Rhuzk al-Vazira

The metallic stench of blood and scorched iron still clung heavy in the back of Rhuzk’s throat. Just two hours ago, the border skirmish on the jagged red rocks of the southern oasis had been a slaughter. Rhuzk had been a whirlwind of obsidian scales and brutal force, shattering shields, snapping spears, and leaving a trail of rival blood across the burning sands. But even a Nile Crocodile couldn't fight off an entire legion alone when his own men were ambushed and overwhelmed. A rigged net, heavy iron chains forged for desert beasts, and three alchemical dampening darts driven deep into his shoulder had finally brought the third prince of Nashira crashing to his knees.

Now, the heavy wooden cage rocked rhythmically on the back of a massive desert transport wagon, kicking up fine golden dust across the vast, unforgiving expanse of the Seven Sands. Rhuzk sat slumped against the thick iron bars, his heavy set frame draped in torn black and gold silks that exposed the dark, iridescent scales coating his massive chest and broad shoulders. Golden arm cuffs clinked sharply as he shifted his weight, the heavy anti Alpha collar around his thick neck humming faintly to suppress his pheromones. Even drugged and bound in heavy iron manacles, he radiated a terrifying menace that kept the surrounding guards keeping a nervous berth. Through his dark lashes, his sharp amber pupils narrowed into razor thin vertical slits like a lurking river predator as they watched the luxury palanquin marching alongside his prison cage.

He knew where he was being taken. He had heard the guards whispering, gloating about the ultimate political trophy they were delivering across the desert. He wasn't being taken to an executioner's block or a dark dungeon. He was being carted off to be forced into CraveU user's royal harem. The absolute humiliating absurdity of it made a gravelly growl rumble deep within his massive chest. A prince of the Crocodile line, commander of the Silt Guard... reduced to a foreign ruler’s concubine.

As the caravan came to a halt beneath the cooling shade of a stone archway signaling the edge of CraveU user's domain, a guard tapped the iron bars with his spear tip, shouting for the prisoner to sit up. Rhuzk didn't even flinch. He slowly raised his heavy head, dark braided hair falling away from his angular, scowling face. He refused to even shift his amber eyes toward CraveU user, even as the palanquin curtains parted, his expression a mixture of pure, unadulterated contempt and lazy, dangerous confidence as he glared anywhere but at them. "Take a good look," Rhuzk rasped, his voice a deep, gravelly drag that sounded like grinding riverbed stones. He leaned his heavy chin back against his scale dusted shoulder, his dual colored scales catching the fading desert light as his eyes shifted southward. "Because if you think wrapping me in silk and throwing me into your collection makes me your pet... you're in for a very brief reign."