings of your kingdom like your own brood, taking extra care of those without sires. You eagerly offer away the riches you have if it means your people will prosper. Above even this, when faced with your own execution, you challenged me – The Stormbreather – to reconsider my only demand, all so your people could survive after your reign had ended."

He withdraws his head, straightening up. “I don't feel I'll find many better options among man. I was almost ready to raze the lot of you."

“I…" I am lost for words.

“You should know this decision did not come lightly. There was much to discuss between your kingdom's needs, and the ways of us dragons. Many of my champions did not feel we could reach an agreement. Many of them did not want to make deals with your kind. There is great resentment on both sides. As such, precautions had to be made. The futures between your flight and my own hangs in the balance. For this to work, you need to be elevated, both in the eyes of men and drakes."

The Stormbreather waits, letting his words wash over me as he closes his eyes. I stare in wonder at what follows.

The great dragon begins to glow. At first, I worry he is preparing to loose a breath of bolt, but I soon realize this is something far different. The beast starts to shrink, rapidly changing size as his body structure shifts from drake to pseudo-man. It does not take long before the conqueror is resting on hands and knees. He raises his head, parting those eyes of lightning to meet my stare.

I look away, amazed by witnessing the change for the first time, yet unsettled by his kneel. He held all the power here, pretending otherwise would do me no good.

“Look at me." He commands, standing.

I raise my eyes, examining his naked build with a degree of intrigue. I'd always wondered what they looked like beneath clothes. The smoothly arranged plates and scales should not have surprised me. I wasn't expecting to find much else. It seemed their anthropomorphic forms had the same hidden anatomy as their feral counterparts. My stare finally finishes climbing up his frame to meet his own.

He points to his brow, where a bright-yellow symbol sat centered on his gray scales. The symbol looked like two bolts of lightning running parallel, the points of both bolts the smallest space from touching. It almost looked like a jagged figure-8. “Do you know what this is?"

“No." I respond.

“We refer to it as a brand. We each bear a different one. This is my own, the Stormbrand. Our brands hold great power and significance for my kind. It is what represents the strength of an individual drake. It is how we show responsibility for something. In this instance, it will be how I will extend my authority to you. It is the only way my dragons will heed your orders."

I remain silent, unsure of what to make of this. I'd never known of this belief among dragons, but our kinds weren't exactly the best at sharing secrets. More so, I don't have the faintest idea why I'd need to command any drakes.

“Remove your clothes." He orders.

“What?" My immediate response comes from shock.

“Remove your clothes if you want your kingdom to survive beyond sunrise." He reasserts.

I stare with wide eyes, studying his firm glare. This was not a request, nor was that an idle threat. My gaze flickers to the seven champions on the platform.

Stormbreather comments on it. “Ignore them. They are merely here to bear witness."

I turn back towards the dragon towering over me. Even in his current form, he is a giant nearing ten feet. He adjusts his wings of cloudy-gray, crossing his massive arms. An impatient tendril of smoke rises from his snout.

I close my eyes, taking a deep breath before I raise my trembling fingers to my shirt. I fumble each button more and more, my tremors ceaseless. After I fail to undo the last two in a timely manner, the conqueror grows impatient, reaching forward and tearing the last of the fabric free, making me stumble.

A wave of chills rolls over my bared skin as I strip the last of my ragged shirt. My hands hover at my waist next.

“That's all I'll need." He says, much to my relief.

That relief is short-lived as the drake steps closer to me, kneeling to my level, his eyes of lightning casting bolts into my own.

“Little Falcon, To you I -The Stormbreather- offer my name, my brand, and all of the authority that accompanies both. In exchange, I demand your loyalty, your compliance, and your complete devotion to maintaining peace between our races. Do you accept my offer?"

He raises a spiky brow. I can tell this is not an offer, but more an ultimatum. My voice threatens to crack as I ask for one clarification. “If I accept, then my people will be unharmed?"

“By taking my brand, your flight will become part of my own. Your people will be treated the same as any dragon under my wing. No drake would dare harm them. This is the only chance left we have of peace."

“Then I accept." I speak the words before I could falter. The kingdom would be safe. That was enough for me.

The conqueror stands, moving even closer as he closes the distance. He lifts his large hands. I do not fight him as he places the first on my back, and I only flinch slightly as the other nearly swallows the back of my head. He angles my neck with two careful digits, leaning my head towards my right shoulder, bearing my left for him.

My breaths have become ragged huffs, my muscles trembling beneath the unyielding touch of the drake. He cranes his head, a scent of smoke wafting off his scales. His snout lowers next to my ear as he whispers a single warning in that deep tone. “This will be painful."

I clench my teeth, squeezing my hands and my eyes shut as I brace for it.

I jolt as the rough tongue passes over my left pec, a slimy swipe of dragon spit left over my heart. The champions chuckle from the platform. Before I even finish shuddering, he parts his jaw – his breath humid and hot as he guides his bite over my shoulder. I take a quick breath and hold still, remembering Frostbite's warning. When his fangs tear into your body, do not scream.

He clamps his jaw. His fangs pierce my flesh.

My teeth clench in sync with his own. His hands hold me firm, ensuring that pulling away was never an option. I do not fight him. Despite the pain, I do not make a sound.

Stormbreather huffs, biting down harder, slicing through my muscles until I feel his teeth grinding against my bone. The blistering pain makes my mind glow white-hot. Even as I tremble with agony, even as I bleed into his maw, even as my mind sways on the edge of tolerance and unconsciousness, I stifle every sound.

I do not think I'll survive this damage. I don't think I'll even be able to stand once he releases me. His tongue presses into my wounds, as if he were ensuring I'd felt every searing inch of my perforated flesh by dipping the muscle against them. A slime of blood and spit drips from between the dragons' teeth, crawling down my front in globs. Only after he has covered me in the substance does the true terror come.

A familiar glow accompanies a rising roar. I weakly part my eyes, my heartbeat fading. I realize how great a fool I am. This was merely a way for the dragon to toy with me before killing me. My eyes of surrender meet with the stern gaze of the conqueror.

He starts exhaling. The first of the breath sends tingling arcs across my skin. Stray sparks strike my chest next, and I feel a new heat building as the spit bubbles on impact. My muscles clench under surging currents coursing through the liquid, but when the lighting strikes into my heart, searing his brand into my chest, only then do I know true pain.

Only after the blistering kiss of the lightning fades do I gasp weakly, the smallest hitch of breath as my knees go weak. He catches me before I collapse, leaning me into his scaly body as he releases his bite. His wings fold around me. A clawed hand grips my chin. He steers my gaze to stare into the restless storm behind his eyes. For a moment, there is something different in the way he looks at me.

He cranes his neck, pressing his maw against my lips. His domineering tongue parts them effortlessly in my dying state.

I release my final breath.

He takes it, building upon it, charging it anew with his own lighting before breathing it back into me.

The darkness consuming my vision is replaced by a blinding light.