POV Narrator

In a room overflowing with jewelry and other treasures, a green-skinned lady sat, surrounded by possessions more vibrant than she could ever be. She gazed into a mirror, contemplating which dress, the color of crimson blood, would best complement the rubies and sapphires she had chosen.

A knock on the door drew her attention, and she turned her yellow, crinkling eyes toward it. "Come in, the door is open," she said.

A large wyvern entered, its blue wings adorned with gold stripes and claws as dark as obsidian. Bowing, the wyvern fluttered its collar behind its head, the spikes on its curved neck catching the light. "My lady, it's time to go. The Blood Moon Masquerade awaits," it announced.

The green dinosaur smiled and flexed her claws before selecting the dress adorned with red rubies, each stone marked with the real blood drops from her greatest prey: a mosasaur. You see, her mafia family didn't just eliminate rival families—they also vanquished the creatures that threatened the Queen of the Dinosaurs' empire.

"You look slender as usual, ma'am," said the wyvern. The dinosaur queen chuckled, her eyes twinkling. "Oh, dear, I thought you could just call me Emerald. You're the only one who knows my real name," she replied, patting the wyvern's arm as they descended the grand staircase together. Awaiting them at the bottom were several butlers and the queen's driver, Vigor, a rare albino Utahraptor with white scales and the distinctive toe claw of his kind.

"Lady Crimson, it is a great honor to drive you to the ball tonight. Please stay safe; the house is not the same without you," he said with a touch of sadness, bowing gracefully. One hand was bent behind his back, the other extended toward Emerald, offering her a warm smile. Vigor was truly unique—cunning and kind, always there when you needed a shoulder to cry on. He had been her steadfast support when her late husband decided he no longer wanted to live the dangerous life of a mafia king and left her.

"Ah, Vigor, darling, how delightful you are. Don't fret; I have lived for over 1,200 years. Surviving a social gathering with mortals is well within my abilities," Emerald assured with a regal air.

However, she knew that statement was far from the truth. This ball would not be swarming with mere mortals (humans) but with other ancient beings just as she was— if not older. Supernaturals of unimaginable power, beings whose very existence humans could scarcely dream of achieving.

Vigor smiled and took the Mafia Queen's talon, leading her away from her other bodyguard, the wyvern, who would remain at home to oversee the house. As soon as the queen stepped out the door, the butlers and maids dispersed quickly, leaving the dragon to her own devices. Her golden eyes gleamed with anticipation as the darkness of night embraced her.

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When the limousine driven by Vigor arrived, transporting Emerald and her small entourage—which included a bronze-colored lizard with black spots dotted across her lithe body and a black dragon with striking red wings—Emerald's breath nearly caught in her throat at the sight of the mansion. She had not expected such grandeur. The masquerade was hosted by a wealthy mafia family known as BTS, renowned for their dangerous, albeit handsome, reputation. Their leader, in particular, had been a notorious challenge for Emerald to capture.

Yet, Emerald quickly masked her initial surprise with a warm smile. She patted the lizard, fittingly named Lizard, on the shoulder—a testament to her parents' rather unique sense of creativity.

"Do you see, darling? I knew this place wouldn't be a dump like you said," she quipped to Lizard, whose flicking tongue momentarily ceased its movement.

As the three ladies gracefully emerged from the dark limousine, Vigor hurried to open the largest door for them. "This way, my ladies," he said, gesturing with a pale claw toward the grand staircase spiraling up the hill toward the mansion.

Walking beside an overly excited Emerald was the black dragon, her ebony wings neatly tucked behind her back. She wore a stunning black dress adorned with bright red rubies, perfectly matching the "Crimson Butterflies" theme of their elegant gowns. Casting a discerning look at the mansion, she acknowledged its beauty but knew it was far from her style.

"I do not see the need for this ball," she remarked, her tone cool but purposeful. She knew the event would be an excellent opportunity to gather valuable information about the mafia families from the various dignitaries mingling around the mansion's bars.

