Salvia watched in fascination as Aster danced, floating through the forest, her dainty feet causing small bursts of rich flames with every step. She spun, the gentle winds swirling thought her loose skirts and her ebony locks fluttering softly in the winds. Her sisters of age joined in too, weaving in and out, pirouetting in synchronisation, each move sending a bloom of flowers drifting slowly to the forest bed.

She watched with eagerness with an urge to join in with her sisters. She held herself back. She could not join yet, she wasn't worthy. To dance so carefree, one needed to pass the ritual and prove their merit. She wouldn't have to wait for long, however. This dance was a prelude to the beginning of the initiation in which she would partake in.

Applauding enthusiastically as the dance came to its fast-paced crescendo and end. Her sisters dropped, letting their bodies plummet to the ground till, at the last minute, they suddenly stopped, their skirts billowing out in the air. As they landed on their feet softly, she felt her heartbeat furiously. This would be her soon. She would make her sisters proud.

Aster walked towards her, almost floating. "You will become one of us soon", Aster whispered, ruffling her head and then before she could reply, Aster walked off, joining the coven.

"My sisters and children, come forth" Elder Oleander called out. "It is time for our young witches to become one of our sisters. To unlock their powers, they must consume the heart of the dreaded dragon and be fierce in their conviction against their seductive evil".

Her eyes gleamed in excitement. The hunt was to start. The elder spoke more, weaving tales of traditional and lore until finally, she announced the rising of the Star which marked the beginning of the hunting ritual. She stepped forward along with fellow fledgeling witches and received the coven's blessing. It was her time to become one of them.

***

Days had passed and she had yet to see a dragon. Dragons were abundant but she wanted one that was more ancient, with a powerful beating heart, powerful enough to increase her powers more so than others.

Those were rare, but she would never give up. She wanted to make her sisters proud. Trekking on through the dense canopy of branches, she stilled. Something was there ahead. It was something... otherworldly. She couldn't place what it was but its presence was disguised. Intrigue peaked, she snuck forward heading to the source of this strange aura.

Brushing away the large leaves, she came to a stop. A large river lay ahead, a glittering expanse of water. Sleepy grass swayed gently in the caressing breeze. She crept forward, her bare feel silent. There was no one here. Small animals milled about, without any care in the world.

Frowning, she scanned around her again. Where was it?

Leaning her hand on the tree, she peered through the leaves impatiently. Not only did she want a powerful heart but she also wanted to return triumphant first.

Suddenly, she became aware of a hot breath, fanning the back of her neck. She spun around in surprise, her heart beating wildly.

Stood there was the most beautiful man she had ever seen. His skin was a tawny gold and his hair a vibrant red like an inferno of flames. His eyes a crystal emerald slit that gazed down at her curiously. She stumbled back away from him and blushed once she realised, he was naked and wet, the droplets leisurely trailing down his toned body, every muscle gleaming.

"I wonder what is a young little witch doing out here, all alone?" He purred.

"I- I-" Salvia stammered, overwhelmed by his beauty.

"I what?" he asked, stalking forward slowly.

She averted her eyes as soon she saw his exposed parts and took another step back as she looked at everything but him.

"I just wanted to look around..."

"All by yourself? Do you not know of the big fearsome dragons that you witches abhor so much?"

"I don't believe in that. I've come to see a dragon by myself and see if the rumours are true", she lied, keeping the tremble out of her voice.

"Oh, have you? Come closer and see this dragon. I promise to not bite".

He stalked towards her gracefully, each step showing muscles rippling powerfully.

She stumbled back once more and felt panic as a root gripped on to her skirt and made her tumble back into the water.

His arm shot out and snaked around her waist, catching her just before she fell. The muscles in his arm flexed as he slowly lifted her up to meet his chest.

"Your skin is a lovely shade of rose", he murmured gently as he gazes down at her intensely.

"Let me go", she whispered, searching for any bravery inside her only to find none.

"Why should I?" His voice had dropped down to a resounding purr, the vibrations dancing from his chest to hers. "You trespassed on my territory so by the laws, you are now mine".

"I am not some belonging", she retorted weakly, ignoring the spark of lust. "Behand me at once".

"There is not much conviction in your sultry voice. Are you aware the dragons can feel your emotions?"

She felt a hot wave of red sweep through her entire body at his words. Yes, she had always been told that dragons were seductive vixens but she had not realised how alluring they really were. Her normal strength had disappeared entirely and she found herself willing to his every desire.

"Little witch, let me see those amethyst irises of yours", he muttered, lifting her chip up. "Very bewitching. It almost seems like you want to seduce me".

"I do not", she gasped, struggling to fight through his allure.

"Then why does your body press against mine like so?" He chuckled deeply. "You may say one thing, but your body sings for another".