Emerald laughed, clapping her green hands together, showcasing only two claws typical of a T-Rex. "Oh darling Shadowhunter, it's for the pompous prince's party. You know, Prince Yeojun and his brothers. They always demand celebrations in their honor," she said, rolling her eyes.

Lizard sniffed the air and produced a small tail from a green lizard before eating it, a shocking display of cannibalism.

"I do not see the need to summon all seven families for such a trivial affair," Shadowhunter retorted haughtily.

Emerald hummed and walked up the staircase together with her entourage, leaving Vigor to wait by the car like a dutiful driver. A dozen butlers approached, smiling warmly at the ladies. They appeared human to a certain extent, though a few were wolves, and at least two were young human hybrids—cute, Emerald noted, though she would save her lustful pursuits for after she had gathered the information she needed.

"Oh, they are darling," she said, giving a flirtatious smile to the butlers, who returned a polite grin. "This way, ladies. Allow us to take your bags; they look heavy," said one of them, a ruggedly handsome wolf with a scar over his brow.

"Ah, yes, yes," said Emerald, handing her bag to the wolf. The other two ladies followed suit, and they all walked up side by side with the butlers, who carried their luggage.

When they reached the final steps of the staircase, the butlers handed the bags to the ladies and bowed before opening the grand doors. Emerald shared a fleeting yet nervous look with the dragon and Lizard, who was now sucking on another lizard tail. They pushed their way inside the grand hall.

Music flowed through the room, elegantly mesmerizing. Many couples were already dancing, each face obscured by an ornate mask. The three ladies were presented with masks that had been tailored to match their dresses days before, crafted by a peacock-featured butler with striking red feathers and a hauntingly beautiful face. His eyes trailed over the crimson of Emerald's dress and the green of her scales before his beak twitched.

"Striking color combination, madam," he remarked as he handed her the mask.

Emerald chuckled softly and donned the mask, feeling its perfect fit. The trio was now prepared to make their entrance, ready to navigate the dangerous yet opulent world of the mafia's elite.

The peacock butler waved them inside, and they walked forward, their claws clicking against the marble floor while their tails twitched beneath their dresses. "I will go and get some wine," Shadowhunter whispered into Emerald's ear. She nodded, though stiffly, not wanting her girlfriend to leave her side just yet.

Lizard sighed, flexing her bronze neck. "Let's just find a seat. Dancing is not for me," she said wearily.

Emerald hummed in agreement, clutching her bag tightly, which concealed a gun. She was also equipped with another gun strapped to her thigh and a dagger hidden beneath her dress's bodice. Being old, a T-Rex, and a queen meant she was always prepared for anything. In the treacherous world of the mafia, one could never be too safe.

They found a seat in the dark corner of a tall chair, just enough to observe the dancers twirling across the floor, the couples seated around tables, and the masked band playing a haunting melody. "At first, let me give you the information I have on the seven families," Lizard began. "Among them are BTS, TXT, ATEEZ, and Stray Kids—a relatively new group on the scene. There's also a shadowy group that no one really talks about, but they aren't exactly allies. All these families, except BTS and TXT, Stray Kids, and ATEEZ, are at war with each other. Tonight is the only truce they have since they don't send their full memberships, just the leaders and their deputies."

Emerald blinked at her friend. "Why didn't you tell me this in the car?" she hissed.

Lizard rolled her eyes. "Look, we had that slippery albino pet of yours. I don't trust him—he's too cunning for his own good. All raptors are like that; they're practically worse than snakes!" she snapped.

Emerald narrowed her eyes but then sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Where is Shadowhunter?" she asked, her yellow eyes scanning the crowd toward the bar. She spotted the black dragon sitting and talking to a man from the TXT group. He was fair and admittedly attractive—Emerald could see him as a potential future husband for her daughter. However, her strategic mind had other plans set on Stray Kids. They were new to the market, naive to the intricacies of the rules, and, most importantly, they were young.

Lizard turned abruptly. "Oh, for the love of—"

"May I assist you with anything?" a voice interjected. The two ladies looked up to see a stork waiter approaching, carrying a scroll to take notes. His kind eyes suggested he had been here for a while, and his pristine yet groomed feathers spoke volumes about his meticulous nature.

"Ah, well, umm, we'll take a wine," Emerald responded hastily. She hadn't thought to order anything tonight, being a bit of a lightweight, but in this setting, it hardly mattered.

The stork nodded, a smile on his beak, before he turned and walked away, his tail feathers whispering through the air. "I just don't like Shadowhunter," snapped Lizard, standing up from her seat with more care than Emerald had anticipated. An irritated lizard was not one to be trifled with; she moved swiftly toward the bar, where Emerald could hear her scolding Shadowhunter about taking too long over a single drink when they had drinks waiting at the table. Lizard also reprimanded her for chatting with a newcomer, causing the TXT member to bristle.

Emerald, whose hearing was not as sharp as it once was due to her age, nevertheless had the acute sense of a T-Rex when she chose to use it. Most importantly, her sense of smell was impeccable.

"Hey, I was talking to this nice lady," said the man, grabbing Lizard's wrist. Emerald sank her head into the table.

Well, now that's right into the gutter, she thought, her luck steadily unraveling.

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The rest of the evening unfolded predictably: Lizard being scolded by Emerald and not getting her drink, Shadowhunter fiddling with her phone, and finally, Emerald deciding to go and talk to Stray Kids. She sighed, giving Lizard a pointed look. "Next time I want to do something, you let me, okay? I'm the damned leader," she emphasized, flicking her tail as she stood up from her seat.

Emerald walked toward the table where the young men of Stray Kids sat. She smoothed out her dress, noting her hairless form—dinosaurs, after all, didn't have hair—before taking a seat across from one of the more muscular members.

"Well, hello there, gentlemen," she began, her voice smooth. "I'm sorry to intrude, but I have a wee proposition for you all," she said, offering them a warm smile. Her long snout revealed some of her saber-like teeth, adding a touch of intimidation to her otherwise inviting demeanor.

All their eyes narrowed at once, and Emerald blinked. 

Damn, they're smooth.

"What is it?" asked the one who was clearly the leader.

"Ah yes, my daughter," she began, exuding confidence. "She is young and quite beautiful. You are aware of the customs of our lineage," she said, gesturing with a claw to the mafia members around them. "If any of you would be willing to meet her and perhaps take her as your mate, I would be very pleased. We would become allies, if you'd like, and I can share valuable information regarding the other families as well," she proposed, leaning back and crossing one strong leg over the other. Her red dress glittered, adding to her commanding presence.

"Information is valuable," said one of them, glancing at his brothers. "But should we gain it over a young girl's hand in marriage?" asked another, his eyes flashing red for a moment. An alpha, I see, thought Emerald, smirking.

She didn't actually want them at each other's throats, but any discord would mean the leader would have to toughen up and make a decisive choice. That was how this world worked, and if these newcomers wanted to fit in, they would have to roll by her rules. Males were always easier to bend to her will.

Emerald's smirk widened slightly, her confidence unshaken. "This is how we build alliances," she said smoothly, her tone both firm and inviting.

They all looked at each other before one of them, the one with a more feline appearance, spoke up, glaring at Emerald. "What would you gain from this, and what more than just information would we gain?" he asked coolly.

Emerald smiled and shrugged her shoulders. "A pretty mate, valuable information, and a very, very wealthy ally who will protect you," she said confidently.

The man narrowed his eyes. "What species are you? We do not engage in dealings with species we are unfamiliar with," one of the others chimed in. "Are you a red dragon? If so, where are your wings?"

Emerald gulped. Oops, I shouldn't reveal my race. Dinosaurs are supposed to be extinct. She sighed and rubbed the side of her nose. "I..." She shook her head. Her daughter's future and the strength of the families depended on this alliance; she had to go through with it. "I'm a T-Rex—in fact, the queen," she admitted, tipping her mask back to reveal more than just her eyes.

The boys blinked, stunned into silence. And then, all hell broke loose.