She could feel her heart beating so fast that her chest groaned under the pressure. Every inch of her body was heightened, responding to the slightest of brushes of his skin against hers. He lowered his head down, his nose dipping into the arch of her neck. Inhaling deeply, he traced over every dip and curve, leisurely dragging his lips up to the corner of hers. Her entire body trembled furiously with wanton need as she remained helplessly in his arms.

"Plead for it", he whispered, his voice sending a wave of goosebumps along her skin.

"What?" She mumbled incoherently.

"Plead for my love", he whispered huskily.

She started at him in surprise, unsure of what to say. Feeling a cold breeze sweep over her, she began to regain her sense and struggled in his hold.

He gripped her chin tightly and forced her to look into his eyes. Within seconds, she found herself growing submissive and lethargic.

"Plead", he commanded as he brushed feather kisses along her neck. Teasing her to make her want more but not giving enough to satisfy.

"Please", she whispered, giving in to temptation. "End this fire raging in me".

He grinned at her smugly and caressed his lips with hers tenderly, unlocking an eager firer of desire inside her body, threatening to consume her sanity.

-

Feeling a cold breeze sweep over her face gently, she woke up startled. She was not in her usual home but on the grass underneath the stars. Despite the icy sheen on the grass, she didn't feel cold, strangely, but warm.

Salvia turned over and felt her heart drop to the pit of her stomach. A large muscular arm lay haphazardly strewn over her torso, trapping her in. She followed the arm with an increasing sense of panic to a chiselled chest and then to a face. A face that belonged to a dragon. She felt her stomach churn as the realisation settled over her. She had slept with a dragon. She had broken the simplest of rules and had fallen prey to a dragon's charm.

Witches from birth were taught to be cautious of dragons. They were warned over and over again about the seductive nature of dragons and she had succumbed so easily. Shame burnt through her entire body as she lay there with her chest heaving next to her clan's worst enemy.

Taking a deep breath, she tentatively lifted his heavy arm away from his waist and froze when a deep grumble erupted from his chest. His arm tightened and he pulled her back towards his chest. She felt her pulse increase steadily at his close proximity. It was strange how earlier, her mind felt clouded with lust but now that he was asleep, her mind was crystal clear. There was still a lingering feeling of want but she pushed that down before she got tempted again.

Judging by his strength and determination to not let her go, she wouldn't be able to get free. Not without waking him up. Scanning her environment, she noticed her robes strewn over a boulder close by. She needed her clothes to get out.

Reaching out her arm, she noticed she fell short a little and strained herself more, her muscles shaking with the exertion. Stretching just a little further, her fingers closed over her silky robes and she tugged them towards herself, panting.

Rustling through her clothes, she found what she needed. Her runic knife, gifted to her by her mother. It was an ancient blade made from dragon bone, encrusted with jewelling and inscribed with a spell that she couldn't read. It didn't matter though, the knife would serve its purpose.

Salvia looked at him and felt her heartbreak. Yes, he was a dragon but there was something so enchanting about him. Something that made her feel whole and content. Reaching out, she traced a finger over his prominent and handsome feature and felt emotion clog up her mind.

Do not be weak and give in to temptation. Take his heart and make your sisters proud.

Yes, she couldn't be weak. She quietly murmured a spell to put him into a deep sleep using up her limited reservoirs of magic and sighed and his breathing became deeper. His arm remained firm and unmoving, however, so instead, she swung a leg over his chest, straddling him.

Her hands felt sweaty, the knife loosely held in her grip. But she steeled her nerves and gazed down at him, forcing away any creeping feelings that would tamper her from completing her mission. She gripped the knife tightly with both hands and took a deep breath. It was time.

Closing her eyes as to not see his face, she brought the knife down with a cry that echoed throughout the forest and a sickening crunch as the knife smoothly cleaved through his rib cage and into his lungs. She opened her eyes, gasping. The deed was done. She had murdered him.

Bracing herself, she pulled the knife using all her strength cutting through the muscles, bone and sinew to expose his large pulsating heart beneath.

Salvia felt her stomach churn at the bloody mess as she forced her hand in his chest and wrapped her hand around his beating heart with a sob. Tears streamed down her face as wails reverberated through the clearing and blood stained her bare skin.

Suddenly, his eyes shot open, his glimmering emeralds staring into hers. He opened his mouth and with a shriek, she pulled hard and with a large squelch, his heart came free, wet and bloody in her hand.

He gasped, shaking and closed his eyes as she sat on top of a slowly cooling bloody, drenched in blood with his heart. Sobbing, she tore the heart open and chewed on the bloody mess, using his body as a plate.

She lifted her tear-streaked face to the sky, her skin painted red.

Soon she would join her dancing sisters.